These forums

[Jimbokav1971]

Originally posted by GoGa70:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The big one at the moment is "My defenders keep scoring own foals from 40 yards out! The game is cheating me!" I've stopped telling people that it's their tactics. That doesn't mean that it isn't their tactics because it damn well is! That doesn't make them a loser, it makes them stubborn and unyielding. If they don't want our opinions on why it is happening then they shouldn't ask. They do, so we tell them, but they don't like what they hear, so.......

Personally I don't believe scoring 40 yards own-goals should be tactics. The problem with the game is lack of transparency - unless you have serious time on your hands you can't figure out exactly what a certain combination of settings leads to. Hence the frustration. And ****ed posters. Make tactical module simpler - or make a good tutorial along the lines of you pick short passing/ high time wasting the defenders will start passing back to the GK and score own goals. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You haven't got serious time on your hands so I will make it quick and easy.

Increase the attacking mentality slider for both you full-backs oast half way and you should reduce this a lot. Allow them more creative freedom and you will reduce it further still. Tell them to hit long balls and you will diminsh it almost completely when done in comjunction with the other two.

Now that wasn't too hard was it?

[thefootman]

A lot of fair points here.As I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread I've dropped a little sarcasm in from time

to time without intending any real malice.To an extent this can be remedied with the winking smiley icon (to show

you're only joking) but it can easily be forgotten when posting.

Other than an immediate apology (if any unintended offence has been given),there's no going back once you've pressed

the Post Now button.And unless you hang around you often don't see the fallout from it all until you go back the next day.

We don't want to kill off the humour element within the forums (although sarcasm is admittedly the lowest form of wit).

It can easily be misunderstood and could turn a thread into a battleground of tit for tat abuse.But sometimes people

just don't think before they post (and,on occasions,I include myself among them).

Personally,I am taking this thread very seriously as I do not want to be associated with dumbing down the very forums

that I enjoy (for the most part) reading and occasionally contributing to.

Sadly there will always be people who come on with the intention of sparking a response and then get banned immediately.

I'm convinced some of them know exactly what they are doing and the consequences that will result.And they no doubt find

it extremely funny.

It isn't.

The fact that this thread was started at all is an indication of the concern over forum behaviour so let's hope most of

the members (and prospective members) read it and learn from it.

[GoGa70]

Now that wasn't too hard was it?

no that was simple and informative (if it only worked )

But I'm mostly referring to people who say nothing but it's your tactics. And there are alot of them here.

[GoGa70]

this is a thread about member behaviour on the forums mate.

Yes, I'm aware of that but 'It's your tactics' response is quite common and oftentimes silly because alot of people use it without any intention of helping.

[Dayle Wood]

Originally posted by GoGa70:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">this is a thread about member behaviour on the forums mate.

Yes, I'm aware of that but 'It's your tactics' response is quite common and oftentimes silly because alot of people use it without any intention of helping. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Well thats a tough one I suppose. Some people start threads that are thinly veiled whinging threads about some great conspirousy within the game. These self-pitying people want to blame anything but themselves and while just saying 'it's your tactics' isn't very helpful, it is in fact the actual answer!

Personally I don't just say that - I try and help. But these sort of threads are like fuel for the people who become abusive.

[Jimbokav1971]

Originally posted by GoGa70:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Now that wasn't too hard was it?

no that was simple and informative (if it only worked )

But I'm mostly referring to people who say nothing but it's your tactics. And there are alot of them here. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

GoGa. I am one of those. If they ask me to explain I'm only too willing to go into detail. Unfortunately people don't want to do that, EVER.

I used to go into great detail in each post and I found that I was being ignored and they were just carrying on the rant regardless.

Now I tell them it's their tactics and if they ask me to go into more detail I do.

I have conceded 2 goals from back-passes in the last 5(ish) seasons.

[thomit]

Honestly, Miles and the rest; I don't think the standard in these forums are any worse than other forums of the same kind.

