Love, tolerance, and a preview of things to come

[WhiteLightning 339]

I have to agree with My little pwny on this one. A point system isn't the solution. I've seen multiple forums using a similar system which ultimately resulted in people leaving because they felt suppressed by all the rules.

 

The number of points you receive for some actions is also too high. You only tell a person that he might have posted it in the wrong forum once, and you have to wait 4 weeks to have all your warning points removed. I find that absolutely ridiculous.

 

Sure, a new system is needed to prevent more members from doing all the things that recently happened, but this simply isn't the system we're looking for. A three-strikes out system or an automatic tempban/permaban when one gains, let's say:

 

- 3 warning points = 3 days ban

- 5 warning points = 7 days ban

- 6-7 warning points = permaban

 

Basically, keeping the regular system and adding automatic bans to it instead of letting the mods decide whether or not someone gets banned and for how long.

[Nas 2,873]

At first glance, I was very unnerved at this new points system (then again, watching a disaster movie that puts you in one of those elongated “moods” before then being greeted with something like this isn't the luckiest chain of events). I am unsure of what to say because of my currently affected reactions, but what I do know is that it will surely be a rocky start before we actually get used to this new system.

 

It is very in-depth, it's easy to see. And with all the living heck that's been going on (Hm...I did just watch an apocalypse-themed movie...oh, these feels...), it will either make or break the very lifeline of these forums, if notable action isn't taken place in time. All I have to say is, let's just see what happens.

[Bohtty 1,775]

Does this count in the mlpforum synctube *shifty eyes* not that I post NSFW or Borderline NSFW videos or anything. Nope not me. Never. cupcakes anyone?

[Strife 455]

There is an extremely similar system used in one of the forums I help Moderate and it works amazingly well ... assuming you can find a happy balance between infraction types, point levels, and decay rate.

[HomuraBL 851]

@@My little pwny,

 

I agree with everything you said except for the 3 strike rule. Thats way too harsh and would scare way too many people into not posting. Especially since any rule break gives you a strike.

[NavelColt 22,881]

There is an extremely similar system used in one of the forums I help Moderate and it works amazingly well ... assuming you can find a happy balance between infraction types, point levels, and decay rate.

 

That's the vibe I get from this, too, so it's nice to hear about it working well elsewhere. It's a stellar idea, it's simply that those initial numbers are certainly not going to work. I look forward to seeing how we can craft this into such a way that isn't nearly as intimidating and quick to be harsh, as Lady Rarity Pony and others have pointed out, but still maintain it's purpose in keeping most pointless posts off the board.

[thegoodhen 698]

Looks a bit intimidating to me. I think the backseating shouldn't be pusished so hard and neither should be off topic. NSFW borderline is also subjective. Since the age limit, I don't see why. (Not saying this should turn into r34 parade, but come on, 500 points?) Also, I love these forums. Hopefully I won't get banned for backseat modding, off topic and casual posting of sexy looking Twi in bed.

[Strife 455]

Oh, by the way:

 

Here is a rough draft of a suggested system I made. Needs a few tweaks and modifications, but essentially THIS (link goes to Google Documents).

[NavelColt 22,881]

Oh, by the way:

 

Here is a rough draft of a suggested system I made. Needs a few tweaks and modifications, but essentially THIS (link goes to Google Documents).

 

That's looking rather well so far I must say. Though I must admit I'm confused on the 'System Abuse' section under 'Minor'. I assume by 'abusing brohoofs' you'd have to go through thread after thread and brohoof 3/4ths of the entire topic, or in other words, go ridiculously over the top, in order for action to be taken. Obviously, some people brohoof a lot more than others, but they're not abusing the system, they simply like to make use of the fact they like said post.

 

How about the 'Bump' one then? Would this apply to excessively bumping your own personal threads and nothing more, since necro-posting is encouraged?

[Strife 455]

That's looking rather well so far I must say. Though I must admit I'm confused on the 'System Abuse' section under 'Minor'. I assume by 'abusing brohoofs' you'd have to go through thread after thread and brohoof 3/4ths of the entire topic, or in other words, go ridiculously over the top, in order for action to be taken. Obviously, some people brohoof a lot more than others, but they're not abusing the system, they simply like to make use of the fact they like said post.

