Its Been Bugging Me For A While Now...

[cheesy feet]

I have been suspended twice, each time lasting 2 weeks...Now the first time I called a member (who had literally managed to turn 5 threads into arguments in 5 weeks, resulting in closed threads, and had also reffered to me as a teenager not knowing anything-well I felt the need to reply) an old hag and got banned for that, the second time I got a hateful pm for a member, and told them to leave of...But it vented into an argument.Then the member went ahead and somehow convinced a mod to ban me.All I got was a little pm saying you have beeen banned for breaching the forum rules?

Now there are plenty of posts where people have said much worse than that and yet they have only been locked and the members got off with nothing more but a little warning (which both times I did not) the rules say-
"You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this bulletin board to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise violative of any law."

We can safely say that 'material' such as that is posted all the time, but anyway thats not the point, I didn't use the forum (or bulletin board), I used my pm box.
And just quoting a mod (from a thread which got a bit out of hand)

Locking. Take it to PM.
Start a new thread when they arrive. This ones a mess.

So now its advisable to take it to a pm, yet I got suspended?

I really don't get how it's decided that a member is banned or suspended...

It seems to me that some mods are doing things differently, going there own way, not abiding to the rules.

 

[rdd1952]

I have only been a mod for a short time so I can't speak on exactly what transpires to get someone banned. I haven't got to ban anyone yet.

Only kidding but I do believe it is discussed in the mods forum. I know there has been some discussion lately about that. All of us do have the ability to suspend someones posting ability immediately but I would never do that without consulting with others. I boviously don't knwo what the situation was in your case.

In the case you quoted, when the mod mentioned taking it to PM, I don't think their intent was to start flaming or cursing each other there but more a matter of since it had become a one-on-one thing, it really didn't need to be in a thread for everyone to see. Obviously, the rules that you mentioned apply to PMs too. If you get in a situation where you are receiving objectionable material via PMs, don't jump right into the mud slinging, please report it to a mod so it can be addressed properly.

 

[5teady_2012]

Just dont retaliate to people who are acting like idiots, its the best way...

What you got to rmember about moderators is that they are all human, they all are going to do things a bit differently but like i say.. thats what make us all human (no one is perfect)

Im sure most mods do thier best and im sure some abuse thier position, but what you have to remember is that all the mods on here use thier won time to help with the forum volountarely..

anyways, just ignore the idiots and you wont get banned
wayne

 

[Ferris]

Hi cheesy feet,

I'd like to start by saying you've been a credit to the forum recently from what i've seen so regardless of the reasons you were suspended in the past - you seem to have learned something from this.

Out of courtesy to you - I'm not going to bring up the specifics of your suspensions in a public thread but suffice it to say they were on both occasions deliberate attacks on other members, which regardless of the circumstances, cannot and will not be tolerated.

In light of my opening statement and the fact that the last suspension was in September last year - this seems a strange time to bring this up but if it's bugging you - fair enough.

 

[cheesy feet]

I have only been a mod for a short time so I can't speak on exactly what transpires to get someone banned. I haven't got to ban anyone yet.

Only kidding but I do believe it is discussed in the mods forum. I know there has been some discussion lately about that. All of us do have the ability to suspend someones posting ability immediately but I would never do that without consulting with others. I boviously don't knwo what the situation was in your case.

In the case you quoted, when the mod mentioned taking it to PM, I don't think their intent was to start flaming or cursing each other there but more a matter of since it had become a one-on-one thing, it really didn't need to be in a thread for everyone to see. Obviously, the rules that you mentioned apply to PMs too. If you get in a situation where you are receiving objectionable material via PMs, don't jump right into the mud slinging, please report it to a mod so it can be addressed properly.

But in that case and others it has been recommended to take the argument in a PM and not on the bulletin board (and usually by mods), the pm box technically isn't the bulletin board so by the rules it is ok to do this...General definition of bulletin bored-[size=-1]An electronic forum that hosts posted messages and articles related to a common subject.-or-[/size][size=-1]In the broadest sense, a public message board or conferencing facility viewable over a network such as the Internet. They are usually regulated or ‘moderated’ by the owners of the site they reside on[/size]

Saying that, here, the bulletin board is the same as the pm inbox/outbox why didn't he get suspended too?
Although the same system (to ban/suspend etc) as used on a website I moderate shouldn't there be some common ground on what to do and not just a,what seems to be, spontaneous decision?
I did post about my second suspension a week or so I came back from it, but the pm's had swear words in (although I muted them) a member posted the rules, so I thought forget this I don't want to get banned again (because the last time it would be permanently) and closed the thread.I also tried to go onto another account to a. reply to some of my threads and b.talk to the mod/s, however on my second or third post the account was suspended to 2026 or some random number.
Don't worry, this isn't directed at you They're just questions which pop to mind.

 

[cheesy feet]

Hi cheesy feet,

I'd like to start by saying you've been a credit to the forum recently from what i've seen so regardless of the reasons you were suspended in the past - you seem to have learned something from this.

