Whats up? - Page 6

Matt_K · 10-19-04, 02:37 PM

Getting tired of being repetative, not of the site.. I have been part of this site for a long time, even before I registered. Only Linds and Shane have been MOD's longer then myself, and I have no intentions of giving up on the SITE now..

Believe it or not, and im serious when I say this.. Of the possible 15 posts i'll move in a day, HALF of them are from members who have been here for over 6 months and have some who have been here for over a year..

However, I will also say that you're likely correct in that the majority of people who post in the wrong forum are here for a quick answer and once they get it, don't come back or don't post again.. But these are the people who will get one warning and not get warned again... I can completely understand making a mistake and posting something in the wrong forum.. I can even understand doing it twice... I can't however, understand doing it a third, fourth and in one case, ten plus times..

None of this does justify getting banned though, I agree with you on this.. And I have also brought it up with the others moderators and we're discussing revising the rules and showing a little more leinency in that aspect..

-Matt

*Edit*

As far as Kevin goes. I have spoken with him via PM and we have made an arrangement that will hopefully see him come back with his orginal user name.. I have never seen him post anything questionable on the site and have always thought he was a productive member who seemed to enjoy being here..

chong_python · 10-19-04, 02:45 PM

Thank-you Matt,
thats all i was looking for

DragnDrop · 10-19-04, 04:51 PM

Why is it so hard to accept that this site has rules which members are expected to adhere to?

I've been online for 9 years and have visited hundreds of forums. Each one of them has rules. Some are so strict it's almost pathetic. As an example, Kingsnake dot com has a policy that's worse than almost any I've seen, You can't cross post there, can't even breathe a word about having something to sell unless it's in the not-at-all-free classifieds. They ban people for having different opinions than the mods. Other forums are so full of flames and profanity that your head spins when you've read a few threads. None of that happens here.... so why is this site so bad for trying to keep it civilized and organized?

Some of you are students - what would happen if you kept your chemistry notes in with your math or your History teacher suddenly decided to teach art instead? You'd be lost, wasting time and just give up. If you're working you have to do your job at your desk or work station, you can't suddenly decide to do it in the VP's office. It's not because the VP doesn't like you working at his desk, drinking the coffee his secretary brought for him. The rules say you work 'over there'. Sweet and simple. Your hometown has rules. Your province or state has rules. Life if full of rules, and we have to live with and by them.

If you buy a new game, do you read the rules first and play by them, or do you just randomly throw the dice and move your game pieces as you see fit? Your friends will point out the rules if you try to cheat, but eventually if you don't smarten up, they won't play the game with you anymore. Why is it so hard to apply that to the fourm and accept that there are rules here too?

In case it wasn't common knowledge before this thread, most people know by now that being banned isn't final. Many members have come back. They're contributing as if nothing happened, and won't be hassled unless they break the rules again. Being banned isn't guaranteed permanent, it's more like a time-out. If you don't want to miss out on the fun here, then play nice.

I've had no qualms about recommending this site to young herpers because I know there's nothing going on here that their parents don't want them to see or read. I can recommend this site to anyone to find info - I know a search of the proper forum will return hits since everything is in it's place here. If things were scattered all over the site willy-nilly, nobody would find anything without a lot of time and luck. The reason it works is because the rules were enforced. Simple, isn't it?

It all boils down to the same thing no matter which forum you frequent, where you live or what you do in life .... If you don't like the consequences, don't break the rules. If you don't like the rules, find a different playground.

Siretsap · 10-19-04, 05:39 PM

With 6 pages, I think the mods could see there needs to be some changes in the way they put the warnings and bans.

So what if you move 15 posts a day, YOU are the mods, it comes with the title. There are no easy jobs. All you need to do is use logic when you ban someone. Banning this guy wasn't thought out at all. Banning people who bash on others or simply spam all over the place is fine by me.

If you are not ready to put the time, effort and think out your actions before you do them, then maybe you should have someone else do it for you.

