Poll: New forum rules - Yay or Nay?

[Latinidiot]

What does it matter? Just stay on the straight and narrow.

You know, reading the rules I have to say that they are worded a bit too formal. And in the words of the great scholar Brother Genitivi: Nothing inspires to misschief like telling someone not to do something.

 

[Lizardon]

They seem harsh, considering that I don't see much need to be cracking down on the forums. Unless there has been an increase in warnings/probations, then I can understand why such a system has been implemented.

 

[Best of the 3]

New rules eh? Let's see :3

It does seem a bit harsher I'll admit but I guess that can bea good thing. GOt my first warning though a few days ago for what was a joke >.>

 

[TriGGeR_HaPPy]

This has been pointed out and beaten to death, but I feel it's important to reiterate that nothing has actually changed. People like Hope Chest (now banned) and myself have been well aware of the "strikes" system used by the Escapist moderators since LONG before this rule change. You all think it's new because you never knew it was there, BUT IT WAS.

It's always these posts that seem to never get the attention they deserve, but you're absolutely right.

Between people seemingly forgetting about it, to those who joined too late to see the last discussion between users and mods where it was brought up, people around here never want to recognise this point.
For a considerably long time, it's been Warnings, then Probation(s), then Suspension(s), then finally the banhammer comes swinging. And if it wasn't called for, then it's not unheard of to see people appeal, and come back from a supposed "perma-ban".

This is just as true now, the only difference being that now we have a visible "Forum Health Meter".

That's the one problem I have with the updated rules. That the "health meter" is visible. To everyone. I just feel it should be kept private. That way, the only ones who can see it are you and the staff members(including moderators). I mean, you don't see people in school districts or those who work in law enforcement openly talking about the contents of one's permanent record. They'd get penalized for that, even culminating in the loss of their job. It just doesn't seem right.

Also, the little part underneath the meter that calls me a citizen..I find it hilarious. Makes me think of 1984.

I'd like to start by saying kudos on the avatar. It's rather brilliant.

I still want to think more about it, but at the moment, if there's anything I'm a little worried about, it's the fact that it's public for everyone to see. Just like you, and others here.
While at this point I'm not sure about it, I'm swaying towards your side of the argument.

My post was more directed at those who are saying that this is some massive change in the way they'll be handing out their probations, suspensions, etc., when in reality that hasn't really changed at all in this latest version of the forum rules.

 

[Siege_TF]

I'm going to miss the reaction images and youtube imbeddments greatly, as I view a thread as a whole rather than the independant posters. I blame 4 chan. I mean satan (sorry for the redundancy to those who make no distinction).

I'm making an extra sentance to fluff out my post so it doesn't get moderated for 'emptiness', Altana knows I've done enough runs for this and that in the Promyvions to hate the empty with a vengence.

Wait, I can go one better. A haiku for the iron fist wearing a velvet glove;

Mods tighten their grip.
They ensure board quality.
Or limit freedom...

 

[vxicepickxv]

I'm going to miss the reaction images and youtube imbeddments greatly, as I view a thread as a whole rather than the independant posters. I blame 4 chan. I mean satan (sorry for the redundancy to those who make no distinction).

I'm making an extra sentance to fluff out my post so it doesn't get moderated for 'emptiness', Altana knows I've done enough runs for this and that in the Promyvions to hate the empty with a vengence.

Wait, I can go one better. A haiku for the iron fist wearing a velvet glove;

Mods tighten their grip.
They ensure board quality.
Or limit freedom...

Well, it is a message board for a privately run company. The fact that they've set this much up shows that they at least have something that resembles standards.

I'm not going to agree or disagree with everything in the rules. I'm not going to argue them, or agree with all of them.

I know that one of my warnings was relatively justified, as it was a single word reply, however the other was an image, which in and of itself, contained a message that I feel was warranted.

I guess that means if I use the image now, I have to explain why I used it. Or I could read the rules again, and see if I can do that.

 

[TriGGeR_HaPPy]

I'm going to miss the reaction images and youtube imbeddments greatly...

Hehe. I'm going to just respond to this (because I have no qualms with the rest of your post), but just quickly... Nice haiku.

