Are the forums too strict?

[TriGGeR_HaPPy]

Criticize the post, not the poster. A simple rule many fail to follow, so they get slapped for it.

This, basically. I've disagreed with people several times throughout my time here on The Escapist, but because I've only called out certain points I disagreed with, and didn't resort to name-calling, I've never even gotten a probation. Like Hader said, it's a simple enough rule to follow...

Now, to those people who are saying that the mods only look at the post without looking at the wider picture, you're wrong.
Ok, some posts are so downright terribad that they deserve a pimp-slap right there and then, but they're not the posts we're talking about here. If the mods are unsure about what to do with a post, they won't simply put that person on probation (or worse) and walk away, they will look at the prior conversation to get a feel for what's been said, why it's being talked about, etc. This, and the fact that they may have to work through a whole list of reports before getting to the one that you think needs to be looked at, is also why it may take a little longer for some people to get the probation that they deserve.

How do I know this? People have brought up this issue before, and some of the mods told us how they get things done when that little red button is pushed. Granted, maybe not all mods work this way, but as far as I understand it, most of them work this way. And I wouldn't want them to change. The system works, just stay within the rules and you're fine.

(The rules/code of conduct, by the way, can be found here:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/codeofconduct
They're fair, and easy to understand. It'll take you only a minute or 2 to read them, so if you haven't already, I'd highly suggest doing so.)

Can you dig up some of those posts? Because the way I remember it, the mods in question said they looked at the poster's history more than anything else; they said outright that they spend most of their time staring at the mod queue, and rarely actually get out and read to forums.

Eep... Digging them up may take some time, but when I find something I'll put another post here.
But yea, at the moment I'm getting ready for an event here at uni tonight, too, so forgive me if I take a little while to find them. :S

EDIT: Oh, @Owyn_Merrilin: Just realised what you meant, and admittedly I was a little unclear in what I wrote.
What I meant was, yes, they do mostly only get to see what's being brought up on the mod queue. But what I was referring to was when a post is brought to their attention in which they're not sure whether they should leave it or put a probation on it. Then they'll look through the thread which that post is in, and try to find out if it's just a one-off misunderstood post, or a post which has crossed the line, by looking at what said poster has already put in that thread. That will help them make up their minds.

Anyway, gotta head off now, but I'll keep looking when I get back (2 threads I've tried to bring up have been deleted, though, and I'm halfway through poking around in a third. I'm sure they were deleted for good reason, mind, and they were getting quite old by now. It's just that it makes it a bit hard to prove my point here, without a previous post to point to. Here's hoping what I'm looking for wasn't in those 2 deleted threads :S ).

Further EDIT: Another thing which I remember reading was, yes, they look through a poster's history, but that's not for deciding whether or not to bring on the hammer. That's for deciding just how hard to hit. E.g. if the person has previously been a genuinely nice guy, then the poster in question may only get a warning or probation (unless it's really bad, but even then it may just be a suspension). But if the person has had many previous experiences of not doing right by the forum, that's when they'll bring on the banhammer.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

You're new here, so it's hard to get to grips with it at first, but in the end it's for the best. I might not agree with some of my slaps on the wrist, but I'll take a few unwarranted probations and suspensions to keep the rabble out.

 

[josemlopes]

Form gets punished far more than content.

I've seen any amount of posts with the most graphic usage of language or the most delinquent of subjects, and it gets totally ignored..... However don't you dare just leave a "LOL" and walk 'cos you'll get it in the neck.

I do admit to finding the the patrolling of the forums most uneven, and dare I say dumber than dumb at times.

I dont like when I get a warning when I leave a low content post (like just lol or an image) because it doesnt make much sence, for example, the OT (OP?, got a blank now, lol) posted a link to funny video and is telling us to watch it. I watch it but dont have much opinion about it although finding it funny. I should be able to only comment "lol", the guy would know that another person liked the video, I dont need to explain why I liked it or maybe I dont even want to but I want the OT to know that someone else like it.

 

[jackpipsam]

I myself do believe the mods can go too far

 

[nukethetuna]

I dunno, as far as I've seen in my limited experience... as long as you're not attacking someone and are contributing something substantial to the topic you don't have much to worry about.

I do see a lot more "banned/probation" users than I do on other forums, though.

 

[latenightapplepie]

No. It's really not that hard to avoid getting in trouble.

 

[Twilight_guy]

I've been to other gaming forums... I can't... don't make me think about them... so many trolls... so cold.... mommy...
*snaps back to reality*
If being a little strict is the price to pay for keeping things civil I'll gladly pay to avoid all those... so many trolls.... so cold...

 

[Jonabob87]

It depends which mod finds what you've said I suppose. I got put on probation yesterday for being satirical about Americans celebrating Osamas death...

