2017, Forum Moderation

LOL... one comes back to a praising thread after two days and needs a fire extinguisher...

:megalol:

Endeed, we are just human...

LOL... one comes back to a praising thread after two days and needs a fire extinguisher...

 

:megalol:

 

Endeed, we are just human...

I disagree about the fire extinguisher and believe it's gone quite well.

Guys like Yurgon, that go out of his way here on the forum to help others, still posted criticism in a in a very respectful manner. No flames to put out.

I agree with what many have written - moderating this bunch can't be an easy job, and I wouldn't want to do it, either.

 

It's also great to actually have a discussion on this topic. That's something that's been missing so far, because talking about moderation issues is usually considered against the forum rules.

 

IMO, we often get moderated out of a discussion. But when we don't get a chance to solve the problem and reach an understanding, I feel there is a lot of forced sterility to the opinions presented thereafter. I have had quite a few of my posts removed, usually because entire threads were deleted, or large parts of a heated discussion were removed. Once again, I don't envy the moderators' jobs here, but it gets frustrating to end up writing and arguing only to see it all gone a couple hours later.

 

In the German part of the forum, we saw a couple of really heated discussions with lots of name-calling, at a time when one of the most active moderators had quit. And guess what: the posters involved ignored each other for a while and then actually found a lot of common ground later on. Giving people space to sort that kind of stuff out may not be nice to look at from the host's perspective, but it can actually help create a better community.

 

Regarding the point that we can always contact a mod: After I found out that an older post of mine had been edited and most of its content removed by someone high up the chain, the mod I contacted about it never got back to me, so I'm left with a stripped post and no explanation whatsoever.

 

Don't get me wrong, I like this forum and I like the community, and most of the time I think the mods do a good job. But giving people more leeway to sort things out, being more relaxed on removing posts and locking threads would actually make it a better place IMHO.

Nice post SithSpawn, I love this community and it is my go to forum before my favourite football team and the news websites. My hope would be for less belittling posts and less elitism from some members towards new guys in particular.

All hail the moderators:thumbup:

You guys took all my little green squares away. Now my opinions are worthless.:(

How will the noobs know that I'm really awsome and cool ;)

Joking of course, it's your yard and your rules:)

^^lol..here i give you rep so you might gain one square back

Yes, we are hoping it will add a level of transparency to the forums, exactly what Buzzles suggested above. Its trial right now, so we will make sure it doesnt upset people seeing dead posts :)

Yes, that is definitely a great feature. Maybe even helpful to prevent others posting same or similar arguments, later in the thread...

On another note. I've read a lot about "passionate" and "emotional" discussions getting "heated". That is definitely right and I am often part of a good argument.

Yes, I am guilty as well, of sometimes putting a sarcastic comment, or pointed remark. :music_whistling:

Heated or passionate as the point of view is defended, the argument delivered, I rarely find it necessary nor appropriate to insult other forum members.

In the end most brawling is about different oppinions, to which people are entitled, personal preferences, or even outright misunderstandings.

So in my point of view if we manage to keep insults and four-letter-words out of a discussion and at least try to see the argument behind the guy, it will ease the job for the moderators and help them to give us even more leeway...

In the end most discussions have good points and information in them, so it is a pity if we lose that to deletion, because we can't discuss with a minimum of respect.

Wow, all the oil...

...

So yes, we want discussions to happen here, but no, we dont want discussions on stuff that just isnt going to change, such as the #insert any topic here# .

With this being the policy (and you perfectly described how it feels, at least to me) I'm not sure what gives you the feeling of openenes idescribed n your top post. With this we can safely dismiss the "it's the delivery and not the content" .

But hey, most here seem to nod in agreement , so all must be well, don't mind me. :thumbup:

Generally: The change with the infraction system was very good, it is way more transparent now and I feel it works way better than before, or atleast I think people have more chances to 'moderate themselfs' now before ED-mods have to permanently do that. Not sure if that change was in 2016, but the effect was there. And a bit of person(al) change seemed to be good too...

Also a torch has to be carried for steam-mod team! While here on ED forums are way more posts(=work), from a DCS-elitist-viewpoint the topics on steamcommunity are way more rage inducing.^^ <3

Moderation is a difficult gig and needed very much, so salute moderators. However, I don't get why we have a reputation system.

Is reputation supposed to aid moderators to keep order and keep us in line?

Is reputation to pander to our ego?

What is the reasoning behind the reputation system?

Surely it is easy to see that any reputation system is flawed isn't it?

What is the reputation system supposed to tell us and is what it is supposed to tell us correct?

How am I supposed to be interpreting this reputation system?

IMHO I think the reputation system could possibly actually be misleading and that a grown up forum should not need such a reputation system.

Happy landings,

56RAF_Talisman

P.S. Is this post to be considered worthless because I have a reputation power of 0?

If a ban effects the reputation system then that is not a moderation issue?

Sorry if I am wrong and that a ban does not effect reputation and therefore damaged reputation is not about moderation.

Happy landings,

Talisman

Congrats, BIGNEWY! :thumbup:

Congrats indeed! :)

Uh oh, boys, he immediately changed his forum avatar from a cute flight-cat to a Sith lord!! He has joined the dark side, hide!

Congratulstions pal.

Oh no, where's the cute cat avatar? lol

Just kidding, congratulations BIGNEWY! You deserve it. :)

Thank you Sith for you service to the DCS community!