Forum Moderation Policy.

This is were we will discuss further changes to the current winbolo.net forum moderation policy. If you don't agree with how the moderators have interpreted this policy. This is the place to use your voice.

winbolo.net moderation policy:
This policy is intended to create a free and open forum, with minimal restrictions. This is a 'living' document and will continue to be updated as required.

- Moderators (mods) may move topics to a different forum if it is posted in the wrong forum.
- Mods can post new topics in the news forum to appear on the front page of the site.
- Mods must make a comment saying that "moved by XYZ" or "locked by XYZ" and provide rationale when needed.
- Mods may lock topics that are inappropriate*, with mod vote to unlock.
- No posting of illegal material or material that may be inappropriate* to younger people.
- No posting on specific methods on how to cheat/hack related to winbolo.
- Mods will be able to move inappropriate* threads to a moderator-only forum for discussion and if it should be moved back.
- Posts for "deletion" will be kept in the mod-only forum for future reference (and thus not really deleted, just removed from general view).
- Specific posts (when in otherwise fine thread) can ONLY be edited by a mod if a original copy is created in mod-only forum and voted upon. The edited post needs specific rationale.
- Mods who break policy will get a chance to explain their rationale to other mods, and get one warning before mod status is taken away.
- Elvis makes final decision on removal/addition of mods, but mods can take their own 'non-binding vote'. Elvis may choose to warn only for minor policy breaks.

Moderator voting:
- Mods will each have a single vote for each case, majority vote wins, with a quorum (minimum) of three moderators participating.
- Mods will have a minimum of one (1) week to cast a vote, and longer periods can be specified when the vote is started.
- Elvis will have veto and tie-breaker votes, as well as ability to change this policy at any time.
- If vote is 'to keep', the original post/thread will be returned to forum.

* Inappropriate content examples
- Advertisements or spam for things not bolo related.
- Porn, warez, cracks, serials, etc.
- Links to viruses or other computer damaging websites.
- Double messages (second message can be deleted or moved to mod-only).

Min

Let's keep this thoughtful and constructive! :)

oh, and, since this word is used several times, it's

'rationale' , not
'rational'. :)

well, I'll be the first, I think the line
"No posting of illegal material or material that may be inappropriate* to younger people. " should be defined better, younger people? 5 year olds? ... 10 year olds? ... mature audiences type stuff? .. we only refering to porn, or stuff with adulttype content (like sj's paint pictures for example?) .... we have to decide how moderators act on that line, its kinda vague. Any suggestions?

Min

I'd like to address the locking of non winbolo related topics. I mean yeah this is a forum for the winbolo community. But, currently, the rawsportstalk.com thing. Sure its gay. But maybe some members of the community would like to talk about sports or have forums on other video games and what not. And, im pretty sure this could all be discussed in IRC. But not all members of the community use it. So maybe the forum could stray just a little, not a lot, away from an all winbolo forum.

nobody wrote:

I'd like to address the locking of non winbolo related topics. I mean yeah this is a forum for the winbolo community. But, currently, the rawsportstalk.com thing. Sure its gay. But maybe some members of the community would like to talk about sports or have forums on other video games and what not. And, im pretty sure this could all be discussed in IRC. But not all members of the community use it. So maybe the forum could stray just a little, not a lot, away from an all winbolo forum.

well, actually, the rawsportstalk post was advertising, and a blatant attempt to take advantage of this forum to create link popularity with the search engine spiders. Offtopic stuff is certainly allowed, just try and keep it in the right forum. Such as 'General Chat' ... talk about sports all you like, just don't advertise. We have a general chat area for a reason, and in past have discussed wildly varied topics. Advertising however, is not acceptable. advertising is an abuse of the service this forum provides.

Min

Min wrote:

well, I'll be the first, I think the line
"No posting of illegal material or material that may be inappropriate* to younger people. " should be defined better, younger people? 5 year olds? ... 10 year olds? ... mature audiences type stuff? .. we only refering to porn, or stuff with adulttype content (like sj's paint pictures for example?) .... we have to decide how moderators act on that line, its kinda vague. Any suggestions?

