Do you feel this forum is over moderated?

[Iron Shield 88]

My one complaint would be minimum character lengths in posts, but I haven't been posting in a long while and since I've started again the character limit seems to be reduced, a good change.

Edited November 15, 2013 by Iron Shield

[Sugar Pea 2,682]

Indeed!

I like your point about the whole getting locked thing. I mean, sometimes I wish we didn't have that thing if a post already exists than it's automatically moved to that post, making your response sound attention starved or something. The only thing I wish is that we can be a little more free when it comes to posting stuff, because so far I barely seen ONE interesting topic. ;:|

 

One of the thousand reasons I can't wait for S4. Ah, the conspiracies. :3

 

But to answer your question, I say no. I think the mods are doing a good job, and i'm not just saying that to get on anyone's good side. They know how to keep something under control as soon as they see it.

Edited November 15, 2013 by weirdokitterz

[The Soldier 2,044]

It doesn't matter for what reason your thread gets locked or merged, you only have yourself to blame. Just follow the really simple rules and this won't happen

 

If a thread you make contains little content, make it a blog or status update instead. You're basically saying "I wish the mods didn't immediately lock threads that breaks extremely simple and obvious rules". The point?

The only irony I see here is that the guy here got banned.

 

The mods were much better before. Now, I honestly have no words for them. I am not saying all mods are doing their job TOO good. There are some mods here that I would call them "the little's bears porridge" (Not too much, not too little, but just right)

 

And I don't say this just because they don't lock my threads or because they never gave me WPs

[SCS 7,537]

My one complaint would be minimum character lengths in posts, but I haven't been posting in a long while and since I've started again the character limit seems to be reduced, a good change.

 

The character minimum has indeed been reduced from 100 characters to 20 characters in most, but not all forum sections. You can read more about it here:

 

http://mlpforums.com/topic/78249-the-minimum-character-limit-is-dead/

[BlazeDragonPony 3]

No not really there are fine but maybe thats becuase a am new lol

[Zygen 6,066]

No, i honestly don't, the moderators do a perfect job, me and my sometimes OCDness doesn't want threads that stay in the wrong section or that is the same thing a million times. 

 

I don't think a useless topic or a topic already discussed should just stay up, it should be removed or merged, thats a part of forums and a rule, and it makes sense.

 

Virtually never is there a topic that gets locked that there isn't a valid reason for it.

 

So no, i think the moderators keep things working smooth and organized and do a great job. Not to mention they're all very nice .

[SBaby 660]

Well, my topic in the Tech Support Section about the fact that people can't quote posts was closed, and I'd say that's a pretty valid topic.  In my experience, the point of a Tech Support Section is to address technical issues with a site.

 

Sorry if this sounds mean, but it's really frustrating when you post a technical issue that many people are clearly having, in the Tech Support Section and the topic gets closed so nonchalantly without even a response addressing it.

 

As of now, I still have no idea as to why I (and a great deal of other members) can't quote posts, and it's been like that for a few days now, and I still have no idea as to whether it's even being addressed.

Edited November 27, 2013 by SBaby

[Ice Breaker 10]

My only gripe is the character limit. Sometimes I want to reply but I don't need to say it  in 50/100 characters. I suppose it at least stops folks spamming topics with single word responses I guess.

 

I agree whole heartedly.

Being new here, I have no idea of the response limit until I tried to send a long post just about an hour ago. I can understand why its a rule, but still its rather unpleasant. It is definitely nothing to get my knickers in a twist, though.

[Thrashy 2,800]

The only generic criticism I have of moderation protocol is the warning system, which I believe is completely broken (on ANY forum, not just this one). Note that the post to follow is not a mass personal attack on any of the staff members here - it's simply my personal philosophy on what I perceive to be a terribly flawed system.

 

Contrary to popular belief, handing out a purely arbitrary number of warning points (or strikes, depending on the system) often does not instill a feeling of remorse in the offender, but rather breeds resentfulness and a rebel attitude to match. Have you taken notice of how so many folks leave these forums on such a sour note, especially recently? Case rested. And before you go saying that it's because they're simply bad people...grow up. The actual case, more often than not, is that they feel bullied by the staff. I've spoken with an ex-member (whom I shall not name) who recently joined another MLP forum I'm a part of (which I also shall not name), and he/she made it known that his/her reasons for finding a replacement for MLP Forums was due to his/her perceived hostility from the staff.

