GoAskAlice - Please Help!

Saphy, I must admit that the first time I got one of the notifications that my response was deleted for "spamming", I was taken aback at first and a little upset. When I read the entire notification, however, I realized that I had responded to someone that was spamming in a discussion, so when their response got deleted, my comment to them was deleted as well. The wording under the "Original Post Text" was their response not mine.

No, that does not help at all, and I am beginning to think that no matter how many different ways you try to explain it, some people are just going to focus on certain words and ignore the rest of the message. If they read the entire message, though, then I think that would clear up a lot of the misunderstandings and there would not be as much confusion. Of course, I am slowly beginning to think that I am wrong.

And to go punch their ears won't help me at all.

@ Anora and PA, while I also think that is a great suggestion I have to wonder how that would work? A real person or people are behind the deletions, they delete tons of "garbage" here everyday, those that report know this for a fact. How much more work would be involved in having to also put the entire discussion in the email and highlight the violations? I fear that the admins would never be caught up, if they ever are now. I think it's up to us as PA states that when you get the email to read through it carefully and go to the guidelines to understand it. Most can be figured out and those that can't, probably fall under the category of repeated discussions. For instance yesterdays big thing was on Pay-Pal in India how many were started? I believe I had 7 in my email alone.

PA- Sadly, you're right. Most people do not even read the longer threads on here, let alone their mail box. Perhaps just the portion that was against TOS? Currently the only thing I've seen on my notifications is that my response was deleted because the thread was deleted, and then the title of the thread. That's where I am left in question because two of them did not seem to break TOS, but as you stated it could have been a number of things. All we can really do each day is to continue making posts, keeping in mind to make them relevant and thoughtful. Namaste-Anora

Anora, thank you for the compliment. The notification already includes the response that was the violation, but I don't think that members pay attention to that part. They just see the reason for the deletion telling why the response was a violation and get all worked up and don't go any further. I think that if myLot included the entire thread, like you suggested, then that might make things clearer. I think that is a great suggestion. The only thing that I am afraid of is that people do not like to read long messages to begin with, so adding the entire thread, especially if it is a long one, might not make any difference if people do not bother to read it and realize that it was not their response that was the violation.

I don't think it's the problem of myLot that people DON'T READ THEIR EMAILS! Now, the fact that myLot can help them understand what these emails are is a valid point. Maybe a newsletter?

Well, a great many members were asking for notifications of why their discussions and responses were deleted, so that they would know exactly what Guideline they were violation. Now that myLot has complied and they are now receiving notifications, I am not sure that it really helped. Perhaps Val is right, and they do not read their e-mails. I think that some do, though, but do not read it thoroughly enough to understand the entire meaning. They focus on a few words, and then they miss the meaning of the entire notification.

If people are complaining that they don't understand them or getting the wrong end of the stick, then it is because they ARE reading them surely? They are not specific enough IMO and hence the misunderstanding of who is at fault.

I hope that you do not mind, but I copied that "test" notification that we did yesterday and used it in a response on the first page of this discussion, because there was still a little confusion over which notification we were discussing and what it said. Also, thank you so very much for coming here and hopefully helping to clear up some of the doubts and misunderstandings on this subject!

I was hoping at least one of you would copy and paste it here and look, you both did.

De_toya, actually I had not seen your discussion until today, so that definitely is not why I created this discussion. Also, you are talking about discussions being deleted, and I am talking about responses being deleted, even though the discussion is still active. If a person responds to a discussion with a comment that violates the Guidelines, then that response box and all the comments within it are deleted, but the discussion is unaffected as long as the discussion is not violating the Guidelines. If the original comment is a violation of the Guidelines, and someone else comments to the user letting him or her know that they are violating the Guidelines, then both people will get a notification that their comments were deleted and the reason for the deletion. The text under the heading "Original Post Text" in the notification of deletion will be the comment that was a violation of the Guidelines. The person that made that comment should take it seriously and re-read the Guidelines and Terms of Use to try to avoid making the same mistake again. The person that commented within the response box that did not violate the Guidelines really does not have anything to worry about. However, many people seem to be confused over this notification, which is why I was trying to clear up the misunderstandings.

LOL! Top, you are perfectly qualified to give a response here. My question, though, is were you telling someone else that they were plagiarizing and providing the source as proof or were you responding to a discussion in your own response box and putting an answer on a discussion with the link to the original source of where you got the information for your response?

isn't GoAskALice a female?

@val : I paid attention to the title :) @purple : I was telling someone else that he/she was plagiarizing and I gave the source. And I received a notification of deletion for plagiarism...