I do not want to seem like I am criticising the mods, because in fact, I do find that they did do their work in the past months and changed quite a few things. I really do not see as much bashing and I also noticed the spammers with their turtles for sale and all, but they were gone a half hour later.

And it is also your responsibility as a member to read your pm's when you get them and know why you got a warning and if you still don't understand it, then ask the mods what they warned you for.

Brent Strande · 10-19-04, 06:02 PM

It looks as if everything that could've been said has been.

Hilde, GREAT POST!!! Very eloquent and effective!

Kevin, I think that you're a great guy, and agree that you most likely shouldn't be banned permanently, but perhaps a temporary ban is in order as the rules were broken. Nobody can argue with that.

Good luck with whatever you and Matt K worked out, it'd be great to see you back posting (just be sure to make sure where exactly you're posting! LOL)

To everyone who's complaining, realize that with over 6,000 members, it IS a daunting task to look at every incident case by case. Perhaps it wasn't the best move to ban Kevin McRae, but how do you determine which usernames should and shouldn't be banned without SET RULES?

I like that the mods may be looking into this, as I feel that posting in the wrong forum is very different from spamming each and every forum. Perhaps the rules could even stay, but there could be a policy or procedure in order for someone to dispute their ban... for example, they could explain their actions and explain why they should remain a part of this community and how they could be an effective and useful contributor.

Matt_K · 10-19-04, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Siretsap
So what if you move 15 posts a day, YOU are the mods, it comes with the title. There are no easy jobs. All you need to do is use logic when you ban someone. Banning this guy wasn't thought out at all. Banning people who bash on others or simply spam all over the place is fine by me.

So with the rules CLEARLY stated, there's no reason they should be broken.. There is also no reason that we should have to hold the hand of members and CONSTANTLY point them in the right direction..

As I stated, im not complaining that I move that many posts in a day.. You'd also be hard pressed to find a member that I have warned for posting in the wrong forum..

By logic, do you mean we shouldn't follow the rules that all the mods agree'd to?? The Ban was infact thought out, we ALL agree'd that people would be banned after they recieve their third strike.. Kevin got his three strikes, he got two prior warnings and decided to ignore them, he's admitted to that, we have also admitted that maybe the reason he was banned for is a little harsh, so why beat a dead horse??

This whole thread is becoming extremely repetative..

Siretsap · 10-19-04, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt_K
So with the rules CLEARLY stated, there's no reason they should be broken.. There is also no reason that we should have to hold the hand of members and CONSTANTLY point them in the right direction..

No threads of mature content.

No profanity or racism allowed in threads.

No political or religious discussion.

No personal messages. ie. 'so and so, empty your PM box.'

No cross-posting (posting threads in two or more forums).

No advertising of animals or objects for sale/trade.

No advertising of other forums (spam).

No abusive/threatening/disrespectful language towards to moderators (we are just doing our job), or other members.

No "naming names". This is not the C/BOI, please refrain from mentioning individuals or business names in negative light.

These are the rules in the elaphe guttata guttata.
Can you tell me where you see in those rules that it mentions you cannot talk about a dog in here? I know we have to use our common sense, but you said they were CLEARLY stated. But nevermind this, I can totally agree that it gets annoying to see posts of dogs or cats in other forums and vice versa. What I think we are trying to say is that the ban wasn't appropriate for the situation.

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt_K
By logic, do you mean we shouldn't follow the rules that all the mods agree'd to?? The Ban was infact thought out, we ALL agree'd that people would be banned after they recieve their third strike.. Kevin got his three strikes, he got two prior warnings and decided to ignore them, he's admitted to that, we have also admitted that maybe the reason he was banned for is a little harsh, so why beat a dead horse??

When you say thought out, do you mean all you mods talked together and decided to ban this guy? or simply a few months ago established the 3 strike thing and decided to apply it to the letter? Cause if you all talked together and decided to ban him for asking for a dog on the general forum, then I do think it wasn't thought out accordingly. I never said you shouln't follow the rules that all the mods agreed to, but bend them a little ;-) He admitted to knowing of one strike. but not of the 2 others and why he was banned. I think there would have been some other members banned before this one.