Granted, there are quite a few posts that are pointless and/or abusive - that's where a sufficiently sized mod squad comes into play, I think. Really - I find quite a few people in general to be pointless and/or abusive, so no wonder it will reflect in the forums.

Also, taking the demographic of this game's users into account; Can we really expect 10 - 12 year olds to be concise, articulate and argumentative? Always? And use proper english? Even the mods, who I expect are a bit older, are not always that good at it.

Yes, the forums are in need of a cleaning up - but I can't really see any other way than expanding the mod squad. And the mods should ALWAYS give the reasons why they are mod'ing something, so that the culprits are educated.

The best way to deal with pointless people is to ignore them - simply don't answer their postings (exceptions the mods, of course).

[Rashidi]

Originally posted by Ackter:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jimbokav1971:

I was gonna post a joke that it was Ackter after all the abuse he has received over the last year or so, but as that is in poor taste I won't .

In the words of Ted - "Boing flip".

Do you honestly think any abuse I've received actually effects me? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ackter lives with a plate of armour

[Rashidi]

Originally posted by GoGa70:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The big one at the moment is "My defenders keep scoring own foals from 40 yards out! The game is cheating me!" I've stopped telling people that it's their tactics. That doesn't mean that it isn't their tactics because it damn well is! That doesn't make them a loser, it makes them stubborn and unyielding. If they don't want our opinions on why it is happening then they shouldn't ask. They do, so we tell them, but they don't like what they hear, so.......

Personally I don't believe scoring 40 yards own-goals should be tactics. The problem with the game is lack of transparency - unless you have serious time on your hands you can't figure out exactly what a certain combination of settings leads to. Hence the frustration. And ****ed posters. Make tactical module simpler - or make a good tutorial along the lines of you pick short passing/ high time wasting the defenders will start passing back to the GK and score own goals. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

We're not discussing tactics here. There's another forum for that.

[Rashidi]

Originally posted by thefootman:

We don't want to kill off the humour element within the forums (although sarcasm is admittedly the lowest form of wit).

I wholeheartedly agree, we had some real personalities and still do. We need to ensure that we maintain that rich diversity and not encumber it with too rigid a code. Having said that we need to ensure that good behavior is encouraged and bad one discouraged. A line then needs to be drawn between those who make genuine mistakes and those who continually flout the rules. For those that do the latter...post mod them or ban them. Its a lot of work to do, perhaps we need to tougher before we can relax

[FrazT]

Just had a thought to try and ensure that all new threads are reasonable-

After you click on New/Discussion and before you type in your thread title, what about a couple of questions which require a yes/no answer before the thread is allowed? No answers, no thread.

For example:

If you are asking a question, have you searched to see if it has been asked before?

Is your thread relevant to the General Questions Forum?

Is your thread relevant to the current FM game?

There may be other relevant questions but these are for example only. This will not stop all nonsense getting through but will at least make posters aware that the quality of their threrad is thought about before they post it.

[Dayle Wood]

super idea - if they can do it.

[Rashidi]

Originally posted by FrazT:

Just had a thought to try and ensure that all new threads are reasonable-

After you click on New/Discussion and before you type in your thread title, what about a couple of questions which require a yes/no answer before the thread is allowed? No answers, no thread.

For example:

If you are asking a question, have you searched to see if it has been asked before?

Is your thread relevant to the General Questions Forum?

Is your thread relevant to the current FM game?

There may be other relevant questions but these are for example only. This will not stop all nonsense getting through but will at least make posters aware that the quality of their threrad is thought about before they post it.

I dunno, don't think its possible. Kris should know more. Having said that, are we then dumbing the forums down too much? People will get around that quite easily with the quickposts.

At the end of the day, people still need to learn the fineprint. Is behaviour on the forums any different from behaviour at home or at work. The problem here is that we have a group of people who feel enpowered behind a computer screen, and its this group that needs to be sorted out.

