To the moderators of the Escapist:

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Vanguard_Ex

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Mar 19, 2008
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Mother Yeti said:
Vanguard_Ex said:
Mother Yeti said:
*shrug* I just giggle whenever posters turn against a message board and get all solidarity-now-my-brothers. One of those perspective things, I guess. You can leave if you don't like the mods.
Ah nobody's turning against anything. This is just asking for answers. By the way you weren't pointing that leave suggestion at me, were you?
No, it was directed at Sir "I thought Escapist was LIBERAL and ANTI-AUTHORITARIAN but I guess I was WRONG" Shibito. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out, kid.

Maybe I'm just super-perceptive and I didn't realize it, but I never had difficulty locating and reading the forum rules. They're the top post in every forum, and there's the Posting Guidelines link at the top of the page. Plus, when I joined I got a message that basically said "Here are the rules, read them." And the rules are hardly esoteric.

Transparency is one thing, but demanding to be babysat is another.
Ah good. Yeah, 'liberal' is a bit strong when we're talking about a forum.
I think it's just personality really. The people who won't take time to read the rules and guidelines are probably the same people who don't read instructions to things. Granted, I'm one of those people; I sure never read the guidelines and rules. But then, I have enough common sense to tell what would be frowned upon.
 

mshcherbatskaya

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Feb 1, 2008
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As other people have noted Necro and Mobius, both of whom I personally like, have a long history of escalating general disagreements into personal feuds and throwing periodic tantrums as well. I believe, although I do not know for a fact, that a long history of positive as well as negative contributions to the forums will buy one a degree of forgiveness. It's not, as some people have suggested, popularity that keeps the banhammer away, but the genuine contributions that made them popular in the first place.

Keep in mind that membership in the forums is a priviledge, not a right. Free speech only applies in the public sphere and The Escapist is privately owned an run. If you don't like the way it is managed, the Internet is a very large place and no one has nailed your feet to the floor. I got pissed and walked away from the site for a time - because of frustration with the moderation no less - so I know it can be done. The door is located in the address bar of your browser, don't let it hit you in the ass on your way out.
 

Ajna

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Mar 19, 2009
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Susan Arendt said:
To the folks saying that the mods shouldn't explain themselves, while I certainly understand that point of view, I'm personally very much in favor of transparency. People seem fond of believing mods and admins to be some Big Brothery overseer that acts on a whim -- far more difficult to uphold that view when we're perfectly happy to explain the rationale behind any decision. When folks understand, they're more content. I don't see a down side in that.

I have no qualms about explaining any decision I've made to anyone who asks -- but what I will not do is make a public spectacle of it. It's not productive, helpful, or necessary, and usually just stirs up more chaos than it prevents.
I like transparency. Here's my take on it, to make everyone shut up: Just make a pinned topic titled "Bans, and why". Then, any time that someone get's suspened/banned, just add their name and a sentence or two to the extent of "Advertised their own site", "Posted first/second/third", "Was an asshat/racist/etc.", and so on. Just so that people know it wasn't for no reason. Back when I was admining a tiny little community forum, I posted up a pinned topic every time I banned someone for being a dick. It worked out well, because even if someone was angry over it, they at least could know why it had happened. (True, the Escapist is much larger, but I think what I suggested would work, though it wouldn't be able to keep track of bans that had happened in the past, it could keep track of ones from now on.)
 

SiliconKnight

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Nov 23, 2008
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mshcherbatskaya said:
As other people have noted Necro and Mobius, both of whom I personally like, have a long history of escalating general disagreements into personal feuds and throwing periodic tantrums as well. I believe, although I do not know for a fact, that a long history of positive as well as negative contributions to the forums will buy one a degree of forgiveness. It's not, as some people have suggested, popularity that keeps the banhammer away, but the genuine contributions that made them popular in the first place.

Keep in mind that membership in the forums is a priviledge, not a right. Free speech only applies in the public sphere and The Escapist is privately owned an run. If you don't like the way it is managed, the Internet is a very large place and no one has nailed your feet to the floor. I got pissed and walked away from the site for a time - because of frustration with the moderation no less - so I know it can be done. The door is located in the address bar of your browser, don't let it hit you in the ass on your way out.
This
It seems this all could be avoided if Mobius and Necro just didn't push it so far.
I enjoyed reading many of the posts from both of them but they had to have realized there might be consequences when they made their final posts
 

black lincon

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Aug 21, 2008
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Susan Arendt said:
To the folks saying that the mods shouldn't explain themselves, while I certainly understand that point of view, I'm personally very much in favor of transparency. People seem fond of believing mods and admins to be some Big Brothery overseer that acts on a whim -- far more difficult to uphold that view when we're perfectly happy to explain the rationale behind any decision. When folks understand, they're more content. I don't see a down side in that.

