CPF vs BLF

[quote=Colonel
…BLF has been an oasis of minimal moderation although I notice that seems to have changed since the lockdowns began.[/quote]

Maybe sb is getting older and grumpier :smiley:
But I fear the real reason is that the pandemic has caused more issues that needed moderation.

Who can delete posts on BLF ? Can members delete spam or foul language or is it just SB who mods ?

[quote=djozz]

I think sb is becoming more grumpy. He'll lock a thread faster than the speed of light

I’m pretty new here, and only joined CPF in November, but have lurked both sites for years. My observation of BLF is that of a much more laid back and inviting atmosphere. Regardless of an individual’s knowledge level, seasoned posters here seem to be far more willing to share their experience and opinions without alot of judgment or egotistical background noise.
Being new, I couldn’t even name a moderator here, and don’t recollect having seen a thread where one has had to ‘step in’. The crowd here is pretty good about self-policing.

Have you seen r/flashlights lately? It’s pretty much just memes that get upvoted, also anything that is not a flashlight from Hank just gets ignored.

:wink: Me being an old grump notwithstanding, I’ve always stepped in when people start to argue in an unfriendly way about anything. It’s pretty obvious that people are more touchy and uptight since the pandemic started, and that’s understandable. But that has led to more blatant rule violations, and so to prevent users from getting more aggravated and eventually banned it’s best for me to step in more quickly when any given topic starts going south or is likely to do so soon.

Is that a bad thing? By creating an account here and continuing to use it you agree to adhere to the BLF Rules, which are enforced. Think about the alternatives: 1) a wild free-for-all with everyone getting mad and making this place miserable for themselves and everyone else, or 2) many moderators that all “lock threads faster than the speed of light”, but each with their own biases and criteria applied inequitably to different users.

Reminds me of a parable about an old man in a small town, and one day a traveler who was considering moving there asked him “What are the people like here?” and the old man replied “Well let me ask you first what’s it like in the town you come from?” The traveler replied: “Oh it’s a really nice place, everyone is friendly and generous.” The old man replied: “Here it’s just the same, you’ll get on really well if you move here.” Later a different traveler asked the old man the same thing, and he got the same question back, to which the second traveler replied: “Ugh it’s unbearable where I come from, everyone is mean and stingy, that’s why I’m looking for somewhere else to move to.” The old man replied: “Well imagine that, you’ll find that people here are just the same, better keep looking elsewhere.”

Users can delete their own posts, as long as it’s not the first post that starts a thread. They can also report spam and the spammer’s post could get automatically deleted and possibly the account could be automatically blocked, all according to a fairly nuanced algorithm. Users can also report posts that violate the BLF Rules, and according to a different algorithm the post could be removed.

Please don’t let this thread turn into a CPF bashing thread. Thanks in advance.

And as for Reddit… this isn’t a rule, but it is an observation based on fact— Reddit stinks. And we all need to continue to work hard to prevent BLF from becoming a toxic cesspool like Reddit.

I was mostly referring to the free speech thread where everyone was civil and then you just shut it down for some reason. I guess civil free speech is controversial as well now, but I also understand this is a flashlight forum and you really want to keep it that way, so alls well that ends well.

I like reading CPF bashing threads :cry:

In before close.

ToyKeeper posted a very nice level headed post that compared the two.

I think that particular post may be in this thread: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/60657/35 but who knows, there are so many multiple topic threads for this frequent perennial favorite topic of discussion.

Peanut butter versus chocolate. Left brain versus right brain. Expensive Lumintop mile burners versus expensive edcs.

Adreneric versus cholinergic. Ascending reticular activating system versus descending reticular activating system.

Chocutter versus peanut bolate. Trickle right to left versus trickle left to right. Introverted versus extroverted. Led Floyd versus Pink Zeppelin.

Yeah, it’s ironic but unfortunately true, that was a highly volatile topic just waiting to explode into a nasty argument. Most did show constraint (and my thanks for that), but at least one or two users were starting to dominate and contradict others and push their point of view, and that’s when I step in.

