[Debate] Staff Abusing Powers

[Hatfield]

I read this post and it made me think.

I am always trying to reward people for doing special things. So what I did have announce to my players that I like to do that. I have a special program that nobody sees. I have a award sheet how many karma people earn.

And when they earn it. They get the points added on their karma.
Like awards for going out and doing stuff, making suggestions etc.

Original character get 5 Karma points off the start. Creative making a creative is an award.

All the members can earn points and I told them they contact me if they feel someone deserves a point. If they tell me this person did this. I give that person possible two points and the person who said something get awarded too. I don't tell them.

They even can earn Karma points by posts too.


The only characters don't get all lot of Karma is my own characters. They get karma points from ONLY in character. Example: 5 posts equal 1 karma.


Now I am thinking they can purchase stuff. I am thinking ten karma is worth gold piece which would be worth some thing for an items or special talent.

I don't want players feel they got to work extra hard for it.

I just try to be fair. And this be the only game people will wonder why the Admin has no points.

Karma is for the players and not for me who runs the game.

So anyone does anything like that?

I think I will leave out the character award out and stuff.

[cvvcdad]

i've posted a couple thousand times on Forum name removed i've been very open about my faith, and there are posters and mods there who have expressed both their disagreement and disdain as a result. but what has recently happened takes the cake.

i have often closed posts with "what do you believe...and why?", with the intent that others there would examine not only their beliefs -- their truth, if you will -- but also why they hold that truth. iow, that they know with certainty the authority behind their beliefs, and whether that authority is authoritative enough to warrant their belief and faith in it.

so there's a political thread where someone posts 4 "facts", and to start a discussion which i hope will get to the points in the above paragraph, i asked the poster to define "fact".

things then took an ugly turn.

a mod gets involved -- under their mod name -- and asks if i doubt that 2+2 = 4. i reply that it depends on the base numbering system being used.

which happens to be an actual fact.

after an angry reply post and a couple pms, i find myself banned. no explanations, no emails, no pms that i know of (of course, i can't access my inbox. nothing.

oh yeah. staff -- def abuse their powers.

in their rules, they smugly say that if you don't like their modding, start your own board.

real funny.

Forum name removed is supposed to be the best forum on vb out there. it can be, but unfortunately it is run by at least 1 abusive mod...

[🎶Sossity🎶]

Nov 1, 2012 6:57:31 GMT -8 cvvcdad said:

i've posted a couple thousand times on Forum name removed i've been very open about my faith, and there are posters and mods there who have expressed both their disagreement and disdain as a result. but what has recently happened takes the cake.

i have often closed posts with "what do you believe...and why?", with the intent that others there would examine not only their beliefs -- their truth, if you will -- but also why they hold that truth. iow, that they know with certainty the authority behind their beliefs, and whether that authority is authoritative enough to warrant their belief and faith in it.

so there's a political thread where someone posts 4 "facts", and to start a discussion which i hope will get to the points in the above paragraph, i asked the poster to define "fact".

things then took an ugly turn.

a mod gets involved -- under their mod name -- and asks if i doubt that 2+2 = 4. i reply that it depends on the base numbering system being used.

which happens to be an actual fact.

after an angry reply post and a couple pms, i find myself banned. no explanations, no emails, no pms that i know of (of course, i can't access my inbox. nothing.

oh yeah. staff -- def abuse their powers.

in their rules, they smugly say that if you don't like their modding, start your own board.

real funny.

Forum name removed is supposed to be the best forum on vb out there. it can be, but unfortunately it is run by at least 1 abusive mod...

Hi

please keep the discussion Proboards forum related and without mentioning the name of mods and other staff.

If you have a grievance with a forum hosted elsewhere, please take it up with that host.

Please keep to this board's posting criteria.

Thanks.

[cvvcdad]

Nov 2, 2012 2:55:37 GMT -8 🎶Sossity🎶 said:

Nov 1, 2012 6:57:31 GMT -8 cvvcdad said:

i've posted a couple thousand times on Forum name removed i've been very open about my faith, and there are posters and mods there who have expressed both their disagreement and disdain as a result. but what has recently happened takes the cake.

i have often closed posts with "what do you believe...and why?", with the intent that others there would examine not only their beliefs -- their truth, if you will -- but also why they hold that truth. iow, that they know with certainty the authority behind their beliefs, and whether that authority is authoritative enough to warrant their belief and faith in it.

so there's a political thread where someone posts 4 "facts", and to start a discussion which i hope will get to the points in the above paragraph, i asked the poster to define "fact".

things then took an ugly turn.

a mod gets involved -- under their mod name -- and asks if i doubt that 2+2 = 4. i reply that it depends on the base numbering system being used.

which happens to be an actual fact.

after an angry reply post and a couple pms, i find myself banned. no explanations, no emails, no pms that i know of (of course, i can't access my inbox. nothing.

oh yeah. staff -- def abuse their powers.

in their rules, they smugly say that if you don't like their modding, start your own board.

real funny.