 

How about the 'Bump' one then? Would this apply to excessively bumping your own personal threads and nothing more, since necro-posting is encouraged?

 

"Bump" is a feature that I forgot this website doesn't have. Essentially, it's a button at the top of threads that allows a person to click it. But clicking the button, the thread will be bumped to the top of the board's list ... just as if someone posted, only no post was added. A person was able to do this once every 24 hours.

 

As for Brohoofs, abuse is for instances where people are found out to intentionally boost each other's total by bohoofing every post each other make, etc.

[NavelColt 22,881]

"Bump" is a feature that I forgot this website doesn't have. Essentially, it's a button at the top of threads that allows a person to click it. But clicking the button, the thread will be bumped to the top of the board's list ... just as if someone posted, only no post was added. A person was able to do this once every 24 hours.

 

As for Brohoofs, abuse is for instances where people are found out to intentionally boost each other's total by bohoofing every post each other make, etc.

 

Hmmmm, ah, okay.

 

Oh, that makes much more sense. Thanks for the clarification <3

 

Again, this is an excellent setup right here in my opinion. Unlike the initial idea that came with this topic's OP, this doesn't intimidate me, but still serves it's purpose well. It's just like you mentioned, with the proper balance and rates, it goes from 'wouldn't work well at all' to 'perfect setup'.

[Sky 746]

Im rather scared that I will get banned now because sometimes my phone doesn't reach the character limit but posts anyway.

[NavelColt 22,881]

Im rather scared that I will get banned now because sometimes my phone doesn't reach the character limit but posts anyway.

 

Nah bro, you're not the only one. Mobile version is known to do that, and this concern was brought up earlier in this thread. The staff won't count it against you if they know it's on accident. As long as they know you're mobile and that it doesn't happen on purpose, you're good.

[3005 332]

I personally have not experienced any of this drama, but if you say it's so, then it's so. I like this infraction system a lot; will you be able to view your current warning status, or will this be on a verbal notification basis?

[Lavo 785]

I'm just going to make some suggestions on how I think some changes could be made

 

Backseat moderating: 100 points

Character minimum violation: 125 points

Suggestive/borderline NSFW content: 400 points

NSFW content: 750 points

 

All these three need to have a "we will let you off once" or rather as IPB moderation wants it a Verbal warning with no points attached. New members may not necessarily read the rules so may not understand that it is against the rules.

 

Now you can argue that it's their fault for not reading the rules, which Is true. However be honest yourself, when you sign up to a site how often to you go look for the rules and then read them.

 

NSFW should be reduced to *at least* a 2 day suspension. Seven days is way too long of a test to see how loyal that member is to coming back to the forums right after the suspension.

 

Backseat moderating could also do with a reduction to the same as pointless/off-topic posts. While it is against the rules, members will always break it knowingly or not so I don't think it should carry the 100 point with it.

 

This is really only meant as feedback since the points and rules are still not set in stone yet.

[Crispy 5,563]

This whole thing about the character minimum violation is a bit off-putting because I often post on this site using a cellular device, and the cellular device bypasses the 100 character limit by not detailing how many characters I have typed. And I would not want to have to count each character, which I will not do.

 

This also comes up when the bug decides to happen to make the counter not appear.

 

However, I'm sure they mean typing meaningless letters like adfpoahdfpoiajsdpoigaopidfgpioa;, or lol white tex

 

I'm sure if your post is meaningful and adds to the discussion, the mods will use discretion

Edit: Oooh, that was fancy. The site can tell when you use invisible letters now! Interesting.

Edited August 9, 2012 by Crispy

[Jokuc 8,173]

Well if this applies I guess I will get some 2 days bans or stuff because of backseat modding. I do it all the time and I can't help it, hah.

 

I don't really like the point system to be honest and I think we should toss the whole idea and keep the banning methods as it is.

[Samurshy 708]

Let me tell you my view, and before you get all "Oh Em Gee, Bronynonymous is going to give another one of his opinionated rants about how this place is turning into a regime" let me just say right now that before you jump to conclusions, I actually agree with this post.

 

I can not tell you the how much trolling and flame wars have been started over things that could easily be talked over calmly and collectively. We are bronies, people, as the title of the thread suggests, we love and tolerate each other. We should be united under the bronydom instead of being split apart by meaningless flame wars. Hatred begets hatred and it spreads like wildfire. We as bronies already have enough hatred towards our fandom as it is, the last thing we need is to start hating each other.

