OT Rules of pissy behaviour...

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Depends on the moderator. Krikit has closed silently several of my posts, not because of foul language (which I never use), but because she didn't agree with what I posted, or didn't like my -- admittedly -- often strange humor. And that despite that fact that I'm a fellow cat lover who receives "thank you" PMs from other VJ users quite frequently.

To be save from being punished, you might always start your posts with . . . I'm so sorry for . . . or I'll include you in my prayers! Risky behavior is saying something that might come over as uncompassionate, too straight forward, or sarcastic.

Then again, you never know. It all depends. Or perhaps not. What do I know . . .

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Yes, Charles. We PM'd you, but only found a big lock on the thread!

good reminder to go check out the pi regional.

[Brad and Vika 129]

This whole silly notion that the TOS applies "more loosely" in OT than the rest of the site is the heart of the problem.

Either OT needs to be held to the TOS, or a TOS needs to be written for OT. It's unfair to members and moderators to leave it in such a state of uncertainty.

Is this offensive? Just trying to set some parameters.

[mox 298]

good reminder to go check out the pi regional.

You know what would be a GREAT quality in a moderator? Somebody who can take criticism in any other way than being a complete jackass.

[Brad and Vika 129]

You know what would be a GREAT quality in a moderator? Somebody who can take criticism in any other way than being a complete jackass.

[Sinergy 3]

I think some of the mods do close threads or delete posts just bc they dont like what they see, it really didnt break a TOS. And yes, its super annoying when a thread is closed or a post is deleted bc someone didnt agree with the mod.

I mean, ive never seen in the TOS where its against TOS to disagree with a mod. just my 2 cents

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

I think some of the mods do close threads or delete posts just bc they dont like what they see, it really didnt break a TOS. And yes, its super annoying when a thread is closed or a post is deleted bc someone didnt agree with the mod.

I mean, ive never seen in the TOS where its against TOS to disagree with a mod. just my 2 cents

I will support the idea that myself or a mod should not close a topic just because it upsets us. The TOS has to stand on its feet or it should be revised. My rule is that a mod should pass an issue to another mod or myself if they feel personally involved (i.e. conflict of interest). I am sure that it has happened in the past that a mod should have done this and did not, but my hope is that in general we as a team can work together to be as fair as possible.

[mox 298]

I will support the idea that myself or a mod should not close a topic just because it upsets us. The TOS has to stand on its feet or it should be revised. My rule is that a mod should pass an issue to another mod or myself if they feel personally involved (i.e. conflict of interest). I am sure that it has happened in the past that a mod should have done this and did not, but my hope is that in general we as a team can work together to be as fair as possible.

100% agreed. I'd further like to add that either the TOS should apply to the entire site equally, or those areas of the site where the TOS is enforced more "loosely" should have its own TOS.

Also, are moderators required to accept PM's from the membership? I asked this question in a ticket, but never received a reply.

[TBoneTX 45,273]

I asked this question in a ticket, but never received a reply.

Uh-oh, si man... (?)

[mox 298]

Uh-oh, si man... (?)

And I followed that up with a pm.

(seriously)

[Brad and Vika 129]

Just want to append that IMHO, if there is a considerable or ongoing disagreement between a moderator and a member - I think it should be OK for a different mod (or Ewok) to respond - be it PM, post, or whatever. So long as there is a response in the same format as the question or member post. I've experience a similar problem to that described above - where the mod didn't like what I had to say, and posted the chastisment - but wanted my responses in PM only. Further posts were ignored.

[Kailey 3]

Honest opinion (read- 'dangerous opinion') I have never seen a forum where a free opinion would be so much unwelcome as here. Here there is only 2 options: you either say 'you are such a great guy and i wish you good luck' (even if the opposite is obvious) or you get banned.

In general i dont care anymore. But there is something that I want to ask:

if somebody comes here and says 'i'm a known abuser and i wonder how to process k1 faster, help me' - people will help him with a smile and friendly advice on how to fill in I129?? and if somebody comes and say 'you guy, should never try to process any k1 ever!" that person will be banned for life?

+ As a woman I find it completely shameful to see men who run and cry for mods help, btw..

"Mary, today i won in an discussion with that rude woman who told me what she thinks about me!" - "oh, John, great, how did you do it?" - (proudly) "I called a mod and he banned her. So from now on i will only hear how great i am!!" Curtain. Superman theme is playing.

Edited January 30, 2010 by Kailey

[Brad and Vika 129]

Honest opinion (read- 'dangerous opinion') I have never seen a forum where a free opinion would be so much unwelcome as here. Here there is only 2 options: you either say 'you are such a great guy and i wish you good luck' (even if the opposite is obvious) or you get banned.

In general i dont care anymore. But there is something that I want to ask:

if somebody comes here and says 'i'm a known abuser and i wonder how to process k1 faster, help me' - people will help him with a smile and friendly advice on how to fill in I129?? and if somebody comes and say 'you guy, should never try to process any k1 ever!" that person will be banned for life?

+ As a woman I find it completely shameful to see men who run and cry for mods help, btw..

"Mary, today i won in an discussion with that rude woman who told me what she thinks about me!" - "oh, John, great, how did you do it?" - (proudly) "I called a mod and he banned her. So from now on i will only hear how great i am!!" Curtain. Superman theme is playing.

Good comments. In the situation I was describing above, it was a female (apparently), posting in two separate places that she 1) needed advice on how to remove conditions without her new USC spouse because (in my somewhat fuzzy recollection) she either didn't want to be married any more, or just plain never did - and 2) help with bringing her mother to America before she had her residence situation affirmend. I called her on that, and some of the cold, nasty comments. She immediately ran to a moderator and had my comments removed, and when I reposted, her own nasty remarks deleted, then the thread locked. It was pretty clear that if I kept on calling a spade a spade, or kept insisting that the mod respond to my responses to her public chastisment in the same form, I was headed for the ban.

Edited to say that in fairness, I find most mods to be easy to deal with and reasonable. If you post tactfully, without personal attacks or provocation, you can get by with comments and valid opinion. Sometimes the posts are so far out there that a personal comment is called for, and it does creat a TOS problem.

Edited January 30, 2010 by Brad and Vika

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Also, are moderators required to accept PM's from the membership? I asked this question in a ticket, but never received a reply.

If they are not able to address an issue then the issue should be forwarded to another mod or myself.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Just want to append that IMHO, if there is a considerable or ongoing disagreement between a moderator and a member - I think it should be OK for a different mod (or Ewok) to respond - be it PM, post, or whatever. So long as there is a response in the same format as the question or member post. I've experience a similar problem to that described above - where the mod didn't like what I had to say, and posted the chastisment - but wanted my responses in PM only. Further posts were ignored.

Do not be afraid to message me directly if you feel like your concerns have gone unheard. I am not in the same timezone as many people so there are times where a reply may take longer to get back, or even weeks like the last two where I am on business travel and it makes it even tougher. But I can be honest and say that all inquiries are logged and I will get back to them. I do not want your concerns to fall between the cracks. The contact us form does work but I admit there may be times where it will take me a day or two to get back to certain issues that are not critical (some immediate need) if I am on a plane traveling.