The forum works well, in fact the bad stuff if you want to call it that, really transpired after FM06. I have a motto: Anything can be done if you put your mind to it, we only need to ask ourselves whether we want to pay the price.

[FrazT]

rashidi1- I am not aware of whether this is possible or not and off course it will not stop all silliness BUT it is a bit like having a burglar alarm on the outside of your house. This will not stop a professional thief who has targetted your house because he will get in one way or the other. It will , however, stop the casusl thief who is just passing who will then go somewhere else.

Education of all posters whether it be newbies or old hands is what is required along with more constant and perhaps more disciplined moderating. You and Cleon make the Tactics Forum a place where only sensible discussions are around because you are, by neccessity, fairly ruthless and no-one who uses the forum regularly objects to that- the idiots will come in once, get a shock and then leave unless they are prepared to abide by the rules. This is what needs to happen in GQ

[Rashidi]

Originally posted by FrazT:

rashidi1- I am not aware of whether this is possible or not and off course it will not stop all silliness BUT it is a bit like having a burglar alarm on the outside of your house. This will not stop a professional thief who has targetted your house because he will get in one way or the other. It will , however, stop the casusl thief who is just passing who will then go somewhere else.

Education of all posters whether it be newbies or old hands is what is required along with more constant and perhaps more disciplined moderating. You and Cleon make the Tactics Forum a place where only sensible discussions are around because you are, by neccessity, fairly ruthless and no-one who uses the forum regularly objects to that- the idiots will come in once, get a shock and then leave unless they are prepared to abide by the rules. This is what needs to happen in GQ

I'd agree but once again we need to use good judgement. Many of these posters don't even use english as a first language, others live in Ireland where Internet connectivity isn't that great. What need is a) greater understanding from all users and b) perhaps even a probation period for users who fail to walk the walk.

[Rashidi]

meant to say "toe the line" how "walk the walk" came about I dunno....

[playmaker]

When I first came onto this forum one of the things I really liked was the continual in depth discussion of the games features and how to improve them. The big threads (Dave C's twenty something page dosier) sparked other users, such as myself to post similar or related ideas. It really felt like the comminity was part of the design process.

Sure, we complained about the same ideas being posted ten times on the same day, but I would actually take that over what we have now.

There are a couple contributory factors, in my opinion.

1. The 'Wishlist' thread. It is a very well intentioned thread, designed to keep some of the aforementioned clutter off the forum. However, new users are arriving on the forum believeing that a one line suggestion with no further debate is the norm, instead of coming into the now virtuallu extinct 'big idea threads' and contributing there.

For my part, I tried really hard around the turn of the year to post lots of in depth ideas, but most fell off the first page within a day with little debate. I also tried to respond to many idea threads myself to keep them going. It was futile.

Now nothing falls off the front page quickly, because even with no response it can take two or three days. Four years ago it could take two or three hours.

2. The demise of The Bootroom. It set the tone and provided fuel for debate and many newcomers will have come through the main website before joining the forum. That said, for my part, the last article I wrote was a mistake and angered a lot of people - a really horrible way to bow out.

If there is any furture for TBR then it needs to concentrate on SI's games and not general football articles - there are plent of sites that do that already.

[Arsenal71]

No one listens, has respect, decipline, and most people want a quick fix and cannot be bothered to try or work things out on their own anymore, its society unfortunatly.

[FrazT]

Originally posted by rashidi1:

meant to say "toe the line" how "walk the walk" came about I dunno....

Personally I blame the Government, society and too much calcium in the school milk!

[kennec]

good idea miles.

i usealy hang around in tavtics section couse its superbly moderated and alot of talk about the game and tactics.i barely read the other sections on the forum.

i loved ehm07 but i am very sad that that part of the forum is totaly dead.

[kennec]

tactics.............

[Super Bladesman]

I'm also in the same position as many of the longer-term members - I used to enjoy coming on here and going out of my way to help someone new to the forums, but now they've become such a negative place that the banter has been lost and replaced with bile.

