Avatar Blues

[Immortal]

The only thing that gave me some concern about your avatar is that it looks like a picture of my wife.

may we arrange a lunch? just the two of us? (not you)

 

[anarres]

Good to see people read the content of my posts and then disregard the context.

Indeed, as Eklektikos points out, I was highlighting the subjective nature of what constitutes an offence. This doesn't merely apply to avatrolls but to all modding matters.

Imortal, see above comment. Your avatar is one of the nicest on the eye.

AoA,

Re-read my post, then read the first bit of this post. Regarding your avatar, I actually quite like her.

If Dave Sim wants me to remove my avatar I will happily remove it. Personally I find it difficult to believe that any graphic artist would take offense at someone using their artwork to identify themselves as it is a promotion of said work and is not being used in a commercial context (which is a concern I expect all graphical artists to have). So, please tell Dave I am using a picture of cerebus and when he emails me asking me to stop I will happily do so.

cracker,

since you seem to have read my post I hope you will find the time to answer my main question. Why is it that you have taken on the gauntlet to enforce the borderline offenses, is it part of a bigger plan to reform the way CFC is modded in general? Is it that you have a stricter interpretation of the rules and you just happen to enforce them where you see them broken? Are you concerned at the way CFC is going and you want to 'Steer the ship in the right direction?'

It could be all in my head, but you do seem to be much more harsh on people than most mods, it doesn't seem unreasonable to want to find out why that is, since it is something that effects everyone here.

 

[cracker]

I like AoA's avatar as well an know he could exploit the theme like emoicons ala AoA Avatar style if he wanted to:

 

[cracker]

Originally posted by anarres
... could be all in my head, but you do seem to be much more harsh on people than most mods, it doesn't seem unreasonable to want to find out why that is, since it is something that effects everyone here.

This could just be a function of your lack of a broader perspective. I do tend to have a fairly well defined threshhold for ongoing patterns of fringe behavior particularly when someone is a frequent shopper.

I come from a background that does not force me to continually test all the wires on the electric fence when I am content to be on the inside. Even if I'm testing the wires to make sure they are working to protect the things that they are designed to protect, I don't have to lick my fingers and holler to my buddies. "Hey, Ya'll looky here and lets see if this thing really works."

I tend to think that we all have better ways to treat each other and to use the resources of the community that we have chosen to belong to.

I also tend to be supportively defensive of those of my peers who have to put up with some of the more insidious crap on a regular basis. Fortunately for me, my mission statement is content and function oriented and most of the members I meet here are focused on things that integrate them into the community in ways that do not focus on the conversational equivalent of chapped skin.

In recent months there have been some reactions to moderator actions that have been "close at hand". Some members have been very aggressive and confrontational when a mod has called on them to stop doing certain behaviors just because the members have felt that the mods could not be impartial and be active participants and facilitators in their areas of task. I have never felt that this is substantial issue and feel that part of the mods task is to function as facilitators to shape and guide the tone of the forums that they guide. Some mods do this better than others. In some cases the mods are far more tolerant of ongoing pseudo-attacks than they really have to be because in many cases the looters have declared their behavioral intent from almost the first moment that they stepped off the bus.

In one much publicized recent incident we had an individual who had been banned 4 times and warned by 5 separate moderators on 15 different occassions before he finally got strapped to the gurney.

I guess I have a stronger opinion of many of the people I know here and I do not like to see people treat the place like a urinal in the restroom of cheap local strip club or at the opposite end of the spectrum like one of those inflatable bouncy tents that we might see as a carnaval. Some of the forums might be carnaval attractions and thats OK but the whole community does not need to function that way.

 

[Stapel]

Gimme a break lads! Loosen up a bit. There is no point in this. Though it is good reading!

Unfortunately I can't help giving my view:

@cracker: that was a fine piece of proza. Ever thought about becomig a writer?

@sultan: being a bit to narcistic maybe?

@killer: don't use any little piece you can find to make comments on moderators. Imho it is fine to make comments about modding in general. Wondering about a link between the modding style and the position of the moderator in the political spectrum seems ok to me, but only in a supportive and constructive way. Pebbling about a nice looking woman on an avatar seems not ok to me.

@AoA:

and no amount of your little friends whining for you will allow your return

Thanks for the insult!

 

[Aggie]

I think a lot of you take this thing a little bit too serious. CFC is not the place to go on the streets for freedom of speech. When we decided to become members of CFC, we were supposed to read the rules and comply with them. If you can't live with the CFC rules: leave! If you don't like certain parts of CFC: don't go there. I only read and post in CIV3 related threads and Site Feedback. I stay away from the OT politics, because I don't like to be drawn into a Europe - America 'who is right' contest...

Originally posted by AoA
...and no amount of your little friends whining for you will allow your return.

That would be me? I can very well decide for myself if and when to back someone. Last time I did was completely legitimate IMHO.