I have no qualms about explaining any decision I've made to anyone who asks -- but what I will not do is make a public spectacle of it. It's not productive, helpful, or necessary, and usually just stirs up more chaos than it prevents.
Okay then, be transparent. Please explain to me why FishFoodCarl [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/profiles/view/fish%20food%20carl] was banned. I understand there was some heated arguments going on in that thread, and you told them to calm down and told him specifically to not post again, or else there will be consequences, but from what I can see he did. Unless the post was deleted he doesn't actually have a post that he was banned for. It just leads you to the top of the 15th page, a page where FFC didn't post.

Sorry if that seems rude but Carl is the only person who I don't particularly understand their banning, as I'd never seen him on probation or suspended.
 

ElephantGuts

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xmetatr0nx said:
ElephantGuts said:
pimppeter2 said:
Can someone explain this

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.118296#2261331

Why was Kukul suspended? Did he write something then delete it? or did he really ask for it and receive it?
Kukul was one of the biggest trolls in this place. Thank God he's gone.
Lets not make this about calling people out.
Not calling anyone out, just filling him in on the guy...

Trust me, there's a lot more I would love to say about Kukul, none of it pleasant.

pimppeter2 said:
xmetatr0nx said:
ElephantGuts said:
pimppeter2 said:
Can someone explain this

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.118296#2261331

Why was Kukul suspended? Did he write something then delete it? or did he really ask for it and receive it?
Kukul was one of the biggest trolls in this place. Thank God he's gone.
Lets not make this about calling people out.
I actually like Kukul. Sure he's a little offesive but his posts are golden. He once commented on a colseplay(sp?) and his post had me literally rolling on the floor laughing.
And it's true that Kukul has said some intelligent or funny things (he's not as stupid as your average troll) and I could understand someone liking him if they haven't seen everything he's said. But he can be really offensive and a real asshole.
 

mshcherbatskaya

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Feb 1, 2008
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Ajna said:
I like transparency. Here's my take on it, to make everyone shut up: Just make a pinned topic titled "Bans, and why". Then, any time that someone get's suspened/banned, just add their name and a sentence or two to the extent of "Advertised their own site", "Posted first/second/third", "Was an asshat/racist/etc.", and so on. Just so that people know it wasn't for no reason. Back when I was admining a tiny little community forum, I posted up a pinned topic every time I banned someone for being a dick. It worked out well, because even if someone was angry over it, they at least could know why it had happened. (True, the Escapist is much larger, but I think what I suggested would work, though it wouldn't be able to keep track of bans that had happened in the past, it could keep track of ones from now on.)
I not sure about that - the post could very well fill with public arguments with the mods disputing the validity of the reason, and it would have the effect of publicly shaming the people who were disciplined, which is not the point. The intent of temporary bans is to put the user in "time out" to consider their behavior. Permabans are usually based on a long pattern of behavior and "being a dick" or "chronic flaming" doesn't really explain it.
 

mshcherbatskaya

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ElephantGuts said:
xmetatr0nx said:
ElephantGuts said:
pimppeter2 said:
Can someone explain this

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.118296#2261331

Why was Kukul suspended? Did he write something then delete it? or did he really ask for it and receive it?
Kukul was one of the biggest trolls in this place. Thank God he's gone.
Lets not make this about calling people out.
Not calling anyone out, just filling him in on the guy...

Trust me, there's a lot more I would love to say about Kukul, none of it pleasant.

pimppeter2 said:
xmetatr0nx said:
ElephantGuts said:
pimppeter2 said:
Can someone explain this

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.118296#2261331

Why was Kukul suspended? Did he write something then delete it? or did he really ask for it and receive it?
Kukul was one of the biggest trolls in this place. Thank God he's gone.
Lets not make this about calling people out.
I actually like Kukul. Sure he's a little offesive but his posts are golden. He once commented on a colseplay(sp?) and his post had me literally rolling on the floor laughing.
And it's true that Kukul has said some intelligent or funny things (he's not as stupid as your average troll) and I could understand someone liking him if they haven't seen everything he's said. But he can be really offensive and a real asshole.
See above about the balance of intelligent conversation and bullshit asshattery. You are right - he was intelligent and funny. He was also a chronic racist, sexist, and homophobe. He generated a lot of negativity, too much negativity in the end. I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did.
 