Forum name removed is supposed to be the best forum on vb out there. it can be, but unfortunately it is run by at least 1 abusive mod...

Hi

please keep the discussion Proboards forum related and without mentioning the name of mods and other staff.

If you have a grievance with a forum hosted elsewhere, please take it up with that host.

Please keep to this board's posting criteria.

Thanks.

not trying to be difficult, but i don't see where my post violated any of the criteria from the link you provided:

Important Rules:




You may not post your board URL in any threads. Period!

All discussions must remain 100% on topic. If you go off topic, you will receive a warning. Any other discussion belongs in PMs!

This board should be used for intelligent discussion of the topic presented. If you don't have something valuable to add to the topic, don't post. There is no need to post anything like "Thanks for the ideas" as it does not add to the discussion.

Your posts should be at least 4 sentences long. Anything less shows that not enough thought was taken in the post, and is most likely not productive towards the conversation.

Don't ask support related questions here. If you have a problem with your forum, please go to the support board.

The bump rules are more lenient in this board because of the amount of topics and their nature. However, if bumping an older topic, please keep your post relevant.

1) i didn't post the url.

2) i believe my post is spot on regarding "Staff Abusing Powers".

3) i suppose you might consider my post not to be "intelligent", but that's a rather subjective standard. i do honestly believe, however, that it added some value to this discussion. warnings to the internet community are typically considered to be of some value.

4) plenty of sentences.

5) n/a -- not a support-related post.

6) n/a -- not a bump.

i actually did read the rules, sossity, before i posted, because i wanted to make sure the specificity was allowed. i don't see anything anywhere that says one cannot name the board or the mods in question. so i'd really appreciate it if you'd unedit my post.

lastly -- i am utterly unable to "take it up with" volley talk. that's the whole point of my post: staff abusing powers by summarily banning a poster for no reason and with no explanation. how can i take this up with the mod who has cut off my access? can't send him a pm now. and i did send an email to volley talk's general email address. guess what? no response. posting here was my last resort. i'm hoping perhaps the "mod in question" stops by here every now and then, because it's the only way i now have to make my case. perhaps if proboards modifies its code to allow banned posters to pm mods...? at least that would have done away with the need to post here.

now do you understand?

[Mandoli]

In light of recent events on another board that I'm a member on, I'll give my two cents.

I was handed moderator powers by the admin of the forum I'm on for a few reasons. One of the other administrators went AWOL, there was a number of offensive images/posts that had to be addressed, and the admin who gave us me the power? Well, let's just say that he's also AWOL on numerous occasions. I'm like... "Okay. This should be easy. Just police the boards and nothing bad will happen."

Things had gotten to a boiling point yesterday because other members of the forum had called me power hungry. I want to say that it's not the case, but if nudes and suggestive images didn't get posted, was I not supposed to step in? I started giving this person five percent as a warning, and for every offense that he committed, I'd add another five percent. He took it as a threat and he started calling me names - from FCC, to Walt Disney, to Adolf Hitler. This was mainly because I wasn't going to put up with his bull. I promptly deleted and/or moved the posts because that's what a good moderator would do.

They wouldn't believe that I'd be a good fit for a general talk forum with lighthearted discussion. No more than three people thought that I was just too serious. Honestly, what I was supposed to do? What I did was remove myself from the staff list altogether. Yeah, I was controlling what other people were supposed to do - but when there's conflict between myself and a member of the board who would tell me that I'm "PMSing" and other various terms relating to that, it hurts.

I think things would be better without me being a moderator - unless the administrator has no choice but to re-hire me.

[Cheshire]

Jul 25, 2012 21:38:53 GMT -8 Hatfield said:

I read this post and it made me think.

I am always trying to reward people for doing special things. So what I did have announce to my players that I like to do that. I have a special program that nobody sees. I have a award sheet how many karma people earn.

And when they earn it. They get the points added on their karma.
Like awards for going out and doing stuff, making suggestions etc.

Original character get 5 Karma points off the start. Creative making a creative is an award.

All the members can earn points and I told them they contact me if they feel someone deserves a point. If they tell me this person did this. I give that person possible two points and the person who said something get awarded too. I don't tell them.

They even can earn Karma points by posts too.


