Investigation and action required. Unusual forum moderation.

[theymos]

I see no evidence of misconduct, though it was incorrect to delete topics with substantial replies. All of the deleted topics with replies have been restored to Archival.

[d.] He reports other's posts from the topics.
[e.] Moderators delete the reported posts because now these posts are irrelevant in the discussion

This didn't happen. In all of Ratmov's deleted topics, only 3 replies were deleted by moderators in the last 2 years, and none of these deletions were by xandry or Xal0lex.

[1714258013]

1714258013

[1714258013]

1714258013

[1714258013]

1714258013

[philipma1957]

Xal0lex would you help us to understand how you found the topics/posts to clean up if they were not reported?

If you go to the root of the Russian section, you will see a list of topics at the bottom. So I saw two trash topics in this list. Naturally, I deleted them. And then I decided to go through the whole list and found a lot of such topics. Again, I deleted several topics. And then I realized that something was wrong and that it looked very suspicious, so I didn't touch those topics anymore.

I read all the posts and waited for a reply by you. My thoughts were you may have been tricked by mr r.

I just check the post after yours and its from mr t. his conclusion was exactly what I thought may have happened.

Hoping that mr r lets us know why he does what he does. as it put you in a shitty spot for sure.

[GazetaBitcoin]

Thank you for coming to this thread, theymos.

If I am allowed, I would also add a few questions, as it follows:

1. Isn't this statement contradicting itself?

I see no evidence of misconduct, though it was incorrect to delete topics with substantial replies.

How could it be no misconduct, since it was incorrect to delete those topics? What is a misconduct then, if not taking incorrect decisions?

2. Since Ratimov was turning his old topics into garbage on purpose, then he moved his trash in the Russian local board, thus breaking forum rule no. 1 multiple times in a row, being very aware of what he is doing, why was he not banned for that? This question was addressed also by LV, but no answer has been provided so far:

Isn't that what bans are for? To stop people from posting garbage?

3. Since even Xal0lex started thinking that what Ratimov does is fishy, why did not he asked other mods for a ban, since he is unable to issue bans? Again, this question was also asked by LV and it was never been answered:

But you have a Mod board, in which you could report him to Mods with banning power. It's more than just deleting his own posts, it's moving garbage into your board. And that's a clear violation of the forum rules:

1. No zero or low value, pointless or uninteresting posts or threads.

He could easily have avoided all this by moving the topic to Archival, but he choose to throw his garbage topics on the board you moderate. This sets a precedent for using the board you moderate as a trashcan and by reporting his own posts there turns you into his personal trashman.

4. Why none of xandry and Xal0lex answered to questions, 3. and 4., although they were asked repeatedly?

All of the deleted topics with replies have been restored to Archival.

Thank you for restoring them.

~ probably used the "Show the last topics started by this person" function.

Even easier: Search topics. You can quickly find the very short topic titles, nicely kept in Archival.

Small question here (addressed to xandry):

I would not like to put the second moderator in a difficult position, but I was honestly surprised by the answer of Xal0lex:

I haven't personally counted how many topics I've deleted. Maybe 10, maybe more. And plus at the moment there are a few more of Ratimov's garbage topics in the section, which will also be deleted in time. You can go to the section yourself and see how many of these topics there are at the moment. You can also go to modlog and do the math yourself.

Once again: I found out about garbage topics only after I was mentioned and I started checking Radimov's message history. How could anyone have found out about this before? That there are many similar garbage topics in the Russian forum? After all, they are old and do not appear in the top of the Russian root. I didn't understand that.

If Halab and LV believe it was easy to find those topics, then why xandry thinks it was very difficult? It doesn't add up.

Furthermore: how can xandry (which is just a mod, so not an admin) could check Ratimov's messages history?

I found out about garbage topics only after I was mentioned and I started checking Radimov's message history

I believed this was something only admins can do.

[LoyceV]

Furthermore: how can xandry (which is just a mod, so not an admin) could check Ratimov's messages history?

I'm pretty sure this is a translation issue, and he must have meant his post history.

All of the deleted topics with replies have been restored to Archival.

Cool! So Guest R20231030 is Ratimov's new name

I checked this list, and those topics have been restored:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34.
That includes some of my own (Merited) posts in topics that weren't self-moderated, and Ratimov indeed should indeed not have any power over those.

All of the deleted topics with replies have been restored to Archival.

I didn't realize until now that also Mods deleted topics with other users' posts. That's quite a big mistake.

[suchmoon]

That includes some of my own (Merited) posts in topics that weren't self-moderated, and Ratimov indeed should indeed not have any power over those.
[...]
I didn't realize until now that also Mods deleted topics with other users' posts. That's quite a big mistake.

I would argue that even self-mod threads that Ratimov cleaned out should be restored and locked, if that's not done already.

Not to mention that we've had people banned for less, whereas he's not getting even a slap on the wrist so that's kinda screwed up as far as disincentives to fuck with forum privileges.

