Forum Etiquette

[Maisie]

El_Gibleto,

We try not to show any favouritism towards any members. If, however, you have a grievance which you feel needs addressing, please send the appropriate moderator a PM and we'll see what we can do about it.

[El_Gibleto]

I'm a relatively new user here, but I have been told that a certain degree of "hypocracy" was practised here.

Thank you for clarifying the situation so promptly, it's good to know that the "official policy" is to treat all members equally and fairly.

I look forward to reading the lively debates that take place and contributing when I feel I can make a useful comment.

[Neil C]

Welcome El G. If you were "told" this by someone with a particular axe to grind, then you must consider the source.

Or better yet, hang out with us for a while, get involved in the discussions, then draw your own conclusions.

In my 2 1/2 years on this forum, I've found that the moderators and administrators go out of their way to be fair.

[rlinter]

El,
It would seem that the was a rash of nastiness and some people got banned rightly or wrongly however the nastiness has stopped now but we will wait and see.

[Alan Jones]

Nice comments EERO. I too enjoy this place as a way of going out as with a youngone, nights at the pub or out with the mates are not really fair on my lovely wife. My only problem with the site is IMO some members take everything way too seriously. To my way of thinking, if someone disagrees with one of my posts, does it really matter? Will the world stop turning ? Or the sun fail to rise the next day? NO, of course it won't. I think we should all keep that in mind before replying to another's post. A couple of weeks ago, I didn't follow this rule and couple of days later, was rather embarressed by my reply. Maybe we all need to install a virtual cover over our " heated reply's"
switch. There's my 2 cents worth .

[Liz]

Do we have an inner order here? I don't think so. Everyone has been quite fair to me and I hope that when I've been warned, I have responded appropriately. I'm sure that if this were not the case, I would have heard about it!

Neil is correct; it'd be nice to be able to have a silly or thoughtful or intense conversation without it turning into a slanging match. We used to be able to do that. Then some people decided that "freedom of speech" meant the freedom to come in our house and kick out the windows whenever they wanted to ... and that their "right" to do that trumped their responsibility to keep this a great party for everybody. We don't have very many of those people here. But it doesn't take many.

[Wrex]

Originally posted by Liz
However, I think you're preaching to the choir, as the persons at fault never see themselves as being at fault.

Thats true Liz. In the end it's up to us. We can not respond to the stupid posts, I have no doubt when start a moronic thread, they would get embarrassed as it fell down the page without response. Laugh at them, with the use of smiles (ie: a non-confrontational opproach), or simply report them to a moderator. But we all must take reposibility for it. The worst defence I've witnessed as a mod for a warning is "he started it".

Originally posted by Neil C
It doesn't take long before the time and effort to find thought provoking discourse becomes more than it is worth to someone who values their leisure time. The reasonable voices gradually fade away, and only the noise is left.

Well said Neil C, and this is what I'm afraid of. The bad push away the good. About 6 months ago, I was getting very disinterested in the site due to one particular member (since banned) and others that made the site a chore rather than a party. We must keep this in mind and base all our decisions on "the greater good".

Originally posted by Neil C
In my 2 1/2 years on this forum, I've found that the moderators and administrators go out of their way to be fair.

In fact neil, I've found this forum goes out of it's way for inpartiality to the point of self detrament. Any member I have seen delt with has been given so many chances it's no longer funny.

And AJ, your right, we should'nt take things to seriously. We have to remember that the words we right, without the aid of body language and tonality, sometimes get miscommunicated or exaggerated.


Peace Dudes

[calais]

although in essence we are all guests of craig's house, you must remember that the "guests" come from very different cultures with even more differing opinions about about a subject which is also our passion,and sometimes emotion gets in the way of reality.
what may be a non derogatory comment from an aussie may seem as derogatory from a european, and vice-versa. i admit, something needs to be said about some degenerative posts and threads, which EERO has done very well, but compared to some other forums which i look at {but do not post on}, this one is doing quite well in that regard

[El_Gibleto]

I find it interesting that the 2 posts denying the presence of an "inner circle" both come from members involved in the running of the site, surely that is like a member of the "poliburo" saying that the communist party treated everyone equally!

Just an observation of the dynamics of the group.

[Airhead]

El,

The accusation of vested interests and cliches is hard to disprove. Especially when the people who have to spring to the site's defense are the accused.

All I can say is, 'they' put up with me. If anyone thinks that the treatment they have had at the hands of the admins is unfair. Then give one of us a message with the details of your grievance and let's do something productive rather than poke faces at shadows.

[Chris Y]

Takuma, Er, sorry - El_Gibleto: The people involved with running the site are the inner circle. They're the responsible people that have been called upon to help adminstrate the site.

Anyone can become a member of that dedicated team - they just have to prove they are responsible, thoughtful, and willing to help out. You'll notice that a number of ordinary members have recently been made moderators (I'll cite Wrex as an example, if I may? ) because they've demonstrated loyalty and level-headedness, amongst other positive traits.

They don't get picked because they have axes to grind over certain members. Neutrality is important.

