Poll: Do you fear the ban hammer?

[FireAza]

This is a question for those of us who post on forums other than The Escapist. Are you afraid of running afoul of the mods for posts you feel are acceptable? The sort of posts you would make on other forums without issue?

I say this because in my ten years plus of forum posting, I've never seen a forum quite as "policed" (for lack of a better word) as The Escapist forums are. I've seen many users warned and banned for infractions that I feel really aren't that major, like low content posts. Hell, on most forums I'm a member of, you have to do something major to get the mods to swing the ban hammer, stuff like posting pornography, getting into an overly heated argument, posting links to piracy, stuff like that.

But I'm not here to debate the policies of The Escapist forums, that's their own business. I'm here to ask you, fellow forum infidelites: do you post in fear that you'll one day accidentally bring the mods upon your head? I find myself having to double-check my posts all the time, mostly due to the low content issue. Even if I feel I've contributed a rather sharp bit of witticism that would be enjoyed by all, I'm still afraid that I will run afoul of the rules, so I need to pad my post out and make sure there's something related to the topic in there.

Bah, it looks like there's a bug if poll options are too long, so here's your choices:

A) I post in multiple forums and am afraid I'll incur moderator wrath for making the sort of posts I make elsewhere
B) I post in multiple forums and I feel safe in my postings
C) I only post in The Escapist forums and I didn't read the first sentence of this thread.

 

[Johanthemonster666]

I post considerably on topics that are "controversial"-emphasis on quotations- and threads that get locked..yet I've never incurred the mods wrath aside from one warning over a post that was 'too short'. This may be because I stay in the off-topic forum or that I just don't take arguing with faceless cowards seriously.

 

[shrekfan246]

Bah, it looks like there's a bug if poll options are too long, so here's your choices:

A) I post in multiple forums and am afraid I'll incur moderator wrath for making the sort of posts I make elsewhere
B) I post in multiple forums and I feel safe in my postings
C) I only post in The Escapist forums and I didn't read the first sentence of this thread.

It's probably a problem with trying to use ) in the formatting of poll options, actually.

Polls around here are notorious for hating special characters, and also frequently cut off everything after an ' in the word "don't".

OT: I don't see why it's required for someone to be an active poster in other forums. I've visited and seen plenty of other forums, enough to know that I generally like how 'strict' the policies around here are. I don't like seeing twenty pages of reaction gifs, one-word answers, and people quoting other posts and then literally adding nothing else to their post. It's not productive to any sort of discussion.

That being said, there are plenty of times around here that I've worried a post I've made will be flagged and whacked, posts which I'm sure I would have no cause to worry about elsewhere. It's the nature when you get onto rather thin ice in arguments with people who refuse to budge an inch and have viewpoints that frustrate or confuse you, tempers are going to rise. Usually I'll try to step out or just not bother responding in the first place, because getting into an internet fight with somebody who has already made up their mind on [Subject] isn't worth the ban-hammer.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Well, I've been here for donkey's years and haven't received more than a warning, so I do feel quite safe in what I post. If I feel annoyed enough by someone that it might warrant that kind of response I just move on, there's no point in being drawn into that.

 

[FireAza]

Bah, it looks like there's a bug if poll options are too long, so here's your choices:

A) I post in multiple forums and am afraid I'll incur moderator wrath for making the sort of posts I make elsewhere
B) I post in multiple forums and I feel safe in my postings
C) I only post in The Escapist forums and I didn't read the first sentence of this thread.

It's probably a problem with trying to use ) in the formatting of poll options, actually.

The originals didn't have ")", but they were still cut down to just "I"

OT: I don't see why it's required for someone to be an active poster in other forums. I've visited and seen plenty of other forums, enough to know that I generally like how 'strict' the policies around here are. I don't like seeing twenty pages of reaction gifs, one-word answers, and people quoting other posts and then literally adding nothing else to their post. It's not productive to any sort of discussion.

While that's true, and probably the reason why the rule exists, in the forums I'm on, I really don't ever see that kind of thing happening. Granted, we might make a single sentence reply, but nothing like 4chan.

 

[shrekfan246]

Bah, it looks like there's a bug if poll options are too long, so here's your choices:

A) I post in multiple forums and am afraid I'll incur moderator wrath for making the sort of posts I make elsewhere
B) I post in multiple forums and I feel safe in my postings
C) I only post in The Escapist forums and I didn't read the first sentence of this thread.

It's probably a problem with trying to use ) in the formatting of poll options, actually.

The originals didn't have ")", but they were still cut down to just "I"

Huh.

Well, the polls get hungry around here too.

While that's true, and probably the reason why the rule exists, in the forums I'm on, I really don't ever see that kind of thing happening. Granted, we might make a single sentence reply, but nothing like 4chan.

I've seen it plenty on IGN, NeoGAF (especially NeoGAF), and occasionally Destructoid.

Also, while it may be exceedingly passive-aggressive around here, I prefer that to the open aggressiveness that people who come here fresh from other forums tend to bring. A lot of people skirt around the rules by being indirectly insulting, but hell if I don't find that more bearable than the people who openly call others stupid because of some trivial thing like enjoying a game they didn't.

