Poll: New forum rules - Yay or Nay?

[Dense_Electric]

I'm a mod over at SSLF (if anyone's familiar), and we've got a similar "warn meter." If you acquire five warns you're banned, but if you go six months without a warn we take that to mean you're trying to be a bit more decent, and remove a warn. You go another period of time, we remove another. And another. Eventually, a member with four out of five warns could be back at zero. In fact, we've had several members that have been at that point, came back, and two years later were mods themselves.

This system on the other hand? Not so good. Not only does it take far too long for someone to get banned (you get like ten warnings, jeez), a member who screws up a lot then makes an effort to improve could theoretically get screwed over four years later for one tiny slip-up. You know, I recognize that a lot of people don't change in some regards, but there are some that do. Why not let them?

 

[erbkaiser]

/edited

No problems with it. Up to four warnings before ANYTHING "bad" happens, should be easy enough to avoid.

 

[cjbos81]

I didn't realise it was that fucking hard to not be a dick. If you're that worried then you probably piss people off enough to deserve it...

My first suspension was for low content(Which was probably just a simple mistake)nine days after I joined. It's hardly as clear cut as you make it seem.

 

[cryogeist]

How many people have a health meter that looks like this? (or worse)

I do...and now i am scared to post anything really....

 

[Dolos]

I read over the rules to post this and they dont seem that bad, most of it are things you sould already know you shouldnt do, but i guess some need to be told.

 

[Azaraxzealot]

How many people have a health meter that looks like this? (or worse)

i do. and now im permanently scared

and i thought my paranoia was bad before, this just adds to it. i like being able to post my thoughts and ask questions and have an opinion, but now they want to punish you for whatever THEY deem to be a "bad" opinion.

seriously. scared over here.

 

[ChaoticLegion]

I believe that with the new implementation of the health bar, people should start a fresh slate, ie. If you have has 2 warnings at some point since creating your account, for the purposes of the health bar, it will count as having no warning so far.

 

[Bobic]

*snipped*

Hi Spin quoting you because I think this is your domain:

This includes, but is not limited to communication of a statement that makes a claim, expressly stated or implied to be factual, that may give The Escapist, an individual creator, advertiser, site sponsor, product, group, government or nation a negative image. In short, if you say something you better be able to back it up with fact.

Is that bolded bit there ^^^ just standard legal-ese to disassociate The Escapist with any negativity aimed at America/American government by posters or is it an actionable offence? I infer that it's just for when people are being dicks and saying "Lol.America." to a random news post but I thought it would be prudent to check.

We can't be perverts anymore!? WHAT!? The likely hood of me getting banned in the next few days is very great now.
-image-

That was in the rules? Great, there goes half the forum.

...and the rant rule gets rid of another third


Personally even though these rules were always there unspoken having them explicitly stated intimidates me a bit.

Yup, exactly. We didn't want it to include just The Escapist or just America. Overall, we are asking people just to not say mean and slanderous things that aren't true.

As for rants, people can still let loose in a forum thread, we ask that they have a point, make sure it adds or helps discussion and that the caps and swearing are negated. Some of the best debates have a 3 paragraph "rant" but there is reason and purpose for it. Just blasting out an opinion because of hate or anger does not benefit discussion, it only stops it.

Thank you for clearing that up. I thought that would be the case but better safe then sorry and all.

Sure thing. If people have a problem, they can send in an appeal but honestly, with over 99% of the posters in this forum having less than 2 warnings ever, they just need to keep doing what they are doing because the rules haven't changed, just been updated.

Just out of curiosity but how does that number change when just active members are considered? Or people that have been active for over a year? From glancing at people's health bars from this topic I haven't seen a single person below 2 warnings. Admittedly the people I've picked haven't been chosen purely at random and this could very easily be a biased sample. It could just be that those complaining about the rules are more likely to be the one's on probation.

Also, about that 'no saying negative things about advertisers/governments/escapist etc.' rule. Where is the line drawn on this? A few days ago there was a guy talking about military advertisements being immoral, would he receive a warning? Won't this completely neuter the entire religion and politics board? They love complaining about governments and the like. Hell, are half the posters here in violation of the rules for talking negatively about the escapist's new rules?

 

[drisky]

How many people have a health meter that looks like this? (or worse)

I think thats the highest people have right now, multiple offenders don't seem to be held to anything higher than yellow for there pre bar offenses.

That's not very good...

Don't feel to bad about it, your not alone

Spoiler

All those first jokes probably don't seem as funny to them anymore.

 

[mireko]

I'm finding it very hard to post on this forum now. Not because of the rules, but because I keep checking everyone's health bars. Whee!

How many people have a health meter that looks like this? (or worse)

The very same. I got suspended last November for a stupid (and ill-advised) joke regarding piracy and I've had two(?) low-content post warnings. Never received a penalty for being a dick to someone or posting anything hateful, though. Of course, that's what it'll look like.

Wonderful.

 

[k-ossuburb]

Give me a moment while I check this out.

Right, I've read through them all and agreed to them. As far as I can see I don't have much of a problem with them. Not to sound too much like I'm tooting my own horn, but I think they're pretty easy to adhere to if you're smart about it.

The only thing I'm going to have a problem with is the one about not being offensive. That's actually VERY difficult when posting on religious or political topics as someone is bound to get offended by something.

I don't want to be forced to walk a tightrope when responding to something with an honest opinion of exactly why I disagree with it.

EDIT: Sorry for sounding like an idiot, but how do I view my health meter?

 

[Cap'n Ninja]

I'll admit, I'm not in support of these new guidelines, but I feel a little pressured against vocalising that in my regular manner, because I usually come off as quite forceful and opinionated when I'm merely drawing parallels with similar situations, and my demeanour may be seen as incensed or flaming, something which I certainly would not be doing.

As a basic thing, most of my concerns have already been voiced, but I'd like to voice my extreme disapproval of the "Forum Health Bar" and especially the idea that it is an "Always and forever" system. A health bar should be something you can refill, not a strike system.

I understand that a time limit would be abusable, and that moderators will take into account the timings of previous wrath, but I think there should be a conclusive way of showing reformed behaviour.

 

[Azaraxzealot]

And really, the mods aren't perfect. If one gives you a stupid sentencing that they then refuse to revoke even though you see it as unfair, as does everyone else in the thread, then that gets counted against you forever.

And that's why there's an appeal system.

the appeal system doesn't work. i got put on probation for mentioning i pirated a game that i was going to pay for later even though (on the same day) Steve Butts mentioned that he pirated MULTIPLE games that he paid for later.

hypocrisy much?