NEW: Notorious trolls of the PolishForums Community are being permanently suspended

In order to improve the PolishForums community and focus on relevant discussions about Poland without personal fights and prejudice, we decided to permanently suspend some of the most notorious long-term trolls.

We hope that new members (or dormant members) of PolishForums will welcome this decision and start contributing more to this Poland-related forum without a fear that their messages are ridiculed or contorted by trolls.

Message to suspended member/s - please don't try to register new accounts since they will also be suspended.

Which members?

It's an on-going process; no troll / abuser is safe in long term.

Admin, you have my full support on your decisions ;)

I was quite taken aback to see Delphandomine suspended, I know I have no right as such to comment but was taken aback to see him gone. I have no contact with him other than on here but he has always seemed a good and helpful chap and with that in mind I hope it is just some minor transgression and so not a permanent suspension.

I agree with some of DD's views. However, he had an unpleasant habit of investigating the private lives of his fellow posters, and then using whatever information he had gleaned to make personal attacks that had nothing whatsoever to do with the subject under discussion.

Furthermore, he (and a few other posters) would be very hostile to newbies. Invariably, were anyone to ask whether it was possible to live and work in Poland, they would be told it was impossible, and that DD was the only person ever from the west clever enough to have found a job here.

Then, the inevitable prying and character assassination would begin.

I'd suggest being banned from PF is the best thing that could happen to DD. That way he can leave his computer and learn a little about Poland and Poles, and become a little less obsessed with the private lives of his fellow posters here.

Count me as one of the dormant type. Some of the main posters were complete jackasses TBH and it was really hard to feel like you could actually be part of this forum. Which is sad because there are so many of us, on many sides: expats in Poland or Poles outside their country, those with Polish heritage and Poles living in their country, who could add so much richness to this forum. Instead it was overrun with a handful of people so full of themselves that they pushed others away. So thank you admin, I look forward to taking part more often!

Exactly. Nothing against DD's views. Just his toxic personality (and that of some of his 'mates').

Buahahahaha. Wonder who will follow :D If it's only Delph then I think there was no need to bother. He was managable imo and at least posted things about Poland. Don't get me wrong- if we are getting rid of trolls then Delph knew he's basically on his way out but we have ppl here that couse similar ammount of trouble (considering the time they spend here) and never bother to post anything remotely connected to the topics. If I had to choose I would get rid of them in the first place.

Anyway- good luck in your quest- I hope you'll make this place better.

I think mods made a mistake. Look, for example, at expat schools thread. Delph offered valuable, on point information, while Ironside posted usual garbage designed to stir the pot.

In a way that's what I meant Fstop. I won't compare Delph to other posters cos that's not the point but generally Delph always tried to help ppl moving to Poland by giving his opinion. In my opinion Delph's suspension will be with the loss for some of new posters while blessing for the others- just not sure which side will win.

Only Delph has been banned? Who else?


When you look at this world and how it's run, you wonder if it's a good thing that personal feelings should not interact.

Imho, generally he tried to put them down.

But he was always offering work - at his school.

I doubt whether he had such power, he was just doing so to flatter his own sense of self-importance.

I have to agree with this. Delph was pretty straightforward and forthcoming about information about the harsh reality of the market for teachers in Poland. And I have seen him offer to help put people in contact with possible employers, even in cases that I thought were hopeless.


I don't think it's hostile to point out the bleeding obvious fact that, without relevant qualifications and experience, it is practically impossible to find gainful employment and make a decent living in Poland, especially for people from outside of the EU. A lot of the newbies asking about jobs have some pretty bizarre ideas about the prospects of finding work and making a living in Poland. The guys who want to move to Poland to be with their Polish girlfriends are particularly clueless. Often astoundingly so. It's not cruel to set them straight and take off their rose-colored glasses. It would be cruel to hold out hope where little or none exists.

#well lenka that is your opinion but if giving valuable info a about Poland( to be honest it was only very little info, mostly about native English speakers) is justification on waging the war at the Pol-Ams or those who support PiS or many others by calling them village idiots or telling them they are not Poles but Americans. After all it is an American Forum, I can imaged that many number of potential members has been put off but such aggression.

Saying that it was all in the past, I do not support banning people for their past deeds. The time for Delphi permanent ban came too late for at least two years. Recently he was manageable as you said but only just, his toxic personality were getting in the way.


Personal meaning feelings over reason and fairness
.

That's not my opinion, and I know Poland pretty well.

As much depends on the person as the country. The kind of person who is likely to find work is just as likely to find it in Poland as elsewhere.

