Tags
@allknowing (130066)
India
March 21, 2011 4:10am CST
I have now decided to look at the tags before participating in any discussion as I have often noticed tags such as 'guidelines violation','reported' and such ominous tags being added there although many a time the topics are not such that have violated guidelines.Some users who seem to be zealously interested in the welfare of myLot do it or could there be any other reason? Some topics which truly violate guidelines stay unscathed. There arises utter confusion in my mind when I see those tags that I hesitate to go there thus depriving me and that person the opportunity to interact with each other. How about just reporting if at all, and leaving the tags alone? Let the users decide?
2 people like this
8 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
21 Mar 11
GoAskAlice has already commented on this practice, discouraging us from doing it. I have to say that I do occasionally add such tags to discussions when I report them. I used to see this as potentially helpful to other users and as a reminder to myself that I had already reported the discussion.
You are right that sometimes discussions with such tags as 'reported' and 'guideline violation' still remain (and some of them, indeed, really do NOT deserve to). These days, I am less inclined to add tags unless I am absolutely sure that the discussion is a violation.
Sometimes, even though the discussion is a 'poll type' or a 'duplicate topic' or something which is adequately covered in the FAQs, I will give a good answer, knowing that the discussion will be deleted and that I shall earn nothing but that is part of what MyLot is about (and I have quite a collection of Best Responses which have been deleted!)
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
21 Mar 11
Having been here for a while now I can crane my neck a bit and tell you owlwings that not all those who report and add those ominous tags do so in the interest of myLot but with ulterior motives. Please don't say I am paranoid but having read some discussions where there have been heated exchanges between some users I do know that there are some users here who cannot see eye to eye for reasons best known to them. I am particularly targeting these who out of spite mention those tags which is really not necessary. Let the users do their homework and learn in the process which is the best way really. As for me 'ambiguity thy name is myLot guidelines'
and I am still learning. I prefer it that way.
and I am still learning. I prefer it that way.1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
21 Mar 11
I agree with you, allknowing, tagging (and negging) are very open to abuse and, as such, ARE much abused. I regard that as an unavoidable annoyance and a rather minor nuisance, so long as one doesn't mind too much about the well-discussed flaws in the rating system.
As for learning by experience, I have been here fairly constantly for five years and I am still 'learning' what Admin is likely to delete and what is likely to stay. I have had some surprises recently (in that a few discussions from people who I would trust as much as myself to know what is acceptable have been deleted) but I haven't lost faith in MyLot yet!
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
1 Nov 12
I thought wrong tagging was history but I just noticed it is not. There are trolls who are still doing it!
@zralte (4178)
• India
21 Mar 11
Good topic. I sometimes don't tag discussions that I reported. I tag them when I don't want my fellow lotters to waste their time on replying to a discussion which is going to be deleted. I usually let the discussion starter know the reason as well. I guess I do the best I can to let the other members know, whichever way.
I have noticed that some discussions are tagged as Violations; but when you read it, it is not violating any guidelines. I think it is some members who either genuinely make mistake thinking it is OR that they are just behaving badly towards the discussion starter for any reason.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
21 Mar 11
Anyway as per myLot guidelines the purpose of tags has been clearly explained:
http://www.mylot.com/o/faq/faq9.aspx
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
21 Mar 11
I have not noticed this at all and only now I have started noticing the tags. But, I am sure I won't continue to do it. I will be so preoccupied thinking about the topic that it might happen. Anyhow, the fact itself is news to me.
Actually, it is good if some well-meaning person is adding relevant tags to a topic; if good observant people participate, they would take it a s a warning and their precious time can be saved. As far as I am concerned many responses of mine would have been deleted but that can't be helped.
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
22 Mar 11
I have been pretty blissful about the whole thing, Even in my own discussion there have been times when i did not notice the tags and suddenly in one case I realised that the tags had changed . MY discussion has been dleted but I have not had such reasons given.It would be quite frustrating if someone adds wrong tags for no fault of ours.
@allknowing (130066)
• India
22 Mar 11
If someone puts a tag 'guidelines violation' or 'reported' below your topic it will upset you and also deter others from responding and what if the tags are wrongly put as it happens several times.
@rosekiss (30380)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Mar 11
I will continue to tag a discussion as a guideline violation when I know for sure the guidelines have been violated. I will also tell the suer that the discussion will be deleted, as we are encouraged to do so. If the suer doesn't want to listen thin it is on them as I have done my part. It is easy to say to let users figure it out for themselves, but the thing of it is, they don't always learn unless they are told, and then, some still will not learn, but I still feel obligated to do my part and help them when necessary. Take care, and have a very good day. 
@allknowing (130066)
• India
22 Mar 11
The purpose for putting tags is to aid users find discussions that interest them.
http://www.mylot.com/o/faq/faq9.aspx
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
22 Mar 11
For me it is not important in me I will get post the response so that my money will add.
@allknowing (130066)
• India
22 Mar 11
Its the question of doing the right thing. Tags are meant for getting help with searches and if anyone has to report there is a separate provision for that.
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
22 Mar 11
I've never noticed such tag or I maybe just an ignorant. I would never report any members of abuse, because I am not sure about the guidelines. Yes, I noticed some discussions I responded deleted when I thought they are okay - not really overruled the guidelines. However there are many similar discussions are still on-board. So, I am really confused and I don't think that anyone who ever reported a discussion knows the overall guidelines well. So,....
@allknowing (130066)
• India
22 Mar 11
I fully agree with you. No matter how experienced one is mistakes do happen and so it would be unfair to wrongly tag a discussion.
@allknowing (130066)
• India
23 Mar 11
I rue the day I chose this name Jenny as I have heard enough on that
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
21 Mar 11
hi allknowing. practically, this is in relation to my discussion two days ago, which tells about "a guide violation" keyword added to my discussion which i suspected to be the reason for deletion of one of my previous discussion.
you can see the deleted discussion which i appealed to be restored.
http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/2503310.aspx
on the latest discussion, Alex a.k.a. GoAskAlice clarifies in box #21 that: "I do not remove a discussion because of the tags people put in it"
http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/2504680.aspx?p=3
so i guess we stop doubting on appropriate tags put by anomalous members on our discussions and we continue to create more quality topics that we can discuss.
let's continue to have FUN on this wonderful site we have. 
@allknowing (130066)
• India
22 Mar 11
I went through your discussion and also the guideliness with regard to tags which clearly state the objective of putting tags, and tags such as 'guidelines violation', 'reported'etc do not serve the purpose why tags are recommended in the first place.
@achilles2010 (3051)
• India
21 Mar 11
I think tags serve only one purpose. If you use words from your discussion as tags then those who are searching for a particular topic are sure to find it. Without tag it would simply not appear in searches.
@allknowing (130066)
• India
21 Mar 11
Yes. achilles. You do have a point. Tags are meant to help someone look for a particular topic where warnings such as "this is a violation" is not called for. It is only with experience that a user will learn about guidelines (why offer on a platter?) and Admin will take appropriate action when a violation is reported and as has been reiterated by Admin themselves they have a method to locate violations even if they are not reported.
