The Escapist - One opinion

[Gerazzi]

[HEADING=1]This is a post that has general heart behind it.[/HEADING]

I joined the Escapist a mere year ago, and I've been idling for a while and here is why:

The moderators, as far as I can tell, besides a few (you know who you are) that are remotely in the spirit of fun, are total imbeciles.

It has come to the attention to me and many (now banned) users that this is the truth. These weren't users that were mere 2-post troll community college rejects mind you, these were thousand post superstars whose names you may still remember, that is, if you were around at the time of the Escapist Renaissance, when this website was a social giant for the antisocial. Lo, the times are gone when a new topic was made and the first page was filled with responses in mere seconds, and are too are the times when the forum was actually fun.

Your mind may be blown when you learn the fact that most of the moderators on this forum are not at all in it for the benefit of the user, but there so they can grow the size of their internet cocks. But this isn't trying to be a thread for blatant slander of the mods, this will now turn to more of a suggestion than anything else.

1) Don't ban users for jokes, don't ban them for saying the word "cock" -
I know that you think that your opinion is the best one in the world, but censorship of all other opinions, and censorship of users at all just shows that you have a gigantic ego that can't take an insult.

2) Don't ban users for having opinions -
Because something is controversial, or because someone is sort of a dick, does not mean that you have the right to ban them. When their posts become non-productive, random, illogical, or you have the distinct suspicion that they may be trollin', then you have the right to ban them. Not for saying that "Rebbecca Mayes Muses sucks because of these reasons:", not for insulting Yahtzee. For posting "FIRST".

3) Don't ban users for not liking you -
This one is self explanatory really, but all you're doing is creating a small gated community, not a website. If you truly wish for the forum to be profitable, then you should sacrifice your own ego. People do not have to like you.

4) Don't ban users for getting drunk on power and posting something stupid -
Power and audience corrupt, but that does not under any circumstances mean that whenever you see someone post something that is obviously stupid that you auto-ban them for it. Punishment should not be what you are focused on, and if a user has been contributing with no problem of trollin' in the past especially, then he or she should be punished in the most minor of terms. Reformation, not banning.

5) Only ban trolls -
Trolls are really the only problem with the internet. They post things so they can feel attention. It is not right to ban users that have 1000+ posts over one, two, or really anything less than ten posts. It's statistical more than anything else. People have bad days. You can't change that, but you can choose not to make it worse.

6) Use probation for most offenses -
If someone screws up during probation, then they should have an appeals. If they fuck that up, then they should be banned.

7) Only re-ban duplicate accounts if the user is being a dick still -
If the user spent all the time finding a different IP to log onto a different account, then it's safe to say that they want a second chance. As long as this isn't the billionth duplicate account, I see no reason not to give it to them.

8) Someone should be told what their charges are -
You need to know exactly what you did wrong. It is unfair to make someone paranoid based on whatever they posted, and they should not have to contact you in order to find out what they did wrong. Reasons must be given for a ban or suspension.

In my opinion, these suggestions would make the forum a much better place to be.

Follow them if you wish, if not, I've lived without the forums for a year and I can do it forever.

 

[DuplicateValue]

It was nice knowing you.

I don't entirely agree with the mods all the time either, but they do their jobs as best they can, and it's nobody else's place to argue with them. The chances are, if someone was banned, it's because the mods felt the place would be better without them.

And common sense would tell you not to attack them in public. Mod complaints go to Kuliani.

 

[orangebandguy]

Unfortunately you will get mod actioned for this. But I still respect you, you stand for what you believe. I sent Kuliani a few messages about probation and suspension rate but it didn't achieve much I don't think.

I sincerely hope you make some difference, however hopeless those odds are.

I shall stand for this too.

 

[Armored Prayer]

I've never had an issue with the mods here.

I think they do their job well.

 

[Gerazzi]

I normally wouldn't attack them in public, but nothing happens otherwise.

If I get censored fighting for the freedom to speak, so be it.

It just says even more.

Also, I'm not saying that the mods are mean to everyone, but what I am saying is that 1. they don't treat people equally and 2. They aren't as fair as they think they are.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I only disagree with their new "low content" post crackdown.

 

[DuplicateValue]

I normally wouldn't attack them in public, but nothing happens.

If I get censored fighting for the freedom to speak, so be it.

If by "censored", you mean banned, then at least you know what you're in for.

And I hate to say it, but your little stand won't achieve any difference. Plenty of people have done it before you, and I'm pretty sure not many of them are still around.

 

[khaimera]

Good luck with this and thanks for sharing your opinions. I agree that the mods are a little suspension happy but I understand their reasoning. I think that their strictness is what allows this site to be the positive place of intellect and wit that it has always been. Otherwise it could turn into a bunch of youtube quality comments.

 

[rokkolpo]

i once got probation for being a smartass.........
yes it's a crime now.

i am totally behind this guy.

 

[John Funk]

The reason you see people with high post counts being banned is because they have extensive histories of breaking our TOU. What appears to be a minor infraction to you may actually be a minor infraction that shows months if not years of failing to understand, respect or abide by the rules of our forums. If you (generic) cannot learn, then we do not want you as part of our community. It is as simple as that.

 

[Inco]

Actually, i think they have been quite good at what they do. I keep in line, and when i say something that is deemed controversial, i will do so in a manner that is as least offensive as possible.

 

[Disaster Button]

I sort of understand what you're trying to say but your post was littered with unnecessary insults that they kind of smother the actual point you're making, which I don't fully support either.