[LoyceV]

I would argue that even self-mod threads that Ratimov cleaned out should be restored and locked, if that's not done already.

The self-moderated topics were not restored. At least the risk was known when I posted in there (I just didn't expect it).

[Lafu]

The question is why he is doing all this and whats going on with his behavior lately for deleting all that things.
But the most thing i dont understand is why he not comes and showing himself here and write about it.
As i remember normaly he was instant replying to things that have to do with him.

[suchmoon]

I would argue that even self-mod threads that Ratimov cleaned out should be restored and locked, if that's not done already.

The self-moderated topics were not restored. At least the risk was known when I posted in there (I just didn't expect it).

To me it seems that a self-mod OP going on a rampage and emptying multiple threads for no reason should be dealt with in a similar way as a moderator on a rampage would be dealt with. I think in the latter case deleted content would be restored. And the person would likely be stripped of the delete-other-users-posts privilege.

[theymos]

Isn't this statement contradicting itself?

The word "misconduct" implies bad intent. This was a moderator getting tricked.

Since Ratimov was turning his old topics into garbage on purpose

He wants to delete his posts, but he can't delete the topics, so he's editing them to be "blank". This is common and allowed.

then he moved his trash in the Russian local board

This is a rule violation, but it's fairly minor. A veteran forum member isn't typically going to be banned without warning for moving their topics incorrectly. (These topics were blanked and then deleted over the course of ~3 days before the issue was noticed. It wasn't part of an ongoing pattern AFAICT.) If he continues to move topics incorrectly, this would warrant a temporary ban.

I would argue that even self-mod threads that Ratimov cleaned out should be restored and locked, if that's not done already.

It's allowed for topic-starters to delete all replies to their self-mod topics. Restoring the posts would only be considered in special cases such as if their account had been hacked.

Also, if a topic has no more replies, moderators will typically delete the topic on request, since then there isn't the issue of deleting other people's replies. That's why the empty topics were not restored.

[Don Pedro Dinero]

This is a rule violation, but it's fairly minor. A veteran forum member isn't typically going to be banned without warning for moving their topics incorrectly.

But has he received any warning about it? It seems to many of us too many threads with significant discussion and merit in them to do so without further explanation, which he has not given.

Although I suppose if he hasn't received a warning, your post, which he is sure to read, serves as a warning itself.

[Lafu]

It's allowed for topic-starters to delete all replies to their self-mod topics. Restoring the posts would only be considered in special cases such as if their account had been hacked.

So its possible if he keeps deleting or editing his old topics without writing something in here , that the Account maybe got hacked or sold ?
I dont know if the behavior and posting manner has changed the last weeks of him or not , as i not watched him much.
Hopefully he can clear things with an statement soon.

Although I suppose if he hasn't received a warning, your post, which he is sure to read, serves as a warning itself.

I guess it can be seen as a warning or an note for future actions.

[Xal0lex]

This is a rule violation, but it's fairly minor. A veteran forum member isn't typically going to be banned without warning for moving their topics incorrectly.

But has he received any warning about it? It seems to many of us too many threads with significant discussion and merit in them to do so without further explanation, which he has not given.

Although I suppose if he hasn't received a warning, your post, which he is sure to read, serves as a warning itself.

He received a warning from me. I wrote to him about his behavior and that in case he continues such actions, he will get a ban. I did not receive a reply, but his trash topics did no longer appear after my warning. I hope for his discretion.

[philipma1957]

I would argue that even self-mod threads that Ratimov cleaned out should be restored and locked, if that's not done already.

The self-moderated topics were not restored. At least the risk was known when I posted in there (I just didn't expect it).

To me it seems that a self-mod OP going on a rampage and emptying multiple threads for no reason should be dealt with in a similar way as a moderator on a rampage would be dealt with. I think in the latter case deleted content would be restored. And the person would likely be stripped of the delete-other-users-posts privilege.

Years ago April fools joke was done by theymos the forum became infected for April fools day.

I got really angry over this really angry and I starting to delete one of my self modded threads.

I wish I had not reacted that way but I did. I got 30 or 40 pms and realized My anger overcame me. I did not delete any more threads.

Now I wonder if mr r has had something anger him and it is why he is doing it.

Yeah my wife had 2x pneumonia from covid and almost died she still suffers to this day from nasal and lung issues. It was not an easy disease for us. So I reacted poorly.

Maybe Mr R is in distress over Ukraine Vs Russia war and has reacted poorly in his behavior.

[GazetaBitcoin]

Now I wonder if mr r has had something anger him and it is why he is doing it.

Have you read those 2 threads, which expose Ratimov's Trust abuses done for years in a row and his shenanigans done to cover his abuses and his plagiarism? This is the reason why.
Should Ratimov be in DT1?
Ratimov is deleting self-moderated topics. He now goes onto my Ignore list.

mr r

Oh, he is no "Mr"! You can see here his attempts to act like a gentleman.