 

Now, to give the benefit of the doubt, I don't think any genuine hostility passed from this staff to the ex-member in question - I do, after all, hold this staff to a higher ethical standard insofar as I expect NO mod/admin to ever be a vindictive A-hole towards members who've pissed them off - so why, then, do some members (ex- or otherwise) feel bullied by the powers that be, even though there's oftentimes no outright bullying occurring?

 

Basically, the system itself is the problem. Arbitrary warning systems are highly impersonal, and therefore, highly alienating. They act as nothing more than glorified band-aid solutions to problems that are better resolved through direct, personal interaction with the offending member(s). Interesting to note is that, in the rules regarding warning disputes, it is stressed that one always remembers that "the moderators are people, too." But given the highly mechanical nature of the warning system, it oftentimes seems like the place is run by bots, not people. It generates a very unwelcoming atmosphere that comes off, as some ex-members would readily describe it, as "oppressive".

 

It's especially alienating in cases involving two or more quarreling members. Instead of mediating between such members as to get to the root of the problem, and possibly getting them to reach a compromise, the issuing of warnings comes off as nothing more than the nature of a parent who can't be bothered to do some actual parenting. Ever heard that classic phrase, "I don't care who started it, I'll finish it!"? I know that phrase all too well, and I always resented the everloving fuck out of it as a kid, so you can readily see why I disapprove of such dismissive, borderline coercive measures to force members to "get along" without actually resolving any of the underlying tensions between them. And in addition to maintaining barriers between feuding members, it also erects new barriers between members and staff. Not a win-win situation, any way you look at it.

 

The thought occurs to me that some will object to the idea of a more hands-on approach to moderation on the grounds that the staff is already stretched pretty thin keeping track of so many members, and while I can see their point, I don't agree. Maybe it's just my nature, as someone who's eternally living in the town of Shouldsville, but I believe the staff should either find the time to make an interpersonal moderation approach happen, or simply expand the staff altogether.

 

Note that this is not an official call for change on my part - the very nature of this thread prompts me to make an honest assessment of the moderation here, and that's exactly what this is. Disagree with any of my points if you will, but until I see what results from staff policy taking a step in another direction, my views on this issue are fairly ironclad.

Edited November 27, 2013 by Lowline Thrash

[Emperor Posh 360]

They act as nothing more than glorified band-aid solutions to problems that are better resolved through direct, personal interaction with the offending member(s).

 

I have to agree with you. As someone who has done Moderation, I am usually very interactive with issues and disputes that people are having. I always feel like the issue is never resolved if there is no interaction with the people involved. Though this is just my way of doing things. I personally don't like the lack of interaction between staff and members when it comes to warnings and other issues here on MLP Forums. Though when I do see Moderators interacting with members here on the forums, I am quite pleased and I feel like something is accomplished. I have complained to some of the staff about the lack of interaction, and I wouldn't expect much to change. I do hope to see more interaction in the future, but with the amount of members compared to staff, it is doubtful.

Edited November 27, 2013 by Emperor Posh

[NavelColt 22,880]

@,

 

but with the amount of members compared to staff, it is doubtful.

 

This would be the one and single problem in trying to reboot the warning system from the core. Trying to make everything more personal is simply hard for a site this active and this large, for volunteer workers who have work, school and other things to contest with first. And that's not an issue that's solved by just hiring and throwing more throngs of moderators at the problem as a whole, because even higher levels of organization for that would be needed, and after a while, you simply have too many staff to organize efficiently.

 

As streamlined and simple as it is to generalize management as 'find time, or throw more people at the issue', it simply does not work that way. If management was that simple, anybody could run a (exmp.) store department and deal with everything that entails; speculated inventory for what your customers (users) will use in the future, best-fitting a projected schedule for your employees (staff) to be around, so that there's always a few people around to deal with any number of possible issues, training, listening, and watching those staff to see their strengths and weaknesses, where they hang around the most, and fitting all of these shifting factors into that schedule, and always keeping your staff-side as well as consumer-side pleased the best you can, and weighing those priorities.