I said that I loved eBay and how it saves people money and how your stuff right to your door. Which is good when you don't have a car,like me.(probably will get deleted) I have said I love certain products and use them all the time. I don't think that is soliciting business for others or their products but it said it was. I didn't know I was till it said I was. I have had them deleted because the discussion or response has been deleted that I responded to and under others.

Maybe it was because I told them they should give it a try? I don't know .I just wish I had kept the notification though. Maybe I said You have got to try it. that they would love it and then stated why I loved it...I don't know..

Hmmm ... that is really weird, especially since I am sure that I have seen GoAskAlice tell users that they can say that they like products or websites and it is not a violation. I believe that she has also said that you can put links to websites or products as long as they are not referral links or promotional links, such as trying to drive traffic to your own website or blog to get more money, although I am not 100% sure about this last part, so do not quote me on it.

Yes exactly and you worded that so that everyone should get it. I don't know if I see a lot of those types of discussions what I see are the ones that the discussion violated the guidelines so all responses were lost and everyone that responded is like "that didn't violate the guidelines" well if it really didn't then contact mylot, but all most all do in some way shape or form violate the guidelines, FAQ's or terms when deleted even if some don't understand why. If you don't understand why, then maybe it's time for a refresher course on the guidelines, FAQ's and terms. The other discussion is "Why was my discussion deleted?" Do people check their email they signed up with mylot with? We refer them there and they say I didn't get an email from mylot. I get them, maybe not all of my friends started discussions, but that is automated where as I would think that notifications isn't, not sure about that. I still think that those don't get glitched in the system, like the others do.

Thank you for the compliment, and I do hope that it helps some people understand it. That was exactly why I started this discussion, because it seems that many people do not understand. Unfortunately, we seem to be missing some key people in this discussion ... not only the person that can clear up any misunderstandings but also the ones that did not understand the notification in the first place. However, I have seen MANY people complaining about this exact issue in other discussions, so I thought it warranted a clarification. I guess I was wrong.

You have very valid points here, Beanie, and I do not think that you are being rude at all. Unfortunately, many that do not understand this notification have a very good grasp of the English language, in fact in some cases it is their first (and possibly only) language. They just either do not read the text that says which comment was a violation or are not understanding that it is not referring to their comment. Take the referral link violation, for example. Say a person makes a response with a referral link - we will call this person "User A". Then another member, who we shall call "User B", comments to "User A" that referral links are not allowed and references the Guidelines. When the response is deleted, both "User A" and "User B" will get a notification, but it will be the response by "User A" that is listed as the violation. However, "User B" will complain that they did not use a referral link and get all upset about the notification, when their comment had nothing to do with why the response was deleted, and say that it isn't fair when they did not violate any Guidelines or post a referral link.

Hooray, it's purple day. I'm humming "Deep Purple" myself....

I don't know that one off-hand, but keep humming it and I will pick up the tune.

I thought that they were pretty clear, too, as long as you read the entire notification and do not stop and freak out about the reason for the deletion ... or if you do freak out, then at least finish reading when you stop panicking about it. I thought that every day was purple day! *feels a sudden and uncontrollable urge to belt out the chorus to "Purple Rain"*

LOL! I would hope that the notifiers would not stop you from barging into boxes, especially not my boxes! Of course they are not going to stop me, either, especially when I am not the one that is violating the Guidelines. However, I do think that it is making some people wary of responding, and that is not a good thing, especially if their contributions are not violations and could add to the discussion and further the topic not to mention make it more fun and interesting.

Nope i do believe you completely --- so i'm sure i would get my few cents at any cost when i barge into your box lol .Kidding! Seriously I got nothing to do with the money factor ---- it is bad to loose our posts or comments especially when we're under an impression that we have contributed our knowledge to the topic.we cant help either

*Barge! now if only i can have some sense too

This discussion is not talking about those particular notifications PA has raised the problem of notifications concerning the deletion of comments on responses which is something different (and confusing at the moment for many).

Allknowing, I agree that it would be helpful for us to know why a discussion that we responded to is deleted, although if I understand it correctly the original poster of the discussion is notified of why his or her discussion was a Guideline violation. Still, that does not really help the rest of us that responded, especially when the violation might not be as obvious to some people, such as plagiarism, which is extremely serious but sometimes very difficult to identify when finding discussions for which to respond. MysD is right, though. The issue I was addressing here is when the discussion is a valid discussion, but responses within the discussion are deleted due to a Guideline violation, such as putting a referral link in your response. If the original responder, let us call this person "Member 1", responds on a discussion with a comment that is a violation, and another person, let us call this person "Member 2", comments to let Member 1 know that he or she is violating the Guidelines, then when the response is deleted both users will receive the exact same notification of deletion. However, in the text under the heading "Original Post Text", it will list the response from Member 1, which was the violation. Member 1 should definitely take this seriously and try to avoid making the same mistake in the future. Member 2, on the other hand, really does not have anything to worry about, because he or she did not violate any of the Guidelines. However, just like when a discussion is deleted and therefore all the responses are deleted, when a response box is deleted, all the comments within that response box are deleted.

