Red Dawn
Elite Member
- Jun 4, 2001
- 57,529
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Originally posted by: MotionMan
Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
It is interesting that those that seem to complain the loudest are also those that have the longest history of infractions.
As others have stated well over 99% of the membership have no problems; the other 1% should look in the mirror
That is a spurious argument since the main complaint is that people are being punished unfairly/unevenly. Accordingly those who do not have any "infractions" do not have any reason to complain. Like in a hostage situation, you know there is a problem but you do not want to draw attention to yourself for fear of reprisal. In addition, the complaints involve the claim that some of the "infractions" were unfairly punished.
That being said, the real issue has never been addressed by the moderation team: There is a huge moderation team inconsistency problem that is resulting in people not knowing what is allowed and what is not. There are some members who seem to get away with murder while others are on an extremely short leash. (In my case, almost all, if not all, of my "infractions" involve responding to the same member and dealing with the same senior moderator, neither of whom, from what I can tell, have ever been reprimanded for their behavior that has been in clear violation of the Forum Guidelines.)
The members of the moderation team claim that people know the limits and that the trouble-makers get punished when they knowingly push those limits. I am not so sure all the limits are so well defined.
Let me give you some examples:
1. It is OK to call someone a "huge dick" (http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=38&threadid=2322707);
2. It is OK to call someone a "dumbfuck" (http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=75&threadid=2325297 ; http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2324518 );
3. It is OK to call someone a "fucking moron" (http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=75&threadid=2301600 );
4. It is NOT OK to call someone an "ass" (http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=75&threadid=2324991 );
5. It is NOT OK to put "dick" in thread title or sig because it is "profanity" (According to a Senior Moderator. See Rule 6. "Foul language in topic titles, summaries or sigs and excessive foul language is not permitted.");
6. It is OK to put "dick" in thread title (http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2331214 ; http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2324168 ; http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2308431 ; http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2302487 );
7. It is OK to put "shit" in a sig (http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=40&threadid=2330009 )
8. It is OK to put foul language in titles if you do not spell it correctly ( http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2323640 ; http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2331585 )
9. Mods will edit out parts of offensive posts in PFI WITHOUT taking any further public action against the poster (http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=75&threadid=2328896 );
10. Mods will NOT edit out parts of offensive posts in PFI and WILL hand out a VACATION to the poster for such posts (http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=75&threadid=2324112 ).
11. It is NOT OK to start threads about items that may be illegal is some jurisdictions (http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2330090 )
12. It is OK to start threads about items that may be illegal in some jurisdictions (http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=52&threadid=2328728 ; http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2325691 ; http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2324601 ; http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2328752 ; http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2330492 ; http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2330467 )
The moderation team seems very concerned with members who push the limits when, in reality, no one really knows the limits.
The moderation team mantra also seems to be that they can't see every infraction in every thread. There are two problems with that argument:
1. Many of the issues are in threads that moderators have posted in;
2. Even after the issues are pointed out, moderation of the infraction many times does not occur.
As one of the labeled trouble-makers (having just returned from a six-week vacation), I am not asking for special treatment. On the contrary, I am asking simply to be treated like every other member (or, to put it another way, to have every other member treated like me.
Some of the moderation team looks at the members as acting like children. Well, just like children, forum members need consistency (Without consistency, children act out - see a similarity here?). If you read through all the "complaints" you will see that consistency is all that the so-called trouble-makers are asking for.
(I hope this post does not get me perma-banned, but I have been watching, reading and waiting for six weeks to post it.)
MotionMan
First of all there's no reason why you should feel anxious about making this post, if there was going to be any retribution for criticizing the Mods this thread would have been locked a long time ago. Secondly, even if I do look at some of the members action as those of entitled children I'm not going to sanction them for it, I'm a Moderator not somebodies parent. If their childishness disrupts the forum then that's another matter.
You are right though, there needs to be more consistency, the problem is we have over 75 Mods now and no one in charge. With that many Mods there are almost as many opinions about the rules, written and the famous unwritten rules. I do know that your complaints are being heard by those above us and word is they will be addressed, how we do not know.