 

Now on the other side of the spectrum, I do also agree with Lady Rarity Pony. I have seen a massive spike (in the month and a half since I have joined) of rules and restrictions being implemented by mods and the modforce. Now while I do realize that we (as normal forum members) have little to no say in what rules are set and implemented, I think the last thing members of any organization or group would want is to be so limited in what they are able to do that they actually fear the rules and those who set them. I think authority should be respected and it is obvious to me that Feld0 and the modforce are the authority here, but I also think that citizens should be respected on a certain level too (normal members being the citizens.)

 

I think the most important thing for everyone to remember here is that rules are here to help us, not harm us. And to keep the forums as clean and orderly as possible we must have tighter restrictions. The only thing that I am afraid of, is that the new members who sign up after the rules are implemented, will not necessarily know better when it comes to what they can do and what they can't. So I think some leeway should be implemented in the realm of newer members. Maybe one or two warnings for newer members before actually giving them points? I don't know.

 

~So there you have it, a infamous Bronynonymous rant made special with love.

Edited August 9, 2012 by Bronynonymous

[Nah 3,182]

This is a good way for members to respect other members, and a way to get along, hopefully new members will abide to these new rules as we continue to grow.

[Cherry Blossom 864]

Well with this new system it seems I won't be getting upset with anypony and/or them getting upset with me. I'm pretty glad this system was made, but at the same time I feel pretty cautious about what I'll be doing in the future. The good thing is that everypony won't having any type of negative encounters of any sort and will be pretty okay with eachother.

[Pinkazoid 3,493]

Could I suggest that you pin this up somewhere?

I've seen some members not follow the character limit, probably because they don't know about this new rule '~'

[Somebody 570]

In short, every post deletion will carry with it a certain warning weight. By tracking post deletions in this way we will be able to more easily build up a permanent record of sorts for potential troublemakers.

 

Quick question here: if every post that is deleted means warning points are added, does that mean that when several other posts are also deleted for replying to said deleted post, do they all get warnings even if they broke none of the rules or had no infractions mentioned in the OP? If people get warnings just for replying to a post that is deleted for some reason, I have to say the currently relaxed feel of the site will quickly disappear...

Edited August 9, 2012 by Questio

[NavelColt 22,881]

Just want to reiterate, again, that Strife posted a very reasonable, very functional, very extensive and clear setup for this point system idea as an alternative to the OP's, back at the bottom of page three. Personally, I could switch over to this idea right now, and unlike the OP's initial rough draft, wouldn't feel intimidated in the slightest, while still knowing that this will help our board keep clean of undesirable content. Looks like it's gotten some more attention from a staff or two judging by brohoofs, but I just want to make sure everyone get's to take a look, and that they don't miss it because it's begun to get buried after another page has come to pass by. Here, have the quoted post, why don't you :3

 

Here is a rough draft of a suggested system I made. Needs a few tweaks and modifications, but essentially THIS (link goes to Google Documents).

[My little pwny 1,392]

Alright, let's say you guys go ahead with the point system. You need to find the sweet spot for the enforcement of rules, see below.

• Don't just enforce the rules to the letter, you need to punish those who are purposefully pushing the envelope.
• Be sure that each kind of rule explained covers all bases and scenarios so there can be no confusion when a member is assigned points.
• Allow for ban appeals.
• Be consistent as a moderation team when you assign points.
• Punish the members who have a history of baiting members into fights.
• Temp-ban a member trying to game the point system. (I.E. a lot of low point infractions in a short amount of time)
• Use an exponential point decay system. The first week with no new infractions deducts 15 points, the second week 30 points, the next 60, the next 120, etc. If the member in question commits another infraction, the point decay restarts at 15 the first week. The prevents frequent offenders from being on equal footing as the occasional mistake.

But my recommendation of no point system still stands. If it is implemented I will continue to support the forums anyways...and hope for the best.

[XUNUSEDXXX 3,459]

So we won't get punished if we accidentally post under 100 characters when we're on a mobile phone? Cus I'm on my iPhone right now and I'm not sure if this is 100 characters.