Poll: New forum rules - Yay or Nay?

[karloss01]

I don't ever read forum rules as i follow my own single rule.

"don't be a dick."

its worked out well so far on the serveral forums i visit.

 

[teebeeohh]

yay rules
except that in the list of examples for what not to advocate Adblockers look kinda out of place next to Child porn.

edit
maybe i skipped the part but is there absolutely NO way to reverse your status?
i mean we do send people to prison to give them a chance to better themselves in a controlled environment.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I find it rather unfair that there's absolutely no way to clear your record. Everybody slips up now and then. I'm usually the first to advocate harsh punishment for infractions, but this is ridiculous. With harsh punishments should come rewards for good behavior. So if you've not committed any infractions for a certain amount of time, your 'forum heath meter' should go back down.

Nobody should be able to slip up 8 times and being given more chances. If anyone can't learn how to be respectful and follow our rules after what is pretty much 8 infractions, they shouldn't be here.

Not even if the infractions are upwards of 6 months to year apart? Maybe even 2 years or more? 'Cause clearly if that's the case, that's not a person who's out to cause trouble; that's a person who just got a little carried away one day.

That is why we give 7 chances. Don't think I'm trying to push you, or anyone else, off either. I completely understand where you are coming from as we've had this discussion internally before we could even think about launching the new penalty system and updated rules (which has been months now). We just feel that we do give chances, 8 of them, and those who can not hold it together for The Escapist to have to tell someone 8 times that isn't how you behave is more than enough.

Ok, but what really gets me is I didn't get the four warnings and I'm already in the yellow zone. Under the old system I've received mod wrath, I think, 3 times, 1 probation, and 2 suspensions. I'm not going to pretend I didn't deserve them, 'cause I did. I let myself get carried away, what gets me is how does that translate into 5 warnings under the new system?
Edit: esp. since there's no chance for redemption.

Anyone with more than 2 probations (even suspensions) automatically received a yellow. Some people got lucky, having more than 2 suspensions and not getting a red automatically or even getting permabanned immediately. This would obviously be in bad taste, so we didn't do that. If you received 1 probation or less (warnings), you will be in the green. On a rare occasion where you had 4 or 5 warnings plus a probation, you will also be in the yellow probation category.

Well I just don't think that's right. I've only been in trouble with the mods 3 times and I'm already out 5 out of my 8 chances.

Then send in an appeal and see what happens.

Appeal?!?! With what? I said for each of those in infractions, I deserved what I got. I had broken the rules and I served my punishment peacefully and without complaint. Now it seems I'm being punished for them AGAIN however. I fail to see how that's justified.

You aren't being punished again, you are being held accountable for your actions, just as you were before. Did you think your previous infractions disappeared? They never disappear. We always use them to tell us what the next step in the penalty process is, regardless of time. Now we've just let you see it.

Yeah, I get that. But how does my 3 isolated incidents translate into 5 out of 8 chances before permaban?

 

[Geo Da Sponge]

Just a quick question, is there a difference in how you can expect to be treated if you're on probation, or is it merely labelled as probation to show that it's the one before a suspension?

 

[Mikeyfell]

I don't really care how they changed the forum rules.
The thing I take issue with is the moderators, I don't think they care very much about who they're disciplining.

90% of my probations or warnings or what have you come from me pointing out how much of a dick the last guy was being. They'll say something insulting and I'll say something like "Being a dick doesn't really help your case" and I get put on probation.

There should be a new rule for moderators "They have to read the post by the person who clicked report before handing out punishment."

If that rule went into effect I think I'd be happy.

The other 10% of my probations come from expressing an opinion that a moderator disagrees with.

Maybe a new forum feature that automatically added (IMO) to the top of every post would be nice too. That way the mods could stop flipping out at every thing they don't agree with.

 

[TheDarkestDerp]

*shrugs* I dunno. The permanency sounds rather harsh, but then again I can't say I'd mind.

Half the threads that get started seem to be repetition or basically flame-bait for angsty folks. The other half the threads I see on here that I find mildly interesting I don't generally care to post on because within minutes someone quotes me out of context or just has no idea what I was saying and states something rather juvenile or outright rude. It's almost as if noone has ever heard that old adage of "if you have nothing nice to say shut the fuck up". That's not to say people can't disagree, it's only through disagreement and exchange of new and opposing viewpoints that we reach new understanding, but most escapists I've encountered so far have little understanding of propriety in conduct.

