Moderators getting special treatment

[WillJ]

Take a look at this thread. A few posts down a moderator comments on how the thread starter started the thread, and the thread starter then calls him a "jerk." Then a semi-big deal is made of it because a moderator has been called a jerk.

Oh my goodness, someone's been called a jerk. That only happens, what, seventy-five times a day on this forum?

If I were called a jerk, I'm sure not much would happen. Yet when a moderator---of a forum seperate from the one the post was made in, to be exact---is insulted, the insulter is expected to make a personal apology? Isn't this kind of... Well, I can't think of a good word, but I'm sure you get my point. And don't get me wrong; I'm all for respecting our moderators for the hard work they do, but making sure that they're completely immune to minor rule violations whereas others can be called much worse things and have nothing (or nothing much) happen seems a bit silly.

For the record, I noticed that a couple of this user's posts were deleted, but if I'm not mistaken it was becasue they were double (triple?) posts, not because they had something offensive. If I'm wrong, sorry; this whole thread then probably makes me look like a moron. But even if the user did say something worse to ainwood and it would be reasonable to go secret service on our beloved mod and dive in front of his e-body to protect him from the attacker's bullets of unnecessary criticism, it's not like this is an isolated incident. I'm sure we've all witnessed mods getting special protection before; I know I have. Also, I'd like to say that I don't think this is a huge deal. Just felt like pointing it out and expressing my opinion. Oh, and last but not least, sorry to the thread starter for bringing him into the spotlight. I don't want to draw attention to him, but I think it's better if people see exactly what I'm talking about. If the mods disagree they can delete the link (and I'll be sure to not call you a jerk ).

 

[col]

Read the rules

Respect the authority of moderators
Public discussions of moderator actions are not allowed on the forum. It is also prohibited to protest moderator actions in titles, avatars, and signatures. If you don't like something that a moderator did, PM or email the moderator and try your best to resolve the problem or difference in private. If it's not resolved or if you don't receive a reply from the moderator after 24 hours, you can then PM or email Thunderfall.

Seems to me the post does not respect the authority of the said moderator. Therefore its a rule violation.

 

[bobgote]

if it was phrased other than just "jerk" then it probably wouldn't have been a problem.

i think the problem was that ainwood appeared to be making moderator-ish remarks, but i don't think they knew he was a moderator. if he wasn't making the remarks in that capacity, i reckon the "jerk" comment would have been justified

but yeah, no reason to apologise, i doubt he'd take it personal-like but then again, probably no need to make a thread about this either

EDIT: just as a bit extra, the question here lies in the fact that it wasn't moderator action, and i thought the idea was unless a mod puts on their mod hat, then you treat them as a normal poster. (not that the abuse isn't against forum rules anyway, but you get my drift.)

 

[Pongui]

Dead on, bobgote.

Our experience with AoA wading into debates, fists swinging, drove that moderator hat trick home well enough. No helmet, no mercy.

 

[ainwood]

Originally posted by bobgote
but yeah, no reason to apologise, i doubt he'd take it personal-like but then again, probably no need to make a thread about this either

Exactly.

OT is not my forum, and whilst I might close the odd thread if the OT mods aren't around, I let them know and leave it to them to decide what to do about it. Its not my place to spray mod actions around OT.

In this case, I was trying to alert the thread starter that forum rules (as is also the case in many other forums) require a descriptive subject line. I didn't think that it needed ugly mod tags to get that point across, and, as Padma said, it was something that any poster could have done. I probably would have made that point were I a mod or not.

Referring to someone as a 'jerk' is a mild flame, and if someone did that in my forum, they'd get a warning. That's what they got in OT, and I think that's fine. To turn this around, would this raise so much as a whisper had I NOT been a mod?

Its a big deal being made out of a little thing. Why does it even need any discussion?

 

[bobgote]

Originally posted by Sean Lindstrom
Dead on, bobgote.

Our experience with AoA wading into debates, fists swinging, drove that moderator hat trick home well enough. No helmet, no mercy.

'cept when he banned me...

the bum.

 

[CurtSibling]

Of course mods get special treatment!

Also a free condo, exec car and air vouchers!

 

[Dell19]

And a fridge...

