For the most part, this a relatively trouble-free user base. There aren't too many personality conflicts, lots of good discussions, and really not that much that requires moderator intervention. My biggest headaches are spammers and other advertisers, and that's probably a good thing.
Up to this point, the only discipline tool I've had available is banning, either temporary or permanent. Oh, and public humiliation; I like that one. But, temp-banned users didn't always know why they were temp-banned, and visually did not know that they were NOT perma-banned. This has resulted in something of an administrative burden as these folks try to find out what happened.
In an effort to reduce this burden, increase communication, and provide a wider range of discipline options, the site admins and the moderators have agreed to start using the infraction point system that is commonly available in vBulletin.
Benefits:
- Moderators now can hand-slap in smaller ways without banning
- Problem users get better notification of issues
- A paper-trail of sorts will exist for administrative review
For those not familiar, the infraction system works with points. Say you cross-posted a thread, that's 3 points. Say you posted advertising somewhere that you shouldn't have, that's a bunch of points. There are a variety of point values for various problems, and this list will likely evolve as we go forward.
In addition to that, we define point values at which automatic bans will take place. First ban is 1 month, next is 6 months, last is permanent. Other than blatant spamming or using duplicate accounts, there is currently no offense so heinous that you go straight to being banned. However, the point values on larger offenses like advertising are set up so that you get only 1 or 2 warnings before you trigger the first auto-ban. But you will have been warned, and you will know what you did.
We've also made some changes so that temp-bans are visually distinguished from perma-bans.
Since a significant percentage of our spammer issues involve signature spam, we will be documenting some guidelines in the near future to handle what is and isn't allowed. Violations will then more than likely be tied to this infraction system.
None of this will affect 99% of the users here. By and large you're a good group, and I appreciate that.
Feel free to ask questions or make comments, but keep it civil.
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Do not quote questionable posts.
Do not post moderator requests in public. Report the post or send a PM. <----- Use the red flag button to report posts.
I have a question. I am an affiliate of a company and I get a commission when someone buys after clicking on the link I provide. Is it OK to have the link in my signature? Of course, I will never post just to expose my signature. I am a light poster and will stay that way.
In general, no. If it is development-related, and you are personally involved with it, then maybe.
__________________
Do not quote questionable posts.
Do not post moderator requests in public. Report the post or send a PM. <----- Use the red flag button to report posts.
There was a reputation level when I first got here. I don't know why it was disabled. IIRC, it allowed increment and decrement, but might have just been increment.
I've been on other vBulletin boards that have a "Thanks" system. Other readers can hit a button for a post and say "Thanks", and this is noted under the post, but the nice thing is that this does not bump the thread. Posters then have a stat in their profile indicating how often they have been thanked.
Either way, it's out of my hands, as that is an Admin call. The point system here was put into use because it was already available, and because the Admins were getting some traffic from people who had been banned and didn't know why. I've been working on an email covering several topics for the Admins, so I'll mention this request as well.
__________________
Do not quote questionable posts.
Do not post moderator requests in public. Report the post or send a PM. <----- Use the red flag button to report posts.
I've been on other vBulletin boards that have a "Thanks" system. Other readers can hit a button for a post and say "Thanks", and this is noted under the post, but the nice thing is that this does not bump the thread. Posters then have a stat in their profile indicating how often they have been thanked.
This is exactly the kind of thing I was thinking. Thanks for mentioning it to the admins.
New Discipline Measures
Linear Mode
