Moderation Changes

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Howdy folks,

As some of you may have noticed, there suddenly seem to be a lot more people on the board running around with the title "moderator" under their names. Your eyes are not playing tricks on you. MrSlimCitrus, HndsmCelt, Kingsgurl, Pixelpusher and Warhawk have all joined the Kingsfans moderating team, and are now eagerly awaiting their chance at all of the aggravation, abuse, and questions about their heritage that any good mod treasures so deeply. So everybody welcome the new mods, and be sure to give 'em hell for me! ;)

Of course the new mods are neither an indication that we are trying to take over the world, nor that moderation is something icky that you can catch like the measles, and is spreading. Rather the newest version of the Kingsfans software includes some new moderation bells and whistles, and we are now undertaking a grand experiment in modding democracy.

For the vast majority of posters, you will notice no difference. All of you that get along, are productive posters, rarely interact with the mods, should see little if any change. The standards haven't changed, just the number of people trying to keep things running smoothly.

Now for the rest of ya....:p :

The new system is an attempt to smooth things out, add deliberation, get more voices involved, more coverage during odd hours. The way it will work is this:

1) a point system for infractions
2) bannings for anything other than outright trolling will be by majority vote of the mods

If you commit an infraction, you will be assigned one or more "points" via the software. The exact point penalties are still being worked out, but for the time being "1" point for particularly foul language avoiding the filters, "2" points for personal attacks, etc. These points will slowly be forgiven over time. But if you accumulate enough of them in a short enough period of time, a) you have been a very bad boy/girl; and b) you will be in danger of getting yourself banned. A poll will be opened in the mods forum, and a simple majority vote will be taken on whether to pull the plug, or give you another chance. The system is designed for deliberation, and with all mods voting, having a personality clash with any one of them will not get you banned. However, being such a jerk that the vote is unanimous still will, so...just don't.

Each time you are flagged for an infraction you will be sent a PM informing you. You are free, as always, to discuss it with the mod who flagged you. But in addition, as I understand it we are also going to be implementing a Mod Comment Button of some type that will allow you to send a message to all of the mods for discussion in the mods forum. Please do not abuse such a device -- high pitched screeching is oddly quite distinct even in a cyber setting, and if I see the ridiculous "First Amendment" argument one more time
I am going to kick somebody. The board rules are the board rules and you are not going to get far arguing that they are wrong and we should implement your preferred rules instead. If, on the other hand, you've got something legit, something you legitimately think needs to be reviewed, a suggestion, a general comment about the modding, positive (unlikely, I know) or negative, you will have the ability to put it before the mods as a whole.


Well...think that about covers it. As we do not have that button yet, feel free to comment away.
 
I like the new system and additional moderators. Not that there was anything wrong with old system and I really hope standards will remain the same, but additional mods will probably improve overall response time (more eye-balls) on the occasions when we have trolls/vandals.

I always liked point systems/karma systems. It adds to transparency of the moderation process. Anyone can slip below their usual standards of posting but with persistent, repeat offenders you must assume there is some malice.

Congrats new mods!
 
I have questions about this-if you receive a point or infraction from a particular mod who may not happen to like something you said (that doesn't really violate the rules), can you appeal it? Is there a certain amount of points that you accumulate to get you banned, eg 5= automatic banning etc. Not saying I personally will be getting any but some people are more sensitive about things than others.
If a certain mod obviously doesn't like you for whatever reason and gets points happy, can we discuss it with you for example privately?
I realise this is all new and there are kinks to be worked out but these are the questions that immediately came to my mind.
 
I have questions about this-if you receive a point or infraction from a particular mod who may not happen to like something you said (that doesn't really violate the rules), can you appeal it? Is there a certain amount of points that you accumulate to get you banned, eg 5= automatic banning etc. Not saying I personally will be getting any but some people are more sensitive about things than others.
If a certain mod obviously doesn't like you for whatever reason and gets points happy, can we discuss it with you for example privately?
I realise this is all new and there are kinks to be worked out but these are the questions that immediately came to my mind.

These comments by Brick address your questions, I think:

"The system is designed for deliberation, and with all mods voting, having a personality clash with any one of them will not get you banned. However, being such a jerk that the vote is unanimous still will, so...just don't."

"You are free, as always, to discuss it with the mod who flagged you. But in addition, as I understand it we are also going to be implementing a Mod Comment Button of some type that will allow you to send a message to all of the mods for discussion in the mods forum."

The mods will be discussing flagged infractions.

I think everyone here would appreciate it if we never had to have such a discussion in the first place. :D

And yes, I am sure there will be a few kinks here and there to work out. We'll do our best to be fair to everyone.
 
Loopy, could be wrong on something here, but this is how I understand it:

1) Yes there is a point limit. High enough though that a good poster should never reach it.

2) and yes, theoretically if a mod had it "out for you" they could load you up on points and move you into the "infractions" group.

3) but that is all they could do, and you could continue to post unless the majority of the mods deemed you ban worthy. (in which case you probably would be. ;) )

As an aside, once you are in the infractions group your posts are subject to a delay as a mod will have to approve them before they appear on the board. There is a definite downside there even if you are not banned.