Going back to the first post. Normal posters may be called jerks and there may be no consequences but if they reported the post then perhaps there would be some action...

 

[col]

Originally posted by ainwood
Its a big deal being made out of a little thing. Why does it even need any discussion?

Just to remind some folk what the rules are. There are guidelines about mods posting in threads as posters but the same rules apply

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Originally posted by WillJ
Oh my goodness, someone's been called a jerk. That only happens, what, seventy-five times a day on this forum?

No. Anyone calling anyone else a jerk, mod or no mod, gets at least a warning fr me.

If I were called a jerk, I'm sure not much would happen. Yet when a moderator---of a forum seperate from the one the post was made in, to be exact---is insulted, the insulter is expected to make a personal apology? Isn't this kind of... Well, I can't think of a good word, but I'm sure you get my point. And don't get me wrong; I'm all for respecting our moderators for the hard work they do, but making sure that they're completely immune to minor rule violations whereas others can be called much worse things and have nothing (or nothing much) happen seems a bit silly.

Like I said, anyone calling anyone else a jerk gets it. If you can't stay polite in the CFC forums, then pls feel free to leave.

I'm sure we've all witnessed mods getting special protection before; I know I have.

You can't have mods being called jerks day in and day out - we'll quit. It's not exactly like good, fair-minded, mature mod material can be found under every rock.

The selection process is also darn time-consuming and expansive, seeing how the last one went (for the OT mods - the one for me and col).

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Reading thru the thread in question, maybe it'll be helpful if ainwood just uses the title of 'moderator' like the rest of us, instead of 'leader'.

 

[Lefty Scaevola]

Flaming is also against the rules. Much of it goes unreported to and unoticed by authority. If you flame a moderator, I suspect it is highly likely to be noticed by authority. And by the way, you might hear about the special treatment the moderators get in the Staff lounge, and the XXX rec room.

 

[Darkness]

Originally posted by Lefty Scaevola
And by the way, you might hear about the special treatment the moderators get in the Staff lounge, and the XXX rec room.

You mean there's more than just the fridge filled with beer????

 

[MarineCorps]

Originally posted by XIII
Reading thru the thread in question, maybe it'll be helpful if ainwood just uses the title of 'moderator' like the rest of us, instead of 'leader'.

Ha! He enjoys bragging about the fact that he can have "leader" as his title. Makes him feel special

Originally posted by XIII
You can't have mods being called jerks day in and day out - we'll quit. It's not exactly like good, fair-minded, mature mod material can be found under every rock.

The selection process is also darn time-consuming and expansive, seeing how the last one went (for the OT mods - the one for me and col).

How hard can it be to find one? All you gotta do is show a willingness to crack some skulls open ALthrough I guess it would be hard finding someone willing to work with Lefty

 

[Padma]

As the moderator who took the action, I will just say this:

I happened to be online, apparantly as the only *visible* moderator, and I received a PM saying, in effect, "Hey! Somebody just called a moderator a jerk! And he did it three times!" So I went to the link supplied, read the thread, and decided a warning was in order. If it had been a "regular" poster, I would have reacted the same. And yes, bobgote, if he had said something different from just "jerk...", I might have left it alone.

I have warned other posters up in Civ3 for similar things, when I see them. IIRC, I have even given a short ban to one user who refused to back off from the disparaging remarks.

A flame is a flame is a flame. Sure, some are *hotter* than others, but the rules specifically prohibit flaming.

And BTW: I think this thread violates the rule of No Public Discussion of Moderator Actions.

 

[CurtSibling]

The mods final word is the law - and the law is that of Thunderfall.

I think that about covers it.

 

[Gogf]

Interesting... Well, IMO the rules do say respect the moderator's decisions, but I want someone to get a warning if they call me a jerk .

 

[Lefty Scaevola]

Originally posted by Padma
And BTW: I think this thread violates the rule of No Public Discussion of Moderator Actions.

Yep, you are correct. Closed.

"Public discussions of moderator actions are not allowed on the forum. It is also prohibited to protest moderator actions in titles, avatars, and signatures. If you don't like something that a moderator did, PM or email the moderator and try your best to resolve the problem or difference in private. If it's not resolved or if you don't receive a reply from the moderator after 24 hours, you can then PM or email Thunderfall. "
Will J, do not do that