If they want to crack down on angry posters and trolls, more power to 'em, I say.

 

[The_Echo]

New rules? I guess I'd better take a look at this...

I actually kind of like it. It'll make it easier to keep track of where I'm at in terms of mod-wrath.

I'm OK with this.

 

[JoJo]

I only have 1 question about the new rules:


Similarly, posts including, advocating, or linking to illegal or adult material are a very quick way to end your time as part of The Escapist community. An example of these are:

Illegal Drugs in the United States


Does this mean we can't have threads like "Should Drugs be Legalized in the US?" anymore?

I've already asked, we're allowed to discuss illegal stuff and whether it should be legalised, just not admit to doing it ourselves or advocate that others do it.

How can you express a belief that they should be legalized, without also expressing the belief that it is acceptable to do them?

*Shrug* It's a blurry line, but from what I've been told basically this is how it works:

Person A: I think all drugs should be legalised because *makes valid point*... fine!

Person B: Drugs should be legal, because yesterday me and my mates took a load and got completely stoned, and you should too... Banhammer approaches!

Edit: Thinking about it, I doubt the mods would have a problem if say you admitted you had a drug problem in the past as long as you emphasised you weren't advocating it or still doing it now. Still, if you're unsure about anything you should ask either Spinwhiz or another mod as I know in my case they were very helpful in answering my queries =D

 

[WanderingFool]

I looked and saw that forum health meter. So this thing is permanent? cause I already have two strikes against me (both warnings) and from before it was started.

 

[t3h br0th3r]

...so, am i going to get a strike for advocating the legalization of weed in the US as long as i don't tell the kiddies to go buy it from &(*&%^%*^*& on @$$%^$# Ave. and to get a &^$$&%@*^()*^ to go with it?

 

[Sarynroth]

Hmmm I don't think these new rule will affect me too much as I am quite content just lurking around.

Although I hope that the new rules will still allow for healthy discussion and people won't be afraid to post their opinions.

 

[Geo Da Sponge]

You aren't being punished again, you are being held accountable for your actions, just as you were before. Did you think your previous infractions disappeared? They never disappear. We always use them to tell us what the next step in the penalty process is, regardless of time. Now we've just let you see it.

Before this system was put in place, would you really make the response worse based on something the poster did two and a half years ago? I find that a little hard to believe.

 

[similar.squirrel]

It should weed out the bad apples fairly fast. That said, I've been spending some time on the PWOT forums and their moderatorial methods [merciless mocking of the blatantly stupid posters seems to be sort of encouraged] seem rather attractive. It adds another incentive to think your posts through. Also, their Hall of Bad Posts is useful for learning the do's and don't's.
I guess it's a matter of demographic, though. The folks there seem more inclined to be able to take a good old-fashioned ribbing. I hope I can't get banned for a subtle criticism of this particular community.. I like my Neo badge.

Edit: Atrocious spelling and grammar should be penalized to a greater extent. It really brings the tone down..

 

[That's Funny]

I must inspect upon this.

edit: In regards to the penalty system, I think that it is a tad bit unfair use those times where we have unintentionally crossed the line, against us. A nay, from me. But I'll stick to them.

 

[Triscut900]

Been here a while and I don't really mind new forum rules because most of the time it's for the best.

 

[9Darksoul6]

Perm-probation means not getting bagdes... (honestly, that's what they came up with? Wtf???)
I couldn't care less... and I don't see how anyone could.

 

[GeorgW]

Are there any moderators on this thread discussing this? Because it feels like an open dialogue between users and moderators is what we need right now.

I'm here, and have been since the start.It's just hard to keep up.

I said this last time there was a discussion of the rules. You guys need a different colour name instead the dark blue. I'm colourblind, I can't see a difference to the black names of "normal" posters unless I concentrate hard on it.

I agree, but that's a lot of work for such a small change. Besides, I like blue...
We all have Red Guard underneath our title, so that should help.

I have to sleep, I've been at this thread for 3 hours now and it's 1 AM, I have a test tomorrow and I have yet to get myself ready for bed. I'll continue reading through it all and trying to answer the questions that need it the most tomorrow.