Just about you "miss[ing] the reaction images and youtube embedding", though...
<spoiler=Pic>http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/8/28/128959198667859009.jpg

(A lot of this is directed at people in general, Siege. I'm just using your post to say this, it's nothing personal.)
As it has always been, people are allowed to have images and YouTube embeds in their post. The problem the mods have is when a post is made up by nothing except the aforementioned vid or picture. (If you're adding something like that to your post, it should help your point in some way, too.)
You could possibly argue that it's a bit of a roundabout way of doing so, but it's merely to stop people posting responses which really have no reason to be there, except maybe to get their post count up.
If it's worth responding to, surely you can think of at least a full sentence to post?

As for putting them in spoiler tags (something you didn't ask about, but I'll bring it up anyway while I'm here), that's just so that you don't annoy people. Some people don't have super-speedy internet, and when people start posting more than a couple pics or vids in a thread, it can greatly affect the speed with which they can load the thread they're just trying to be a part of.

 

[Nihilism_Is_Bliss]

The new rules would be ok if the moderators weren't so trigger-happy.
Eventually everyone who posts regularly will get hit by enough moderators having bad days that everyone will eventually be banned.

 

[superbatranger]

I'm going to miss the reaction images and youtube imbeddments greatly...

Hehe. I'm going to just respond to this (because I have no qualms with the rest of your post), but just quickly... Nice haiku.

Just about you "miss[ing] the reaction images and youtube embedding", though...
<spoiler=Pic>http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/8/28/128959198667859009.jpg

(A lot of this is directed at people in general, Siege. I'm just using your post to say this, it's nothing personal.)
As it has always been, people are allowed to have images and YouTube embeds in their post. The problem the mods have is when a post is made up by nothing except the aforementioned vid or picture. You could possibly argue that it's a bit of a roundabout way of doing so, but it's merely to stop people posting responses which really have no reason to be there, except maybe to get their post count up.
If it's worth responding to, surely you can think of at least a full sentence to post?

As for putting them in spoiler tags (something you didn't ask about, but I'll bring it up anyway while I'm here), that's just so that you don't annoy people. Some people don't have super-speedy internet, and when people start posting more than a couple pics or vids in a thread, it can greatly affect the speed with which they can load the thread they're just trying to be a part of.

Heck, that reminds me, sometimes the pages here don't load completely for me. Even when I refresh several times. Not only that, but I find it troublesome that in one of my threads, even after several tries, I keep getting 404 errors when posting. But, I'm not gonna let that, or these newfangled updated rules bother me. I just got accepted to college the other day, so all's good.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

So now when you're on probation, you're forever on probation? Aw guys, come the fuck on! Loosen up, eh?

We did, now you get 4 chances before being put on probation. All we're doing is putting a set number of times you can break a rule before we kick you out of here.

But that isn't probation. I'm sure you know the meaning of the word but for the sake of argument: probation is a temporary observation of someone to see if their behaviour's improved, if you have someone constantly under probation with the metaphorical mod finger hovering over the suspension button, well, that kind of defeats the object of putting anyone onto probation in the first place.

I agree with the system parameters, definitely, and I think for the new members who aren't quite up to speed with our posting style it offers more than enough choice to be whipped into shape, if you will. I just think that the lack of a chance to redeem oneself, even if it meant taking half a year to get off probation, is somewhat harsh.
I'm not just opposing for the sake of it by the way, I'd be delighted if anything I said is considered even for a second by yourself or the other moderating staff.

 

[JoJo]

Actually, it has little to do with the current subject. XD

Though, it is still the Pro to what that is to Anti.
n
Might take a while to find it, with the time to find and the fact that my computer is utter shite. >.>

Meh, I'll still look at it.

Well, if you want someplace quick(and this being a place that I also disagree with on several issues, including motivations), try Newgon. Google shall take you there.

Eh, here is to hoping I don't get banned for that. (=_=)

Uggghhh... just looked at that site, wish I hadn't now, feel like I'm about to be sick. I really hope you don't believe that...

 

[Aphex Demon]

Oh, does that mean I only have half my health left? WUTEHFUH ;(

 

[Xisin]

I voted a huge Nay! I've always been against the escapist's rules; they always seem far too strict. For example, there is a saying that goes, " a picture says a thousand words." Yet, even if the picture in my post says everything about my opinion, I would get a strike against me.

The same is true for opinions about people. I can say that I dislike everything Tom hanks has ever done in his professional life, but not about a contributer. It's as if the moderators want to pretend that negative feed back never happens. I thought criticism was good as long as it was constructive or slander.

