[AKosygin]

Given light to recent events, I feel that this is a good reminder of the rules of the site. Particularly, I want to bring to everyone's attention in regards to rule #10, on the subject of appeals:

10. Appeals.

You may appeal any actions or decisions (bans, deletes, etc.), made by a moderator or administrator, first to the moderator or administrator that made the action or decision. If you are unsatisfied with their decision, you may appeal to a mod/admin immediately superior to the mod/admin you appealed to until you reached the top administrators. You last and final appeal lies with the top administrator: PiNG. A moderator's or administrator's decision stands until it is "overturned" after an appeal.

However, if you are banned and are unable to contact any admin, you may directly contact an Administrator at their e-mail address. (Please note, jumping directly to PiNG for an appeal will result in your last appeal.)

Current Order of appeals from lowest to highest:
1.) Moderator
2.) Super Moderator
3.) Administrator
4.) PiNG

For a detailed list of hierarchy, click here
NOTE: If a Super Moderator performed the banning action, don't go to a mod, they can't do anything, go up the chain of command, not down. Likewise with an Administrator, don't go to mod or super mod.

As such, if you have a problem with any moderator or administrator, take it to PM, that is what it is for. Posting a rant will not contribute to solve an issue and will only serve to disrupt other discussions.

Thank you for your cooperation,
AKosygin
FFXIOnline.com Moderation and Administration Team

[eticket109]

The 'event' in question has only occurred to such a degree once as long as I've been here. Besides, it's over now. We all dropped it a while ago. No one is bringing it up anymore. Maybe it's time to just let it go.

[little ninja]

Mods are suppose to respond to complaints. I call bull poop on that one.

[IfritnoItazura]

Originally Posted by AKosygin

As such, if you have a problem with any moderator or administrator, take it to PM, that is what it is for. Posting a rant will not contribute to solve an issue and will only serve to disrupt other discussions.

The rule does not specify PM as the only acceptable form of "appeal". In particular, I personally see nothing wrong with clicking "Report Post" icon--I trust that'd make any comments available to all with moderator or higher privileges, so any trouble with one moderator/admin can be discussed by all moderator/admins that way.

Saves the trouble of figuring out which person would give one the mostly sympathetic ear, to boot.

Also, some issues should have public airing, which (once in a blue moon) do include decisions and actions by moderators and administrators. The moderators or administrators do not have the sole discretion for determining of which incidents may be public and which should stay within the enclaves "moderator-and-above-only" sub-forums.

From time to time, the whole of forum community should have a say--and will--unless the community is destroyed.

[little ninja]

Report a post doesn't work either. You will have 4 mods who will tell people to keep it nice and the 5th one will have been given wedgies all day and sign on to take it out on whomever.

[Taskmage]

Originally Posted by little ninja

Report a post doesn't work either. You will have 4 mods who will tell people to keep it nice and the 5th one will have been given wedgies all day and sign on to take it out on whomever.

hi2u

[Brielle]

You need to have a little more faith in a site's administration. I used to head an administrative team for a Final Fantasy forum, and people just assume we walk around with a rather large chip on our shoulder.

The idea that goes behind posting something like, "Keep it nice." or "Keep it clean." is to make our presence known to the general members without creating unnecessary dramatics. Sometimes people forget that moderators, super moderators, etc. are both members and administration. Generally we do not like banning people, because it can create more problems down the road.

Personally, it is nice that he did post this to clear up any confusion someone may have regarding the proper procedure when contacting members of administration. Unless you are being blatantly wronged, I would let them try and run things in the most efficient way they see fit.

This now concludes my nostalgia for the day.

[Telera]

I've run/modded/smodded forums too, and all but forbidding any public airing of grievances is a shit way to run a site, in my experience.

It leads to more mistrust than blind trust that they are doing exactly as they should. Whether they're doing a good job or not, if every event is kept hush-hush, people start to get leery.

Now, granted, I agree that most grievances should be taken private, to PMs or IMs. But something on the scale of the 'major event' honestly deserved a public airing to let everyone get some concerns and worries off their chests. If large events aren't very common, I see no problem in it triggering a public concern thread. It's human nature. And by airing our concerns, we are often able to feel somewhat more at ease, at least knowing that someone heard us, even if they don't necessarily act on what they heard.

[eticket109]

Originally Posted by Brielle

You need to have a little more faith in a site's administration. I used to head an administrative team for a Final Fantasy forum, and people just assume we walk around with a rather large chip on our shoulder.

The idea that goes behind posting something like, "Keep it nice." or "Keep it clean." is to make our presence known to the general members without creating unnecessary dramatics. Sometimes people forget that moderators, super moderators, etc. are both members and administration. Generally we do not like banning people, because it can create more problems down the road.

Personally, it is nice that he did post this to clear up any confusion someone may have regarding the proper procedure when contacting members of administration. Unless you are being blatantly wronged, I would let them try and run things in the most efficient way they see fit.

This now concludes my nostalgia for the day.

Except you really have no idea what led to this post do you?

[Murphie]

The thing is, things have been conducted via PMs. But when that doesn't get you anywhere, sometimes it's necessary to take it public. The event (singular, not plural) that AKO is referring to here was hardly worth the sturm and drang it caused. It could have been easily sorted out via PMs if not for his stubborn and dismissive attitude.

And seriously, the only one still talking about it is him. Maybe he should just let it go.

[Kitalrez]

Looking over the site rules, I'm struck by the blatant disregard for tradition and continuity in board rules. I'm speaking about:

6. NO SPAMing!

SPAM stands for Senseless Pointless Annoying Messages. Please ensure that your posts are on topic of the forum indicated. Massive amounts of messages that do not pertain to the subject and are designed to annoy other board visitors maliciously, with intent to disrupt activites on the board, shall be grounds for immediate ban from these boards without warning. Warnings are given as a courtesy and are not required for any moderators or administrators to ban a member for SPAM. We have been spammed way too many times, and it has caused endless trouble, so we have to be quite firm and "Nazi" about it.

Clearly, this rule has not been drafted with either of these things in mind. This should be rule 7, as it is on any regular, well governed board. Rule 6 is in all cases: There is no~ rule 6! Please correct this error.

[Icemage]

^ Rule 6 is what we use to banhammer RMT and porn spammers.


Icemage

[Kitalrez]

Ok, I'm looking back through the archives to try and figure out what prompted this. Seriously, is this all about the April Fools Day joke? Are we really still on that? C'mon people, it wasn't that funny in the first place, the FFXI is getting cancelled thread goes up every April Fools Day. Can't believe people are still bent out of shape over that.

[Murphie]

Close, but not exactly. Though, agreed. Old news. Certainly not front page news.

[eticket109]

Originally Posted by Kitalrez

it wasn't that funny in the first place, the FFXI is getting cancelled thread goes up every April Fools Day.

This actually came out of the 'new MMO' sneak peek pics that Starving Artist created and posted up on Alla. The 'FFXI is getting canceled' release that was posted from the Wiki was mostly ignored.