Spiritually asking, what will you recommend for "report abuse" rules when Yahoo sells out?

throw out the chatting rule for sure---what else is asking questions but chatting and sometimes you chat trying to clarify a question or answer. I think we should also be able to just tell people to shut up ---hehehe---don't you?

If they had a function that required positive ID for all accounts and a lack of anonymity for all reporting, then I think that would clear up that issue pretty quick. I figure if Microsoft takes over Yahoo then the accounts would be tied permanently to your live ID (which is linked to your OS license). Since you need to technically get a new OS copy to generate a uniquely new ID (as opposed to a linked ID) that would make it pretty expensive to continually generate truly unique new accounts (and Microsoft profits in the end).

Of course if someone is being legitimately being reported for a violation of the TOS, it would also make it hard for them to come right back on with an alternate account as well.

The other thing to consider is that perhaps a refinement of the TOS needs to be considered. There is a lot of petty I'm reporting someone because they don't agree with my opinion going on in Y!A. There is also a lot of name calling and people throwing rocks from their glass houses at their neighbors. Mix in a few trolls who just live to create chaos, then the language gets nasty, and people get their feelings hurt.

I think things like a report count badge (mouse over for number of reports, and categories most reported) would let people more carefully consider who to allow on their contact list, and who to block from ever seeing their posts again. This would quickly force people to be cautious about making ridiculous reports when the find their friends down to zero, and that no more posts in the categories they enjoy lurking in are visible.

They could also institute a rule that after 10 reports in a single category, that person is deemed too sensitive for the subject matter, and locked out of the category for 1 month. This will hopefully encourage free discourse, and discourage stalking.

However, if someone is deliberately being an offensive jerk, there should be a report category of offensive jerk which receives direct validation from Y!A staff. The person banned for 1 month will be the one being offensive, or the one misreporting something as offensive which is not.

p.s. by offensive in this case I mean someone engaging in activities like personal threats which qualify as harrasment under US law.

I hope this helps.

Microsoft won't want to deal with any of this and will end the report idea entirely and eliminate the whiner crybabies. Google will just end up eliminating anything with the Yahoo name and stigma, period. Say goodbye to Answers. Disney bought up Go.com and promptly eliminated anything of real worth to that, why should google do the same thing?

Brightest Blessings,

Raji the Green Witch

I know they had another significant employee reduction last month. However, I did not know they were up for sale!

Well, I knew it would have to come to an end, sooner or later.

I feel very fortunate to have been a small part of it. I have made so many good friends.

A virus that crashes their computer be sent to their inbox.

LOL of course I am thinking of the abuse of the "report abuse"

I think the "report abuse" function should be entirely done away with.

Getting rid of reporting. It's lame. I do not report or block.

i would recommend that they actually investigate reports before they start deleting everything...

maybe they should start deleting the reporters.

((uw))

eh? i'm not getting this one.

...the 'Yahoo sells out' part is what is tripping me up

Only insufferable bores should get the sack...