Why does it take so long for threads and posts to show up?

[Woodrow]

I can understand the frustrations some of you have over wondering why your posts are not seen immediatly.

Here are some reasons:

All threads and posts need to be approved by a moderator.


that sounds simple enough, but think of this:

Sometimes we might not be on line.

Some of the threads have links to other sites, those have to be checked out and verified for legitimacy before we will approve or disapprove the post.

Speaking for myself, sometimes there are posts that I personaly question the appropriatness of them. However, they are not blatantly offensive so I do hesitate and am very cautious about approving or deleting them, until I have explored all implications. (I'm slow, that can take time.) I believe I am not the only mod who thinks like that.

Some days there is an over abundance of threads.

With that said have patience when you post. We will get to each one as time permits. Expect a normal wait of 2 to 4 hours. If your post does not show up and you do not get a notice it has been deleted, it is most likely one that there is a problem in verifying the legitimacy of. At this moment there are several posts awaiting approval. Many of those have a lot of links on them, which are taking time to check out.

[Ebtisweetsam]

Brother all my posts got deleted even my poll- why is that? I had to re-register.

[Grace Seeker]

Brother all my posts got deleted even my poll- why is that? I had to re-register.

Twice this summer the whole system crashed. The administrators had to go to a back-up file that was before the crash. If you just happened to have registered in that time between when the back up was made and when the crash occurred, then you got lost in the time warp. And it was not just your posts, but everyone's, even actions the mods had taken. Most often technology is a blessing, but it too has its price and crashes of the system is one of them.

[kh@led]

I understand he good intention behind this action. However, personally I'm not sure how practical this is. Some of my points are below -


1. Many times people ask questions that are extremely simple and nonoffensive in which case waiting for approval seems very fraustrating and meaningless.

2. Many times there are questions of which people want to know the answer urgently. In such cases, delaying the post may be too late and may not serve its acual purpose.

3. IN GENERAL, the majority of threads are harmless which are posted by members of the forum who have been here for a long time with good reputations and sometimes occationally some threads may be inappropriate or offensive. What I'm trying to say is, in any islamic discussion board, generally there are far more positive threads than offensive or inappropriate ones. Therefore, in my opinion, its far easier and less time consuming to delete offensive/inappropriate threads than screening ALL the threads before approving.

4. If you are too worried about external links within the posts, then perhaps you can write a script (I guess its possible!) which will check whether the new thread contains any external links or not. If it has then it can wait for approval otherwise it can be posted immediately.

These are just my thoughts on this matter.

Jazakallah Khair.

[Woodrow]

I understand he good intention behind this action. However, personally I'm not sure how practical this is. Some of my points are below -Jazakallah Khair.

1. Many times people ask questions that are extremely simple and nonoffensive in which case waiting for approval seems very fraustrating and meaningless.

The fact that the thread has not been approved is an indication that there is no moderator for this section online at that time. We can not take the responsibility for possible erroneous information. Remember, the majority of our members are not scholars nor claim to be. Most of the very simple questions are more suitable for the open forums rather than for this section, which is trying to keep only valid information available for new Muslims.

2. Many times there are questions of which people want to know the answer urgently. In such cases, delaying the post may be too late and may not serve its acual purpose.

See Rule 12 of the FAQs:

12.This is not a Fiqh discussion board. Prolonged threads arguing over Fatwas and the details of Islamic law will be closed. Avoid asking questions that require a Scholar or Shaykh, as there is no one on the board qualified to answer your questions. Please use other knowledgeable means such as a scholar, Imam or knowledgeable person in your area or provide sources.

3. IN GENERAL, the majority of threads are harmless which are posted by members of the forum who have been here for a long time with good reputations and sometimes occationally some threads may be inappropriate or offensive. What I'm trying to say is, in any islamic discussion board, generally there are far more positive threads than offensive or inappropriate ones. Therefore, in my opinion, its far easier and less time consuming to delete offensive/inappropriate threads than screening ALL the threads before approving.

the reason you see mostly positive threads is because the mods delete the offensive ones quite fast. i know most members never see it but we do go through periods when we get bombarded by some very anti-Islamic people. Yesterday was a prime example and it happened during a short perid when no mods were on line.

4. If you are too worried about external links within the posts, then perhaps you can write a script (I guess its possible!) which will check whether the new thread contains any external links or not. If it has then it can wait for approval otherwise it can be posted immediately.

I don't know about the rest of the mods or of the admins, but I personally do not have the skills to do that.

[kh@led]

Jazakallah Khair bro Woodrow for your kind explanation. Although I don't agree with some of your points, I am not going to push or argue about it

I guess all I can say is that in this case, perhaps having more mods (specially who spend more time on this forum) can help in solving this waiting game

[aqsakhan]

Assalam-o-alaikum w r w b
jazakallah khair brother woodrow for explaining peacefully
Assalam-o-alaikum w r w b

[Christian Girl]

ok so you appove all threads

[manaal]

May i suggest a roster system so that the mods can work in shifts? I know this is a voluntary services, but I feel work will be more efficient if at least one mod is online all the time.

By putting the mods on for maybe 2 hour shifts a day, you can ensure that the forum is never unsupervised. This would only be practical of course, if the mods live in different parts of the world, which i beleive is the case?

[darkillusions]

I understand...this would stop all unwanted threads such as offense and advertising

[love_quran]

Ive been in a situation where i have written a short reply to a post in a thread i started and had to wait to see it go up. Reading the originating post of this thread has helped me understand why.

[Grace Seeker]

it's not fair a post should be deleted. This forum is for the public and we should be allowed to say what we want and not have to have it approved. What's the point of a forum if everything I write must be approved by someone?