Min

That is going to be the toughest question to answer from this entire policy. I think most of sj's pictures are offensive but does that mean you need to delete them? Well, I'm going to say no because there are so many different things that people find offensive. Many people find my faith in Jesus for example very offensive. So does that mean if I speak out on a topic in general chat and make statements regarding my faith should my posts be deleted? So long as they are pertinent to the topic I should hope not. I do think however we ought to assign one or more of you mods to be a point person for us to contact when we see something offensive.

I'm not sure exactly how this could work but I've seen the way the community works here and we have a weird way of weeding the crap out. I remember someone posting a link to a map of a schwastica (sp?) and after about the 3rd or 4th review flaming them it was (I think) removed.

Maybe as a starting point, should we create a list of offensive things that definitely don't belong here in any forum? Like kiddie porn, porn photos...etc.?

Just some thoughts...

-DAllen

The only problem I have is with having anything that is in the general chat forum appear on the frontpage. For example, my "omg lol min suxor" thread could be moved to general chat, but then what? It doesn't really break policy, either than being general nonsense, and yet crap things like that are showing up on the frontpage? Therefore, I think anything in the general chat forum should not show up on the frontpage. That is my only problem with the policy, we don't want newcomers thinking that things like that are all that this site is about, at first glance.

As for SJ's pics, well, we all know that in one way or another most of them are offensive, but at the same time we don't want them to go because they are so damn funny! I think that they should just be moved to general chat if posted in an otherwise fine thread. In the end the mods will have to decide whether whatever picture he posts' humour weighed out its innapropriatness. Mods should form their own standard of what is bad and what isn't based on their OWN THOUGHTS. Hence through the voting system we get a variety of opinions rather than just one that always thinks a certain way. And as long as Elvis doesn't make any idiots into mods or admins, the voting system is pretty foolproof. In my opinion, anyways. That's all.

-Q

Q-mandabomb wrote:

Mods should form their own standard of what is bad and what isn't based on their OWN THOUGHTS.

The reason this policy was formed in the first place, is becuase people in this community -don't- trust the people in charge. They want transparency, they want to make sure noone is doing anything that may or maynot offend their delicate sensibilities. So, unfortunately, a policy that is laid out in detail is probably best, that way, when we do moderate you guys, you have nothing to complain about. Becuase thats really what this is all about. How much you guys complain, or snivel. You snivel about the spam, but what happens when we stomp on the spam? ... the spammers snivel about it, Oh hey, death threats? what about those? ... everyone seems to snivel when we remove them. And then people start going... oh, if they removed that, what else have they removed that I don't know about? .... This is about making the policy more explicit, so that certain people understand what is or isn't allowed. In most places, once a good policy is put into place, it rarely requires enforcement, which is what I'm hoping for in this situation.

Min

Deleting posts with excessive smilies and editing posts so they don't stretch out the layout would also be a nice addition to policy. Determining "excessive" should just be a ratio. If there's a smiley every once in a while in a really long post and the total comes out to 100, then that's fine, but if we start getting into the realm where it starts taking time to load a single post then that aughta be taken out to the pasture and shot/deleted.

By the way, Min, what's your take on not having the General Chat show up on the front page? More importantly, is this doable?

Nova wrote:

No issues here, but what's your take on not having the General Chat not show up on the front page? More importantly, is this doable?

I think its doable, and its a good idea. However, it should be posted to the appropriate forum as a idea, so that elvis can look at it as a seperate issue.

I know its doable becuase we have a development forum that doesn't show up on the top 10 list.

Min

Nova wrote:

No issues here, but what's your take on not having the General Chat not show up on the front page? More importantly, is this doable?

It's my understanding this is possible and I think it's a great idea. Nice job Q.

Min wrote:

Nova wrote:

No issues here, but what's your take on not having the General Chat not show up on the front page? More importantly, is this doable?

I think its doable, and its a good idea. However, it should be posted to the appropriate forum as a idea, so that elvis can look at it as a seperate issue.