 

Please understand guys, I'm by no means making excuses. I agree in the sense that the warning system hasn't really changed in far over a year, and that it, like many of the global rules that have received changes lately, could use some reviewing. I just like to make sure everyone knows that ideas sounding brilliant on paper does not mean that the staff can flip a few switches and change things. We've been struggling with internal organization for months and months now on various fronts, due to growing pains from Poniverse, so while we're more than happy to review how things are handled, it's not something that may happen in the most time-efficient manner, that many members may think would be possible.

 

There's a staff topic being created for this, and when and if something entirely new undergoes development, it'll be sure to be announced

[Emperor Posh 360]

@,

 

 

This would be the one and single problem in trying to reboot the warning system from the core. Trying to make everything more personal is simply hard for a site this active and this large, for volunteer workers who have work, school and other things to contest with first. And that's not an issue that's solved by just hiring and throwing more throngs of moderators at the problem as a whole, because even higher levels of organization for that would be needed, and after a while, you simply have too many staff to organize efficiently.

 

Please understand guys, I'm by no means making excuses. I agree in the sense that the warning system hasn't really changed in far over a year, and that it, like many of the global rules that have received changes lately, could use some reviewing. I just like to make sure everyone knows that ideas sounding brilliant on paper does not mean that the staff can flip a few switches and change things. We've been struggling with internal organization for months and months now on various fronts, due to growing pains from Poniverse, so while we're more than happy to review how things are handled, it's not something that may happen in the most time-efficient manner, that many members may think would be possible.

 

There's a staff topic being created for this, and when and if something entirely new undergoes development, it'll be sure to be announced

Me and I am sure Lowline Thrash understand that this is not an easy task. That is why I mentioned this

 

but with the amount of members compared to staff

 

I am not saying that this is something of a major issue that needs to be fixed now, I am just saying that it is an issue with some and that it could be looked at when the staff are able to work out a solution. I want to see a solution in the future and that is why I made the comment agreeing to Lowline Thrash. I know that the staff do read and review thing brought up by the members because I have seen it many times myself.

Edited November 27, 2013 by Emperor Posh

[CT-1138 3,182]

As somebody who moderates a forum that uses a points system, I always felt the points system helped create more fairness in the moderation system and also helped keep troublemaking members under control better. I've taken part in forums that use a strikes style system (2 strikes, you're out sort of thing) and usually I've found that these forums that use this strike system are more popular with trolls and intellectual degenerates who abuse the system because unless they do something REALLY bad, they can troll and flame all they like. This is what kills a forum because nobody wants to hang around on a forum that allows trolls to run around so rampantly. Eventually, that forum get a reputation if havig poor moderation.

[Renon Strike 67]

I like the system where the count is down to 20 at times i find it hard to write 100 words sometimes.

[CT-1138 3,182]

*moved from another thread to avoid OT*

And yet, given the amount of hate-mail and riotous behavior that they deal with on a daily basis for what they do *now*, then a significant portion of the forum members already think of them as 'draconic'. I don't, personally, but I've watched enough stuff from the sidelines to see that. There are members here... no, that would just be pointing fingers and I'm not walking that path. Suffice it to say that prior efforts to ramp up the moderation and 'doing their job' as you put it, accidentally made the forum less friendly, not more. It seems counter-intuitive, but watch the next time someone gets banned for consistent bad behavior, and you'll see what I mean.

Speaking from experience, moderating a forum is a tricky business. Too much and you become a tyrant, too little and you become lazy and innefiecent. Moderating requires a light touch, common sense, and a great deal of patience. It's probably why I've felt so at home here. The way I see it, members who are constantly nothing but trouble are usually not members you'd want hanging around anyhow, which is why I consider banishment after several given chances justifiable. Harsh, but that's how it is.

[King 5,625]

 

 

Well, my topic in the Tech Support Section about the fact that people can't quote posts was closed, and I'd say that's a pretty valid topic.  In my experience, the point of a Tech Support Section is to address technical issues with a site.   Sorry if this sounds mean, but it's really frustrating when you post a technical issue that many people are clearly having, in the Tech Support Section and the topic gets closed so nonchalantly without even a response addressing it.