 

[Sultan Bhargash]

Originally posted by Aggie
I think a lot of you take this thing a little bit too serious. CFC is not the place to go on the streets for freedom of speech. When we decided to become members of CFC, we were supposed to read the rules and comply with them. If you can't live with the CFC rules: leave! If you don't like certain parts of CFC: don't go there.

There it is. What's a more important lesson to be had - for the few adults who form administration of these boards to learn that "we're going to post whatever we want, this is a democracy"? Or for the unwashed masses of town council wannabes to learn the lessons of restraint, possibilities for playing within the rules instead of playing with the rules, and above all of civility?

I could have come out of my ban angry than ever with a flashing roulette wheel avatar GIF and made outrageous comments but what does that really serve beyond perhaps a few empty chuckles? As with any moderation situation, you are better off challenging your local town council than trying to annoy the Kryptonian Council. Find an avatar that's cool, say what you need to say in the threads you read or create yourself, and enjoy "freedom with responsibility, baby, it's a very groovy time".

 

[Mojotronica]

Originally posted by Stapel
Gimme a break lads! Loosen up a bit. There is no point in this. Though it is good reading!

Leave it to Sultantonius to launch one of the most interesting, evolving threads on CFC in a place where one would expect dry discussions of Forum policy minutia.

I'm riveted to this conversation. I keep checking back in to watch it develop.

(Maybe this a good place to mention that Sultan was a major influence in my interest in getting involved in posting here in the first place. His kind of gushy Carter thread and his 14-points (to improve CFC) were fascinating, IMHO.

Or maybe this isn't a good place to mention it. But there it is.)

Glad that Sultan is back, and that this is resolved. CFC is not the same w/out the old veterans, and I am always hoping that they stay out of trouble and avoid antagonizing the Mods.

Peace to all.

 

[col]

Originally posted by anarres
The real question here is that should there be 'gagging orders', to silence those under punishment. I would say definitely not, mods that can punish people, with threats of further punishment if they tell anyone else they are being punished is a shocking and totally unacceptable style of modding to me.

If you read a little of the history around here, Anarres, you will realise that this is NOT in fact the case. An individual has transgressed, thrown himself on the mercy of the court and said, if I suffer in silence and promise to behave, will you commute my sentence?. The judge said ok. The individual then broke the terms of the deal and judge came down. I think this is fair enough and the individual concerned isnt complaining either. Its a private matter between the individual and the mods concerned although it has affected my SG - probably for the better

 

[Sultan Bhargash]

mods that can punish people, with threats of further punishment if they tell anyone else they are being punished is a shocking and totally unacceptable style of modding to me.

In Iraq before it was liberated, moderators would actually change the poster's avatar and profile for them.

 

[smalltalk]

From the times when I was a lurker, I definitely remember a certain screenshot-of-the-day: it featured a 'heavily modded Civ' with a Bush-leaderhead, enganged in diplomatic consultations with the Columbians about a deal involving cocain. The foreign advisor said, as he often does: 'Bush is a known liar and cheat.'

Have the times been changing so much? I feel, calling someone a fool is less of an insult than calling him a liar and cheat.

After all, it is not against the law to be a fool.

 

[col]

And you know, some people would actually condemn them for it too.

 

[Immortal]

Glad that Sultan is back, and that this is resolved. CFC is not the same w/out the old veterans

have you forgotten people like Joespaniel that quickly? There are numerous vets who used to be posters here who now wont come near the place with a ten foot pole. I know this because I am still in contact with them, and its not because of the moderators.

BTW: it says your birthday is today col. happy birthday if so.

 

[Sultan Bhargash]

Happy Birthday Col.

 

[cgannon64]

You gonna keep this name, Sultan?

Good to see the old Sultan back...calling you "Antonius" just didn't fit anyway.

 

[Mojotronica]

Immortal --

Joespaniel seemed very cool -- but he was only posting sporadically by the time I stumbled upon OT. I don't care to discuss why he left though.

(Hope it wasn't anything I posted.)

What I read of his struck me as thoughtful and well-spoken.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Originally posted by Mojotronica
Immortal --

Joespaniel seemed very cool -- but he was only posting sporadically by the time I stumbled upon OT. I don't care to discuss why he left though.

(Hope it wasn't anything I posted.)

What I read of his struck me as thoughtful and well-spoken.

Joe left 'cause of the way the OT posters had been whining, not 'cause of the moderatorship. Plus he had weaned himself off Civ3/PTW and is now playing other games.

It's his choice to have a life, unlike the rest of us.

 

[Immortal]

I wasnt talking about him specifically, in fact I never even made reference to why HE left. I know why he did. I was using joespaniel as one of many veteran posters who does not frequent this board.

 

[Ohwell]

Frankly, the only thing keeping ME here is my obligations to my Civ2 PBEM's, were it not for them I'd gladly just desert this place.

Joe left 'cause of the way the OT posters had been whining

Whining?

 

[WildFire]

Originally posted by Alcibiaties of Athenae
You thought wrong.

I guess so

Thanks Mojo!