Mods

[Vulcan]

I've had a similar issue, my thread was closed with no reason. I had troubles contacting the mod involved, and gave up. Still don't know why it was closed.

To the Admins: Considering this forum has a Customer Service that only the original poster and the OcUK team can see the thread, why don't you have a similar method for contacting the Dons? If a user wanted to know why a thread was closed when no reason was given, they could make a thread in that section. It would be much easier than the current system of e-mailing, and it means other Dons can comment on the matter as well.

Also, have you considered an inbuilt warning system?

 

[Jokester]

You can RTM a post from that thread and ask the question.

 

[G-MAN2004]

Deleted.

 

[GJ02]

this place has got a bad reputation because of some of the moderators

totally agree 110%

 

[Vulcan]

You can RTM a post from that thread and ask the question.

Comedian.

 

[Stupot_]

I don't think the mods need to be named, That would probably just end up with personal attacks and I'm sure they have better things to do than get in to lengthly conversations about moderation.

This! I think the mods are great on this forum, but the disappearance of threads and posts (and sometimes people!) can be confusing. The last thread like this suggested a ban/deletion/suspension explanation thread stickied, but that was deleted!

Yeah that might have been me

Deleted.

 

[semi-pro waster]

It's not where near as bad as it used to be, but I agree with simulatorman, this place has got a bad reputation because of some of the moderators.

Out of curiosity what is the reputation? That is, if you can post it without making it about specific individuals or getting into trouble. I don't tend to frequent many other forums so have little to no idea of what sort of reputation OcUK forums has acquired.

About the comment where editing rather than deleting might be preferable, it probably would be nice in an ideal situation but I believe it takes extra time to do so and presumably in some situations the moderator has neither the time nor the energy to edit potentially dozens of posts in a row where they could simply delete them. If however a moderator can indicate where you went wrong then it might help the user not to do it again so I can see the argument that longer term it may save issues.

 

[GJ02]

Out of curiosity what is the reputation? That is, if you can post it without making it about specific individuals or getting into trouble. I don't tend to frequent many other forums so have little to no idea of what sort of reputation OcUK forums has acquired.

I know of about 6 members who have left or no longer use this forum and use alternatives because of the way the moderation is run on here.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

And another poster joins the "I thought I was imagining things and I'm sure I pressed submit" thread.
It would help if a Mod just typed something and it would also aid in self moderating the forum when others see it.

 

[Werewolf]

Deleting posts, especially multiples can be massively faster than editing them individually with the current forum software.
Deleting can be done with one mouse press per post (there is a tick box next to every post), one menu selection (at the bottom of the thread there is a drop down menu with options like delete, merge and move) and two confirmations - editing require about the same per post even with a suitable ready to use cut and paste*.

If the bulk/all of a post requires removing i'll delete it usually leaving a copy that mods can see.
If a post just has a couple of words or similar, it'll get an edit.


*I used to have my Nostromo game pad setup with about 20 common forum actions as macros, including the no swearing, the shop's contact details, and some non standard smilies.

 

[Von Smallhausen]

So you can't see the reason?

That's cruel.

I always thought a soft delete could be seen.

 

[kylew]

Out of curiosity what is the reputation? That is, if you can post it without making it about specific individuals or getting into trouble. I don't tend to frequent many other forums so have little to no idea of what sort of reputation OcUK forums has acquired.

The reputation is that OcUK has "Nazi mods", funnily enough even Gibbo said this on these very forums on his return last year. He said something along the lines of how he's "going to try and make the forums a better place and get rid of the "Nazi Mods" reputation that it has".

I've had problems before that I've tried to get resolved, and I either get blanked, but get unhelpful responses that don't really mean anything, and those giving me the responses know that.

Now, there's one specific thing I wanted to get sorted out, but when I contact mods about it, I'm blanked, one mod even added me on Steam, but when I've asked them about about it, I'm ignored, not even something like "you did bad, it's what you get", I'm just completely ignored. If you think you could help me with it, that'd be great and I'd appreciate it.

Now, I think a lot of the mods do a good job, but there are some that are frankly awful, yet they're left to do as they please and are ignored.