 

This is actually false. It wasn't locked, it was turned over to a support ticket. Generally (since this one was specifically asked to stay open afterwards) for issues relating to a technical nature, the topic is turned over to a support ticket as we are unable to handle it, only a tech admin can. So, yeah, it wasnt locked, it was turned over to a support ticket, that being said Lavo specifically then asked to leave such topics open, which is whats being done now (or in some cases, focused into the single bug thread so that its easier to see all of the current bugs going around)

[Serbon div 386]

What's wrong with the mods? The system is perfect and flawless. I've never seen a better organised forum in my entire internet life. They always treat you equally and do their work properly.

[Emperor Posh 360]

What's wrong with the mods? The system is perfect and flawless. I've never seen a better organised forum in my entire internet life. They always treat you equally and do their work properly.

I hope you are being sarcastic... cause no system is perfect. The current system is not bad, but it's also not perfect and I think some of the staff can agree on that.

Edited December 10, 2013 by Emperor Posh

[Dr. Vojislav Seselj 691]

What's wrong with the mods? The system is perfect and flawless. I've never seen a better organised forum in my entire internet life. They always treat you equally and do their work properly.

That's not 100% true, every mod on every forum has at least a small amount of favoritism, and will always look past some mistakes.

[Serbon div 386]

 

 

I hope you are being sarcastic... cause no system is perfect. The current system is not bad, but it's also not perfect and I think some of the staff can agree on that.

 

 

That's not 100% true, every mod on every forum has at least a small amount of favoritism, and will always look past some mistakes.

OF COURSE I WAS SARCASTIC.

[King 5,625]

OF COURSE I WAS SARCASTIC.

Try to keep it on-topic please.

 

 

That's not 100% true, every mod on every forum has at least a small amount of favoritism, and will always look past some mistakes.

 

There isn't favouritism per say. If you have been a member who hasnt been in trouble before, you will generally get off with a slap on the wrist (unless its something big)

However if you have been known to cause trouble, then you'rem ore likely to get something more then a slap.

 

The punishments for each offence are written down in guidelines. The strength of the offence will determine if a larger punishment is needed. Any favouritism is highly discouraged. If you break a rule, then you get punished, no excuses. Some modsh ave had to hand out warning to their own friends, which while they dislike, they still do it.

 

 

The current system is not bad, but it's also not perfect and I think some of the staff can agree on that.

 

No system is perfect, but we do strive to improve our system each time an issue comes up as some people may have seen

Edited December 10, 2013 by Dawn Rider

[Fhaolan 4,483]

*moved from another thread to avoid OT* Speaking from experience, moderating a forum is a tricky business. Too much and you become a tyrant, too little and you become lazy and innefiecent. Moderating requires a light touch, common sense, and a great deal of patience. It's probably why I've felt so at home here. The way I see it, members who are constantly nothing but trouble are usually not members you'd want hanging around anyhow, which is why I consider banishment after several given chances justifiable. Harsh, but that's how it is.

My own experience concurs.

 

I think this forum in general has worked out a balance point, using the tools available. Yes, the could get tougher with stuff in the Debate Pit and the like, but that will affect the balance so it has to be done planfully and carefully. There are always going to be members who would rather this forum was had no moderation at all, and there will always be members who want every post (except theirs) scanned and approved before posting, so using member feedback to decide takes a good amount of filtering.

 

The real problem that I'm seeing right now is one that all fandom forums have. Fandoms being the type of thing that brings people together also very naturally form strongly bonded subgroups, cliques, and the like. In this particular forum, because this fandom's source material puts so much emphasis on friendship, this tendency is a lot stronger than average. So if one person gets disciplined for bad behavior, or is 'attacked' by another poster, everyone who is friends with that person automatically comes to their defense. Which snowballs very, very fast. This makes moderating fandom forums and walking that tightrope of balance, much harder than non-fandom forums.

 

Basically, I wouldn't want to be a moderator here. I've done that kind of job in the past many years ago, back when it was dial-up BBS's. And I have no desire to repeat the experience.