My only problem with the Mods is that they don't uphold what rules they decide to enforce consistently. Instead it seems like they have a quota to meet and will just pick a few offensive posts and deal with them instead of generally relaxing the rules or universally upholding them.

Some of the reasons you picked out don't even make sense, I've never seen someone banned for having an opinion, only for trying to force it on others or attacking others for not sharing their belief which is wrong, and deserves Moderater Wrath. The low content rule is the only thing I have a strong opposition against really.

At any rate the Mods are not to blame for any decay in the... funness of the forums.

 

[Snotnarok]

I do understand some of the bannings but don't ban someone because they said they pirated something or put them on probation. (I'm posting this because I saw it happen today, or was it suspended..either way) The guy said he pirated a game to play it as a demo to buy a game, the topic was about game demos being phased out and this was a legitimate post about him circumventing the lack of demos.

Is it truely pirating when you buy the game after you've tried it? No it's called you're using the only option useable to you, you can't rent PC games, you can't return them so if there's no demo how do you know you can run it/ like it?

Back to the topic at hand, yes their ban/suspend/kill finger is very itchy, but I've seen it used properly vs someone responding very stupidly like so; "You're a ****** and dumb" then you DESERVE to be banned because that's simply not contributing that's just being a obvious jerk.

And I'm stating the obvious, either way I agree with ya, mostly.

I say all this but I really don't know the backends of modding, I'm a webmaster not a moderator, nor do I care to wear that crown because it seems that more often than not people in power get the sniper scopes trained on you even if you've done nothing bad. Except you...yeah you ya jerk!

 

[AvsJoe]

I've never had an issue with the mods here.

I think they do their job well.

I agree with Armored here. Not because I'm trying to duck and cover or anything but I am saying that the mods have been harsh but consistent. I've only seen bans on offensive or dumb behavior and probations are only handed out to those who kinda deserved it. I respect and appreciate the moderators and I think they've been doing a good job policing these forums so that they stay enjoyable.

 

[Calobi]

7) Only re-ban duplicate accounts if the user is being a dick still -
If the user spent all the time finding a different IP to log onto a different account, then it's safe to say that they want a second chance. As long as this isn't the billionth duplicate account, I see no reason not to give it to them.

I'm afraid that this is probably not true for the most part. While I agree with what most of what you said, this seems very wrong to me. Most of the people that get banned for duplicate accounts seem to remain the trolls they were before the ban. While there are obviously going to be some outliers from this rule, I feel that if their first post after finding a new IP is at all ban-worthy (and perhaps even just probation-worthy) than that person is clearly just someone that we don't need here.

Without trying to sound to pompous or anything, I, too, remember back when there were less repeat threads, more of a sense of community (in the form of less bannings over trivial matters and more interaction with the mods), and less trolls popping up all the time. It's the price I think every growing forum has to pay though. As more people join, the moderators have to crack down harder than ever to stop things from escalating to a point where the only option is basically a hard reboot. While this is unfortunate, and while it loses us many good and longstanding members, those that truly come here for the community seem to find other ways to staying together, such as the IRC channel or just exchanging screen names or emails.

In short, I mostly agree with you on the need to lighten up, however I see where the need may be coming from. I do not envy the mods here for the decisions they have to make or the way people seem to not remember the good deeds they do but can't forget their perhaps less well thought-out ones.

 

[Thaius]

I only disagree with their new "low content" post crackdown.

I definitely agree with that. Sometimes few words are more powerful than many, but I've seen people put on probation for using that principle. Annoying, really.

Though I am not about to attack the mods, I'm sure I won't get in trouble for saying that I do think there are some extreme cases sometimes. I don't agree with every decision made, and I feel like many of them can be... questionable. But better to have harsh mods than no mods, I suppose, lest this site turn into 4chan.

 

[Conqueror Kenny]

I actually don't agree with anything you've said here. The mods here are good and well chosen by the staff.
I will admit I've not really been paying much attention to the forums here as of late but I've seen some of the people that have been banned recently and I think that the mods have made the right choices.
Bear in mind that while you may not remember a user's previous activity the mods can see any action previously taken to that user and adjust the punishment accordingly.
If somebody is swearing unnecessarily in all their posts then do you not think that some sort of action should be taken to try to stop this? If they persist then they should be banned.
Quite frankly I've not seen an instance where anybody has been banned because a mod doesn't like them. In fact I know that if you have been banned you may contact the staff to appeal this, and I've seen many a user come into the IRC to talk to a staff member or mod about their banning. This would be a prime reason to do just that, if it does prove to stand true I'm sure the staff would hesitate to offer an apology and an unbanning.
If somebody is getting over the top because they're popular and think they're the boss then they won't be banned by the mods because of that. If you look past the person writing the post and actually read what is being written you would see that if it were any other person you might just call them "a troll," but because they've become popular it's somehow viewed diffrently by the community.
Why should only "trolls" be banned? There were clear terms and conditions that you agreed to when registering to this (and most) site. If you cannot abide by these then you shouldn't have the privilege of an account.
If somebody goes through the trouble of making a different account just so they can post again doesn't in any way shape or form mean they should be able to post again. YOUR right to post has been taken away, chances are if you've been panned you have already had a second chance and wasted it, so now because you have a different name you should get a third, fourth or even fifth chance?

This post has dragged on a lot longer than I expected it to, in short; you sound salty.

 

[GreyWolf257]

I see what you mean and I respect you for bringing this topic to the table, but the Mods may have your head for this. Yes, some of the Mods here may be a tad power hungry, but most of them just want to maintain a good website. I suppose this means some unfortunate casualties will occur, and we just have to learn to accept that.

God, that sounded bad.