Review by Moderators prior to posting?

[Bystander]

Is there any mechanism to have moderators "preview" a post that might be perceived as contentious controversial?

 

[Nugatory]

Yes. Ask the mentor or mentors responsible for the forum you're thinking of posting in.

(It is best if you write your question on a new $100-dollar bill and send it via FedEx to our home address, but a PM is acceptable).

 

[Bystander]

on a new $100-dollar bill and send it via FedEx to our home address

Thank you --- better make it two --- DH is the mod, and also the one who might be offended.

 

[Vanadium 50]

It's not a bad rule of thumb that if you have to ask "is this appropriate for PF?" the answer is probably "no".

 

[OmCheeto]

Yes. Ask the mentor or mentors responsible for the forum you're thinking of posting in.
...

I can't seem to find the "Who's who of forum mentors" list.

The link listed here:

Mentor Rank: A PF mentor is a member who has been chosen by current mentors and administrators because of their demonstration of unparalleled commitment to PF, extensive scientific knowledge in a certain field, and perceived ability to be able to effectively moderate discussions on PF and run the day to day operations of the community. The mentors help maintain the high-quality scientific discussion that makes PF famous! Many of the mentors are professional scientists and graduate students. Mentors are distinguished by a green name in their posts on the forums and a "PF Mentor" label underneath their name. The Physics Forums mentors are listed under the "Staff" at the top of any PF page.

List of current mentors can be found https://www.physicsforums.com/showgroups.php .

gives me a 404, black hole error.
And it looks as though "mentors are listed under the "Staff" at the top of any PF page" is no longer true.

ps. I did learn lots of things about the new forum software though. I think I pushed every button available.

 

[OmCheeto]

It's not a bad rule of thumb that if you have to ask "is this appropriate for PF?" the answer is probably "no".

I've been planning for weeks on starting a new "Crackpot" based thread. Quite innocuous, as crackpot threads go. I think it will be fun. But I was planning on @Vanadium 50 notifying all of the mentors who were online at the moment, just in case.

As I mentioned, in a very wicked witch kind of voice; "These things have to be done delicately, or the wrath of the mentors will come down on you like a...".

 

[Nugatory]

It's not a bad rule of thumb that if you have to ask "is this appropriate for PF?" the answer is probably "no".

That is indeed an odds-on bet. However, it has happened that the back-and-forth discussion leads to a more clearly framed question and we end up with a good thread. And even if the answer is "no"... It can't hurt to ask.

 

[DaveC426913]

Better to beg forgiveness than ask permission?

You could always post the message and then immediately report it. It will reach the right person pretty quick, and I doubt you'd be infracted for reporting yourself.

 

[Nugatory]

You could always post the message and then immediately report it. It will reach the right person pretty quick, and I doubt you'd be infracted for reporting yourself.

Don't do that, please... please... PLEASE don't. The post may attract responses before we get around it to it, and that makes for much more cleanup effort and many more hard feelings.

 

[strangerep]

Better to beg forgiveness than ask permission?

Heh, a certain Australian prime minister has often resorted to that maxim. His career is not going too well anymore.

Anyway, (istm),... it's rather too close to how priestly pedophiles behave...

 

[Nugatory]

I can't seem to find the "Who's who of forum mentors" list.

The link listed here gives me a 404, black hole error.
And it looks as though "mentors are listed under the "Staff" at the top of any PF page" is no longer true.

Ooopsie... Yes, that's a problem :).
Try https://www.physicsforums.com/help/mentorforums/ which is linked from Info->Help/How-To

(See, we really do pay attention to you sometimes).