Do I have to point out the elephant in the room?

[dunno001]

Like I mentioned on your wall, there are only 3 classes of comments that I delete:

-An obvious oops/internet hiccup resulting in a double post. (And I will always leave one instance of it, unless it violates another class.)

-A user gets permabanned. (And in this case, I don't have to delete it, the software removes it automatically. I usually do delete it anyway so as to help keep the comment count correct. Most things in this class are spambots.)

-A user is trolling or flaming, as Torillian mentioned. All comments removed for this reason are also supposed to be documented in the moderator's area.

Since Gamrfeed is a gateway for many people to the VGC network, it does need to be watched. Criticizm and the like are fine; it helps to make the writer stronger and shows that we can have serious conversations (and thus lead to possibly more people joining GamrConnect). However, if people see the trolling and flaming, then it becomes thought that said actions are acceptable to the site, and it will, frankly, attract a lower class of internet users.

Actual removement of site criticizm I would also see as a problem. It would mean that we, as a site, think we are above the "mere user", that what we say is right and final. That puts people into the position you seem to be in now- afraid, or not wanting, to post, since it won't be looked at seriously. This creates a stagnation of the site- few newer users are unable to offset the natural site defections that happen at every forum, and we would become relegated to an internet clique, not as the serious discussion site that we strive to be.

I, like Tor (but not in a position to do anything about it), would also be interested in examples. Since there is no actual alert function for trolling or flaming in the news articles, they are harder to patrol. (This is why I tell users to feel free to PM me or another mod with any perceived problems in them.) Constructive feedback, of both the positive AND NEGATIVE varities, does not violate the rules, and should not be removed. I also have been told by some site members that, for better or worse, I seem to be one of the more visible moderators in the forums. And if someone wonders why I do something, they're welcome to ask me, even if the action was not against them directly. There is a reason for everything I do in an official capacity, just as there should be for everyone else who acts as such. And this includes comment deletions.