The only characters don't get all lot of Karma is my own characters. They get karma points from ONLY in character. Example: 5 posts equal 1 karma.


Now I am thinking they can purchase stuff. I am thinking ten karma is worth gold piece which would be worth some thing for an items or special talent.

I don't want players feel they got to work extra hard for it.

I just try to be fair. And this be the only game people will wonder why the Admin has no points.

Karma is for the players and not for me who runs the game.

So anyone does anything like that?

I think I will leave out the character award out and stuff.

Our money system works similarly, but I do earn 'coins' for stuff. Except we have a bank on my site, and people can donate to it, and it counts towards contests prizes, and OTM awards. Whatever I earn I put there once a month, or use to help members buy rings they can't afford on my site, when I think they deserve it. Mainly it goes to new members who have not been on long enough to earn enough coins to get what they need. I don't want this being abused, but if they seem active enough, and I know they will post enough that they would have earned that amount eventually anyway, I help them out.

I don't want them to make a bunch of half-@#ed posts in an attempt to earn enough to buy stuff. I want to encourage activity. And a general desire to be included in what's going on on the site.

[AshFR]

Jun 23, 2008 7:46:56 GMT -8 AshFR said:

When do you think a staff member has pushed the boundaries of power on a forum?
» I believe that a staff member has over-stepped their boundaries, when they ban people for no reason what-so-ever or just because they "disliked a comment" or simply due to their name!

Is a disagreement grounds for a warning or banning?
» No, well if they're disagreeing for following the rules of course but if it's something simple, no.

What about idle threats to warn or ban a member in order to forced them into submission with their own beliefs?
» A staff member would never, ever, force someone to agree with their beliefs. Everyone, has their own viewpoints, and should be allowed to share that as well. Even if a staff member doesn't have the same, say religious beliefs, it's not their duty to call the person out with either a warning, or a ban, both of those options are just ridiculous.

What about deletion of your post and threads because they disagreed with what was posted?
» Yes that's favoritism, if you have that you're not suited to be an admin, of course if they allow no opinions and ban, suspend, warn or otherwise a member for this, I think that's okay if done with a serious problem involving acts people or put behind bars in, or it offends someone else, otherwise NO, or of course insulting in someway, but I hope it's forum where you can dicuss politics without getting out of hand.

Have you had experience with this? Were you ever accused of abusing your powers or a member who was a victim of an abusive staff?
» I've experienced this as a member, but no not really. I am going to rephrase this a lot I'll try not to go bias, but I have felt that there was say, flip-flop moderating one person would do something and get in trouble then the other person would do that exact same thing and nothing happens! They do advise us to report the problem but they were general things we didn't feel broke the rules, and they got away with saying some stuff(generally harmless stuff) why can't we? That's all I guess.

[another banned member]

There is something. I don't get if The staff of a Role play board unfairly then why does does Rule 10 Save their asses from having their boards closed down or the staff power taken away for good.. You rip or rep what you sew.. that should be true staff members as well with a happy finger that hits the banned button..

[The Maniac On Wheels (The MOW)]

I left one that staff, which was members of a clique that eventually never scrolled down past the General board, that definately abused their powers.

For example, after figuring out the post numbers can be changed manually per member, a Mod/admin blew up the numbers for members who asked in a thread.

I was singled out when my professional wrestling-related news posts in the board's sports section was allegedly overtaking the board, when in fact I was one of the most active who actually scrolled down to the board to post in the board. People in the clique began to complain because pro wrestling is not a legitimate sport, but is covered in the sports section of TV news and newspapers, and a separate board was created. Then, when I came up with a music video thread when ProBoards added the YouTube tag button I posted videos of professional wrestling clips set to music, the clique began to complain after the thread became several pages long, and a clique-member Mod sent me a PM telling me to stop posting them in that thread, and put them in the wrestling board (technically, they were music videos I was posting. There should have been no problem. I was told wrestling posts are to be in the wrestling board. I even said they were, technically, music videos.)

I left, after posting one final message saying how I was singled out as a highly active, non-clique member. I then made my own board shortly after leaving, where some people who agreed with me that I was mistreated joined. But, like the board I had issues with, it's on life support -- but with all attempts to prevent the formation of a clique, with Mods and admin involved, still intact.

[The Maniac On Wheels (The MOW)]

Apr 17, 2013 17:45:01 GMT -8 TinMachine said:

It's happened on here in the past, as I've seen. You give anyone access to some sort of power over another, even if it's trivial power like on a forum, chances are high they'll abuse it. There have been very few forums I've been on where there isn't a abusive staff member, or a staff member incapable of not being biased. I often also see the victims of cyber bullying being banned whilst the bullies get away scott free...usually due to high post count or cliques.

