Scratch

A few weeks ago, I reported a uncredited copy in the forums. I used actual names, but the Scratch Team sent me a admin message telling me not to use specific names. Then, they edited my post.  Not only that, they put a note below my post! Here is the note that the Scratch Team posted after they edited my post:

Moderator Note - I've replaced the actual names in the above paragraph.  Please don't use real names when reporting problems in the forums as it can seem like you are attacking them and bringing negative attention to them.  Instead, use the Flag feature to report it to the Scratch Team, or use the Contact Us form (at the bottom of every page).  Thanks!

Fortunately, this was placed under my post.
But I have seen things worse than that.

Let us take the following as an example.
Let us say that I remixed someone's project without credit and that scratcher reported me on the forums saying:

joshuaho still has not given me credit

The Scratch Team then edited the post and changed it so it looks like this:

[name removed, please don't use specific names when reporting problems on the forums] still has not given me credit.

So that note ACTUALLY interfered with the sentence, turning it into this:

name removed, please don't use specific names when reporting problems in the forums still hasn't given me credit

That would not make sense, right?

So, my suggestion is to not leave a note after the Scratch Team edited a post. Sure they can edit it as they are doing it for a good reason. But the notes left there can affect that scratcher. Here are reasons why I think that the Scratch Team should not leave correction notes:

1. Everyone can see the note. The scratcher who did something wrong on the forums is most likely to be a new scratcher. New Scratchers can't edit their posts until they are promoted, so the note can probably be there for a long time. That scratcher will feel embarrassed and exposed, because what the Scratch Team edited is what people will see. There are rules about users not mentioning scratcher names as that can bring negative attention. The correction notes can be seen by everyone, and that scratcher may feel that negative attention is brought to him. That is not the Scratch Team's purpose, but that scratcher may feel like that.

2. It interferes with the sentence. An example is written above.

3. Most likely, that scratcher has received a admin message telling him not to do that bad thing again. He or she most likely may feel very bad and ashamed about it. Adding correction notes which everyone can see can make that scratcher feel worse, even more embarrassed and exposed.

So, that is why I think that the Scratch Team shouldn't add those notes. It is not up to me that this suggestion be carried out as I am not a Scratch Team member. I am just a normal scratcher stating how I feel and how it might affect others. If the Scratch Team wants to carry this suggestion out, I will be happy, but if not, I can't say anything. It is up to them.

Last edited by joshuaho (2013-04-25 15:18:11)