Screenshots: An Honest Conversation

[Tullaeniel]

I am curious about why you wanted to make this thread as well, to me it almost seems like you are looking for justification to moderate. Then again I could be reading to much into it. To be honest I don't think you need to justify shit, this board needs to be moderated thats the duty you have taken and if someone wants to give you shit over it then fuck em. I am not sympathetic to stupidy and you should not be required too either and I honestly doubt anyone expects you to.

Sadly, I am sure there will always be a period of this section becoming a playground for the slow who will then be removed and the world will be brought back to into balance. The Yin and Yang of Screenshots will once again run it's cycle.

I think the rep system added some spice to things but it was also expected that some would abuse it for the first month or so, that will settle down I'm sure.

The other thing is people know the limit here and some want to push that envelop and see how close they can get to the line without going over, some take a step over that line, lets just refer to it as natural selection and let Darwin prove to us once again not everyone deserves to make the cut.

And for good measure a pic.

[Zistrix]

Millie I think you are in a position where these quick bans NEED to be handed out should the need arise and they ought not to be scrutinized as much as they have. I know that this is not the only topic here but it is the most relevant one to me.

The FOH board shares many qualities with other large boards on the net.. One quality is the need for strict moderation, given the volume of traffic. You guys can nitpick all you want about the guys that were banned and it would not be unreasonable to come to the conclusion that Millie was obtuse about these recent bannings, despite how short they are. But, these cannot be based on merit for the sake of the stability of the board as a whole and that needs to be understood.

I believe that the rep system partially contributed to this recent dredging of malcontent amongst the board populous. I see more members every day that are opting for the "crybaby" button as Tyen so eloquently put it and that fact has came as no surprise to me. This really threw a curve ball at the stability of the board, despite how insignificant the "Internets" may seem to be. This move was totally unnecessary and it bears no positive impact on the board a whole and never will. It serves only as a temporary dick-sucking from the less-popular to the popular and will result in most of us opting out over time.

So Millie, don't take what has gone on recently seriously. This board needs a swift hand to remain successful.

[Millie]

Originally Posted by Tullaeniel

I am curious about why you wanted to make this thread as well, to me it almost seems like you are looking for justification to moderate.

I'm not looking for any justification for doing my job. I make no apology for moderating and administering to a community in which I am a moderator an an administrator. Rather, I created this thread because, as an admin and a mod, I'm trying to generate ideas for improving the board. Inasmuch as certain folks' feelings about me are part and parcel with what people think is wrong with the board, then so be it. All the more reason for me to be the one to generate this discussion, then.

At any rate, thank you guys for the evening's discussion. I need to go to bed. Please feel free to keep this thread up if you want, ignore it if you don't like it, and/or discuss other topics here.

[rinthea]

Keep doing what you have to and dont fret so much about the consequences. We will push the boundaries. We cant help it. Make the boundaries clear. Poking you until you pop is a game here. Justifying your reasons encourages it. You'd be better of giving reasons 'because I am the law, fucker'. You cant always be friends and the boss too.

[Regime]

Originally Posted by Sean

I really don't think that you should ban someone just for picking a fight with you - that's extremely childish and uncalled for. Banning someone for rubbing you the wrong way is a pretty blatant abuse of power. It's something I would have done while I was still a teenager and really unwarranted. If you have a beef with someone then use your own posts to shut up them up - don't go "lalala I can't hear you" and toss them away.

Mass spam, line crossing with child crap, out right breaking rules like that should really be the only bans.

Great post Sean. You speak for many of us rest assured.

Once again thanks.

[Occido]

Originally Posted by Millie

That's not true, btw. He was suspended for antagonizing and flaming me in response to the confusion in a manner that was childish and certainly crossed a line. As I've said, my response was overly harsh. That's why I've lifted his suspension and sent him an apology. But to characterize the situation as "Arbitrary confused Millie and then she suspended him" is to misrepresent the situation entirely. I'm trying to be fair to Arbitrary in rescinding his suspension, but in return, you need to be fair to me here. The situation was not nearly as one-sided as you seem to think it was. Arbitrary was flaming and ban-baiting me, I warned him to stop, and he persisted. My reaction was harsh and emotional to an unnecessary degree. But his actions were hardly blameless, either.



Inasmuch as that's the case, this thread is -- at least in large part -- an attempt to try to reach out to people and open a dialogue. Would you rather I just not even bother? I don't know. Perhaps I'm naive, perhaps I'm dumb, and perhaps I'm self-centered, but I try my hardest to rectify my mistakes when I feel I've made them, to rekindle friendships I think I've lost, and to smooth things over with people who have issues with me. This thread is basically my way of saying "Look. I think you guys are cool, and I think I could be cooler. So let's try to be cool." You know what I mean?

