Staff Audit and Critique: Round 2

[Alex]

Also, all of you need to message MOG and tell him to comeback to staff. That was just batshit.

Seems we'll be making a change to the rule on harassment. We're going to make it clear that harassment won't be tolerated.

this thread is the ourobouros

edit: i might have more coherent thoughts on this later. even after reading this thread im not sure i understand exactly what the problems are.

 

[Octo]

Regarding Mods, do they actively monitor their specific section? By that I mean do they routinely read through stuff posted or is it just a matter of waiting for something to be reported? I feel like if mods we're having to keep an eye on things, it could avoid some of the problems we've been seeing ie: Mods not having an idea of context when a post is reported, which can lead to a bit of finger twiddling while they figure it out, leading to member frustration. Also, mods could nip potential flashpoints in the bud before stuff escalates.

If Mods don't routinely go over stuff in their section, I have to ask what the point is in having a mod for each section, if it doesn't really matter who sees the report? Not saying anyone should be de-modded here though!

Sorry to be a pain, but I'd really like to see a response to the bolded part here.

Also, to be fair to Mog, he does have a lot of stuff on his plate at the moment and as much as I like him as a mod I get why he wanted to take a step back, so don't bust his chops too much eh?

 

[Cookie Monster]

We don't have section mods.

EDIT: Also, to make it official, Ryu is an SMod again.

 

[Octo]

We don't have section mods.

We don't? Then my apologies, I must be confused because I'm pretty sure last time we had a staff discussion people were saying stuff like 'Adri doesn't do anything' and then others said 'thats because shes in the RPG section'

Anyways!

To slightly rephrase my question then, do mods routinely make it their business to look over threads? Even threads which might not hold a particular interest for them?

 

[Ⓐaron]

We only have section mods for the RP section and the graphics section, and the graphics section is pretty much dead. Ryu used to be a section mod for the FF sections, but now that he's been promoted back to global mod that's no longer the case.

I used to read everything on the board except threads for games I hadn't played or other media I hadn't consumed, but I haven't been making the time to do that lately, mostly because I have a number of other commitments (vinyl requests I need to fill, etc.), plus I've been gaming a lot more as a means of stress relief. I'm not sure what the other staff do. There isn't a routine to make sure everything gets read on the board, although there probably should be.

And tbh, waiting for things to die down is pointless. If whatever your thoughts are would cause an issue now, they'd cause one later after everyone cools off, anyway. And once things die down is the worst time to make a post with any kind of feedback, because then, what kind of reply will there be that will actually help things? There's no point in waiting.

The idea is that if I were just correcting various misconceptions or whatever, it would come across as overly defensive. If people think it would be more helpful to respond sooner rather than later I guess I can do it anyway.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Yeah, Adri has mod powers over the RP section. Dacon has mod powers over Storytime, and DNA has mod powers over the GFX section. They just have those powers to keep those sections neat and in order. For example, threads need to be closed and moved around a lot in the RP section, so we gave one of the RPers (Adri) powers to do that.

 

[Alex]

Did you guys actually do that? She was complaining the other day that she doesn't have that kinda power.

 

[Ⓐaron]

According to the admin control panel, she should be able to do everything the vBulletin software lets supermods do by default except hard deletion and mass-pruning. So I dunno what's wrong.

 

[Max Payne]

what mod powers

i cant do nothing in storytime

 

[Ⓐaron]

Control panel says you should be able to edit posts, delete posts, open/close threads, edit threads, manage posts, edit polls, make announcements, moderate posts, and moderate attachments in that forum. As well as various shit with visitor messages and social groups. I just re-submitted your permissions in case that fixes it, but if not I have no idea what's fucking things up.

 

[Vendel]

This is not even remotely true. You were very explicitly told that if you continued making hostile posts in the debate forum you would have your access removed. You continued making them, so staff did exactly as we said we would.

Isn't it lovely that when it comes to Vendel a warning four months ago gets you randomly banned from a section weeks after your last post in said section?

If only you guys were so on the ball about everything else this forum would be a well oiled machine.

 

[Ⓐaron]

Isn't it lovely that when it comes to Vendel a warning four months ago gets you randomly banned from a section weeks after your last post in said section?

If only you guys were so on the ball about everything else this forum would be a well oiled machine.

"Your last post in said section" was a day before we banned you. And given your long track record of receiving infractions and being banned for making inflammatory posts, I'm at a loss as to why you would have thought Mog's threat to ban you from the section should you continue doing so would ever expire, especially considering that there was nothing in his post that even suggested that it would do so.

 

[Vendel]

Somehow I get the feeling that if Yoshi/whatever her name is was stalking a member here with right of center talk you people could pick out the fucking days it happened. Then we wouldn't be having these issues.

Oh yea speaking of communication. Am I ever going to get a PM notice that I have been banned from an entire section of the forums? Or is this standard practice, letting members just find out randomly?

 

[Ⓐaron]

Considering that, to my knowledge, you're the only person we've ever had to ban from a section of a forum, there is no "standard practice" for how a section ban is handled. However, that the fact that the section no longer shows up really ought to speak for itself.

And again, your ban was not "weeks after your last post in said section." It was a day after your last post in said section. You are the one who has proven not able to "pick out the fucking days it happened". You probably did not find out immediately because you were banned at the same time from the entire forum for two weeks in part because of inflammatory comments made elsewhere on the forum.