 

[AstylahAthrys]

You know, I like these forums. They're pretty clean and the rules are fair. I've been on a forum that suspended you for not writing at least 2 lines worth in a post. I do like it here. And I guess if you want a forum where you want very little rules and the ability to talk smack this isn't the place for you.

 

[Erana]

If your thoughts and those of the staff don't mix, then why are you here fighting the current?

If I don't fight for these things, who will?

Why are you fighting? The forums are obligated only to the staff's whims, not the users.
If there's something you want from the community, then be a good guest to the staff's hospitality and get what you came for.

If you're fighting against something you dislike, then what's the point of being here? Everyone has unique needs and we're on the internet; if you're not enjoying one place, there's gotta be somewhere that suits you.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Form gets punished far more than content.

I've seen any amount of posts with the most graphic usage of language or the most delinquent of subjects, and it gets totally ignored..... However don't you dare just leave a "LOL" and walk 'cos you'll get it in the neck.

I do admit to finding the the patrolling of the forums most uneven, and dare I say dumber than dumb at times.

I dont like when I get a warning when I leave a low content post (like just lol or an image) because it doesnt make much sence, for example, the OT (OP?, got a blank now, lol) posted a link to funny video and is telling us to watch it. I watch it but dont have much opinion about it although finding it funny. I should be able to only comment "lol", the guy would know that another person liked the video, I dont need to explain why I liked it or maybe I dont even want to but I want the OT to know that someone else like it.

This is why I think we need a Facebook style like button. It gets shot down every time it's suggested, but only because the majority of posters on this site hate Facebook on principle for some weird reason, and have no experience with that particular system. It's completely different from the thumbs up/thumbs down systems you see on blogs, people

 

[Nihilism_Is_Bliss]

Yeah they're too strict.
Never been put on probation myself, but I swear half the time people are put on probation the mods are just having a really bad day.

It depends which mod finds what you've said I suppose. I got put on probation yesterday for being satirical about Americans celebrating Osamas death...

Yeah that's the kind of thing I'm talking about.
Yes you were being controversial, but what you said was related to the thread's topic and wasn't especially offensive or anything...don't understand.


Then there are some times I see people put on probation for a post that, no matter how much i analyse, can see no fault in whatsoever.

 

[Wutaiflea]

I notice a lot of times on this forum I see people being put on probation or suspended for posts that I don't think deserve it at all. Maybe, they were a bit controversial or offensive, but its hard to please everyone when you want to simply speak your mind. I know some posts are downright worthy of bans and such and its good to clean up trolling. But, I just feel we have to tip toe around so much to avoid getting on probation/suspension/bans.

I have to admit I thought this until I saw something posted by a moderator about how they issue probations and the like, along the lines of due to time and wotnot, their attention is drawn by the number of reports received, and that unless it's been flagged up as particularly offensive, they don't always view the post, and issue a slap on the wrist.

As such, it'd be fair to say The Escapist is as strict as we, the readers, make it.

 

[iLikeHippos]

Well, I found that suspicion of sarcasm being involved in a criticizing statement is most likely agreeable. So, if you say "Jews are greedy, harr harr." you might avoid a probation, even though you might had been totally serious.

But overall, I find it fair to its own merits, and the laws aren't bypassed easily. So, it's fair. And I like fair.

 

[blankedboy]

It's alright I guess, but I prefer it on places like Ponychan where you can posts images like this and not have sixty thousand mods insantly buttrape you.

Spoiler

 

[TheModWolf]

I think some of the threads that get locked for being "vs" threads are sometimes not justifiable, but i feel the mods usually get it pretty right.

 

[Erana]

If your thoughts and those of the staff don't mix, then why are you here fighting the current?

If I don't fight for these things, who will?

Why are you fighting? The forums are obligated only to the staff's whims, not the users.
If there's something you want from the community, then be a good guest to the staff's hospitality and get what you came for.

If you're fighting against something you dislike, then what's the point of being here? Everyone has unique needs and we're on the internet; if you're not enjoying one place, there's gotta be somewhere that suits you.

Why should I care for the staff's whims? I am not their property and they have never shown me hospitality. No one cares about my needs, so I have to do it myself. That's how it's always been, and that's probably how it's always going to be. I'll move elsewhere when I damn well like it. Not at the desire of a bunch of people who treat me like shit.

John, they really don't.
You're not their property, no, but the site is. Their hospitality is evident in the fact that you have made thousands of posts on their site. I've seen you actively interact with the mods and staff plenty of times on the IRC, and they sincerely include you in their conversations. Treating someone like shit in my book is to ridicule them, toy with them, use them as a punchline.... things like that, which I have not seen any of them do.

You're provoking mod wrath by using language which is insulting rather than constructively critical, which, if continued, makes this all a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 

[The Bandit]

"Low content post" probations are probably the most idiotic things anyone has ever thought of, ever. I still don't understand their purpose.