A little more moderating ?

Gryzemuis on 23/8/2007 at 13:13

I've been a reader (and a poster) on these forums for almost 8 years now. I started coming here when I played Thief1, in late 1999. I always came back here, as I enjoyed these forums a lot. The Thief series, Deus Ex, Morrowind, Oblivion, Dark Messiah, System Shock, a lot of the games I have played have been covered here.

I'm now playing Bioshock. But when I read the Bioshock forum, I realize that good games attract more people. And more kids. And more obnoxious kids. Those people make your forums less pleasant.

I wonder, can the moderators do something about that ?

The simplest solution would be to just ban people more easily, and more often. Nobody will miss someone who posts mostly drivel. Just ban them for a week. If they repeat, ban them forever. No big deal.

I am also a WoW player. I am a reader (and poster) on a forum by a guild called "Elitist Jerks". (http://elitistjerks.com/forums.php) There are very many knowledgable people on those forums. They do a very strict style of moderating. Very strict. These are their rules: (http://elitistjerks.com/f34/a18-forum_rules/)

They may seem harsh. But to be honest, if a poster can't be bothered to type "you" in stead of "u", why would anyone bother reading what he has to say ? My second post got me banned for a week. Because my style was too aggressive. I didn't flame, I didn't use curse-words. But it was a little too aggresive. I'm more careful now. :) Anyway, these forum rules, and their strict reinforcement make these forums a very nice place to visit.

So, would it be asked to much to have a similar style of moderating on TTLG ? You might lose a few posters for now. But I think it would benefit these forums in the long run.

Thanks.

David on 23/8/2007 at 13:17

We're good thanks.

Matthew on 23/8/2007 at 13:19

I've personally found that most of the time simple member pressure will stop most of the u/lol/ppl brigade, so I don't think that is so much of an issue generally. Of course, I doubt that TTLG has before seen as much of an influx as the current BioShock migration has generated. On the whole, once vrap and GBM came online that subforum cleaned up considerably.

Edit: reading those 'Elitist Jerks' rules, I don't really see much difference between their rules and the generally accepted practice here.

Gingerbread Man on 23/8/2007 at 14:41

I do agree with what LittleFlower has said... although it's also the case that the BioShock forum is currently undergoing some pretty major birth pangs. The influx of people who don't get the vibe around here (or would be regarding as jackasses anywhere) is quick and painful, and it may continue a week or two -- but we weathered it with Thief 3 and we'll weather it with BioShock.

That said, I do generally lean more heavily toward the Chokehold Method of law enforcement, myself. It costs nothing to register here, it cost nothing to RE-register after a ban, and anyone who honestly gets all psychotic because an internet discussion forum told them to fuck off for a week and come back when they're ready to behave... well, those people probably need to take a break from the internet anyway, because that's just crazy.

David and Matthew are also right, however.

I don't think I've said anything of value in this reply. :(

David on 23/8/2007 at 14:45

What I mean by 'we're good' is that this shit will sort itself out pretty quickly, and if it doesn't then we'll intervene where need be, much like our other forums.

rachel on 23/8/2007 at 14:48

Pah, GBM, you're COMPROMISING! You agree with everyone! Get out for a week and come back when you're ready to make DECISIONS! :mad:

owaitnonotmenonoaaaargggggg......
[NO CARRIER]

fett on 23/8/2007 at 15:38

I get told to fuck off every week around here and it's made me a bitter, angry poster. I love this place.

Renault on 23/8/2007 at 15:58

I noticed TTLG beat the previous record for most people online at one time yesterday (8/22), so that should say a lot.

What exactly that is though, I'm not sure...

Oceanstorm on 23/8/2007 at 17:01

As John Lenin sang, Love is all you need. Feel the love people.
(http://www.funlol.com/pictures/exaggerated-cat-kiss.html)

Gryzemuis on 23/8/2007 at 18:23

Quote Posted by Matthew

Edit: reading those 'Elitist Jerks' rules, I don't really see much difference between their rules and the generally accepted practice here.

The difference is not about the rules themselves. The difference is about how strict the moderators enforce them. At EJ forums people get punished immediately. And that helps.

See the subforum called "the banhammer".
(http://elitistjerks.com/f34/)
It is very clear how the moderators want to run their forum.
There is no confusion.

At first I thought they were overdoing it. But after I got used to it, when I read other forums, I'm starting to appreciate the style of EJ.

Anyway, I don't want to tell you how you should run your forums. It is just a suggestion. But I believe that many of your serious and longtime posters might not mind a little bit more stricter moderation.