I'm actually kind of scared to post here, on account of all the bans.

[verdant monkai]

The mods are pretty lenient as long as you don't directly insult anyone or say something cartoonishly evil.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

They're called Red Guard mostly as a joke. I never made that connection about Cultural Revolution China until you just mentioned it, and I've been on these forums for four years now.

It's the same as other forums. Don't post spam links, don't post entirely hostile messages (or shitposts), refrain from posting NSFW stuff unless it's with fair warning and behind a link. The only thing The Escapist does different, rule-wise, is take action against low content posts (less than ten words), confessions of ad-blockers, and better worded hostile posts.

I don't get why admitting to adblocking is wrong, it isn't illegal as far as I know?

No, it's not illegal. My best guess is that it's a sponsorship thing. Some ad company that helps finance the Escapist or its parent companies probably gives them an extra bonus if they encourage not using blockers, and putting moderator action against them is a good way to do that. PM someone at the Tech Group or part of the staff, they might tell you.

 

[Mr F.]

I notice you guys are banning an awful lot of people. I've just joined, though at times I've lurked topics that catch my eye, and upon reading the User's Guide to the Forums, apparently titled very aptly from what I've seen, the mods' word is law, and they're... they're called the Red Guards? You mean like those guys who ran around China beating up intellectuals under Mao?

I had to check myself to see if I wasn't back in 2010-era 4chan. Haven't been back there since the Great Crisis of Boxxy, so my memory is a little foggy, but I see a lot of similarities, moderation-wise. I see people getting banned for completely random posts, and the classic "user was banned for this post" and accompanying gif. I saw people get banned for implying that certain kinds of music would be hard to dance to, and another banned for saying that a person prejudiced their target audience.


Well, their word is law. User will probably be banned for this post, but while we're still here, talk to me about whether or not this is actually as bad as it looks.

Most of the things are down to the probation system. Myself, I am on the edge of a temporary ban, followed by an actual ban. Because yeah, I have been abrasive.

You really are at no risk of getting banned here man. Just do not be a dick. Honestly, we might have lost a legend or two (Vault101, we still miss you) but they were abrasive legends. Honestly, the mods are rather lenient. There are one or two people here who are deserving of a ban yet will not get banned because they are good at exploiting the system.

So yeah. You can avoid getting banned by just not being an asshole. Avoid insulting people. You can say what you like, as long as you avoid actually INSULTING people. There are plenty of people here with less than popular opinions who stick around. The mods might be calling themselves the Red Guard, they might bring the hammer of Moderation down on the puny...

But every warning I have got I have deserved. And I have talked to one of them (I cannot remember the name, give me a sec) Copper Zen, and they are kind. Polite. Fucking awesome, seriously, fucking awesome.

So welcome to posting. Avoid R&P if you want to stay mostly sane. Do not be a dick. You will be fine. Cya on the other side bro.

 

[Zipa]

Just follow Wheaton's law (and the forum rules) and you will be fine.

 

[grey_space]

I prefer it like this, I hate to think what this place would be like without our kind(and good looking might I add) mods. We are free to say lots of stuff on here and we can be allowed to be a bit combative without being reprimanded. Of course I come here to talk about games, post on forum games, and just have some fun replying to threads. Do that, and the mods will never bother you.

I agree. So long as you are aware that certain topics are going to attract certain nutcases and that it is the internet so you really can't take anything too seriously; then this place is lovely.

I like the rules here it stops the forums being full of stupid one sentence replies and 'funny' pics.

And nutcases.

 

[The White Hunter]

Er, it's not really that big of a deal.

OTOH, I could post something deliberately inflammatory, such as "people who are on unemployment benefits for more than 5 years should have their organs harvested", and the people who call me a terrible person would be the ones getting modded.

And the low content rules strikes me as foolish, as simply adding more words without more information gets around it.

No it doesn't get you around it, there's a famous example somewhere that I've lost the link for, but a 2 word post followed by "now to add words to pad it out to avoid moderation" will almost certainly be hammered.

OP; if you don't want to be banned just read the code of conduct and try to play nice, don't get drawn into flame wars, if you somebody pisses you off or keeps repeating themselves and saying nothing beyond you're wrong then ignore them. Also; the rules also apply to user groups.

