Forum Police Department

[Corleone]

What are your thoughts on forums that are very strict and their staff members/moderators act and conduct themselves like a police department?

I find this extremely annoying and uncalled for. For example, if I double post, it's typically because it's quick and easier than editing my original topic. Some forums will pull out the rule book for such a simple violation. I compare it to a cop pulling you over for only going a couple miles over the speed limit. A waste of yours and their time.

 

[Sinon]

Forums aren't mandatory. If you don't like their rules, you're free to gtfo.

As for your speeding analogy... wrong. http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/stopping.htm#3

"A few miles" above the speed limit could well be the difference between stopping safely, or squashing that little kid under your crapmobile.

Double-posting is nothing like that, but still. If the rules say don't double-post, don't double-post. Throwing a bitchfit because you don't like the rules you agreed to abide by when you signed up is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.

 

[Nebulous]

I dislike it. Anyone who knows me, knows I am very laid back in my administrator role. In fact I've even been criticized for being too laid back. Go figure.

 

[Corleone]

Forums aren't mandatory. If you don't like their rules, you're free to gtfo.

As for your speeding analogy... wrong. http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/stopping.htm#3

"A few miles" above the speed limit could well be the difference between stopping safely, or squashing that little kid under your crapmobile.

Double-posting is nothing like that, but still. If the rules say don't double-post, don't double-post. Throwing a bitchfit because you don't like the rules you agreed to abide by when you signed up is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.

Are you a police officer? I am only messing with you, I promise!

I dislike it. Anyone who knows me, knows I am very laid back in my administrator role. In fact I've even been criticized for being too laid back. Go figure.

Nebulous, is it against the rules to double post?

 

[Nebulous]

Fixed.

 

[Corleone]

Fixed.

You dirty dog... :vinsent: *Said in the background* "Boys, it's time to take him out back"

 

[TechWiz18]

If I don't want my members to double post there are usually options out there such as plugins to help you enforce it without punishing members that may do it on accident or are just plain lazy

 

[Justin]

Forums are meant to be laid back and casual, there's no need to be overly strict on rules. On mine, I have it set to automatically merge double posts anyways.

 

[Dee]

It depends on the circumstance. I've been an administrator/moderator and everything in between for several forums throughout my time on the net, and I've seen it all. I've seen people be really lax and I've seen hardcore administration ruling with an iron fist. I feel, however, that going to one extreme or the other is unnecessary and sometimes creates more problems, especially if you're conducting business like you're running a police department.

Again, though, in my experience, each situation should be viewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

[Dee]

Ive seen the same scenario over and over in the last 8years. Too many admins and staff throwing their powers around. Going on a power trip. Oh boy, reminds me of an over zealous admin who didnt fully understand what was going on, she banned me on the spot after i eagerly started up a chat thread. And it was my first post. Yeh so i think having the power to ban, restrict posting abilities and or other mod like rules, can be used in an abusive way. Nit all ive known arent like that. Just a few bad, rotten apples

The worst I saw was an absent administrator (who, unfortunately, was dealing with family health issues), and she gave control to whoever asked for it first, which was a huuuuge, huge mistake. She wasn't very active in the first place, so there weren't many interactions she could have based her decisions on when picking these people to run her forum, which she was paying for to keep running, by the way.

It resulted in the demise of the forum because of how much drama took place. A few other forums sprung up in its place, but those died out, too. One of them managed to survive and is still running, and for the most part it seems things are relatively drama-free there or they take good care of it. I'm glad they were able to find a happy medium because there were some awesome people there. I just don't frequent the forum much anymore.

 

[CommanderMadi]

What are your thoughts on forums that are very strict and their staff members/moderators act and conduct themselves like a police department?

I find this extremely annoying and uncalled for. For example, if I double post, it's typically because it's quick and easier than editing my original topic. Some forums will pull out the rule book for such a simple violation. I compare it to a cop pulling you over for only going a couple miles over the speed limit. A waste of yours and their time.

Yeah and if you really opposed them and demanded freedom, they fire LRAD at your face and rain you with tear gas.