Can a moderator be wrong?

[Queentoshi]

If a member of the forum who makes a topic that they feel is important, and relevant to the board where they have posted it discovers shortly after they have made the post that their topic was moved to "off-topic" even when the topic was already creating relevant engagement, is it possible for them to contest it? or are the moderators always correct?

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[examplens]

If a member of the forum who makes a topic that they feel is important, and relevant to the board where they have posted it discovers shortly after they have made the post that their topic was moved to "off-topic" even when the topic was already creating relevant engagement, is it possible for them to contest it? or are the moderators always correct?

Moderators are also human (at least that's what we all think  ), so mistakes are possible.

Wouldn't it be better if you left here a link to the discussion in question, so you would immediately get concrete opinions and not just guesses?

[Davidvictorson]

Wouldn't it be better if you left here a link to the discussion in question, so you would immediately get concrete opinions and not just guesses?

I think the OP is pained that this topic - What if an employee of a betting company misuses company funds for gambling? was moved to off-topic.

Well, she shouldn't be pained because the gambling discussion board is a pit of spam low quality topics that users with little experiences in gambling create to meet up with post quota for their signature campaigns.

It isn't only the OP's topic that was been affected, a couple of gambling topics I noticed that were created last week were moved to off-topic. For example this one- Noticing sign of gambling addiction before it gets worst. If this was done today, I would think it was some kind of April Fool's prank.

It could be that gambling topics bordering around "gambling addictions" and the likes of them have become too incessant that filled with spammers.

[Queentoshi]

I think the OP is pained that this topic - What if an employee of a betting company misuses company funds for gambling? was moved to off-topic.

I am not really pained, that word sounds too serious, and I understand your point but I am just inquisitive.

But this question does not just apply to the post I made in the gambling section. It is a general question, because it can happen to anyone who makes a post in any other board of the forum.

[Davidvictorson]

I am not really pained, that word sounds too serious, and I understand your point but I am just inquisitive.

Just like examplens said and I agree that moderators are humans. And humans are without fault. If you are not satisfied with the answers, you can PM one of the moderators to review the topic moved to off-topic. By doing this you will be able to tell why they think the topic deserved to be moved.

[examplens]

I think the OP is pained that this topic - What if an employee of a betting company misuses company funds for gambling? was moved to off-topic.

If we are talking about moving this topic, I must say that I completely agree with the moderator who moved it. An extremely useless discussion that leads nowhere. If we think that this is a forum about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, I don't see why it is unclear that it is off-topic. A topic only for filling the weekly signature quota

I would probably be more rigorous, there are many threads in the gambling section that should be locked or moved to the off-topic.

But this question does not just apply to the post I made in the gambling section. It is a general question, because it can happen to anyone who makes a post in any other board of the forum.

You are partially right but don't generalize the whole forum through your example. A quality-level thread like the one we're talking about will probably get move ^deleted anywhere on the forum.

[Queentoshi]

If you are not satisfied with the answers, you can PM one of the moderators to review the topic moved to off-topic.

Sending a PM can get me answers, but I am not the type to first send private messages, I want to know the opinions of more older forum members, and if any other member of the forum has had any of their topics moved back from off-topic by the moderators after being sent there. 

[Davidvictorson]

If we are talking about moving this topic, I must say that I completely agree with the moderator who moved it. An extremely useless discussion that leads nowhere. If we think that this is a forum about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, I don't see why it is unclear that it is off-topic. A topic only for filling the weekly signature quota

In my estimation, I wouldn't say the topic is useless. As someone who some years of gambling experience, It is one of the realities that casino owners face. For example in my country,  physical bet shop Owners have to install CCTV cameras in their shops to monitor the activities of the staff members. It is easy to  divert the company funds to personal gambling purposes without such supervision. We can't deny that this happens. Could be the OP was seeking some insights into this.

[Adbitco]

Looking at some possibilities in a post, if a topic are being moved to off-topic this means that your post doesn't have a place to classify it even though it's gaining more attention than others. Now, your post is still useful and meaningful, the only thing here is that there is no right place to direct the post, for instance talking about the herbal remedies of lime and lemon grass on the technical board. This looks absolutely off-topic in that section even though people where commenting on it, then what admin or mod would do is to move it to the right board then the discussion can continue over there.

[Queentoshi]

An extremely useless discussion that leads nowhere. If we think that this is a forum about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, I don't see why it is unclear that it is off-topic. A topic only for filling the weekly signature quota.

I am a regular poster on the gambling board. From my post history you can see that I actively engage in gambling discussions. I think that it is wrong to try to insinuate that I post to meet up with the post quota. It's better you don't reply if you have nothing better to say that reply at all.

[Upgrade00]

Moderators are human and can be wrong on a handful of occasions, does not happen often. Mods also have better understanding of the rules than most of the forum members so they're right on most cases.

