Are the forums too strict?

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BonsaiK

Music Industry Corporate Whore
Nov 14, 2007
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Ando85 said:
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.
Not strict enough if you ask me. I was offered a mod position once, be happy I turned it down.
 

Laser Priest

A Magpie Among Crows
Mar 24, 2011
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Punishments for controversial things might need more leniency, but when your post is clearly made to incite flaming or to straight out insult someone, you've brought mod wrath upon yourself.
 

The Bandit

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Feb 5, 2008
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BonsaiK said:
Ando85 said:
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.
Not strict enough if you ask me. I was offered a mod position once, be happy I turned it down.
I am happy. Absolutely, completely, 100% thrilled.
 

The Bandit

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Feb 5, 2008
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Sir John the Net Knight said:
Erana said:
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.
If that's the way you feel. I have to assume you've not been paying attention. Oh yeah, and do we really need to get started on that IRC bullshit where I was kicked out at the whim of a whiny toad who will remain nameless at this time?

There's things I know that go on behind the scenes. I'm not stupid.
I don't really know or care about your situation, but if the mods are really out to get you, why don't you... like... leave? Instead of putting up with an unfair system?

I don't know. That just seems to make more sense to me than crying about it.
 

ThePlasmatizer

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Sep 2, 2008
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I don't think they are strict enough. This is a place for intelligent discussion or atleast the promotion of it. If people can't be civil or express their opinion without being offensive and crude then they are free to take it to other websites that don't hold their forums to a higher standard like the Escapist does.
 

TimeLord

For the Emperor!
Legacy
Aug 15, 2008
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Sir John the Net Knight said:
There's things I know that go on behind the scenes. I'm not stupid.
*jams a tin foil hat on his head*
I'm ready for anything now.

OT: I've only had mod wrath once and that was my own fault and at my own request. Sometimes I see the odd probation that I think it's a bit harsh but no one is perfect, also, the mods and staff aren't machines with set rules. Considering this [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/codeofconduct] is the entire rule list for the site then I think it is good they are vague. It leaves it up to the morality of a poster thinking "Hmmm is that appropriate to post". And if they think their probation/suspension/ban is unjust, they can always appeal to a staff or mod.
 

Erana

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Feb 28, 2008
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Sir John the Net Knight said:
There's things I know that go on behind the scenes. I'm not stupid.
If you think things are going on behind your back, then don't give them reason to occur.
 

TheAmokz

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Apr 10, 2011
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Little, but i think i just need to get used to it since that certain other forum (not 4chan) i have spend time was completly unmoderated. I just must remember nt to say what i really think.
 

Yureina

Who are you?
May 6, 2010
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I've seen more than a few bad mod calls, both in the recent and distant past. I've also seen some pretty good work done as well. Frankly, it depends largely upon what moderator is actually doing stuff. Some are decent folk. Others love to hit people for the smallest things. Sad thing is that there really isn't a damn thing that can be done about it if you get hit by a bad mod call. They just seem to bury it and pretend it never happened. If the appeal system worked though and actually made bad mods be held to account for their actions... I'd be more forgiving. But it doesn't.

Normally i'd like strict modding, but here it regularly crosses the line to becoming too harsh, too unnecessary, too inconsistent, and too arbitrary. While some mods/staff seem like good people, as a whole I place little trust in them to do the right thing since they won't even punish their own when they break the rules.
 

maddawg IAJI

I prefer the term "Zomguard"
Feb 12, 2009
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Nihilism_Is_Bliss said:
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.

Jonabob87 said:
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.
What he fails to tell you is that he was being 'satrical' several times in that thread and was caught insulting other users.

Also, to anyone who believes they have a problem with any of the moderators, then please send in the appeal form that comes with your punishment or post in the mod team's group (Which can be found here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/chat/Moderation-Team]
 

Snork Maiden

Snork snork
Nov 25, 2009
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Yureina said:
They just seem to bury it and pretend it never happened. If the appeal system worked though and actually made bad mods be held to account for their actions... I'd be more forgiving. But it doesn't.
If the appeal system worked then there wouldn't be a problem. I think the moderation here is generally a little too strict, but I can't really complain about that - if it bugged me that much I should probably just find a different community. The problem is that you'll always have some flux in opinion between mods, and if you're going for fairly strict anyway then the harsher penalties will go waaaay to far. Again, though, if the appeals worked the problem would go away.
 