Logan Westbrook

Transform, Roll Out, Etc
Feb 21, 2008
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black lincon said:
Sorry if that seems rude but Carl is the only person who I don't particularly understand their banning, as I'd never seen him on probation or suspended.
For reference, the post that got Carl banned was deleted. He decided he'd go out in a blaze of glory and try and take some mods down with him.
 

black lincon

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Aug 21, 2008
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nilcypher said:
black lincon said:
Sorry if that seems rude but Carl is the only person who I don't particularly understand their banning, as I'd never seen him on probation or suspended.
For reference, the post that got Carl banned was deleted. He decided he'd go out in a blaze of glory and try and take some mods down with him.
How in the hell did he try to do that? did he have pictures of someone cheating on his wife or something?
 

Logan Westbrook

Transform, Roll Out, Etc
Feb 21, 2008
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black lincon said:
nilcypher said:
black lincon said:
Sorry if that seems rude but Carl is the only person who I don't particularly understand their banning, as I'd never seen him on probation or suspended.
For reference, the post that got Carl banned was deleted. He decided he'd go out in a blaze of glory and try and take some mods down with him.
How in the hell did he try to do that? did he have pictures of someone cheating on his wife or something?
I think he was under the impression that if he was rude to us, we'd crumble into dust.
 

Vanguard_Ex

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Mar 19, 2008
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JimmyBassatti said:
sirdanrhodes said:
If you have a long history with the mods and banning, then you deserve to be reviewed by the staff. I myself am lucky, the mods where a little nice on me, I have been on suspension or probation about seven or eight times whilst I have been here, and to be honest, I have admittedly done some stuff that I am surprised the mods did not act on!

One probation this year, I am NOT having another one.
What is a probation, may I ask? Can you still post, but your just watched more closely by the staff?
That's it, yeah. It's basically just a warning to remind you that the mods know what you post.
 

Vanguard_Ex

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Mar 19, 2008
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nilcypher said:
black lincon said:
nilcypher said:
black lincon said:
Sorry if that seems rude but Carl is the only person who I don't particularly understand their banning, as I'd never seen him on probation or suspended.
For reference, the post that got Carl banned was deleted. He decided he'd go out in a blaze of glory and try and take some mods down with him.
How in the hell did he try to do that? did he have pictures of someone cheating on his wife or something?
I think he was under the impression that if he was rude to us, we'd crumble into dust.
Sadly vampires don't crumble from insults, it's stakes.
I KID
Sorry for double posting ;(
 

black lincon

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Aug 21, 2008
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nilcypher said:
black lincon said:
nilcypher said:
black lincon said:
Sorry if that seems rude but Carl is the only person who I don't particularly understand their banning, as I'd never seen him on probation or suspended.
For reference, the post that got Carl banned was deleted. He decided he'd go out in a blaze of glory and try and take some mods down with him.
How in the hell did he try to do that? did he have pictures of someone cheating on his wife or something?
I think he was under the impression that if he was rude to us, we'd crumble into dust.
Wait, you don't! All this time I'd assumed if a mod was hassling me I could crack wise about his mother and I'd never see him again. You've changed my whole perspective on life.
 

Erana

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Feb 28, 2008
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JimmyBassatti said:
sirdanrhodes said:
If you have a long history with the mods and banning, then you deserve to be reviewed by the staff. I myself am lucky, the mods where a little nice on me, I have been on suspension or probation about seven or eight times whilst I have been here, and to be honest, I have admittedly done some stuff that I am surprised the mods did not act on!

One probation this year, I am NOT having another one.
What is a probation, may I ask? Can you still post, but your just watched more closely by the staff?
Pretty much. It adds into your negative karma with the mods, makes you unable to get those nifty matrix badges, and makes you feel as embarrassed as hell...
 

Kermi

Elite Member
Nov 7, 2007
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I can't believe people think forums are a democracy.

The Escapist forums are largely douchebag-free and is the mods have to come down hard, even on people who the community at large think are immune because of an extended tenure or high post count, then so be it. I wish half the forums I posted on were as strict on the content of their users posts, but instead good communities get ruined.

Maybe more forums should adopt the somethingawful approach and charge you ten bucks to sign up - people would have a lot more respect for their accounts, I wager.