I was basically thrown out of a board because of a clique (I left after "the last straw" was drawn).

[Himms]

Staff powers given to a person should be an honor.....not a power ego trip. Ego trip isn't what being a staff is about. Some people need to get it through their heads.

I have been a Mod on one forum for 5 years and at no point have I abused my powers. On another board I have been considered for a mod position, shortly after joining.

[olala]

Uh I hate this issue(:x)
I knewd several jerk like that(:3)
Those jerk banned me badly becoused that I'm dissagred with them(,and also becouse I keep ---> ?what the jerk who's bannin visitor within reason?lol
Anyho his names angelic227<---nickname:P
This dood are suck!
However I dunt take dookie about those jerk,its simply,when I dunt get welcomed,I just leaved,case solved:P

:)dood
Dood:)

[Former Member]

Really? Staff abuse power this often? I always look at members posts that they have made over a six month period, make sure they make good looking posts -ALWAYS using correct grammar and spelling and they are fun to have a nice private messageing threads with.

I always look for this, oh did I say that they should be helpful and help members when needed, warmly welcome new members to the forum, true and correct facts, no warnings -clean record.

Just then maybe I MIGHT THINK about starting you off as a new staff member.

Got other members that can put good words in for you?

This will be included in the "looking at you" private message:

Links to your posts on any other forums you attend (at least 100)

[thepaintedgrin]

Jun 17, 2013 20:59:42 GMT -8 pichu2pikachu2raichu said:

Really? Staff abuse power this often? I always look at members posts that they have made over a six month period, make sure they make good looking posts -ALWAYS using correct grammar and spelling and they are fun to have a nice private messageing threads with.

I always look for this, oh did I say that they should be helpful and help members when needed, warmly welcome new members to the forum, true and correct facts, no warnings -clean record.

Just then maybe I MIGHT THINK about starting you off as a new staff member.

Got other members that can put good words in for you?

This will be included in the "looking at you" private message:

Links to your posts on any other forums you attend (at least 100)

I was once on a Pokemon Forum (irronically) where the admin was alot like this. He was too rigid, too set in his ways. He demanded people post the right thing ALWAYS, he demanded that people respect the rules to the tee. He rarely gave chances and even settled for swearing at new members. There was a huge fanbase for the forum, and he openly abused his powers because he was being a complete butthead and no one could anything to him. But people wanted to RP, and thankfully, he rarely showed his face in those. It was almost like he only wanted the forum to be a boss, not to actually play the game.



My point I am making Slash is being a good admin is not about showing how bossy you are, it's about balance, and accepting that people will make mistakes, and even if they do it doesn't mean they will make bad moderators, in fact it means they will make BETTER moderators because they know what it's like to be on the recieving end of being wrong.



In any case, I once met moderator who abused his powers, it wasn't on a Proboard but it was still rather annoying. It was on a WoW Guild, the guy seemed nice and we got a long quite well for a time. Until an argument broke out about lvl 19 twinks, and how they are bastards to new the players who are doing their first battle ground. Long story short, the Owner didn't agree with my argument (that people should be patient with the poor guys, because we were all noobs at one point) so he banned me from the guild. It was a little odd, I remember the other guild memebers whispering to me and telling me the guy is a douche. My sister got me back on again, the guy never appologized but then again I didn't really expect him to.

[Lethallan]

I believe that when you become a staff member no matter what position you are. You should always be unbiased when it comes to certain things a member does. If the member follows the rules, great, they should be left alone by the staff team. But, if they over step, then a simple warning to remind them. You don't have to be bossy to get people to respect you.

As for members talking about a subject that a staff member might not agree with. Oh well. That is not grounds to delete the members post or thread. As I said, I believe staff members should be unbiased on all subjects. It's just childish to ban, delete members, or post when they don't agree with you on certain things. Yes, staff members are human and get angry just like the rest of us, but that does not make them better than the members. Members make up your site. For staff members to bash members is senseless. It would be like a band, tv show, ect, to bash their fans and expect them to still hang around. 

I apologize if I seem angry. lol
It's just that I don't understand why a staff member of any position would be cruel to the backbone of their site. And, I have been on a site awhile back where nothing I did was right. It was frustrating. I didn't even get to role play on their site cause they kept picking at my character template. I don't mind someone pointing out I did something wrong, but just nit picking at something just cause you can. Is childish.

Eh, to me. A staff position means you take care of your members if you can.
You help those that need it and your unbiased at issues they talk about. ^.^;