Yureina

Who are you?
May 6, 2010
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maddawg IAJI said:
What he fails to tell you is that he was being 'satrical' several times in that thread and was caught insulting other users.

Also, to anyone who believes they have a problem with any of the moderators, then please send in the appeal form that comes with your punishment or post in the mod team's group (Which can be found here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/chat/Moderation-Team]
"Are appeals worth the effort?" is, unfortunately, a question I have not been able to see answered satisfactorily. Over a week and not even a peep. Makes one mistrust the system under such circumstances if you get my meaning.
 

Yureina

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May 6, 2010
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Snork Maiden said:
Yureina said:
They just seem to bury it and pretend it never happened. If the appeal system worked though and actually made bad mods be held to account for their actions... I'd be more forgiving. But it doesn't.
If the appeal system worked then there wouldn't be a problem. I think the moderation here is generally a little too strict, but I can't really complain about that - if it bugged me that much I should probably just find a different community. The problem is that you'll always have some flux in opinion between mods, and if you're going for fairly strict anyway then the harsher penalties will go waaaay to far. Again, though, if the appeals worked the problem would go away.
-If- they worked, but it doesn't. My experience tells me that they don't even get word back to the person appealing, much less telling them what the results were. Yet another thing kept under tight wraps. The idea that transparency makes people more comfortable, even about bad news, appears to have been lost.

"Strict" becomes much worse under those circumstances. Might as well just pretend the system doesn't even exist at all at that point. It pretty much doesn't from what i've seen.
 

maddawg IAJI

I prefer the term "Zomguard"
Feb 12, 2009
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Yureina said:
maddawg IAJI said:
What he fails to tell you is that he was being 'satrical' several times in that thread and was caught insulting other users.

Also, to anyone who believes they have a problem with any of the moderators, then please send in the appeal form that comes with your punishment or post in the mod team's group (Which can be found here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/chat/Moderation-Team]
"Are appeals worth the effort?" is, unfortunately, a question I have not been able to see answered satisfactorily. Over a week and not even a peep. Makes one mistrust the system under such circumstances if you get my meaning.
I understand, but I don't deal with them, Spinwhiz does. Chances are, if you don't get it back, he's probably siding with the moderator. That said, there is still the moderation team chat, which is always open.
 

Yureina

Who are you?
May 6, 2010
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maddawg IAJI said:
I understand, but I don't deal with them, Spinwhiz does. Chances are, if you don't get it back, he's probably siding with the moderator. That said, there is still the moderation team chat, which is always open.
Lack of feedback, regardless of results, fractures trust. Considering a natural unease about strict authority that people would have, not to mention the specific query I made, that sort of thing is just wrong. You can't trust an organization that is enveloped in secrets and intrigue.
 

maddawg IAJI

I prefer the term "Zomguard"
Feb 12, 2009
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Yureina said:
maddawg IAJI said:
I understand, but I don't deal with them, Spinwhiz does. Chances are, if you don't get it back, he's probably siding with the moderator. That said, there is still the moderation team chat, which is always open.
Lack of feedback, regardless of results, fractures trust. Considering a natural unease about strict authority that people would have, not to mention the specific query I made, that sort of thing is just wrong. You can't trust an organization that is enveloped in secrets and intrigue.
And as I just said, the Moderation Team is always open and you're bound to get feedback from there if you feel you don't understand. PMing the moderators and staff is another way. There are several ways to get feedback if you think one is ineffective (Which I don't agree with, but I don't really have time to get dragged out into a discussion about it.)
 

Jonluw

New member
May 23, 2010
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Nope. Not too strict. The mods keep the asshats at bay.
I like to have a place where I can have borderline civilized discussions (well, it's still the internet)

Captcha: etymba structure
Huh. Wonder what that is. Google.
No such thing exists :(

Edit: I'm disappointed that someone else already referred to annoying posters as asshats.