People who come here just to stir trouble, or moan about 'what the admins have done' are obviously going to come under close scrutiny for their actions, so yes, they might perceive that they are being 'picked on'. The bottom line is: Behave at Craig's cocktail party, or be asked to leave.

[Wrex]

Originally posted by Chris Y
You'll notice that a number of ordinary members have recently been made moderators (I'll cite Wrex as an example, if I may?)

Excuse me, but what do you mean, ordinary?

Originally posted by AMoffat
The accusation of vested interests and cliches is hard to disprove. Especially when the people who have to spring to the site's defense are the accused.

All I can say is, 'they' put up with me. If anyone thinks that the treatment they have had at the hands of the admins is unfair. Then give one of us a message with the details of your grievance and let's do something productive rather than poke faces at shadows.

Every now and again Amoffat, you say something so intelligent, I wonder if your wife knows your password.

[EERO]

Originally posted by Wrex
Every now and again Amoffat, you say something so intelligent, I wonder if your wife knows your password.

It really is terribley out of character, isn't it. It MUST be his wife!

I wanted to say something oabout the idea of an "inner circle", but I think Chris Y covered it very nicely. Thanks.


The thing to remember is that everyone here was a "newbie" once. Anyone who walks through the door is welcome, and will continue to be welcome as long as they treat others with respect.

[Bononi]

Yes, Chris Y said it all... or maybe El_Gibleto was referring how I'm biased towards female members ? In this case, I guess he/she is right.

[Liz]

Well, of course, making unfounded accusations is one way to make everybody pay attention to you, isn't it?

However, we can graciously ignore El Takuma now as we have all answered his question and he refuses to believe us. If you won't be convinced, you can't be convinced.

[Chris Y]

Perhaps El_Takuma should boycott this site with immediate effect, in protest against what he sees as hypocrisy and favouritism.

[El_Gibleto]

Who is this "Takuma" guy you keep mentioning?

It is NOT me, I have only been coming here for a few weeks.

[rlinter]

Ouch I bet El_Gibleto did not expect the Spanish inquisition, but then again according to Monty Python nobody does.

There has been some strangely heavy-handed decisions of late however as someone correctly put it this is Craig’s party and everyone has to abide by his rules. It is just a shame those don’t seem to be the published rules, or at least not the letter and barely the spirit of them.

For the record – I personally know both the exiled Takuma as well as El_G and they are not the same person and before some sad twit suggest otherwise neither are me!

What would make sense if for the rules as published to be adhered to and not interpreted Ferrari style.

This is meant to be a community and as such we are never ever going to have an agreement on anything. However as it is Craig’s gonads potentially on the line if someone gets a touch libellous then this cannot be a democracy however there is nothing to stop it being a benevolent dictatorship.

Any way that is my views and I am sure someone will not agree with me but then I really am not bothered as if they are to childish not to accept that someone has different opinion then maybe they should not be active on these forums and go back to playing with wax crayons and circles of paper….

[Bononi]

Wait, wait, wait please.

Is there something that is not clear here ? Rules not published ? Different treatment for members ? Marshals penalizing innocents ?

Wow... I'm not in the same forum as you, or I have a completely different perspective of what you see around here.

[paulzinho]

Also usually members will get a warning if they have behaved inappropriately before they are banned. Put another way they are told they are doing wrong and they have the choice to change what their doing or leave. The sensible ones change.

[SL]

Perhaps you should have a look at
http://tentenths.com/forum/misc.php?...ion=faq&page=1

Plus there are the normal rules of social behaviour. Do people normally go to a party and start shouting after being there for a few minutes ? Stay around a little and see what other people are talking about, then sit back and think before you reply.

SL

[rlinter]

My point is that the rules clearly state a soccer style warning system.

And that is rarely applied. I know I am not the only one who thinks this judging by the PM's and Emails I have recieved.

Before a super mod starts peaking I have deleted the messages seeing as PM's are not secure!

[TimD]

Just a quick note.

I hold the responsibilities of a super-moderator, and I do not have, nor have ever had, access to the contents of the Private Messaging system.

Nor would I want it.

[Wrex]

LMAO Now this thread is getting really funny. I believe this and other topics were to be discussed at a conspiracy theoryist convention last year, but nobody attended due to rumours the meeting was a trap.

I have to ask the question though, why on earth would anyone want to read others PM's? I fall asleep reading my own. (Sorry Moff)

rlinter, the only unwritten rules I'm aware of, and there are too many to actually list, are the rules of common sense.

[EERO]

Originally posted by rlinter
My point is that the rules clearly state a soccer style warning system.

And that is rarely applied. I know I am not the only one who thinks this judging by the PM's and Emails I have recieved.

What emails and from whom? To my knowledge, (and I've been here a long time) no one has ever been warned without discussion or banned without fair warning.

All I can say is that everyone on the staff tries as hard as they can to be fair and impartial. Only repeated offensives bring any kind of action.

And El Gibleto, I assure you that if anyone on the staff acts in a manner outside the Forum rules, they are called to task also.