Whether it is a response that is a violation or whether the topic itself is a violation it would really be useful if we are told why that particular topic/response was a violation. I am more than convinced that all of us at some time respond to topics and comment on responses that are guidelines violations not being aware that those topics/responses are violations and it is therefore imperative that myLot atleast notifies us why those topics/responses were violations so that such mistakes do no happen in future. It is all there in the FAQs one might say but even veterans here get confused.

But the thing is that I am guessing that many of the members that read this notification and are upset, because they do not think that they violated the Guidelines did not actually violate the Guidelines. Some of them probably did, of course, but I think that many get confused by this particular message. If you respond to someone that is violating the Guidelines, then you will get the SAME deletion notification that they do, because ALL comments in a response box are deleted if the ORIGINAL RESPONSE is a violation. They can't deleted the original response without deleting all further comments.

That is exactly my point. Thank you for understanding. Some people seem to take it personal that they are getting the notification, even though they might not be the ones that were violating the Guidelines. I think that some member are being nice by letting the responder know why he or she is violating the Guidelines, but then when they receive the notification that the original response was deleted they freak out. This notification really is not much different than the one that says "Your response was deleted, because the original question it was under was deleted", only this one would be more along the lines of "Your comment was deleted, because the original response it was under was deleted". I wonder if it would be possible for them to change the wording for the notifications for comments within a response box to that - similar to responses deleted due to the original discussion being deleted.

It's why reading is required, If they'll just analyze the reason why they got that notification then it's all there in the email..

Mario! Don't you mean that you are a streaking violation? Yes, when there is a discussion that is sure to be deleted, there are several of us that will capitalize on the opportunity to turn it into a party and have some fun before it gets deleted. I realize that some people frown on this sort of behavior, but I really do not see the harm in it at all. I mean it is not going to be any MORE of a violation if we have some fun on it, so what harm are we doing, especially since we fully realize that we will not earn anything for it. We try to help others, especially the newer members, when we see them violating the Guidelines knowing fully well that we will not earn for it, so why can't we have a little fun, too, to even it out?

too bad for them....some people are so serious all the time they need to learn how to lighten up a bit and streaking there is fun too!

oh really now.... i am so tempted to find out about that 'or else'

I guess that you have a good point, Bluemoon, especially since a great many members have stated that they do not like to read things that are too long. I just thought that a lengthier explanation would help to make sense of what was being said. It appears that I was very wrong in this thought process, though. It seems that if you do not give enough details, then there is confusion. If you give too many details, there is confusion, because many do not bother to read or try to understand the entire thing. Maybe we should all just live in the state of confusion, because it seems to be "the happening place to be" at the moment.

Well, at least they contribute to good discussion topics... Sometimes we get people who are not too sure about the rules complaining about things and then his/her whole group of friends came in to support him/her, I guess it's a case of the blind leading the blind.

Yes, it can definitely be a case of "the blind leading the blind", and when some people get an idea in their mind of how things are, even if it is not correct, they refuse to listen to anything that might go against what they believe, especially if it makes sense and can be backed up by facts. I am pretty sure that all the responding on here will not earn me anything, because I think that this discussion will most likely be deleted. However, I really do hope that GoAskAlice comes here first and leaves an "official clarification", even if it is to tell me that I am completely wrong. Then, at least the issue will hopefully be cleared up, and although I will not have made any money, it will be worth the time that I have spent on here if the issue gets resolved.

I mean [u][i]kindheartedly [/i][/u] do not risk your words. Thanks.

Thank you, Prime, and you have very good advice here, too. However, I think that you are talking about when people lose responses, because they are responding to a discussion that violates the Guidelines. That is not what I am talking about here, though. I am talking about when the discussion is a valid discussion, but a response within the discussion is a violation of the Guidelines. We get a notification for that, too, and I think that is confusing some people. You might not have gotten one of these notifications, so you might not understand what I am talking about. If you read back through the other response boxes, though, there are plenty of examples of what I am referring to.

hi thanks for the hug. yes it had me going as I was already sort of pissed as if that responder who just said oh God did not like my discussion well why not just bypass it why make an ugly comment. it was not meant as a serious mind blowing make you think discussion, more for fun than anything as I did wonder how many p eople had heard of or used the term cotton picking moment. it was not a serious discussion.