Now, if someone wants interesting and well paid work, they may not find it (just like everywhere else). However, there are jobs going for native speakers in call centers and language schools. Plus, anyone who really wants to can pick up private lessons.

My main problem in Poland has been how to turn down work without offending people, not how to find it. And I've had all kinds of interesting offers for work (not just teaching/call centers).

I've known literally hundreds of natives come to Szczecin. Whether they got a decent living depended on their personal qualities.

I remember some girl with an American Law Degree and a basic knowledge of Polish being informed she would never find work in Poland. What complete and utter b0ll0cks!

I completely fail to believe the only foreigners who can make it in Poland are the Polish Forum 'elite'.

I'd go so far as to claim the opposite. People with busy and productive lives do not spend each and every day hanging around forums such as these.

+1


+1
Recently I had the displeasure of reporting one of the most vilest trolls this place has even seen for threatening physical violence against me and plenty of verbal abuse too, what was done?

Sweet feck all. How the Mods have not banned him is beyond me.

I have not been impressed with the recent modding at all, what started out as a good year on PF, the highlight being that serial spammer Polo was banned :) has ended in a complete and utter shambles.

As I said I don't justify Delph's trolling- I'm not suprised he's suspended although I don't think suspending only him is:

1- going to make a difference
2- is justified at the moment

If we are serious about it- there are few more ppl that should follow imo.

Iron

Giving the info doesn't make up for trolling (although lately Delph was much more behaved) but if I had a choice I would rather suspend someone who only trolls without helping- wouldn't you?

Lenka I don't understand that new initiative. I mean you and p3 had been doing a great job here and I think what was needed it was yet another mod with your attitude not an old one back. I mean he has had his chance and his five minutes to make a difference, as your example showed it has been possible to change this forum within existing rules.

To answer your qestion yes and I would add all those who just post nonsense and are too low IQ to contribute anything to this forum other that their rather limited outburst. It maybe a fault but I cannot stand stupidity, well it is a sin isn't it to be stupid. ]


You used to be a mod Lenka just name them.

Not so new:
polishforums.com/faq-feedback-23/pending-life-ban-some-old-time-members-66867


I don't agree- every one of the group has his/her own modding style and I believe they can compliment each other. As a former mod I can say that sometimes my friendly approach didn't work- ppl often assumed I'm stupid, weak or easy to fool just because I talked to ppl. I think we have great mods atm and frankly speaking Admin is very lucky to have them.

Who knows- maybe we'll have new mod with similar approach to mine? Although I doubt Admin will risk it after me :D :P


Sadly stupidity isn't punishable :D


"Used to" is the main part- we have good mods and I'm sure they know the best who deserves it (even if I'm not too fond of the last decission). Besides there are behind the curtain things that we know nothing about so I will bite my tongue :P

Well at least there will be:
1)less bashing of Polonia or PolAms.
2)less historic lies about Poland
3) and less spying and revealing personal information (most of the time which was made up).

Somehow I doubt these bans will be permanent but either way so far so good.

It's good that people have different opinions, and we need to be able to voice and discuss them in a civil (!) manner. If you demand to shut up every poster who doesn't agree with your world view, then you will end up with a forum that is virtually dead. That's the reason why I generally support the admin's take on free speech.


You mean like the "Poland was occupied during the partitions" historic lie that is frequently brought up by some of our PolAm posters? ;)

When he stepping into criminal behavior that got the police involved, he should have been banned. I agreed he has a lot to offer information wise but what he did was beyond the pale.

On that I agree completely but the last time he did something of that kind he served his time and since then never posted anything like that. So will we punish for something that has been punished already?

As I said- Delph has it coming and he knew that but fighting with PF trolls and suspending only him? Hilarious. Neither it will be effective nor just- we have a nice collection of trolls here :D

Why didn't you suspend/take care of the trolls when you were a mod Lenka?

As you know Pgtx when that proposition was on I was against permament bans. If it came to it I would have few ppl on my list and yes, Delph would be there as well.

Delph banned? wow, well done, looks like this forum is changing for better, the biggest troll is out.

True, enough said on that. I expressed my view and that's it :)


Oh no, the modding staff can do that and I have nothing against it if that's how they want to handle this (their right- they are the ones who take responsibility for this forum) I just say that I don't think suspending one poster will "improve the community" and helps with "focusing on relevant discussions without personal fights". Delph is not responsible for all the fights here (although he has his fair share).


I don't hold bias and I don't accuse mods of it- I just think that one Delph doesn't make a day. That's all.

Delph knew Poland, was smart, interesting, liberal, and fought the rednecks on this forum. Was banning him politically motivated?

4 times negative sir