Rude awak..behaviour

[lauhde]

How do you, my fellow administrators, deal with users that are getting close to that "thin red line"?

In one of my boards, some (l)users have spesifically targeted one of my female moderator, and have even went asfar as saying that "women and moderators - f*ck 'em!".

We've been trying temp bans, perm bans, nice answers, "eye to eye" type answers and everything else except sending a Hell's Angels Hit Squad to their homes?!?

Waiting for your reply.. :) *

*Never forget to include at least one smiley in your messages, or else you risk being taken way too seriously.. (one of the most important forum wisdoms I have learnt)

[adb22791]

Hells angels hit squad! Actually I would ban them, and make sure they can't come back. Disrespect toward mod's should not be tolerated (unless mod's are stepping over the moderator boundaries).

[writespeak]

I prefer discussion first, but some people aren't interested in thinking about their actions. When you've tried discussion and warnings and that didn't work, then temporary and permanent bans are the next step.

Didn't the permanent bans work? The members can register under new names, but you'll find them soon enough.

Lois

[SoftWareRevue]

. . . *Never forget to include at least one smiley in your messages, or else you risk being taken way too seriously.. (one of the most important forum wisdoms I have learnt)Oh, so true. :D

Although I've never been accused of not using enough emoticons, it's kinda hard to know exactly what one's intentions are just through their written words. :discuss:

Unless they know how to weave words well. :tweety:

Back to the subject at hand; it sounds like you've tried everything already.

Sometimes you have to ban someone and keep them banned.

If they can't follow your guidelines, and don't like your staff, there's no reason for them to be a part of your community. :bag2:

[lauhde]

Yeap, permbans sometimes work, sometimes not..

One wiseguy once managed to post around 200 messages of pure copypaste from my Domain's WHOIS record ..

After that incident, we had to force policy that NO-ONE can make any posts in first 5 days after registration, and then they have to make 10 replies to other threads before they can start their own threads..

Wicked, ain't it?

Latest annoyance was a Krishna guy who posted lots of links to his favorite religiously fanatical sites.

He got banned pretty quickly, I couldn't take the risk to lose my board administration folks to shady religions that could reduce the amount of time they spent on managing the board.

[writespeak]

Unless they know how to weave words well. :tweety:

And even then, misunderstandings arise. :eek:

When you can see the person you're talking to, or even when you're talking on the phone, you have clues about how the person is responding to what you're saying. You can tell when the other person is confused or isn't reacting the way you'd expected. We don't have those clues with words only.

If they can't follow your guidelines, and don't like your staff, there's no reason for them to be a part of your community. :bag2:

That sums it up well.

Lois

[lauhde]

Oh, so true. :D

Although I've never been accused of not using enough emoticons, it's kinda hard to know exactly what one's intentions are just through their written words. :discuss:


Hmm... I _have_ heard complaints about my overuse of emoticons..

I :) have ;) tried :D lately :spin: to :notworthy consider :king2: twice :bananad: before :p adding :tweety: smileys :discuss: anywhere. :hippie: Honestly. :rofl:


If they can't follow your guidelines, and don't like your staff, there's no reason for them to be a part of your community. :bag2:

Exactly my thoughts. Being allowed to read & write in a forum is a privilege, not a right, and board rules are the law and moderators are our judges in this otherwise uncivilized online world.

There has to be some organizing to balance the chaotical nature of Internet.

These words are random quotations from my first coming International Bestseller, "So Spoke The Wise Koala", soon available on Amazon.com webstore (http://www.amazon.com).

[writespeak]

I :) have ;) tried :D lately :spin: to :notworthy consider :king2: twice :bananad: before :p adding :tweety: smileys :discuss: anywhere. :hippie: Honestly. :rofl:

I can see that you and SWR are going to hit it off. ;) :banana2:

Lois

[adb22791]

Yeap, permbans sometimes work, sometimes not..

One wiseguy once managed to post around 200 messages of pure copypaste from my Domain's WHOIS record ..

After that incident, we had to force policy that NO-ONE can make any posts in first 5 days after registration, and then they have to make 10 replies to other threads before they can start their own threads..

The first incident you speak of, well that sounds like you might want to hire a few more mod's instead of limiting new users that way. New users don't like to be limited :D.

[lauhde]

The first incident you speak of, well that sounds like you might want to hire a few more mod's instead of limiting new users that way. New users don't like to be limited :D.

Under normal conditions, you'd be absolutely correct.. but, umm... our users at STC are kinda _desperate_ to get their word out.. and they are usually used to have 'harsh treatment' and not being able to do what they want in first place..and so on.

Call me evil abuser of poor souls but I'm just doing what must be done in order to protect the board!

Anyhow... we're in discussions to get more mods :)

(Do I see any volunteers here? No? Damn. Suicidal thoughts are NOT requirement, they are just a definite plus in your application.)

[Jan]

It is better to choose moderators from your own forums :) Those who advertise for them at other forums have no idea who they are getting, if they are trustworthy or if they will get on well with the current members. :talk:

[writespeak]

Under normal conditions, you'd be absolutely correct.. but, umm... our users at STC are kinda _desperate_ to get their word out.. and they are usually used to have 'harsh treatment' and not being able to do what they want in first place..and so on.

I'm sure you've thought of this, but what about people who need someone to talk to now?