*reaches out and gives Hatley a HUGE HUG* Yes, my darling Hatley, that is EXACTLY what it means! Your comment wasn't the violation unless it was the one listed in the text under "Original Post Text", which it wasn't. You just responded in that response box, so your comment was deleted just like it would be if you commented on a discussion and the entire discussion was deleted. That is perfect! I am not sure why people that commented within the response box are told to read the Guidelines and Terms, but I can see how it would be a little confusing and upsetting to people at first. I think it is just a generic message to let people know why their comments are removed, which we asked myLot to do. When we comment in the response box of another member, then our comments will also be deleted if the entire response box is deleted. If if was just our comment that was the violation, then it would be our comment that was listed in notification, which many times it is not and that is where the confusion and upset is coming from, in my opinion.

I can understand your annoyance at receiving that sort of response on your discussion. Not only wasn't it a "quality response" but also it was mean. There is no need for that. If you do not have a sense of humor or do not want to participate in a lighthearted discussion, then just move on to the next one. Similarly, if a topic is too serious or bothers you too much, then you can find something a little more to your liking without too much stress and bother. There have been plenty of times that I have opened a discussion, read through it, decided that I was not in the mood to participate for one reason or another, and just closed it. You know what, it was pretty darn simple and easy to do, and it didn't "strain my brain" one little bit.

Yes, sometimes when our response is deleted due to the entire discussion being deleted it does leave us wondering why, especially when the violation might not be as obvious to some people as it is to others. However, the person that started the discussion is notified of the violation, so I guess that myLot feels that is all that is necessary. That is not what I was talking about in this discussion. I was talking about when the discussion is not deleted but responses within a discussion are deleted as violations. In this instance, myLot does give the reason why the response was deleted. However, everybody that commented in the deleted response box receives a notification, even if their comment was not a violation. Please see my example in response #8 if you don't understand what I am saying here.

If your discussion is violating the Guidelines, then it is my understanding that you get a notification stating what the violation was. If you responded to a discussion that violated the Guidelines, then you will just be notified that your response was deleted due to the discussion being deleted, but you do not get a reason for why the discussion was deleted. However, what I am talking about here is when a response in a discussion is deleted, but the discussion was not a violation and therefore still remains. Every person that leaves a comment in the response box where the original response violates the Guidelines will be deleted, because the other comments can't stay if the original response is removed. Everybody that commented in that response box will get a notification that their comment was deleted, the Guideline that was violated, and a copy of the response that violated the Guideline. Many do not understand that if it is not their responsee listed in the text under the heading "Original Post Text", then it was not their comment that was the violation.

Yes, we get notifications when our responses are deleted, because the discussion that we responded to was a violation of the Guidelines. We also get notifications when we comment in the response box of someone else (like I am doing right now commenting to you), but the original response is a violation of the Guidelines (I am not meaning your response is a violation), so all the comments within the response box are deleted, even if they are not violations of the Guidelines. We will receive a notification that our comment has been deleted, and in the notification there will be a reason for the deletion and it will tell you which comment was the violation. You might not have received one of these types of notifications, because I do not think they are as common as the discussion notifications. However, many people seem to be misunderstanding the notification and thinking that it was their comment that was the violation when it wasn't.

Similar/duplicate discussions do go by date as far as I know. The newer ones would obviously be the ones that are similar/duplicate of the older ones and therefore should be the ones to be deleted, even if they receive more responses than the older ones. When these discussions are deleted, however, everybody that participates on them loses not only their responses and time spent responding but also any earnings that they might have made from the response. That is one of the reasons it is very important to avoid starting these types of discussions. If you search a topic before starting a discussion, then it is fairly easy to avoid duplicate discussions. If you find another discussion on the topic that you wanted to talk about, then you can respond in many different response boxes (including your own) within the existing discussion, and there is no need to create your own. I am not exactly sure why you are talking about similar/duplicate discussions, though, when that was not anything close to what my discussion was about. Maybe you were confused when you read through it? I was talking about people getting confused about notifications when a response within a discussion is deleted but the original discussion still remains. The response is a violation and gets deleted, but everybody that commented within that response box also has their responses deleted and gets the same notification, even if their comment is not the one that violated the Guidelines. However, the response that violated the Guidelines is listed in the notification under the heading "Original Post Text". This seems to be confusing and upsetting many members, especially when they do not read the entire notification.

LOL! Actually, the fact that you misread it is perfectly on-topic. That seems to be much of why the notifications are being misunderstood, too, in my opinion - either they are not being read fully from start to finish or they are being read but misinterpreted.

Hi. I'm aware of the first paragraph detail, and think that I must have misread the context of of your discussion.