Out of courtesy to you - I'm not going to bring up the specifics of your suspensions in a public thread but suffice it to say they were on both occasions deliberate attacks on other members, which regardless of the circumstances, cannot and will not be tolerated.

In light of my opening statement and the fact that the last suspension was in September last year - this seems a strange time to bring this up but if it's bugging you - fair enough.

Thanks, ferris.The first suspension I said about was just an example of the different reasons people get suspended...On that occassion yes I did deserve to be suspended, but my statement was more to be a joke than anything, since the member was relating to my age and intelligence or something (as you said its a while back ).

Yes, of course they were, that why I got banned, however my point is if others get away with worse why should I or other members, get banned for doing the similer thing, and why should a PM 'war' have anything to do with a forum if its not affecting anyone else...The best thing to do would be to say sort it out yourselves surely?Yes I said worse things in the end, but he came looking for the argument, first pm he sweared, used exclamation marks, and wrote in capitals, now unless this is was all a big understanding because his grammar was that bad shouldn't he of got a suspension, or warning too?

I post this now because I have just remembered about it , probably because of the other rescent mod related threads.

 

[Ferris]

shouldn't he of got a suspension, or warning too

He probably did - it certainly wouldn't be made public knowledge.

I think you'll always get some inconsistencies on a busy board such as this - Mods will see things differently sometimes and there isn't time to discuss everything that comes up - we have to make decisions and act upon them. I'm sure i speak for all the mods when i say we do our best to try and make decisions fairly and as consistently as possible.

I post this now because I have just remembered about it , probably because of the other rescent mod related threads.

Fair enough - better out than in!

 

[backtotropical]

I feel your pain, Cheesy Feet, but you need to keep your head screwed on in these situations. Before you throw a written 'punch', think twice and hit the report button instead. Let someone else get in trouble while you sit back and snigger.

Cheers mate

BTT

 

[cheesy feet]

I understand, but surely a slight revamping of the rules could be in order.

Still I do not understand why i got banned for a PM, the forums are moderated, but your pm boxes aren't, because it would be impossible to do and it's private, yes?

I know however that people who have committed similar offenses have got away with it because they weren't inactive for two weeks etc, or they took it to a pm, where I'm pretty sure 'offensive' language must of been used, even in threads people have blatantly swore out aloud.

BTT the first time when I got suspended at posted 'shut up you old hag' I was expecting a ban, but I had to say it

With the other member I didn't get involved in any argument in a thread but said once or twice 'try to write with better grammar its hard to understand', and many other people did too, along with getting frustrated since you had to read the whole topic 5 times to get an idea of which fish he had etc 4 word answers were the norm...And yes there was a gradual improvement.One time he flipped from something I said and sent me that pm, I said 'leave off ' with a laughing emote...He said something else so I thought oh well its only a pm, lets retaliate...

 

[Lateral Line]

The rules encompass the use of this service. The PM system is one of the conviniences for members and are a part of the bulletin board software. It may be true that we do not monitor the contents of PM's, it is also true that if someone complains about the content of a PM they receive, and can back that up, then the full weight of the rules apply.

To do otherwise would totally undermine the board. Consider, we have rules, but someone takes it upon themself to distribute offensive material by PM. Is that okay? Of course it isn't.

I can't comment on the case(s) in question as I was not involved.

 

[cheesy feet]

The rules encompass the use of this service. The PM system is one of the conviniences for members and are a part of the bulletin board software. It may be true that we do not monitor the contents of PM's, it is also true that if someone complains about the content of a PM they receive, and can back that up, then the full weight of the rules apply.

To do otherwise would totally undermine the board. Consider, we have rules, but someone takes it upon themself to distribute offensive material by PM. Is that okay? Of course it isn't.

I can't comment on the case(s) in question as I was not involved.

I can see if its some guy going around spamming people'es PM box with offensive messages, but if its 1 on 1 why should it matter.I wasn't going to take anything from the member because what he was imo goes beyond words...
Still seems a shame a lot of people get away with things they should not.Anyway, I've had my moan

 

[steelhealr]

Agree with Lateral Line. The PM system is part of this website and forum. It was designed so that you can communicate with other members, either to continue discussion of topics offboard or to discuss other matters that do not belong in a particular forum. Although it is encouraged to resolved personal issues 'offboard', it is not permissible to abuse others with this software.

The indications for banning a member are clear from the TFF rules. How a mod goes about it is a personal matter. Personally, I try not to ban anyone for a first time offense UNLESS it is grossly abusive or hurtful. As mentioned above, there is a mod forum where we can discuss this and, we WILL discuss a member's issues and behavior before banning them if possible. I DO agree with the comments above, that, if you have a 'bone to pick' with a member here, it is best to do it offboard, respectfully and keep it to the issues and avoid 'hitting below the water line'.

If you put nasty stuff in print, all bets are off. Think twice about it. I would say that 100% of us mods will support each other on a ban of a member if they abuse or treat a member with gross disrespect.

Play fair. Just do it.

SH

 

[cheesy feet]

Heh, next time I know to take it to email then I could go on, but as said I've had my moan

 

[steelhealr]

A little catharsis always helps. Case closed. SH