At first I thought you are joking when you asked about what happens. Later I realized you actually don't know. Please read the linked materials thoroughlly and you'll understand.

[BitcoinGirl.Club]

This is a rule violation, but it's fairly minor. A veteran forum member isn't typically going to be banned without warning for moving their topics incorrectly. (These topics were blanked and then deleted over the course of ~3 days before the issue was noticed. It wasn't part of an ongoing pattern AFAICT.) If he continues to move topics incorrectly, this would warrant a temporary ban.

Yes Retimov is a veteran member
[1.] He has long experience in stealing others work [even avoided ban for plagiarism], a thief.
[2.] He has long experience in farming merit in the forum to position himself as 3rd merit earner [we were able to set him as a role model, Ratimov medals Ratimov], a merit farmer.
[3.] He has long experience in manipulating DT system to positing himself with 14 DT strength, a DT abuser.
[4.] He has long experience in conducting deals to grow his feedback page with +22 positive feedback, a trust farmer.
[5.] He has long experience in using trust feedback to hostage the feedback sender to offer peace, a feedback abuser.

We need a custom title for Ratimov: A veteran intellectual thief, merit farmer, DT abuser, trust farmer, feedback abuser. Just like this


Joking apart, what do you feel about his merit source status? You said yourself

This was a moderator getting tricked

What are the possibility of you not being tricked?
I think I was tricked with all his fake good if I supported his merit source application [moved to trash I think], I also think many others who were supporting the same application tricked with all his fake good. He received the status and was using the source merits to create a fake community around him with the merit beggars.

see lots of personal involvement of some users in all that

Are you still going to give special importance in personal involvements or you now can see the other issues are more important than personal?

He received a warning from me. I wrote to him about his behavior and that in case he continues such actions, he will get a ban. I did not receive a reply, but his trash topics did no longer appear after my warning. I hope for his discretion.

You did what should be done, there are no late in correcting mistake. If you would do the same and used your brain before making everything so messy like it became now then no one would try to point the fingers towards you and the other mod. I really hope you will use this experience to learn a good lesson. All the best.

[digaran]

He is a merit source? Do you have any evidence to prove that he has been misusing his source merits?
Who has given him more than 11,000 merits other than other merit sources? Why don't you consider them "tricked",  shouldn't sources read a post in full before meriting someone? And why didn't anyone notice his "manipulation" tactics before giving him so much merits?
I will not judge anyone here, but if someone takes advantage of a community by manipulation and deception, deserves no respect and should not be put in a position of authority.
Also note that, back scratchers are every where, it's not limited to this case, almost all merit sources discriminate when it comes to meriting.

[jokers10]

see lots of personal involvement of some users in all that

Are you still going to give special importance in personal involvements or you now can see the other issues are more important than personal?

Did you provide any new provable facts since then? As I see from the thread, your accusations towards mods expectedly revealed false and basing on wrong assumptions. Those assumptions are motivated by your personal involvement. Why should my position change?

Unlike you, I did check several deleted topics via ninjastic.space and I didn't see anything of that you are saying about those topics. And I did it even before to come first time in this topic. So, despite it should be on you to prove your words (because it is your accusations), I did my own small research. And I see no new facts. Only new accusations basing on old assumptions.

As I said, if you want to convince me, it would better to do with showing provable facts with links and explanations. If the facts will be convincing, it could change my mind. And ongoing forcing can't.

[suchmoon]

It's allowed for topic-starters to delete all replies to their self-mod topics. Restoring the posts would only be considered in special cases such as if their account had been hacked.

Also, if a topic has no more replies, moderators will typically delete the topic on request, since then there isn't the issue of deleting other people's replies. That's why the empty topics were not restored.

It's just that he trashed a bunch of threads out of spite or mental breakdown or whatever that was, not because of anything related to the threads themselves. That's why I think it's abuse of a forum feature/privilege.

Perhaps there should be a time limit on self mod. I can't think of a good reason to delete posts months later.

[Don Pedro Dinero]

Perhaps there should be a time limit on self mod. I can't think of a good reason to delete posts months later.

Obviously, I can't know what's going on in theymos' head but I don't think one particular case justifies a general change regarding self-moderated threads. But I want to make it clear that I am not against it, especially if implementation is easy.

[LoyceV]

So its possible if he keeps deleting or editing his old topics without writing something in here , that the Account maybe got hacked or sold ?

Unlikely. He's still posting, and he still has the same signature. My guess: he's laying low because at this point the amount of drama he caused is only making things worse for himself.

Perhaps there should be a time limit on self mod. I can't think of a good reason to delete posts months later.

I can think of a reason:

It's self-moderated to keep the topic as compact as possible (for more efficient scraping).

I don't often delete posts to keep some Q&A, but once there's enough to delete to make the topic a page shorter I do it.