The mods are quite busy with their tasks on the forum, it might not be worth it to take them on on one isolated incident. If a mod is suspected to be making multiple bad calls then sure, you should challenge it, but one incident that is not a clear cut error (the mod is likely right here), is not worth its own thread.

[acroman08]

is it possible for them to contest it? or are the moderators always correct?

Yes and there have been cases where threads that has been trashed by the mods get reinstated after a member(may it be the author of the thread or just a member who have read the thread) made a post about it.

If you are quite certain that the thread belongs to gambling board, you can try moving the thread back to gambling board again.

[Mpamaegbu]

... are the moderators always correct?

Moderators are humans. Humans aren't always right/correct. However, their egos may be on the way of their admission of their wrong.

If you are quite certain that the thread belongs to gambling board, you can try moving the thread back to gambling board again.

That's an option OP should seek recourse to. There had been a few instances where such an act of moving back threads succeeded after threads were (wrongly) moved. Though  OP would've stood a better chance at it if they laced that thread with more fact findings and illustrations, exemplifying it as true gambling topic.

[Marvelman]

Moderators are people too, and people make mistakes sometimes.  I get that it can be frustrating when a post gets deleted or thread gets moved to off-topic unexpectedly.  But each situation is unique though.  Rather than worrying about general opinions on moderator decisions, it's better to reflect on your specific post - think through why it might have been seen as off-topic based on the rules or focus of that forum and  if you still feel it was an unfair call after some self-examination you could politely inquire with the mods about their reasoning.

An extremely useless discussion that leads nowhere. If we think that this is a forum about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, I don't see why it is unclear that it is off-topic. A topic only for filling the weekly signature quota.

I am a regular poster on the gambling board. From my post history you can see that I actively engage in gambling discussions. I think that it is wrong to try to insinuate that I post to meet up with the post quota. It's better you don't reply if you have nothing better to say that reply at all.

Why? He gave his opinion on an open question. He has every right to do so, just like everyone else.

[KingsDen]

If a member of the forum who makes a topic that they feel is important, and relevant to the board where they have posted it discovers shortly after they have made the post that their topic was moved to "off-topic" even when the topic was already creating relevant engagement, is it possible for them to contest it? or are the moderators always correct?

Anyone can be wrong including theymos. This is why issues are treated case by case. Even admitting that anyone can be wrong, it is worthy to note that moderators do not make mistakes often, especially in acting in the capacity of a moderator. In the past I have seen some big names contest with moderators in issue like this, but the moderators will win at last. For the fact that anyone can be wrong, that is why we have boards like meta and reputation

[SatoPrincess]

In most cases, moderators react to reports made by other members. It’s possible that the thread was reported by one or more members to be moved. I believe the moderator saw reasons with them as to why the topic was not a fit for the gambling board. There are many generic topics and reoccurring discussions in the gambling section, it’s not surprising that some members believe it to be a spam fest.

[Zaguru12]

If you are quite certain that the thread belongs to gambling board, you can try moving the thread back to gambling board again.

Now this is another problem to be clear with, moving threads that were already moved by a MOD, isn’t that disagreeing with the Moderators decision? What’s the punishment for that, a temp ban? I think OP might just use the other option of just giving the MOD a better reason of why it should be where he posted just same way the MOD might have been written to move it to off topic from the first place

[Pokapoka124]

Like other members suggested, you can dm the moderator of that board for the reason why the post was moved. Moderators can be wrong too but in this case I have to support the mods. Just because a topic has the word “gambling” in it doesn’t make it a gambling discussion. The topic could easily pass as off-topic discussion. No matter how you feel about it, don’t move the thread back to the board it was removed from. You could get banned for that.

[Smartvirus]

... are the moderators always correct?

Moderators are humans. Humans aren't always right/correct. However, their egos may be on the way of their admission of their wrong.

You captured it all in one simple sentence!

Anyone expecting moderators or assuming moderators to be always right would be fooling themselves. Still, you wouldn’t say they are wrong either.
What’s there to understand is that, there are more than one side to a story or a judgment. This has been exemplified in many cases with the number “69” and the alphabet “E” which could take different forms and meaning depending on what side you’re looking at it from.

Meanwhile, in trying to make moderators or anyone accept what you think is a flaw in their judgment, you rather approach it inquisitively before projecting your defensive ideas suggestively. Trying to put it to anyone would simply prompt in the person a need to be defensive and right!

Also, that people are already taking to a discussion wouldn’t make it off-topic. All the discussions could be in line with the OP but, off-topic plays out with regards to the board. I don’t know what topic might have prompt your having to question what judgment you received but, having a thread moved doesn’t stop the discussions that could continue there in. It might affect the exposure as, there are boards not visited by the majority or taken seriously and as much as that could hurt, a moderator would always act based on what they perceive to be most probable.

[examplens]

I am a regular poster on the gambling board. From my post history you can see that I actively engage in gambling discussions.

And? Why is it important to mention it?

I think that it is wrong to try to insinuate that I post to meet up with the post quota.