Anyhow... we're in discussions to get more mods :)

(Do I see any volunteers here? No? Damn. Suicidal thoughts are NOT requirement, they are just a definite plus in your application.)

I'd volunteer if I had time. Really. The subject brought back memories. But you need people who can spend time in your forum and be part of the group, and I don't have time to get involved in another group. :(

It is better to choose moderators from your own forums :) Those who advertise for them at other forums have no idea who they are getting, if they are trustworthy or if they will get on well with the current members.

For the most part, I agree. You might be able to find out enough about new moderators before you parachute them in, but they won't have an existing relationship with the other members, and you don't know how that will develop. But what else do you do if you don't have suitable forum regulars?

Lauhde, do you have people in your forum who are able to help in addition to those needing help?

Lois

[lauhde]

I'm sure you've thought of this, but what about people who need someone to talk to now?



Yeps, I know this is a bit of a problem, and after we have got additional mods we will change the policy..


I'd volunteer if I had time. Really. The subject brought back memories. But you need people who can spend time in your forum and be part of the group, and I don't have time to get involved in another group. :(


Thank you anyhow, I understand fully... :)


For the most part, I agree. You might be able to find out enough about new moderators before you parachute them in, but they won't have an existing relationship with the other members, and you don't know how that will develop. But what else do you do if you don't have suitable forum regulars?



I'm positive we can sort this out with the board folks, there just has been some 'issues' which have prevented us from really digging into this matter as it would have required, and now the board upgrade is on wallpaper also, but before the year ends, something will be done.


Lauhde, do you have people in your forum who are able to help in addition to those needing help?


Do you mean trained healthcare professionals?

No we don't unfortunately have that kind of luxury there :(

It is also stated in the board signup text and rules that we're 100% peer support group without any professional aide, and everyone having real mental issues should contact a counseller in real life, as soon as possible.

[writespeak]

Yeps, I know this is a bit of a problem, and after we have got additional mods we will change the policy..


Sounds good. :)

Do you mean trained healthcare professionals?

No, what I meant was people who aren't depressed or suicidal, but who understand what it's like to be there, who know what can cause it, who don't blame or look down on people who go or went through it, and who want to help others find their way out and move on.

Being a healthcare professional is one way to get that "training." ;)

Lois

[Floris]

I give them the opportunity to shape up. And those who can't, get warned that the world is flat and they might be shuffed over the edge. If that subtle hint doesn't work and especially when their behavior doesn't improve, they might loose privileges which can go all the way up to even losing forum access.

[thirstyg]

I prefer a more creative aproach...(warning dial-up users...)
I just replace their original post with one of the following-
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7139/censor2fh.gif
http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/6813/assasinationcomplete8gz.gif
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/442/clown4rf.jpg
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/2911/dumb5ce.jpg
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/5425/emptyroom5ur.jpg
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/1798/yodalamepostsm1vo.jpg
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/2540/admins4xp.jpg

It's not that great of a deterrant, but it provides great entertainment for the rest of the forum. I usually just ban them after that. ;)
I just realized this may go against the no cussing rule, so I've linked to the images that have minor cussing...

[KimmiKat]

I Love it! Those are good!

I prefer a more creative aproach...(warning dial-up users...)
I just replace their original post with one of the following-


[ snip images ]

It's not that great of a deterrant, but it provides great entertainment for the rest of the forum. I usually just ban them after that. ;)
I just realized this may go against the no cussing rule, so I've linked to the images that have minor cussing...

[KimmiKat]

We had a few that were close to the line. We try handling things diplomatically, but there are some that don't get a clue and are suspended for 3 days (the reflect and relax thing) of banned.

One of them got banned when he kept using offensive avatars. He got banned when he used a modified staff avatar from another forum.

How do you, my fellow administrators, deal with users that are getting close to that "thin red line"?

In one of my boards, some (l)users have spesifically targeted one of my female moderator, and have even went asfar as saying that "women and moderators - f*ck 'em!".

We've been trying temp bans, perm bans, nice answers, "eye to eye" type answers and everything else except sending a Hell's Angels Hit Squad to their homes?!?

Waiting for your reply.. :) *

*Never forget to include at least one smiley in your messages, or else you risk being taken way too seriously.. (one of the most important forum wisdoms I have learnt)

[writespeak]

Welcome, Kim! :welcome:

I see you had just the right avatar idling at the bus stop. ;)

Lois

[KimmiKat]

Greetings!

Yep! Pulled it in and hopping off to grab some coffee! :out:

Welcome, Kim! :welcome:

I see you had just the right avatar idling at the bus stop. ;)

Lois

[Tristen]

can leave a bad taste in your mod's mouths. If a member has an issue about a mod and follows the offered course of action, the issue will be looked at. Honestly much depends on the members presentation. If I receive an email that consist primarily of verbal onslaughts and disrespect toward the specific mod and or the site, I will more than likely send a response back stating I am going to discuss the issue with the mod and see if they are even aware of the members concern. In turn, if I feel as if a mod may be holding a certain amount of negative feelings toward a member, I will attempt to find out the what the issue is and possibly recommend another mod contact the member to make themselves available for future issues.

I will cover my mods backs to the dying end. But if it becomes clear that a mod is not treating members with equal fairness and respect, then I have no choice but to advise the first time and remove permanently the second. A mod with a bad attitude is simply put.. a cancer... harsh I know, but hey.
Thanks.. Tristen