 

[Queen Michael]

Honestly, as long as you don't do things that you know darn well will get you mod rage then you'll be just fine.

 

[The White Hunter]

They're called Red Guard mostly as a joke. I never made that connection about Cultural Revolution China until you just mentioned it, and I've been on these forums for four years now.

It's the same as other forums. Don't post spam links, don't post entirely hostile messages (or shitposts), refrain from posting NSFW stuff unless it's with fair warning and behind a link. The only thing The Escapist does different, rule-wise, is take action against low content posts (less than ten words), confessions of ad-blockers, and better worded hostile posts.

I don't get why admitting to adblocking is wrong, it isn't illegal as far as I know?

The Escapist makes it's money on advertising and thus the rules forbid the endorsement of ad blocking programs.

They also offer the publishers club, which for a small annual fee gives youe xclusive stuff, your own forums, and no advertising.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Don't be scared, the mods aren't all neo-nazis who kidnap the people they ban, disfigure their faces, cut off their fingertips and force them to work in their editing offices. Im sorry! Please dont beat me again!

 

[Tiger King]

I think it a shame because I don't know about anyone else here, but you can sometimes feel intimidated to post an opinion or point for fear of getting your head bitten off.

Seriously? I've never felt anything of the sort here. Why would you feel intimidated by angry people on the Internet? Especially if they're angry at your opinions? Those people don't matter.

OT: I've had a few warnings, some for legitimate reasons, some for things I didn't actually do. The most recent was something that other people did not get warnings for, and judging from the response to my appeal it was probably just a new-ish mod enjoying his little taste of power.

It's true that some of the modding decisions are pretty shameful, but it's not really that hard to stay out of trouble. Don't make posts that are less than 10 words (they don't care about the content, just the word count; you can post a meaningless essay and it'll be fine), don't be a jerk, and don't advocate piracy or adblockers.

you are right they dont matter and i could also ask why do they get angry?
the internet in general i ignore such people but the escapist is different, i like to think as gamers we have something in common and should be getting along.
it's not realistic but i feel it's worth trying to get long with people here.

hey look at that 1000 posts

 

[Something Amyss]

I saw people get banned for implying that certain kinds of music would be hard to dance to, and another banned for saying that a person prejudiced their target audience.

I'm assuming you're talking Jim Sterling on the latter one, but where did the former happen?

User will probably be banned for this post, but while we're still here, talk to me about whether or not this is actually as bad as it looks.

I'm not seeing a lot of people banned who don't look like they deserve it. Maybe it's just the way I frequent the forums.

There's a lot of people getting suspended, but I've hardly seen any bans.

I've seen a few, but it doesn't seem like it should be enough to cause a panic.

I have problem with "short post" arbitrary rule. Got warning for saying "Jones in the Fast Lane" on realistic games thread. It's a name of really realistic game I enjoyed over a decade ago. And I get warning. And it's not the first time, but last time it was revoked when I contacted admins. This time I was completely ignored.

It's really not that hard to add discussion value, which is what they ostensibly want.

I got put on probation cause the picture I posted in a "what's behind the avatar?" thread was a picture of Aang's back.
Yeah, the mods are kind of overzealous, but I guess it's the price to pay for a forum that lacks foaming lunatics.

As a foaming lunatic, I resent that!

 

[Something Amyss]

Don't be scared, the mods aren't all neo-nazis who kidnap the people they ban, disfigure their faces, cut off their fingertips and force them to work in their editing offices. Im sorry! Please dont beat me again!

Yeah, all those rumours about the "internship" programs are just that. Rumours.

I wouldn't worry.

I have read this statement of my own free will.

 

[Carnagath]

If you exclude the fact that sometimes warnings pop up in your profile for no reason (it has happened to me once before, and now I think it's happened again, since I have 2 warnings and frankly only remember getting 1 of them), then it's not really that bad. Just exercise some restraint and try not to rage and flame people. Mods also seem to be willing to actually reexamine a penalty if you protest it, because overreactions do happen, but very rarely (for example I got a warning for flaming once for telling someone that I find their opinion so disagreeable that I no longer wish to discuss with them any further, I replied saying that that is a bit extreme and the warning was lifted).