But you are incorrect when you say that this forum is for the public. This is a private forum, run with a specific purpose in mind:

The mission of our e-Islamic community is to help foster a better understanding of Islam. To facilitate this, we have laid a set of guidelines that all members are required to read and adhere to. The Staff of this forum will edit or reject any post that violates these rules, and terminate the membership, based on the severity of the violation, of any member who acts in a manner inconsistent with the letter or spirit of these rules.

Even as a non-Muslim I need to remember that overarching purpose for the forum. And though I might have a different agenda personally, I need to remember that I am here as a guest. My "rights", such as I have them, extend only as far as I do not impose unfairly on my hosts courtesy. In this case, they have been clear when I invited myself in, that I was welcome within a certain set of guidelines. If I don't like those guidelines I am free to leave. If I can live with them, I am most welcome to stay. But I do not have the freedom to just do or say whatever I want unmonitored or without consequences. Again, if I want that, then this is not the right forum for me. And if you need that, then this is not the right forum for you either.


Forum Rules

FAQ's, including the one:
Q: Is there freedom of speech at Load-Islam Forums?
A: Freedom of speech rights do not extend to this privately owned website. The Guidelines of this website governs the behaviours and activities of the members. If you choose not to follow the guidelines agreed to during registration, the result is a disabling of your account.



You may not be satisfied with the above answer or the rationale behind it; nevertheless, it is the answer. As I tell my children when the don't like the house rules: you need to learn to live with it if you're going to live here.

[darkillusions]

some forums are subject to spam bots. They spam the forum in great numbers everyday. Once banned they send new bots, so its very hard to control them.
But I dont like this rule either coz it really takes long sometimes.

[Yanal]

All users be patient because Patience=Sabr=Paradise:

‘Ata ibn Rabah related that he heard Ibn ‘Abbas say: “Shall I show you a woman of Paradise?”I said: “Yes, indeed.” He said: “A black woman came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and said: ‘I suffer from epileptic fits, and because of these, (at times) my body becomes uncovered. Would you invoke Allah, the Exalted One, to cure me of this disease? ‘ The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: ‘If you wish, you can be patient and you will attain Paradise (for this suffering). But if you prefer, I will pray to Allah, the Exalted, to cure you of it?’ The woman said: ‘I will be patient,’ then added: ‘I become uncovered (when I have fits), so invoke Allah for me that I do not become uncovered. ‘ So the Prophet, peace be upon him, prayed for her.” [Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4, #1a]

[Muslim Woman]

All users be patient because Patience=Sabr=Paradise:

a good reminder , thanks

[Habibi1]

I also had a urgent question, and had to wait so long that I joined another forum and forgot about this one. I'm not even sure what brought me back here, i must have hit another bookmark than intended!

Of course I have to respect the moderators decisions, but this type of slow posting is a problem for me...hm....

In that other forum moderation was not interfering very much, and mostly via Smilie or PM.

I learned a lot, but there was also a lot of stress due to a fanatical woman who bashed others. What a drama...

[Nat]

Hi

I am new here and posted a Thread for advice for a muslim friend who is thinking of leaving Islam, my post still has not been shown?

[Rialah]

I also had a urgent question, and had to wait so long that I joined another forum and forgot about this one. I'm not even sure what brought me back here, i must have hit another bookmark than intended!

Of course I have to respect the moderators decisions, but this type of slow posting is a problem for me...hm....

In that other forum moderation was not interfering very much, and mostly via Smilie or PM.

I learned a lot, but there was also a lot of stress due to a fanatical woman who bashed others. What a drama...

Masha Allah, I run a forum myself, the thing is, the public who surf in and look on the site and forum and see postings may and usually attribute content and comments to the managers or administrators of the forum.

Where it concerns a sensitive area like giving responses to questions raised by people who are not muslims, then it pays to be careful to check the responses and the queries posted to make sure it does not create offense or insurgence or that people don't misinterprete comments and so much more.

The larger the forum, the more there is to moderate, so its a hard task and I am guessing like me the moderators do not sit on the internet all day watching the forum and reading all entries like robots, they stop to eat sometimes.

Don't be upset, it is a charitable venture having a forum board, it is also hard work coping with large numbers of members and large volumes of posts.

Try not to consider it as your one stop shop for answers to everything but rather as a place where you can air and put on air matters of concern and hopefully people who are knowledgable and kind enough may review your questions and to answer them or comment. Aside from this, bear in mind, that sometimes, you may post a question which is similar to one posted before or has been posted recently so try to search the threads to see first before you post.

Good luck and please patience patience. Masalaam

[Rialah]

Patience patience

[abjad]

(I'm slow, that can take time.) I believe I am not the only mod who thinks like that

asalaam aleykum,

that for sure any has to admit, But brother let us...re think for smoothest way for mods etc;
let us say u dont approve or delete, ok you dont but what about the one who started the thread?
What i mean if thread is removed...the one who started the thread is to loose (10 points) BUT that too after his appeal has been refused by the concerned; simultaneously has appeared and seen by all on board, and visually white washed writing's of being deleted.

i know you have not asked for any advice as how to improve YOUR board but i wont hesitate to please have a look or Think

how about that square Report abuse on top right hand corned, i dont mean that to be ignored or accepted by all but...there must be some members chosen by YOU as your SCOUT for the page, say if 5 out of 8 u have choose report then there action to be taken and yet
the thread started is to be given chance to APPEAL; should his/her appeal being denied automatically loose 10pont,
for sure to loose clicks neither admin nor mod would like that.

once again my brother

take me ..as usual...am "Still Learning"
and eager to.