 

[Dashell]

Okay now that I'm not on my DS

Alright, alright. Let me just clear this out because this is actually MY fuck up. Yes, the "lol wat" post was by me in the LTD thread. So I had sent Quex "thanks for reporting me". However, no Mod had given me in the info, so it is not their fault, it's mine for sending the message. On MSN I said 'someone told me' but it was not a staff member. So we can drop that, it wasn't even a serious issue and I totally thought we were over it O_o. Sorry for causing this problem. ._.;;;

I guess I assumed staff because how else would someone know I reported something... which is still honestly confusing me... but I'm glad to know it wasn't staff. It wasn't the first time something like that happened to me here though but I don't feel like starting more drama, but there was a reason I immediately assumed staff.

All that being said, I would love to see members contribute more to community events like commentaries and whatnot. Now, I for one don't have technical knowledge or translation skills, so really the best I can do is join in commentaries. I don't know how to do anything else. (and I don't have time to join Mog's FFVII playthrough or Flint's race, baw ;.; ).

To be clear here, I have no problems with discussing what else members can do, at all. in fact I think it's a fine idea... I just didn't want it in this topic.


and just to comment quickly on the Vendel thing... was he actually told he was banned from the section or not?... If not, he probably should have been told. Just a "We decided to ban you from such and such due to your behavior." Just to keep communication flowing.



EDIT
and just to throw it out there, I don't think Mog should leave either. I was a little frustrated with the situation since I had given all the info I could and I was ignored twice and then told he was GOING to reply but... yeah there's no reason for you to leave dude.

 

[Ryushikaze]

Somehow I get the feeling that if Yoshi/whatever her name is was stalking a member here with right of center talk you people could pick out the fucking days it happened. Then we wouldn't be having these issues.

We know full well when it happened and the post that resulted in the sword of damocles falling. JUST LIKE YOSHI HAS BEEN, you were informed that the next incident would result in action.
There was an incident, action was taken.

Oh yea speaking of communication. Am I ever going to get a PM notice that I have been banned from an entire section of the forums? Or is this standard practice, letting members just find out randomly?

Vendel, you were informed at least a week ago that you were banned and why you were banned. Do not pretend that you were not.

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

Adding to what Ryu and Aaron have already said, Ven, I discussed the matter with you by PM at length. If you had more questions, you could have kept talking to me.

At any rate, it was explained why you were banned from that section, it was demonstrated to you that it has nothing to do with your political persuasion (as I mentioned to you in our previous talk, Ghost X says plenty of things various members disagree with, but he's civil about it), and this thread is for legitimate fuck-ups staff has made; not for a complaint over a "next time" promise we delivered on.

 

[Octo]

Sorry to derail this thread with my stupid questions, but what is Storytime? I can't seem to find it anywhere

 

[Ⓐaron]

Only some people have access to it. I'm not even sure if its purpose is supposed to be mentioned publicly so I'm not sure whether I should reveal more. I'll PM you. Anyone else who's curious can also PM me.

 

[Tennyo]

It's a part of the forum that isn't accessible to the public. I think all people needed to do was ask to be let in.

It hasn't been active in a while, though.

 

[Fangu]

Wow, it's like... an underground network I didn't know about! And you guys talk about... politics?

I'm confused

 

[Cookie Monster]

If you want access go to your UserCP/Networking/Group Memberships. You should have the ability to request access there. Then Dacon will be able to accept your request.

 

[Max Payne]

it's just a section of the board where people post and share different reading materials

 

[Max Payne]

It's a part of the forum that isn't accessible to the public. I think all people needed to do was ask to be let in.

It hasn't been active in a while, though.

megaupload going down killed a lot of my stuff there

 

[Cat Rage Room]

As an aside, I didn't quit out of frustration. I've talked retirement for a while, and I mentioned it before. I would be lying if I said this topic didn't make me want to throw my hands up a least a little bit, but I mean, it gets a bit frustrating.

There are some legit grievances that's been going on lately. I understand that. But I firmly believe a community should be self sufficient. I love this community, but this is one of the only communities I frequent with this much events and issues between the Staff and members.

A lot of online communities I frequent, the members don't even know who the Staff are, things run so smoothly. There's no talk of 'more transparency', or a slew of reporting suggestions, or how Staff hands crises, or none of that shit. None of that is necessary. All they know is 'we post here, and warnings and banninhs are bad. It's all cool'. Nothing else ever happens. So why does this site need so much babying?

And every time I do try to get the ball rolling on things like projects, changing and updating our woefully outdated and confusing main site, or forum events, well, I might get a little interest for a while, but then it all dies down and nothing happens. But 'drama' (this topic not included, we needed this discussion, frankly) gets like eight pages, at least, guaranteed.

I think all of us are so bored that nothing gets our attention other than the same shit we've been doing and bad shit. Everyone notices how many people are online when some shit goes down. But it doesn't seem like there's a lot of collective interest in making this site way better than it could be. Everyone just wants to maintain.

So yeah, I stated before that you don't have to be Staff to improve things around here. I mean it. Maybe my retirement was a bit shortsighted. I have a lot of stuff on my plate right now. But I don't want to be Staff doing the same old shit we've been doing. I want to believe in a new TLS. Not the same old shit we fell into since the Comp died.