T&Cs are needed, along with a stonger and more numerous mod squad.

[Chilliconcarnie]

I've onlyt had time to read the first couple of pages but here is my 2 cents:

1) As gav mentioned, the FM forums need designated moderators. I miss Smiley Dan. People like Dave C, gavnoble and dafuge would make excellent candidates, especially Dave C. Before I took a sabbatical from the game (too much WoW...), I was in the mind where it would not surprise me if Dave ended up a full time employee of SI But obviously any choices would have to be seriously considered. Has to be at least 2 or 3 with one from the states so that more time zones are covered.

2) Some kind of brief FAQ on forum sign up. Something that coudl fit easily without having to scroll to see the rest of the FAQ, summerising something like "Please make contructive posts" "Any info will be posted up in the foums clear for you to see" etc.

Then maybe a stickied thread at the top called "Demo, Release Dates and other useful information." Which will be a locked thread containing updates about the current games out, where to get demo's and patches. Then with something at the end with information about the next game even if it is "Details on FM2010 will be released when they are ready. Any forthcoming demo's and game release dates will be announced AS SOON AS THEY ARE AVAILABLE" or maybe in bold instead of caps... or something.

3) I like the karma idea but maybe it will not quite fit the structure of the forum... Can such a thing be applied to only a set collection of forums within the main board? I am just thinking for those who participate in holiday/sigh ups and stories.

[Arsenal71]

Originally posted by Super Bladesman:

I'm also in the same position as many of the longer-term members - I used to enjoy coming on here and going out of my way to help someone new to the forums, but now they've become such a negative place that the banter has been lost and replaced with bile.

T&Cs are needed, along with a stonger and more numerous mod squad.

I condure, a more proactive approach in terms of mod numbers is needed.

[Ter]

Maybe this could work on the basis of a specific invite from SI to those with the highest Kudos to a specialist thread to discuss an aspect of FM that the team are currently working on (and possibly have reached a sticking point with). There are benefits for both sides here. These members gain from having a direct opportunity to influemce (an albeit small) part of the game development process and SI gain from being able to get specific fanbase input from trusted individuals, rather than having to wade through pages on the off-chance they might find something constructive.

We've done this in the past and will no doubt do it again in the future.

[gavnoble]

The one thing I would hope is that whatever SI do decide with regards to this forum that they have some of the solutions in place before FM 2008 is released, as this is by far the busiest time of the year and also the time when things need the most moderating due to the multiple 'What time is the patch out?' threads that are posted etc. It's also when the most fights seem to break out so having a moderating team onboard to kick off FM 2008 I think should be a priority in order to nip things in the bud so to speak.

[Rashidi]

Originally posted by gavnoble:

The one thing I would hope is that whatever SI do decide with regards to this forum that they have some of the solutions in place before FM 2008 is released, as this is by far the busiest time of the year and also the time when things need the most moderating due to the multiple 'What time is the patch out?' threads that are posted etc. It's also when the most fights seem to break out so having a moderating team onboard to kick off FM 2008 I think should be a priority in order to nip things in the bud so to speak.

Between the moderators there's a kind of unspoken rule where we try and step in as much as we can to help out. Just so happens this also coincides with financial year end budgets for most of us as well. Its a busy time. I'm fairly certain the mods will make themselves available. There's usually a mod around on the forums most times, but you're right upon release the load on the forums will become heavy and this will require more vigilance.

Despite the discussions happening here there are still pointless threads being opened.

[Jimbokav1971]

Despite the discussions happening here there are still pointless threads being opened.

You can't really be surprised.

To be honest, I'm surprised by how much of an impact the thread has had already, (or maybe I'm just imagining it).

[Ter]

One thing that I don't understand is users reporting posts in closed threads. Surely they must realise that the topic has been closed therefore a moderator has seen it and dealt with it as they see fit.

It just wastes our time completely having to deal with the report after we've already dealt with something.