 

[Foolery]

Do I fear the ban hammer? Nay, for it is wielded by mortal men and women. Flesh and blood just like myself. I'm sure they do things with good intentions, but mistakes can be made. I just don't post at all if I think it'll possibly break the rules. Haven't been here long, no warnings so far.

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

I've gotten one warning in my time on this site, and it was a low-content warning after the rule had been put into place, but without me realizing it had, since it had been made while I was at boot camp. On other sites, I generally don't have any problems either, unless the mods are being ridiculous. For example, I did get into it a bit with a mod on GameFAQS because I and a few other people were running an RP game on a dead board for a game that had come out two years ago at that point. The mod locked the topic, telling us to take it to the non-existent off-topic section for that game.

 

[staika]

Nope not at all. I've been here for quite awhile and in my 13 thousand or so posts I have never received a warning. The only time I've ever had mod wrath against me was a requested temp ban so I could focus on finals. I don't get into debates with people (since I am terrible at it :/) and I make sure to make my posts in the off topic long enough that it will be highly unlikely that I get a low content warning. It's not that hard to not get warnings you just have to be aware of what you post.

Besides I usually stick to user groups and forum games, where it's very rare to get warnings.

 

[evilneko]

Yes.

Because I have been told quite frankly, one does not even have to violate the rules to incur mod wrath.

 

[Colour Scientist]

Not really. I only really post on The Escapist regularly though so I don't think I fit the criteria.
I've only ever had one warning and, in fairness, I did call someone a ****.

Speaking if which, I am patiently awaiting my Neo badge. Hint, hint, badge-fairies.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Honeslty I only post comments on here and nowhere else (no other website forum hold my interests for long). Either way I do not feat a mod wrath as I do know how to stay polite or reframe myself from typing anything offensive, chance of that happening is if I was competely out of character in real life (or someone got my password).

 

[Casual Shinji]

As long as I don't personally insult anyone here I know I'm pretty much in the clear. I can't even remember the last time I got a slap on the wrist.

So no, them Mods don't scare me. And if they try anything, I'll get my big brother.

 

[purf]

B. Easily

To the point where I'd regard this as an absurd question. I don't have an account on many forums and I'm a well behaved guy. You'd have to be a special case of an insulting, willfully ignorant fucktard towards a subject I really care about AND catch me in a pissed off mood to elicit a banworthy comment. I have one warning here due to me not quite paying attention to the wording of what I was writing (about a certain... thing) and I should have no problems keeping it that way.

 

[Basement Cat]

Voted C. So sue me.

On Topic: DigitalSushi (a Mod) told me "The Mods are total Nazis!" in the Moderation Team chat several months ago. Look it up in the Chat history--it's totally true! [footnote]He said it in fun, btw.[/footnote] O_O

The Staff even holds site Moderators accountable to the rules! The FIENDS! Nasrin--the Community Manager and the Mods' boss--expects Mods to set good examples for how posters should behave! [small]She's tyrannical that way.[/small] <_<

Did you know that I got a Warning for a Low Content post during my second week WHEN I WAS AN ESCAPIST MODERATOR?!?[footnote]That wasn't why I went on hiatus, though.[/footnote] D:

You'd think that having a BanHammer would grant a fellow the impunity to run rampant all over the Escapist! You'd think that we Mods could go on Banning sprees abusing our power without the slightest consequence, but noooooooo!!!

*sniffles sadly*

[small]...my precious BanHammer...they stole it from us...my precious...[/small]

^_^

Bah, it looks like there's a bug if poll options are too long, so here's your choices:

For future reference the key to entering questions in any poll--long or short--is to enter every question WITHOUT HITTING ENTER and using your mouse to move from question to question.

Also, you can correct poll questions if you messed up (as I have done) by going back and re-entering the questions as directed above and only then hitting the enter button. It can take 2 or 3 tries and it will take upwards of 5 minutes for the system to correct everything. And even if it corrects one question you may need to go back and correct others.

Simpler to just be careful and do it right the first time around.

 

[DefunctTheory]

I used to be afraid of the banhammer, back when 'gross' was a legitimate suspension reason and mods handled the 'appeal' system (This was pre-warning bar). This led to the wonderful situation where you were banned for a fapping joke that would be acceptable on the Disney channel, email in requesting someone double check and, if applicable, explain what I did wrong, and then having the same mod that suspended you reply with 'It was gross. Eww.'

Real helpful and professional there.

Everything seems pretty legit now though. So B.

 

[Aris Khandr]

A mix of A and B. I post on forums that have sections that are clearly unacceptable for the Escapist. One has a thread called "Boobs". Two guesses what we post pictures of there. Obviously, that wouldn't fly here. So I don't post that here. If I want to post that, I can go there. So no, I'm not in fear of the banhammer, but I also don't post here like I would post elsewhere.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I feel pretty safe, until I break some weird rule I didn't know about, like POSTING IN CAPS for emphasis.

 

[Cheeseman Muncher]

I tend be to dull and uninteresting in my postings so for the most part the mods just ignore me.

 

[Wintermute_v1legacy]

I'm going with C, because currently, The Escapist is the only board I use. But I've never read the rules of any forums before, and I didn't read the rules here either. I have to say I feel safe enough. Now I'm wondering if it's against the rules to openly state that you didn't read the rules.