+1. Pretty much ditto to what everyone else said :p I'm sick of seeing so many irrelevant posts on complaints, especially for sg hacking. Forum tempbans aren't handed out nearly enough.

 

If someone broke a rule, it doesnt matter surely what the defence is? They still broke a rule?

Moderator approval could be the way to go though.
Make the topic visable, but make all posts in it need moderator approval, from there the staff could see what rellevant and what isnt and then deal wth the complaint then and there.

 

Yes, none can see anything, but complaints are delt with faster these days, they would become visible right after they were delt with. However, your idea would work better, let the topic be shown, but moderate the posts. I like that a lot. My only worry is the people who do posts (but their post never are allowed in) they still broke the rules, how will they be punished as their post will not be approved?

 

I don't see a need for punishment when they won't be able to accomplish anything with the posts anyway. The goal of the people who post on complaints and appeals is just to let their own cynical and rude opinions known to everyone who reads it. Often they're just being trolls or flamebaiters. Not giving them the satisfaction of posting seems more than enough.

 

The problem with that is that as you have said, they are simple trollers who want their cynical opinion to be heard,
You take that away from them, and im sure that it will start to spill out into other sections of the forum, and I for one would rather them be apprehended rather then just limiting them for them to go into another section and trolling others,

It accomplishes getting rid of unnecessary posts in complaints section, but doesn't deal with the main issue of the trollers and their need to post in area's without proper punishment being implemeted, after all, that is a big part of this suggestion in the opening thread.

 

AdmirlD said something earlier that makes so much sense to me. He said something to the effect that if people aren't going to be punished for breaking the rules, then why not just throw the rules out and make it a free for all. I would like to point out the following:

Source: http://www.ecocitycraft.com/forum/threads/rules-ban-appeals-complaint-forum-rules.21791/
So the problem now is that the light verbal threat of a punishment that never comes doesn't work. If I'm honest, mods actually just deleting irrelevant posts right off and issuing a forum warning is what's needed. Why would you warn someone that they are about to be warned... isn't that giving them a warning? Why not just go ahead and give the forum warning.... after all what is it for if not to warn a user to not do that? Furthermore, the post is irrelevant, correct? So why does it need to be there for everyone to see? Even if deleted it's only soft deleted and staff can still go back and review it at any time.

Personally because forum warning and deletion isn't being done, this made me suggest the whole moderation thing, but maybe deleting posts and forum warns should be done and the people that can't get it through their thick heads need to have THEIR posts moderated for like a week or 2.

 

@matrix_rep actually collects forum warnings because they don't do s***

 

I do believe he has received a temp ban for this.
Of course many players just brag about how many times they have been banned and allowed to returned.
Perhaps the next medal should be for amount of bans and still playing? :p I hope that not one single player takes me serious on this.

 

I was a strong supporter of increased punishments last summer when the situation was similar to what it is now. Turned out forum warnings+delete posts is pretty effective at suppressing irrelevant/trolly posts in ban appeals/complaints forum. As staff I made it my mission to see the rules enforced with diligence even if it made people angry, something the current staff team fails to do. I believe fully that a zero tolerance policy would be the best solution. All the framework currently exists, but only needs the people to press the forum warn button.

After I left staff, the rules slackened for whatever reason, I don't know nor care. All I care is that the rules are enforced equally for all rules and users.

As for what counts/should count as irrelevant, unless it is evidence or counterevidence, it does not belong in ban appeals/complaints. You forum pm or report a post if you feel like adding your input or opinion. Both of those worl just fine.

 

Exactly! Zero tolerance is the only policy that will ever work with trolls as they are the masters of loopholes. Believe me when I say that I have been tempted to comment myself on many bans/complaints but refrain due to the rules (which are not enforced most of the time).
No rules would mean at least I could comment myself :D

 

If you did say something, staff's response would be "Please don't post. Anymore posts will result in a warning."
anyMORE - because people haven't seen the hundreds of warnings before they decided to post.

 

I haven't read all of the posts in this suggestion, so please excuse me if someone has already said this.

Every so often I will post something on a complaint that is not relavent. I just can't help myself. But when I get a "I'm warning you that I will warn you" I always stop because I feel bad for what I have done.

Really what I am trying to explain by saying this is that the "I'm warning you that I will earn you" isn't totally useless - it's just useless for people like matrix who continually troll and harrass people dispite the many warnings.

So, instead of muting/temp banning/deleting when people post on a complaint when they shouldn't, throw out the warning for a warning. Then you should start doing all of the above for any and all irrelevant posts posted after the warning.

 

As you said, you refrain from post things you shouldn't because there are rules - not because you got warned or punished. I would imagine the embarrassment from posting something would keep many people from doing things they shouldn't, not the actuall punishment.

I'm having a hard time explaining what I mean. I guess what I'm trying to say is, most people wouldn't need the zero tolerance deal to keep them from posting things. Only the few "trolly" people would.

 

The way forum warnings work is that if you get one and then don't get any more, it expires after 30 days with no further effect.
After three warnings you are given a temp forum ban of one day. A certain number of warnings after the first day temp ban then you are given a 3-7 day temp ban, and so on, should you continue.

 

Thank you for that information KMax. The problem does not seem to be in the system - it seems to be more in the enforcement of the rules and procedures.
I am assuming of course that there is no procedure for the warning - "No further posts or else" since this is stated in just about every single thread - at least once, sometimes more - and to mostly the same players over and over again ;)

 

just post 2 times a month and you're good to go

 

This suggestion seems to have had a positive influence so far! Random posts have seemed to slow down as the trolls are well aware that as a community, we are tired of the continued rule breaking it seems.
In addition, many staff members are responding quickly to every new thread and mentioning the rule at the very beginning instead of after 2 or 3 or more players have posted where not allowed.
Proof again that as a community, we can make a difference if we can calmly discuss issues.

 

It seems like staff are scared due to fear of being demoted. If you are scared to moderate because of fear something needs to be changed in the staff rules. As a mod you should never be scared to enforce rules. It's your job and you are doing nothing wrong.