 

[Towels]

You know, I got a warning for expressing my disapproval for a topic appearing regarding some violent news event that I found distasteful. Those kind of topics really make me feel like I'm on Reddit or SomethingAwful, but I've accepted that they're always going to get some interest.

SomethingAwful charges membership fees to post in their forums to keep things from getting out of hand. (Because why would you risk a ban for trolling if you had to pay money to be there?)

Reddit is free but uses a user Karma system to regulate topics. I find this really obnoxious because to even get your thoughtful topic seen you have to work your way up the Karma ladder by sycophantically agreeing with enough popular topics (which is mindless internet comedy). Reddit used to be an intellectual site, and "bad karma" was only given to trollers who didn't contribute to the conversation. Now its gotten so popular that most people on Reddit really don't like having their worldviews challenged anymore. Its too difficult to get a sporty debate going. Yeah, there are sub-reddits for special topics, but they almost always divide in camps where "conservatives" and "liberals" just stay in their happy little conventions and treat everyone who doesn't soullessly nod in agreement with extreme prejudice.

I come to the Escapist forums for thoughtful topics and geek related news. Its free, my posts are given the same amount of attention as everyone else, and I really don't want that to change. So the heavy-handed moderation is really not a bad compromise. I'll just avoid topics I don't want to think about.

 

[Cabisco]

Er, it's not really that big of a deal.

OTOH, I could post something deliberately inflammatory, such as "people who are on unemployment benefits for more than 5 years should have their organs harvested", and the people who call me a terrible person would be the ones getting modded.

And the low content rules strikes me as foolish, as simply adding more words without more information gets around it.

No it doesn't get you around it, there's a famous example somewhere that I've lost the link for, but a 2 word post followed by "now to add words to pad it out to avoid moderation" will almost certainly be hammered.

OP; if you don't want to be banned just read the code of conduct and try to play nice, don't get drawn into flame wars, if you somebody pisses you off or keeps repeating themselves and saying nothing beyond you're wrong then ignore them. Also; the rules also apply to user groups.

I've done that with a post about Timesplitters. I believe I put something like: 'TIMESPLITTERS NOW PLZ K THNX BAI' with some other words thrown in as a futile attempt to avoid wrath. It didn't work so now I'm plotting against them.

OT: Generally as long as you don't insult a user directly you won't get punished, some people forget this when replying to a post that pissed them off. I do remember a point a couple years ago when we seemed to have a mass culling of members like Furburt, his friend with a disc thingy avatar that kept changing colour etc. We ain't had nothing like that for ages.

 

[Blunderboy]

There have hardly been any bans and I've yet to see one that is undeserved. These forums are some of the best managed I've seen. Just don't post like an asshole and you're fine. Hell even the assholes get plenty of warnings.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

4chan has moderation? That's news to me.
Anyway you want to avoid mod wrath just don't be a jerk and make sure your posts have substance.

 

[Signa]

I've decided to just say my piece and then get out. If people quote me looking for a fight, I just let it slide. I got quoted 5 times for something I said in a thread recently, and each was trying to throw the gauntlet down. I actually for the first time ever, put some one on my ignore list after that.

 

[Saltyk]

Um. 90% of the people that I see get banned were obvious spambots. Or they posted the same thing with maybe a few words changed in every single post. Beyond that, the Mods really just hate flaming, trolling, offensive posts, and low content posts.

Seriously, Low Content posts are not tolerated. Don't post a picture and think that constitutes content. It doesn't. Make a few extra sentences if you're not certain. You really shouldn't post, if your entire thought can be summed up in one sentence, anyway.

Also, it hasn't happened since "The Great Purge of Firsts" but don't post "First". Even if you post more than that. Or do it as a joke. The Mods don't like that.

And it's a sad truth that later posts can probably get away with more. There are so many threads that it's not like the Mods can read thru 15 pages to ensure that everything is up to par.

 

[anthony87]

I've decided to just say my piece and then get out. If people quote me looking for a fight, I just let it slide. I got quoted 5 times for something I said in a thread recently, and each was trying to throw the gauntlet down. I actually for the first time ever, put some one on my ignore list after that.

What thread was this? Sounds kind of interesting.