There will be a "contact the mods" type button if you really think you are being treated unfairly by a mod or whatnot. You will be able to state your case to the mods as a whole, if there is a case of course.
 
Loopy: The explanation is that the person flagged can discuss it with the mod who gave them the point(s) and will also be able to send a message to the mod's forum for discussion, when said button becomes available. That sounds like being able to appeal it to me.:confused: Or do you mean something different?
 
I guess 1 of the things I was asking but didn't explain it very well is if 1 of the mods does "have it out for you" then obviously discussing it with them isn't going to help and maybe you don't want to discuss it with all the mods, can you do it privately? I know you can send a pm but will it do any good? If a certain mod is giving you points and no-one else is then obviously it's personal and can't it be stopped by the other mods?
brick, are you and VF over the other mods or is it all equal now?
maybe if I give an example it will clarify this (purely hypothetical). I don't like Brad for some reason and I keep posting this, Warhawk loves Brad (you were the 1st name I thought of;)) and takes it personally every time I talk about it so gives me a point, enough to put me in the infraction zone. Could I pm Brick and say look he's got it in for me, can you do something about it, maybe tell him to chill out with the points? Again purely hypothetical example.
 
I guess 1 of the things I was asking but didn't explain it very well is if 1 of the mods does "have it out for you" then obviously discussing it with them isn't going to help and maybe you don't want to discuss it with all the mods, can you do it privately? I know you can send a pm but will it do any good? If a certain mod is giving you points and no-one else is then obviously it's personal and can't it be stopped by the other mods?
brick, are you and VF over the other mods or is it all equal now?
maybe if I give an example it will clarify this (purely hypothetical). I don't like Brad for some reason and I keep posting this, Warhawk loves Brad (you were the 1st name I thought of;)) and takes it personally every time I talk about it so gives me a point, enough to put me in the infraction zone. Could I pm Brick and say look he's got it in for me, can you do something about it, maybe tell him to chill out with the points? Again purely hypothetical example.

1) all the mods are equal in power, although I am still the prettiest of course. ;)

2) COULD one mod overrule another? Theoretically. But that is unhealthy and leads to the playing of one mod against the other + "mod wars". Very undesirable. You can always make a personal appeal for someone to "talk to" a fellow mod, but the effectiveness there will be dubious.

3) If you are really having a problem, use the Mod Comments button. It really will be the best way. Be put before the mods as a whole + will make everybody aware of it rather than playing backroom politics.
 
The only problem as I see it will be the consistancy of infractions beng handed out from mod to mod. Given the new system there should be a strict guildline when it comes to giving out infractions. Other then that I see no problems with the system. Good luck to the new mods. The good thing about the increased number mods is that they will spend more time posting now instead of moderating.
 
Last edited:
Why'd you need more mods, playmaker's back? Just kidding.


Anyway congrats mods, I think you all are good posters and I know you'll do a good job.
 
A point system that is about the oddest thing I have heard of at a forum. Are you guys getting a lot of complaints about unfair treatment? I have heard some things but mainly from disgruntled brats at other forums. Label it like it is, a timeout haha.

I can somewhat understand as KF has changed a lot over the last 2 years but I don't think a "timeout" will change the real issues that most have problems with... but who knows.

Congrats to Slim, HndsmCelt, Kingsgurl, Pixelpusher and Warhawk...
 
Sounds like a good system, but with all the new cool features, I'm curious... if I get myself banned from point-based infractions, will the new system send me a lovely parting gift? ;)
 
kurtwood_2002.jpg


Red Foreman says, "You get a lovely parting gift, alright: my foot in your ***!"

Heh, good one, Red...
 
This ought to be interesting. For those of you who plan to challenge the system, be advised. I know, or know of, most of these people. They do not suffer fools and are the intellectual match for any posters out there.
 
Seems like a good system, give or take a 1 or 2 rules i dont completely agree with. Has it already been put in use?
 
honestly i think you guys a way too strict.... its a forum not a job... LOL

but since when does my opinion count
 
1 or 2 rules?

Which ones SacK? I think this is a good spot to get things in the open and discuss it. Not sure it will change anything but you may have a point nobody thought of. Anything to improve one of the better Kings forums out there.
 
Cool. The sites being taken to the next level! Congrads to the new Mods.



Brick, Since you have 2 mods under your name, Does this make you a "special" Mod?:p
 
Cool. The sites being taken to the next level! Congrads to the new Mods.



Brick, Since you have 2 mods under your name, Does this make you a "special" Mod?:p


No no, I'm the PRETTY mod, remember? Damnit, get it right! :p


Have yet to get an explanation on the moderator moderator thing.
 
This is not as radical as some of you are making it out to be. 95% of you will never receive an infraction and will never even know the system is in use.

Posters have always been "warned" for inappropriate behavior. Usually Brick or VF21 will send them a PM telling them to knock it off or whatever. The new system just gives us a means to keep track of the warnings, or infractions, and to spot repeat troublemakers. If you haven't been getting regular PMs warning you then don't expect to receive any infraction points.

This is NOT meant to "tighten things down" it's just something new we're trying out.

Also it should be noted that posts can still be edited or deleted immediately if they are inappropriate and any member may be immediately temporarily banned (followed by a vote for permanent status) for obvious "trolling"