Call that posturing if you must, but it's really not. I think that, in the six-odd years that fohguild.org has been around, I've certainly been a divisive figure. Sometimes that's been my fault, and many times it hasn't been. But regardless, I've also tried my best to manage the community with an even hand and a friendly disposition. So this is me, perhaps foolishly and perhaps ultimately in vain, recognizing that there's been some tension lately and trying my best not just to ease that tension, but to constructively address and correct its causes.

So why not just lift the suspension on all of them if you want to ease tension? The little flame fest and comments they made are extremely tame for what everyone else around here has to endure Millie. Remember the old Vanguard threads? Those got down right brutal and people just got told to deal with it and move on.

No one else gets a "Stop! I win this round" option. The tension comes from watching multiple people get nailed for doing 1/10th of what goes on in other threads... yet in those other threads no one does shit. That is where Simas' double standard comment is coming in. No one banned in the last few days deserved to be made example of. Modding in that fashion will just make people either leave, or never think to speak their minds because no one wants a ban over hurt feelings.

Bottom line is you came down far to hard on everyone involved. Perhaps not that guy who was damn near begging for it but the other 3 (2 now I guess if Arb is back) didn't do anything "wrong".

Edit: 100% agree with sean as well basicly. So many people are not very happy about the last couple days.

[Tullaeniel]

If you are still in the mood for banning you think you can get rid of Captain Vagina pants and his incessant crying about rep.

[Hachette]

Eh, say what you will bout Arb, the others had it coming IMO. You troll a fuckin mod like and act like a spoiled baby, you get whats coming to you. Arbs a cool guy and Im glad hes back but the other dudes had it fuckin coming to them..

Btw call me a asskisser for saying this but at least Mille deserves credit for opening up like this. Shows a great deal of maturity even if she can be a hothead sometimes

[Occido]

Originally Posted by Hachette

Eh, say what you will bout Arb, the others had it coming IMO. You troll a fuckin mod like and act like a spoiled baby, you get whats coming to you. Arbs a cool guy and Im glad hes back but the other dudes had it fuckin coming to them..

I disagree. The guy who was asking for Millie to ban or stfu is a moron and deserved it. The others just got annoyed that bans were being tossed out so easily. Millie even admits to being too hard on Arb, and people were outraged by it.

The ripple effect it caused is a shame but the cause of the problem still rests with the crap that happened between Mil/Arb.

[Hachette]

Arb had his hands in that shit too, dude. Hes a cool guy and all, Mille over-reacted to him but he was definitely pushing shit and he knew it, he wasnt an inocent political prisoner here. Also youre the only one who seems "outraged" by it, everyone else sees buisness and usual and moves the fuck on man.

[Occido]

Originally Posted by Hachette

Arb had his hands in that shit too, dude. Hes a cool guy and all, Mille over-reacted to him but he was definitely pushing shit and he knew it, he wasnt an inocent political prisoner here.

No doubt. Being a asshat and getting into heated discussion has never been a sin around here though. The comments passed back and forth between Arb/millie was tame as hell really. Difference is that Millie has mod powers, and decided to use them instead of talk it out. The whole damn thing is silly as hell which is why it blows my mind so many got nailed for it.

It wasn't a big deal but it got turned into one.

[Hachette]

Arb told Mille to fuck off and told her ban me or stfu, everyone whos ever pulled that shit has been banned so dont gimme that crap bro. Cmon dude. Hes not Mahattma fucking Gahndi. You act like Arb was trying to talk shit out peacefully when in fact he was instigating shit. Supposibly youve been here longer than I have, surprised as hell you dont know how things work around here by now..

[Modo Icecrown]

I feel like people are going to make mistakes. Millie made one, but whatever. She went back and fixed it and now things are back to normal. There's no reason to get up in arms about it, 'cause honestly it's not that big a deal and we really all agree that there does need to be moderation.

Getting dramatic about it and posting these "fuck it I'm out" threads to make a statement is even more childish than the actions you're accusing Millie of.

Regarding the reputation system: While it's certainly funny, I think it promotes cliquey behavior and will turn new users off. It was fun for a week, but I think it should be turned off now - it's like manufactured drama on a reality TV show. We don't need it.

[Tullaeniel]

Horse shit, nobody was a martyr for the cause. Millie said she wasn't in the mood and a couple of e-thugs wanted to step up to bat and Millie flexed her pimp hand. I am glad she weeds that shit out in it's infancy rather than letting it build up.

Now some 07's want to bitch about how it was unfair? Come the fuck off it.

[Occido]

Originally Posted by Hachette

Arb told Mille to fuck off and told her ban me or stfu, everyone whos ever pulled that shit has been banned so dont gimme that crap bro. Cmon dude. Hes not Mahattma fucking Gahndi.

Sure you got the right guy? I don't remember arb as the one saying that but maybe I missed it.

Either way Ill back out of this thread. It is what it is and it is a shame. It is at least nice to see Millie willing to talk about things though so props for that. Less the you get else where that is for damn sure.