[Jimbokav1971]

Originally posted by Ter:

One thing that I don't understand is users reporting posts in closed threads. Surely they must realise that the topic has been closed therefore a moderator has seen it and dealt with it as they see fit.

It just wastes our time completely having to deal with the report after we've already dealt with something.

Maybe the reporter assumed you had missed what they reported because despite flagrant abuse of the rules, again no card was issued, just thread closed.

I know that's what I think.

[Rashidi]

I think awareness is good.

Furthermore if people become aware that good behaviour has its rewards then people will incline towards behaving themselves. At the end of the day the human soul is driven by greed. You can say whatever you want, the moment a person finds out that a certain behavior has rewards he will change.

The challenge has always been identifying these rewards.

So far there have been a few, I think more are needed including an exclusive forum where people are invited in for discussions with SI for game development. A venue where good ideas are thrashed out and where people feel they have contributed towards the development of the game. Its a win-win situation for both parties.

This forum cannot be isolated to people with high karma. People need to earn the right to post there, and that should come from a monthly awards system for good behavior.

There are already some notably good posters here who do their best to help..you don't have to look far..FrazT, Asmodeus, wwwfan, Amaroq, Dave C, Ackter...just to name a few...there used to be a heck of a lot more but everyone is wearing a helmet now and keeping low.

[Rashidi]

Originally posted by Ter:

One thing that I don't understand is users reporting posts in closed threads. Surely they must realise that the topic has been closed therefore a moderator has seen it and dealt with it as they see fit.

It just wastes our time completely having to deal with the report after we've already dealt with something.

Sometimes the emails we get for content alerts can be very petty as well.

[chopper99]

Glad to see this is being raised as a serious issue. I'm another person who, when I started on the forums, frequently visited GQ and there were some good threads going on in there.

I now stay in the tactics forum mostly. And this has a lot to do with the modding in there I think. I don't know if it's just because people get away with less or what, but there just seems to be less pontless posting in there.

Although even in there lately you've got a couple of people whose only aim is to hijack perfectly good threads and turn them into'this game cheats threads'. It's these people that annoy me lately because no matter how many different ways people try to help them, and how many different ways we try to explain that other people manage to have realistic success on this game, they simply cannot accept the possibility that maybe they are just doing something wrong. And it's things like this that gets people annoyed. Everyone's all for having constructive debates about the shortcomings of the game, and everyone will have areas of the game they think can be improved but some people just seem to think that saying 'look at all these shots I had without scoring, the game cheats I don't care what you say' is the basis for a constructive debate. So for anyone who says they're sick of hearing 'it's your tactics' then I say that this response has only come about from people who normally try to help becoming sick of certain members not wanting to hear any advice, they just want everyone to agree that the game cheats and they're right and that's that. It's this that has you reaching for the *bangs head against wall* smiley.

Now, as for GQ. I don't actually think there are too many harsh replies to newer members posting a question, even if it's been asked a thousand times before (there are a small number of people who do think that attacking a newer member for this is acceptable however, and they should be reprimanded for unwarrented criticism). I personally think it's all based on the tone of the poster and their reply to being asked to not post in text speak or caps, or to post in the correct forum. Many newer members of GQ these days seem to have a kind of 'why should I' attitude. There are some who realise they've made a small error and go onto follow the rules and these members are always treated well by the more senior forum members.

In my opinion, for the most part, it's generally only people who bring it on themselves who come in for any kind of unfriendly treatment, but perhaps even this should be just left to the mods.

I think it just frustrates people who have followed the rules and enjoyed taking part in this forum when people come on, are determined to either not read the rules or not bother following them, and then just get away with it and decrease everyones enjoyment.

Personally I feel the rules that are currently in place are fine, they just need enforcing a whole lot more. Anyone who's been asked by a moderator to read the rules and then continues to ignore them should be harshly dealt with.

I also think the stickies, and the fact that you should read them before posting, should be made much more obvious somehow. I also think the search function should be made more obvious and improved.