Well, it’s not so much that I don’t want non-flashlight discussions, the Off-topic category was created to be used, I appreciate that a weird bunch like us flashaholics probably share a lot of other weird likes and interests. But I do put my foot down when it comes to anything that starts getting even close to politics and pitting one country against another. That sort of topic presents such an existential threat to BLF that allowing those particular topics would result in most people leaving, and therefore flashlights would also cease to be discussed.

I’ve noticed a pretty common misconception where users think that I intervene and/or prohibit topics that I don’t like or don’t agree with, or to promote what I view to be the truth on a given matter. But in reality it has nothing to do with my beliefs and preferences, but rather whether a given topic produces controversy. There have been many times where I’ve stepped in when a user was posting what I consider to be accurate facts, but by doing so was fanning the flames of an argument. So it really comes down to promoting peace over opinions and facts. As I always say, if the question of what 2+2 equals becomes controversial, then math would become a prohibited subject here.

As you probably know, in the book 1984 the idea of what 2+2 equals does become controversial.

(In real life what 2+2 equals is pretty much settled, so I do get your point.)

...

By the way, I would hate to be in charge of an online forum.

I bet it's a tough and mostly thankless job.

So thank you, sb, for keeping the peace here on BLF.

BLF wouldn’t exist today with such a strong loyal following, had it not been for the Oppressive CPF Nazi Dictatorship that drove away and banned most of its intellectual talent. They were driven by greed and enjoyed humiliating everyone who was not willing to support the grossly overpriced flashlights advertised by its paying contributors. Im surprised that abysmal sinking ship still hasn’t gone under and sank to the bottom where it belongs. Lord knows they are long overdue and deserve the very worst.

On a positive note, Google Search hasn’t turned up any results from CPF in years when I am researching flashlights and components. Id say that’s a very good thing, as BLF always turns up several articles.

As always, MANY THANKS to SB for putting on such a great show for us.

Now that I think about it BLF is unique among internet forums in its good nature. Part could be moderation, much could be the collaborative nature of projects and mods.

Everyone can anticipate, provide input, and buy BLF Lights. This gets you invested in the place. I signed up to both forums around the same time. Found CPF first and spent more time there in the early days. Now it’s almost exclusively here.

I learned in this thread that BLF is no longer a bad word over there. I suppose it’s hard to veto the term when they’re the lights people are buying and talking about.

I’ve been around here 5+ years, and can say it has and hasn’t changed… I recall many BLF threads being created solely to gripe about those “darn new members” stinking up the place. The old-boys club has had great success repelling many new members and change of all kinds. At the same time they themselves have gotten older and ornerier. These days I worry the old-boys-club just aspires to make BLF a mausoleum to decades gone by.
I still like how this place is a social alternative to full-on social media. But being half the age of the old-boys-club is tough.

I’m sorry you feel that way ‘Joshk’, but I disagree with you on your comment about the old timers.
I have not seen this in my 3yrs here. :wink:
Fact is the Old Timers are the history of BLF, we need them !
Everyone here is here for their love of flashlights and are looking for friends.
It’s not a perfect world anywhere, it’s only as good as we make it, either Better or Bitter.
:heart_eyes: :heart_eyes: :heart_eyes:
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Aren’t you 60-ish years old CNCman?

Can’t say I’ve ever noticed that kind of thing myself.

To each his own.

There were a lot of threads like that in recent years…
My first search for “new ish members” in the BLF search box returned this:
“New(ish) members and FLAMING”

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Surprisingly, even to me, the same user that created that thread is also the same user that has recently been promoted to a position of power within BLF, and has used that power to cut the head off debate about allowing new technology in certain areas.

’ Joshk ’ , I understand exactly what your saying. These things happen, and it hurts, I have been there too. But you cannot change people, they can only be led by a better example to change. You are a very intelligent man, I have seen your posts, you have much to contribute. Just let it go, and lead by example. Change is slow and may not happen easily. But many members here have been helped by your hand with more waiting.
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Yes, 60+ going on 30ish always :wink:
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I’m not looking to change people, only the atmosphere here. I do typically fit in well with older generations, and hope to become 60+ some day… But watching quietly while the youth is driven into obscurity on my favorite forum to socialize doesn’t sit well with me. If I was admin, this dude would have been given serious warning after invoking imagery of dominance via violence. Not a free pass.