As for the deleting of posts, I think it's dependent on what the post is actually about, if it's an awful post, delete it and deal the appropriate punishment out and tell them the reason upon returning, if it's not bannable, which it often isn't, just edit it and or give them an infraction detailing what it was about.

 

[Morba]

Understandable if a mod is cleaning a thread from lots of crap posts, delete is needed.
It's the threads where a post or 2 goes etc

 

[Scania]

And another poster joins the "I thought I was imagining things and I'm sure I pressed submit" thread.

Yes, here too...

 

[semi-pro waster]

Now, there's one specific thing I wanted to get sorted out, but when I contact mods about it, I'm blanked, one mod even added me on Steam, but when I've asked them about about it, I'm ignored, not even something like "you did bad, it's what you get", I'm just completely ignored. If you think you could help me with it, that'd be great and I'd appreciate it.

Cheers for the explanation about the reputation. If you want to email me (either of the addresses in Trust) then I can ask about it but realistically I've probably only got slightly more power than an average mushroom in terms of resolving the issue so you may still be better off trying a different Don or Admin.

 

[Edrof]

The reputation is that OcUK has "Nazi mods", funnily enough even Gibbo said this on these very forums on his return last year. He said something along the lines of how he's "going to try and make the forums a better place and get rid of the "Nazi Mods" reputation that it has".

I've had problems before that I've tried to get resolved, and I either get blanked, but get unhelpful responses that don't really mean anything, and those giving me the responses know that.

Now, there's one specific thing I wanted to get sorted out, but when I contact mods about it, I'm blanked, one mod even added me on Steam, but when I've asked them about about it, I'm ignored, not even something like "you did bad, it's what you get", I'm just completely ignored. If you think you could help me with it, that'd be great and I'd appreciate it.

Now, I think a lot of the mods do a good job, but there are some that are frankly awful, yet they're left to do as they please and are ignored.

As for the deleting of posts, I think it's dependent on what the post is actually about, if it's an awful post, delete it and deal the appropriate punishment out and tell them the reason upon returning, if it's not bannable, which it often isn't, just edit it and or give them an infraction detailing what it was about.

There are far worse mods (and rules) on other forums. A writing forum I used to frequent had a right tool in charge

 

[Von Smallhausen]

I know of about 6 members who have left or no longer use this forum and use alternatives because of the way the moderation is run on here.

OcUK is a more heavily moderated forum without a doubt.

My 2p worth is that some of the best laughs I have had online have been on unmoderated forums but there is usually choice language and inappropriate remarks not to mention a lack of more serious debate.

From my own point of view and that of others I hope, is that I am not unfair when it comes to moderating and if an e-mail is sent asking why I have closed a thread or edited a post etc, I will answer the person back with the reasons as to why.

When people suggest that mods are high and mighty and act with impunity, it is something that I can't agree with. That said, we are not perfect.

Huddy excepted.

 

[kylew]

There are far worse mods (and rules) on other forums. A writing forum I used to frequent had a right tool in charge

Of course there are, but that's all it means, there are worse forums, not that this forum is "better" because there are worse.

 

[Edrof]

Of course there are, but that's all it means, there are worse forums, not that this forum is "better" because there are worse.

Of course, and just to clarify my rolleyes was not about you, but pointed at the writing forum mod I mentioned.

 

[kylew]

OcUK is a more heavily moderated forum without a doubt.

My 2p worth is that some of the best laughs I have had online have been on unmoderated forums but there is usually choice language and inappropriate remarks not to mention a lack of more serious debate.

From my own point of view and that of others I hope, is that I am not unfair when it comes to moderating and if an e-mail is sent asking why I have closed a thread or edited a post etc, I will answer the person back with the reasons as to why.

When people suggest that mods are high and mighty and act with impunity, it is something that I can't agree with. That said, we are not perfect.

Huddy excepted.

There are those who should be mods, and those that shouldn't be allowed to be mods, you're the former.

It's the ones that basically have a lack of respect for the users that they are moderating, and feel that they have superiority over the users, when in reality it's not about superiority, but about keeping things running smoothly.

The moderators that don't respect the users of the forums shouldn't be allowed to be moderators. As you have said yourself, I too feel that if you're going to take action against some one, the least you can do is tell them why when asked instead of being an arse or completely ignoring them.