[RrVPfX9cPtw59FpC 1,304]

This is by far the best moderated forum I've seen in my life. HOWEVER, this does not mean that we should immediately think that moderators are perfect. Hear me out
Of Mods and Men, the greatest blog post I've seen, if not greatest post anywhere, explains a lot. The writer, Marcato, is my favorite moderator by far. However, reacting to those who dislike moderators by saying that they are all perfect is just taking it to the other extreme. I've had some problems with moderators; Three so far. Two out of these were explained by the moderator/admin, and their response completely justified their actions. The third moderator did not explain their actions to me, but that was only because they didn't want to spread information that should only be seen by staff. I don't really like that rule, but seeing as the survey is coming up, hopefully I can say something there. All in all, every one of my problems with moderation has been justified or understood. I absolutely love the moderation here. However, that brings up the previous point, that moderators and admins, even if they are excellent at their job, aren't perfect. America, arguably the greatest and most free nation in the world, is far from perfect. There's always some problem in the government, and people are always going to complain about Obama or something like that. This metaforical moderation has been going on for much longer than the MLP Forums, and it's still far from perfect. Don't get me wrong, I'm not asking for perfection, but there's always room for improvement. Don't think I'm complaining, I'd much rather the moderation stay as it is than become bad. Now, onto my next point.

LOOK MA I'M WALL O' TEXTING!

Anywho

Onto my next topic
Moderation is based on rules. Although similar, these are two very different things. One of the forum's rules is "Write in proper, legible English". Therefore, it's understandable that if someone says "I here you", they should be banned. Nope. The mods are here not just to punish for rule breaking, they are here to interpret the rules. Therefore, a post on a thread reading "AH U GOT PWND U MIIII SISISIISJIDNSIIAINFINSDFSKDNFKLNCIODNONSD:NSODHCIOZXNCJKNSKJCNISDNFJUSFBNSUIHKJTNEJSKNTOISDNFIONSD" might not deserve a ban, but I wouldn't be surprised if said person got a warning, most likely along with warning points. This can go both ways, as even though there is no rule preventing someone from hiring a hitman to attack someone on the forums, it would probably end in a ban, along with a jail sentence. If not for this, and moderators followed exactly what the rules said, there would be no point in moderation disputes, which is my next subject.
Guys, the forums have a support ticket system. If you feel like you've been given an unfair punishment, posting about it everywhere isn't going to help. The moderators here are really good at understanding your situation if you send them a ticket.

Yeah, I know. Anyone remember #SaveGaryOak? I was the one who started that. I'm a really devoted member of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) in real life, so the way I've been taught to deal with "Moderation" disputes is to raise awareness. I've learned my lesson, as that got no where. Please, don't make the same mistake I made; the support ticket system is really cool! Not only is it fair, it's quite useful. Next time you get a punishment, try using it (If you don't think you deserved the punishment )
So, yeah, I really like the moderation here! Good job

[yeet 2,027]

I think the moderation here is perfect as it is, if they give us freedom then we will ask for more and more, after a short amount of time with that decision there wouldn't be much difference between this forum to any other forum out there, iv'e seen what freedom and lack of control does, think about the riots we had in England a couple years back as an example, one man was shot for holding a 'weapon' towards police, all hell broke loose, the guy being killed was just one of the factors, the main one was the police here are sh*t, they have no control, the system is to soft as a life sentence is about 17 years, as where in america it is basically life, with chance of parole. I know this is kinda over the top for an example, but I don't want this forum to go down the drain and that is an example of what happens in the real world without control.   

[Captain Brony (MG11) 218]

Moderation is pretty good here

 

It just feels like a kick in the groin sometimes when a review that I spent hours on anaylzing for, typing, and editing gets converted into a comment in a topic that no one will see it in. Then a moderator compares my hard work to a leisurely comment that has little to no analytical effort or organization. Just a little salt to the wound you know. The feeling of no empathetical consideration of what I'm feeling or that what I've done just went down the toilet

 

But otherwise, yeah good moderation.

Edited January 14, 2014 by Captain Brony (MG11)