 

[squeekenator]

Some neigh. I don't post here often enough to feel particularly threatened by these rules, but the idea of permanent strikes feels a bit iffy. If someone's a valued member of the community for years and makes just a few slip-ups during that time they can be hit with a permaban, it doesn't seem right.

 

[Darth_Dude]

Ignore this, Im posting this to make the new rules come up

 

[ParkourMcGhee]

I think they're going a bit overboard on this one

># Ad Blockers
> Illegal

Really?

And the 8 strikes permanent stay isn't really appealing to me as frustrating as some people can be.

Also I still don't see why there's no explicit rules against double posting.

I vote minor nay, but it's not like I'm gonna change anything :/

 

[TriGGeR_HaPPy]

Ignore this, Im posting this to make the new rules come up

Just quickly, for you and anyone else, the rules can be found here without you needing to make a test post:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/codeofconduct
There's a stickied topic at the top of some of the forums for a link to this.

I'm going to miss the reaction images and youtube imbeddments greatly...

Hehe. I'm going to just respond to this (because I have no qualms with the rest of your post), but just quickly... Nice haiku.

Just about you "miss[ing] the reaction images and youtube embedding", though...
<spoiler=Pic>http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/8/28/128959198667859009.jpg

(A lot of this is directed at people in general, Siege. I'm just using your post to say this, it's nothing personal.)
As it has always been, people are allowed to have images and YouTube embeds in their post. The problem the mods have is when a post is made up by nothing except the aforementioned vid or picture. You could possibly argue that it's a bit of a roundabout way of doing so, but it's merely to stop people posting responses which really have no reason to be there, except maybe to get their post count up.
If it's worth responding to, surely you can think of at least a full sentence to post?

As for putting them in spoiler tags (something you didn't ask about, but I'll bring it up anyway while I'm here), that's just so that you don't annoy people. Some people don't have super-speedy internet, and when people start posting more than a couple pics or vids in a thread, it can greatly affect the speed with which they can load the thread they're just trying to be a part of.

Heck, that reminds me, sometimes the pages here don't load completely for me. Even when I refresh several times. Not only that, but I find it troublesome that in one of my threads, even after several tries, I keep getting 404 errors when posting. But, I'm not gonna let that, or these newfangled updated rules bother me. I just got accepted to college the other day, so all's good.

Yea, sometimes that happens to me, too. Not as much lately, though...
Congratulations on being accepted.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

Meh, whether I like them or not the new rules are here to stay, so I guess I'd better get to liking them. I must say though, years of gaming has taught me that where there's a health bar there should be med-kits. Having a system where users cannot redeem themselves for past transgressions seems unfair to say the least. But hey, I don't call the shots here. Fair enough, new rules memorised.

EDITed to correct for hangover-induced spelling mistakes.

 

[Leg End]

Actually, it has little to do with the current subject. XD

Though, it is still the Pro to what that is to Anti.
n
Might take a while to find it, with the time to find and the fact that my computer is utter shite. >.>

Meh, I'll still look at it.

Well, if you want someplace quick(and this being a place that I also disagree with on several issues, including motivations), try Newgon. Google shall take you there.

Eh, here is to hoping I don't get banned for that. (=_=)

Uggghhh... just looked at that site, wish I hadn't now, feel like I'm about to be sick. I really hope you don't believe that...

As I said, I disagree with them on several issues. :L

 

[Dastardly]

As for me, I'm all for these new rules for the forums.

Same here. The only people that need to be worried about it are those who are unable to tell the difference between "having a possibly controversial opinion" and "expressing a controversial opinion the way a complete cockmeister might." If you can't engage in a civil disagreement, a discussion forum is far, far out of your depth.

Or, you know, people who are being punished ONLINE for saying things unseen people ONLINE don't like. It's like it's suddenly turned into Nazi Germany here (my personal opinion, I am not comparing the Escapist to Hitler's regime and I am also not saying someone is Hitler). This is not cops vs. robbers. We're all gamers and now IMHO you're turning it into "crimes." It's ONLINE. It's supposed to be FUN. Where's the FUN in this?

You're right. It's only "online." So why are you getting so serious over your rights on a board like this? I have to put up with jackasses and douchebags in real life. Online is supposed to be my escape from that. Why should I have to put up with them ONLINE, too? Where's the FUN in that?