Also, when a mod gives a strike, does he check with the other mods to see if it is a valuable strike or not? If not, then there must be some criterias that make someone elligible for a strike, it would be good to know those.

But all in all, I think you guys did a good thing by letting him come back shows we are only human afterall and I am pretty sure he will not post in the wrong forum anymore.

Matt_K · 10-19-04, 06:55 PM

Actually.. THIS is what is sent to people when they post in the wrong forum and we move their thread..

Quote:

Not sure where exactly to post your thread? Here's a more detailed description of the forums to help you find out where it fits

General Discussion Forum
This is reserved for threads that do not fit into any of the designated forums.

Front Page Polls Forum
This is where you can post a poll if you want it to appear on the sSnakeSs.com homepage.

Feeder Forum
This is reserved for threads pertaining to the feeder (crickets, roaches, rats, mice, rabbits, fish, etc), such as raising them, etc., not to the animal that is eating them.

Enclosure Creation Forums
General Enclosure: This is for posts related to constructing enclosures. Naturalistic Vivaria (Plant) Forum: This is for threads pertaining to creating or maintaining a naturalistic setup and the plants/soils in them. Enclosure/Reptile Room Showcase: This is where you can show off your enclosures or reptile room!

Classified Forums
These are self-explanatory. Lizards for sale, go in the For Sale: Lizard Forum, wanted ads go in the Wanted Forums, etc. Snake ads do not go in Lizard Forums, etc. Please refer to the rules for these forums. The "Other" Forum is designated for supplies, exotics, amphibians, invertabrates, etc. NO domestics or other non-herp related items please. Classified ads go in the Classified Forums, not species-specific forums, General Forums, etc.

General Species Forums
These include the General Python Forum, the General Boa Forum, General Colubrid Forum, General Venomous Forum, General Lizard Forum, General Amphibian Forum, General Invertabrates Forum, General Fish, General Turtle/Tortoise, and General Crocodilian Forum. These forums are for threads that are of mixed content (more than one species of specified family), for threads that are general in nature - pertaining to more than one species of said family, for threads pertaining to animals that do not already have designated forums.

Species-Specific Forums
These include, but are not limited to, such forums as the Boa Constrictor Forum, Morelia Spilota Forum, Giant Python Forum, Elaphe Guttata Guttata Forum, etc etc. These are for threads pertaining to said species, these threads do not go in the General (Family) Forums, or the General Discussion Forum.

That was taken from

HERE

Also, we have a guidline's that we follow when it comes to warning members and when it comes to banning them... So yes, it was thought out..

As for the ban not being appropriate.. I think I have agree'd with that 5 times now..

Matt_K · 10-19-04, 06:57 PM

And here is a copy of the General Discussion rules... Posted at the top of this forum.. In plain, clear view for all to see..

Quote:

Ignorance is no excuse! Failure to make an effort to understand and adhere to the rules will result in a ban. A maximum of 3 strikes will be tolerated (3 for minor offenses, as little as 1 for more severe).

No threads of mature content.

No profanity or racism allowed in threads.

No political or religious discussion.

No personal messages. ie. 'so and so, empty your PM box.'

No cross-posting (posting threads in two or more forums).

No advertising of animals or objects for sale/trade.

No advertising of other forums (spam).

No abusive/threatening/disrespectful language towards to moderators (we are just doing our job), or other members.

No "naming names". This is not the C/BOI, please refrain from mentioning individuals or business names in negative light.

The above rules also apply to the other forums on this site. The below applies to this forum, or any other general forum if there is a corresponding forum for the species/subspecies in question.

No species-specific threads in this forum (if there is another suitable forum on this site for your thread, use it!). If you are not sure where to put it, check out this thread.

Much like the one you posted, but notice the last point...

-Matt

Siretsap · 10-19-04, 07:24 PM

Ok, but on the elaphe one it isn't there. I was just checking the posts and took it off there, tought they would all be the same rules.

by the way, what is your avatar? was that the school show in the 80's with travolta?