[Frankie 7]

The challenge forum seemed like a good idea at the time, but what it has done is take a small nucleus of posters away from

I for one don't think Kudos would work here. it would only cause unrest between members. Some members might feel that they are getting alienated just because no one bothered rating them. Not everyone will bother to rate other members. This is a hard one to figure out and most likely this could be discussed until the end of time and still the same answers will come out by each person.

The feeling it seems after reading the posts here is that more staff is needed for these forums. The guys just now are under more pressure because of all these stupid bullying tactics by others and they need help. Simple as that really.

[Rashidi]

Thought I'd add in the smiley for you....I agree on the search function and the fact that it could be improved further.

[Rashidi]

Here's an idea..instead of kudos..the moment someone fails respect the forum rules, we issue a yellow card.

The fact that you have a yellow card will deny you access rights to certain forums, and these could be the exclusive forums.

Judicious use of warnings will have to be followed and in this case, we don't need to use kudos cos in all fairness, its hard to rate people all the time.

We need to be strict.

[chopper99]

Originally posted by rashidi1:

Thought I'd add in the smiley for you....I agree on the search function and the fact that it could be improved further.

Cheers, that's the one.

[chopper99]

Originally posted by rashidi1:

Here's an idea..instead of kudos..the moment someone fails respect the forum rules, we issue a yellow card.

The fact that you have a yellow card will deny you access rights to certain forums, and these could be the exclusive forums.

Judicious use of warnings will have to be followed and in this case, we don't need to use kudos cos in all fairness, its hard to rate people all the time.

We need to be strict.

And I agree with this totally. Strictness is they way to go, not more understanding for people who can't be bothered to read and follow what is a pretty basic set of rules.

That doesn't mean I condone people jumping on the backs of someone as soon as they've posted, but I can understand how it can be frustrating when the same people continue to post pointless things and/or break rules.

[Jimbokav1971]

Has the World gone mad?

What you are suggesting is rewarding people for normal behaviour.

Has it really gone that far that you feel incapable of moderating the forum without a carrot dangling on a stick to entice people to behave themselves.

1. Decide what the rules are going to be and set them out clearly for all to see.

2. If someone breaks a small rule, issue them with a warning. If they break it again, ban them forever.

3. If someone breaks a serious rule then that's it, ban them there and then forever.

It's this nicey nicey approach where threads get closed and no action taken, that has left the forum in the carp state that it's currently in. I think the problem is that SI don't want to ban people because they are their target audiance, and alienating potential customers is just plain stupid. Well SI need to decide what they want to do and then do it.

I've lost count of the number of times in this thread where people have said that the only thing that needs to be done in here is enforce the existing rules.

The nicey nicey approach will not work.

[Rashidi]

I'm not recommending a nicey nicey approach, just an approach where there's a price to be paid for not following the forum rules, where a yellow card leads to suspension from entering some forums.

[Jimbokav1971]

I didn't mean "you" as in "you Rashidi". I meant everyone. Sorry.

Look, I have linked already to threads on the same subject started at about this time last year.

Rashidi, there is already a price to pay for not following the rules. The ONLY problem is that those rules are enforced all too infrequently. It's not the penalty for breaking the rules that needs to be changed, it's whether or not the penalty is enforced in the first place.

[medievalist]

I think Jimbo's analysis is essentially correct. If you're wondering why posters seem to be avoiding GQ or are making impatient replies it is because very often GQ is *not* an interesting series of discussions about the game, it is a wall of nonsense.

I realize people have the right to ask when the demo is out, but when they ask immediately after the question was answered, to me that is not reasonable, that is sheer laziness. It's a nice idea to think 'Oh, let them post their question' but if you then wonder why GQ is either avoided or typified by increasingly impatient posting then to me the answer is clear. It will only be a good forum if you keep the nonsense out.

Creating a more complex ban system will not do anything. What is needed is a system of clear rules that are uniformly enforced. That can (and should) include backseat moderating. But when someone starts the eleventy-hundredth new thread about when the game is out, it should be locked with a comment from a moderator that the answer is in the sticky threads.

