Selective memory

[Canarr]

I know you do. While I disagree with (one of) the rules you have in place, I've yet to find fault in the application of said rules. So, I do trust that you'll work out the best possible solution.

If I may ask: since it's apparently an ongoing discussion behind the scenes whether or not to abolish the FTSTS rule, can I assume that even some of your Mod team disagree with this rule?

[Rapscallion]

The current mood is to more amend it, than abolish. It's more a matter of sensible application than anything else. More flexibility.

Rapscallion

[Mytical]

Maybe a slippery slope there though Raps. Freedom of speech is GOOD..but sometimes when you give an inch..people will demand a mile. Just a word of caution.

[Rapscallion]

Already well aware of that

It's more that we found quite quickly that it's not a one-size-fits-all rule, so we've taken some time to find some sort of better direction for it.

Rapscallion

[Canarr]

Okay, thanks.

I know it's difficult to make a decision here.

If you crack down on even the smallest possible infraction of the FTSTS rule, you'll reap even more comparisons to my own country's darkest times, but at least you treat everyone equally.
If you decide on a case-by-case basis, you'll be accused of being unfair and biased ("You let him get away with a much more severe infraction last week, and now I get punished? It's just 'cause you don't like me!").
If you abolish the rule, you run the risk of herd-mentality-fueled witch hunts that drive away your posters.

Any way you play it, someone's gonna be pissed.

[Ree]

If you decide on a case-by-case basis, you'll be accused of being unfair and biased ("You let him get away with a much more severe infraction last week, and now I get punished? It's just 'cause you don't like me!").

That's something else that has always made me laugh to myself.

We don't publicly or privately discuss with other members the disciplinary actions against another member.
That's why I find it funny that a member will just assume we have let someone else away with something while clamping down on them.

I have seen several threads where I have dropped notes to all the people involved in a fratching type debate, only to receive PM's from one or another, "Why am I getting slapped down for this? I hope (other member) got a note too."
"How come I'm the only one who got an infraction?"

Hmmm...do you really know, and can state for a fact that nobody else got moderated?
Does everybody on the board know I sent a PM to you?
Do they all know you got an infraction?

Exactly.

There's no way for you to know who has been PM'ed or infracted, so quit assuming I have a big ole box of targets that I like to take out from time to time and slap on certain members' backs just for shits and giggles.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I've had that before; one particular case had two members punished. One was permabanned, the other temp banned for mega trolling the board. Other users said, "Why was User 1 permabanned when you didn't permaban User 2?" The reason was simple; User 2 was repentant, and actually apologised for her actions, whereas User 1 refused to believe she'd done anything wrong.

User 2 was in fact permabanned at first; she contacted me thru dA and not only apologised, but also said that she'd like a second chance, but it was up to us and that if we decided otherwise, she'd accept it. I talked it over with the other staff and we decided to shorten User 2's ban to a temp ban, and then put her on probation when she returned to the board. She hasn't caused any trouble since, so it was the right decision. We thought that User 2 had simply been carried away and friendcontrolled, with User 1 calling all the shots.

We've used probation a few times and it's only failed once, with a persistant rulebreaker who kept on registering endless accounts despite being told to stick with one. Said person pops up every so often with a new account, which is then banned. And for the record, an IP ban wouldn't work with this person, as they are on AOL and it would hardly be fair to ban several innocent people along with the guilty party.

[blas87]

I can only say that if FTSTS is given more leeway and the herds begin with their routine, I feel several members will start posting a lot less, lurk more, or shy away from the core content sections in fear of being nitpicked or pitchforked to death by the sheep who always have an anecdote or a "what if" situation to throw and make that member feel as if they had no right to post.

[Rapscallion]

It's a tricky situation. There have been instances where the FTSTS hasn't been appropriate, yet it's been the rule in force.

What I've often found is that there's almost always someone who has a version of events that could explain the story, but often it's a minority incident and it can't be the reason every time, though the idea may have validity.

Rapscallion

[Lace Neil Singer]

One thing that really bugs me is the nitpickers who completely ignore an SC story in order to pick on something in the post, like a misspell for example. Or when I posted about driveouts, and a load of people started saying, "Well, if you had pay at the pump that wouldn't happen," which was irritating as it completely missed the point that if someone drives off without paying, they're a fucking thief. Excusing their actions that way is like saying, "Well, if that person wasn't so rich, then they wouldn't have been robbed!"

[Boozy]

In the case you're talking about Lace, I found it even worse than that. I interpreted it more like, "It's your fault for working at a gas station. If you didn't work at a gas station, this would never have happened to you."

[RootedPhoenix]

*hugs Ree*

I'm sad that people are so venomous. They forget that there's a human being (and a heart) behind those words.

If they're mean to you, Ree, specifically....that makes me angry. You've become a friend of mine. Choose what's best for you, but know that I still think you're awesome.

Raps, thanks for both the boards. You don't have to, and I'm sure there's lots of facepalming sessions, but thanks. I always trust that you and the mods are doing the best that you can, and that's much appreciated.

[Ree]

If they're mean to you, Ree, specifically....that makes me angry. You've become a friend of mine. Choose what's best for you, but know that I still think you're awesome.

That's so nice to hear.

I do have it on "good authority" though, that I'm hated by half the members. (Apparently all the mods are though, so I'm in good company.)

Personally, drama queens bore me, and I know that a lot of the issues that arise are because I have no time for them and refuse to coddle.
I also have no time for people who just have to seek out that special snowflake status.
If that makes me a bitch, then so be it.
Let's face it, the internet is pretty damn full of drama queens. CS and fratching are no exception.

I despise storytellers, and have no time for people who embellish just to secure a spot in the "hall of fame" at CS.

Life is way too short to spend it worrying what some anonymous whiner who knows nothing about me, and doesn't bother taking the time to find out, thinks about me or says about me behind my back either in emails, PM's or in private chats.

[blas87]

I am glad you see it that way, Ree, and I'm glad you seem in much better spirits than in your OP.

Those who mind don't matter, anyway

[Eisa]

Huh. I'm supposed to hate all the mods? How come I didn't get the memo???

Nah, I don't hate any of the mods. I don't really know any of them, but I certainly don't hate them.

I also hate when the nitpicking starts. "Oh you spelled that word wrong/it's the wrong word."

Nobody cares. Shut up.