I know its doable becuase we have a development forum that doesn't show up on the top 10 list.

Min

You fast gun you! Replied before I could edit, but there's more to my post now. Just FYI.

Nova wrote:

Deleting posts with excessive smilies and editing posts so they don't stretch out the layout would also be a nice addition to policy. Determining "excessive" should just be a ratio. If there's a smiley every once in a while in a really long post and the total comes out to 100, then that's fine, but if we start getting into the realm where it starts taking time to load a single post then that aughta be taken out to the pasture and shot/deleted.

what do other people think? ... of adding "*no smilie spamming" and adding a line detailing "Mods are allowed to edit posts if the post breaks the layout of the forum"

Min

Nova wrote:

You fast gun you! Replied before I could edit, but there's more to my post now. Just FYI.

;)

Min

DAllen wrote:

Maybe as a starting point, should we create a list of offensive things that definitely don't belong here in any forum? Like kiddie porn, porn photos...etc.?

That was the idea behind the inappropriate content list, something that we can add to.

kiddie porn is illegal, so no question that shouldn't be here, porn is non-bolo related (and I don't want to see it related!) so should go. The swastika map is just bad taste but I'm all for freedom to create what you want. But on the other hand, if the mod's and could agree to at least delete the post, since the map would still exist.

DAllen wrote:

That is going to be the toughest question to answer from this entire policy. <subjectivity discussion follows>

There's no real universal truth, but I think we can all agree that beating children to death just ain't cool. Likewise, I think there are a few things that most everyone can agree on not belonging on this forum. And as long as we can stop the General Chat from showing up on the front page... that's all we need, really. If you think someone's going to take exception to your rant about how you think Jesus is the only saviour and all that, then post it in the General Chat.

Porn, obviously, doesn't belong. It doesn't really offend me, and I don't imagine that it offends too many people who visit this forum, but there's a time and a place and this isn't it. SJ's pictures probably wouldn't fall under "work safe", but if you visit a public forum while you're at work you probably deserve to get fired. Other than that, I honestly can't think of anything I'd have an issue with being on this forum. Either I'm more depraved than I thought or I'm just really tired.

Arg... I just know I've got more to say but for the life of me I can't remember. This seems like a good as a stopping place as any.

---Nova

I looked through all the pictures I've drawn. and you guys are right they are all offensive in some way or another. So really this just means I need to draw more pictures.....maybe a weekly or bi-weekly cartoon style deal

- Mods who break policy will get a chance to explain their rationale to other mods, and get one warning before mod status is taken away.

Just realized how unclear this part is written, maybe:

- Mods who break policy will get a chance to explain their rationale to other mods.

Taking away status is covered in the next bullet, which is up to Elvis, although the mods could take a non-binding vote.

Suicide Jockey wrote:

I looked through all the pictures I've drawn. and you guys are right they are all offensive in some way or another. So really this just means I need to draw more pictures.....maybe a weekly or bi-weekly cartoon style deal

Now that I've thought it over, your pictures make me want to go to church. Thanks to sheeps, though, for catching that. It's counteracted the effects SJ's pictures are having on me.

(I'm not making fun of you, sheeps, I actually appreciated that.)

Min wrote:

what do other people think? ... of adding "*no smilie spamming" and adding a line detailing "Mods are allowed to edit posts if the post breaks the layout of the forum"

Min

Sounds fantastic to me. Those posts are annoying.

-DAllen

DAllen wrote:

Sounds fantastic to me. Those posts are annoying.

Thats like .. 2 ... anyone else agree?

Min

Min wrote:

DAllen wrote:

Sounds fantastic to me. Those posts are annoying.

Thats like .. 2 ... anyone else agree?

Min

Oh come on people...There's got to be more than that! I can't be the only person that agrees with min here.

-DAllen

I agree. Though I also am the person who pioneered extra smileys and messing up page layouts. :D :wink: :lol: 8) :roll: :twisted: :P :D

Remeber, I r still teh uber king of smileys!

I agree too ;)

I can still bash Fireice, though, right?

CF