Maybe that means more moderators are needed to keep up with the forum. If the rules don't seem to be enforced, or are unevenly enforced, then people will take things into their own hands which is what you want to avoid.

The other side of that is that a forum with a bad signal/noise ratio will turn people off. The solution here is efficient moderating too.

God, what a long post. I apologize.

[Rashidi]

Apologies aren't needed.

I'm all in favour of being more strict. I try to temper that with good sense, and if we want this forum to return to its glory days I for one tend to agree...we need to get more strict.

[Rashidi]

I think that we should extend the use of banning for bad behavior. If someone continually flouts the rules and then proceeds to use foul language. Let's send him on its way.

[Hitesh]

Jsut seen this thread and read some of the comments but here is what I think on the whole matter and sorry if some are repeated.

I used to post on these forums quite a while back and really enjoyed it but as Miles has said, its gotten a nasty. I think the best things to do is give warnings out to people who make these sly, nasty and irrelevant comments. Have a set procedure to handle these comments and with the aid of more mods, send emails to the offenders explaining what they have done wrong and what the rules are.

Have something like >

First time = Warning with reminder about rules

Second time = Yellow Card - Same as above and restriction on posting for 24 hours/posting in some forums

Third time = Red card - Ban

Simple as. People should realise after the first warning, espcially if they are given a description of where they have gone wrong.

Also, for the mods, (not sure if this exists) but they have an area where they can see more details about warnings - ie: when a mod warns a person, they add it to a list and provide a description as to why they were warned. This means that when a mod is looking to warn the same person again for a different offense, they can check what the last warning is for.

This then brings me onto the length of warning. So all the users know, there needs to be some kind of set length for a yellow card. I think that the first warning should last 3-6 months depending on severity. They 6-year for a yellow card..maybe longer depending on the offense.

When i first joined the forums, there were SI staff and "respected" mods on some forums and it gave more of a controlled forum and a much better place.

I think people should use common sense and give other users respect and those who dont, get punished accordingly.

[Glyn]

Originally posted by Hitesh:

Also, for the mods, (not sure if this exists) but they have an area where they can see more details about warnings - ie: when a mod warns a person, they add it to a list and provide a description as to why they were warned. This means that when a mod is looking to warn the same person again for a different offense, they can check what the last warning is for.

We can place notes in every user's account details. When someone is warned/carded/banned etc. a note is made there and can be seen anytime that user's account is accesed by a mod.

[Glyn]

Originally posted by rashidi1:

I think that we should extend the use of banning for bad behavior. If someone continually flouts the rules and then proceeds to use foul language. Let's send him on its way.

Having said that, we have been asked by SI to consider banning someone the last resort - ie if there is hope that a user can be educated to be a good user, give them the opportunity. So it's a case of finding the correct balance. However, with piracy and obvious trolling/winding-up/troublemaking users they ain't worth the effort in my view.

[Jimbokav1971]

we have been asked by SI to consider banning someone the last resort

And herein lies the problem.

Either this is a community based on-line forum or it is an advertising tool for a Company. I know I'm being a bit negative whenI say that, but I knew all along that was the case. It's so obvious from the wording that the SI guys use.

So now at least we have got to the root of the problem.

[BBB]

BBB feels his yellow card was unfair

status - unhappy

[Rashidi]

Originally posted by Glyn:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by rashidi1:

I think that we should extend the use of banning for bad behavior. If someone continually flouts the rules and then proceeds to use foul language. Let's send him on its way.

Having said that, we have been asked by SI to consider banning someone the last resort - ie if there is hope that a user can be educated to be a good user, give them the opportunity. So it's a case of finding the correct balance. However, with piracy and obvious trolling/winding-up/troublemaking users they ain't worth the effort in my view. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I can understand that, but in all honesty, we ban people for talking bout piracy but we don't ban others for using sometimes really obscene language. Two standards if you ask me.