Community Moderators

[Plinkerton]

According to the Codes of Conduct pretty much any player can be banned for anything for any length of time without warning, wow!

I started playing on this server shortly after it was started and the standard has been to warn a player that they are getting close or have crossed a line before banning them. I guess now that I have been banned once, anything I say in chat is considered 'severe' (even good morning) and can be punished by an all chat ban without warning, without reason, for any length of time, wow! Really? Even though this is possible, do you think it is a good business model? I mean to have a hidden tyrant smashing you without even a word, for whatever reason they want to. (they don't like you)

Don't I also deserve a little respect? Shouldn't I be able to say 'hello' in Global chat without fearing another day without ALL chat? I now have to wonder about the possible motivations of volunteers constantly banning people without warning.

I hope you won't consider anything in this post to be 'malicious'. I'm trying to offer my concerns about the direction the game is heading not trying to 'flame' anyone or to 'insight discontent'. I have alot invested in this server and would like to continue to enjoy the game without fear. This game has been a daily stress reliever for me, but now I have to worry about my every word and action... that isn't fun. That doesn't relieve stress, it creates it.

...not that I'm trying to get banned again (but it seems a very real probability since I don't know what I did wrong) can I just get banned from Global instead of ALL chat if it does happen?

[psaltery]

In Susu's rather lengthy post on the previous page:
"The rules are still the rules and the moderators have been instructed to warn players before any action is taken unless the violation is so severe that immediate removal from chat is necessary. By severe, think illegal activity, extreme trolling, or return of banned players."

These mods are new and still learning, and bound to make mistakes. Bring it to their managers, and let them work it out. They can go back and look at chat logs to determine if the ban was justified or not, and take action to train the mod more, if necessary.

I agree with you, the game should not be a stressful place for its players.
One option would be: just for now, stick more to guild chat, help, and trade, and less in global, until the mods are more comfortable in their positions. Or even invite all your friends to join you in another global channel, as they are not modded.

[AngelBuns]

But they have been modded recently..we tried going to a few others and mods keep showing up there also. So we are stuck unfortunatly and plink I understand COMPLETELY as no warning was issued to me as well. Its gotten to not be any fun coming here like it used to be. I was talking about my roses the other day and was told to change topic??? i mean we need some concise rules here as it seems new ones are being added every day. And I agree, especially as Guild leader, not having guild chat is awful difficult.

[Sidereal]

The rules have become very confusing. A friend of mine was banned from chat for talking about farting. The next day, someone began talking about drugs (I believe the term used was mary-jane) and the MOD said that he saw nothing wrong with what was said. I don't understand this. I was under the impression the frivolous discussion such as "farting" was ok, but that drugs was prohibited...

[Wimpy]

And some people still ask me why I don't visit global chat.

[Snacknado]

lol Wimpy

[psaltery]

tickets, tickets, tickets. If enough valid complaints are issued against the same mod, action will have to be taken.

That said, antagonizing the mods only makes things worse (not saying you guys have done that, just saying it happens.)
Be polite to them, don't criticize them in public. Whisper them and ask for specifics when issued a warning/ban.
Save screenshots of the conversation, both whispers and chat, as evidence you've done nothing wrong.

And if you did do wrong and you know it, take your spanking like a man and move on ...

[Plinkerton]

Wow! I went and read the Code of Conduct and since I was released from ban I was trying to help to others from getting banned by warning them when they were getting close to crossing the line and guess what happened? Yep I got banned again without warning. the reason that was given to me is "we don't make the rules" ... ok so what did I do wrong? Of course I have submitted another valid complaint (in my opinion) but lack evidence as my chat failed ... I couldn't get screen captures. (how convenient) In my opinion, trying to be as objective as possible, many of the moderators are banning people because they are losing their tempers or just don't like someone, what else could explain the extreme inconsistencies in enforcement. While it may be difficult to keep yer emotions out of a situation like that, it is imperative that a person holding the job of moderator, volunteer or not, remain objective and unemotional. If that isn't possible you simply aren't cut out for the position.

[Plinkerton]

...Whisper them and ask for specifics when issued a warning/ban.
Save screenshots of the conversation, both whispers and chat, as evidence you've done nothing wrong...

Every time that I have gotten banned I lose ALL chat, I can't whisper them and they won't answer mails except maybe to say "the reason you were banned was clearly presented to you in the notification", by the time I find out I have done something wrong I have been banned again and there is nothing left to take screen shots of. The last three days I have been banned three times and as of yet I have yet to get anything that warned about my behavior. And the bans aren't limited to Global-1 anymore Der Sturmtruppen have begun harassing Global-2, Global-5, Help Tab, Trade Tab and Whispers.

[psaltery]

wow, so sorry to hear that plinkerton. i havent heard of issues that bad over here on zeus.
from what i understand, they are not sposed to mod channels 2-30 AT ALL. BB wouldnt even give us a mod to help with a player sponsored game.

this doesnt sound good at all. im hoping all 3 were the same mod, and not difft mods all with issues. ive been a mod on games before, so i know it isnt an easy job. that said, i also agree that warnings are necessary and you have to be as impartial as possible. you cant correct your behaviors if u honestly dont know what u did wrong.

if you can at least give them the time of day it happened, they can go back and look at chat logs (screenshots just makes it more convenient.) i hope things get better for you guys...