It's not about your post, but the whole discussion. After moving to the off-topic section where posts are not counted, no one is interested in giving their opinion on the topic. Look at that entire thread and honestly say what did that discussion bring?

It's better you don't reply if you have nothing better to say that reply at all.

It's better not to open such questions if you are going to be rude to someone who sees things differently than you. There are at least two of us with the same opinion that off-topic is an appropriate place for that topic. Moderator and me.

[tranthidung]

If a member of the forum who makes a topic that they feel is important, and relevant to the board where they have posted it discovers shortly after they have made the post that their topic was moved to "off-topic" even when the topic was already creating relevant engagement, is it possible for them to contest it? or are the moderators always correct?

Read forum rules again, please.

23. When deciding if a user has broken the rules, the staff have the right to follow their interpretation of the rules.[e]

Moderators have rights to interpret forum rules on their own and if you feel a moderator's decision to handle your topic is wrong, you can appeal for changes.

Unfortunately, most of times, moderators handle things correctly. You can appeal but change to succeed is very slim.

[FinneysTrueVision]

If you are quite certain that the thread belongs to gambling board, you can try moving the thread back to gambling board again.

Now this is another problem to be clear with, moving threads that were already moved by a MOD, isn’t that disagreeing with the Moderators decision? What’s the punishment for that, a temp ban? I think OP might just use the other option of just giving the MOD a better reason of why it should be where he posted just same way the MOD might have been written to move it to off topic from the first place

When I had less experience in the forum somebody reported a post I made in the gambling discussion board and it was moved to off-topic. Another user advised me to move it back to gambling discussion so I did, but a moderator then moved it to off-topic again. After moving it back a second time, a mod put it back in off-topic. I did not receive a ban for this but I learned it’s better to just let these kind of things go. I’ve also had posts deleted which I felt were relevant to the topic and after inquiring a mod about it received no reply. The mods will do what they think is best and there’s not much point trying to go against them.

[Zaguru12]

When I had less experience in the forum somebody reported a post I made in the gambling discussion board and it was moved to off-topic. Another user advised me to move it back to gambling discussion so I did, but a moderator then moved it to off-topic again. After moving it back a second time, a mod put it back in off-topic. I did not receive a ban for this
 

I think if you had tried it the third time you might have been punished for nuisance  , I wish you had done that at least we would have had what happened from an experienced person

but I learned it’s better to just let these kind of things go. I’ve also had posts deleted which I felt were relevant to the topic and after inquiring a mod about it received no reply. The mods will do what they think is best and there’s not much point trying to go against them.

You know sometimes it is not just them looking at your post and deciding it should be moved, one or many members might have reported it with concrete reasons. It is not necessarily because the post was bad but because the spamming going on there might be much and moving it elsewhere might be the solution

[EarnOnVictor]

If a member of the forum who makes a topic that they feel is important, and relevant to the board where they have posted it discovers shortly after they have made the post that their topic was moved to "off-topic" even when the topic was already creating relevant engagement, is it possible for them to contest it? or are the moderators always correct?

Of course, you can contest it, and I've even seen people contest it by creating a thread in this Meta section of the forum, some will even create it in the Beginners & Help section to make their dissatisfaction known to all. I've also seen at least two members rewriting the same post at where they deem fit to be the relevant section of the forum if the moderator is not cooperating since they are fully sure of what they wrote, especially when everybody reading it knows that it makes sense and was posted at the right section.

Many will even garner more relevance and merits due to that, because at times, it is obvious that the content creator is right but the moderator could be overbearing. Nevertheless, what I can say is that moderators are given power more than regular users, so they can do and undo it. If you protest, some of them might reason with you and do what you want, but I think that some more reputable members and/or their fellow moderators intervene too.

Above all, moderators are also humans, they are bound to make mistakes, and this could be traced to mood and stress at times.

[hilariousandco]

If a member of the forum who makes a topic that they feel is important, and relevant to the board where they have posted it discovers shortly after they have made the post that their topic was moved to "off-topic" even when the topic was already creating relevant engagement, is it possible for them to contest it? or are the moderators always correct?

Mods can of course make mistakes just like regular users can as well. Users are also free to complain about mod actions in Meta. Sometimes things are also subjective. If we are talking about this thread below you could argue it could fit in maybe gambling discussion or maybe even rep or service discussion subs but I don't think it's wrong in off topic. I wouldn't disagree if it was sent to the trashcan either. People sometimes also have their own biases. I've seen people in the past complain about a thread being moved and they're mostly annoyed that they can't get paid for it in that specific sub.

Wouldn't it be better if you left here a link to the discussion in question, so you would immediately get concrete opinions and not just guesses?

I think the OP is pained that this topic - What if an employee of a betting company misuses company funds for gambling? was moved to off-topic.

[Queentoshi]

I have read through the replies, I am satisfied with the answers I have received. I will lock the thread to prevent spams.
Thank you.