Cleaning Up The Community

[_neutrino Veteran]

Excellent!

[neufuse Veteran]

I think the "nazi mod" name callers were the ones themselves causing problems.... bring on heavy moderation... sometimes its impossible to talk on the forums anymore because of a select few that make their opinnions the only opinnion.... and it ruins the community... I haven't said much besides small comments in the past year or so just because no mater what you say someone calls you out... even if it was your own opinnion

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

^ @ DM.

While this isn't a topic to moan about who got warns for what, I've already posted my sensible reply here, I got into a bit of trouble with codecs before as well.

I posted a link to QT Alternative, as detailed here, not allowed, but the point there is I think people who become mods need to know the community well. I'm not a regular in the software hangout, it was an honest mistake, the link just had to be moved, myself pointed to the rules above and that would be the end of that, I'd never post it again. Codecs are a hard concept to wrap your head around at times, many times people just see them as things that makes movie files play, all the litigation of licenses and everything else isn't as clear as day as say posting a keygen, or cracked copy of something.

I did however receive a 20% increase, and even the Supervisors agreed it was deserved. At the end of the day, like my honest reply to this post I made on the last page, we're guests to this community and I did break a rule, I just thought due to the nature of it, me not being a software hangout regular, and something as easily snipped in a link as QT/Alternative it was worth more than a slap in the wrist than a 20% increase.

Everything else I have though is truly deserved for irrational behaviour in the GH, and it could've been worse I can't thank DL enough for having confidence in me, I think I am changing into a more positive member asides from a blip here and there, but a lot of that is to do with personal offsite issues improving, again though I can't look for Neowin to change it's rules based on them if I'm unfit to be on here, I shouldn't be on here, end of.

Edited January 4, 2010 by Audioboxer

[Growled Member]

I am aware of who they are talking about, a lot of people think he is Comic Book Guy, but the fact is if the mods really thought that Cy-Kill was him, I am sure he would have been banned by now.

I personally think these kinds of discussions about other members should not be allowed on this board.

[neufuse Veteran]

^ @ DM.

While this isn't a topic to moan about who got warns for what, I've already posted my sensible reply here, I got into a bit of trouble with codecs before as well.

I posted a link to QT Alternative, as detailed here, not allowed, but the point there is I think people who become mods need to know the community well. I'm not a regular in the software hangout, it was an honest mistake, the link just had to be moved, myself pointed to the rules above and that would be the end of that, I'd never post it again. Codecs are a hard concept to wrap your head around at times, many times people just seem them as things that makes movie files play, all the litigation of licenses and everything else isn't as clear as day as say posting a keygen, or cracked copy of something.

I did however receive a 20% increase, and even the Supervisors agreed it was deserved. At the end of the day, like my honest reply to this post I made on the last page, we're guests to this community and I did break a rule, I just thought due to the nature of it, me not being a software hangout regular, and something as easily snipped in a link as QT/Alternative it was worth more than a slap in the wrist than a 20% increase.

Everything else I have though is truly deserved for irrational behaviour in the GH, and it could've been worse I can't thank DL enough for having confidence in me, I think I am changing into a more positive member asides from a blip here and there, but a lot of that is to do with personal offsite issues improving, again though I can't look for Neowin to change it's rules based on them if I'm unfit to be on here, I shouldn't be on here, end of.

QT Alternative? Isn't there one built into windows 7 now?

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

QT Alternative? Isn't there one built into windows 7 now?

I don't think so.

QT is a proprietary Apple codec/applicaion, QT Alternative is a privately compiled build of it removing the need for half the junk Apple make you install like iTunes/Apple updaters and everything else.

Problem is, that sort of reverse engineering of a proprietary codec is deemed "illegal" even if you can easily find links to QT Alternative all over the web, it's banned here in the rules.

[Fred Derf Veteran]

It should be pointed out that members with a 100% warning level are given greater scrutiny and relatively little leeway relative to members who are still at 0% (or 20% or whatever). Call it warning level profiling if you like but it shouldn't be surprising to anyone.

[neufuse Veteran]

I don't think so.

QT is a proprietary Apple codec/applicaion, QT Alternative is a privately compiled build of it removing the need for half the junk Apple make you install like iTunes/Apple updaters and everything else.

Problem is, that sort of reverse engineering of a proprietary codec is deemed "illegal" even if you can easily find links to QT Alternative all over the web, it's banned here in the rules.

I could of sworn Windows 7 added native QT codec support for WMP

Edited January 4, 2010 by DaveLegg

[Veedems Veteran]

QT Alternative? Isn't there one built into windows 7 now?

Windows 7 includes it's own h.264 decoder, yes, but I don't think it will decode other forms of .mov files.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

It should be pointed out that members with a 100% warning level are given greater scrutiny and relatively little leeway relative to members who are still at 0% (or 20% or whatever). Call it warning level profiling if you like but it shouldn't be surprising to anyone.

This is indeed true, and I do agree with it, but the only thing I'd like to point out is the length of time it takes for a warning level to drop is a considerable amount of time in relevance to how a person can change.

I think it should also be considered where said person has committed most of the offences, as while warning level profiling has to be taken into account, someone trying to honestly help a member in a forum they don't usually visit and making a genuine mistake is no different than any member doing that regardless of warning level. However me going all off the tracks in the GH again, mods can see that's where most of my offences are and that's when it's "fairer" to look at warning levelling profiling. Just giving an opinion, that's all.

I could of sworn Windows 7 added native QT codec support for WMP

It added support for H264, but not whatever the containers/some of the codecs QT deals with. That is Apple proprietary which is why it's "illegal" to reverse engineer and release your own builds if you want to call them that.

[Sethos]

If you're cleaning up than I suggest start by talking to Frogboy. He banned me for not agreeing with his views. He abuses his admin privilege. Dude has some issues. Read the entire thread.

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?show...umin8x&st=0

What would be typical of me would be to ban your account for being an ass.

WTF ?

[Veedems Veteran]

You can complain about Frogboy all you want, but nothing's going to change. It's best just to ignore some things and pay attention to other aspects of the site that actually interest you.

[Vice]

I have to admit when I first saw Frogboys comments it made me dislike stardocks involvement with Neowin even more. He doesn't understand why Neowin dislikes Stardock but he threatens members with bannings.

[neufuse Veteran]

I have to admit when I first saw Frogboys comments it made me dislike stardocks involvement with Neowin even more. He doesn't understand why Neowin dislikes Stardock but he threatens members with bannings.

Sites like this need a partner like Stardock... it does cost a lot of money to run a site of this size

[Vice]

So because he provides the money its okay to ban anyone he doesn't like? That doesn't wash with me sorry.

[neufuse Veteran]

So because he provides the money its okay to ban anyone he doesn't like? That doesn't wash with me sorry.

Co-owner gives you the ability to do as you please, if you owned your own company, you'd do as you pleased also, there will always be someone who disagrees with your actions... right or wrong be it that they are

I don't know what the owner percentages are, I'd assume Neobond has the majority, but Frogboy has a big say in it too I'd assume since there is what three owners in total?

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Everyone is human, everyone has off days, would you guys want mods to have warning ratings as well? As that's the only fair way I could see it work. They're not robots, people under stress and scrutiny from members from all angles, parts of the world, different beliefs, different personalities is some weight on your shoulders to act neutral. Which again is why I point to the hierarchy of command. Even if it's an admin you have an issue with go to a Supervisor, the may be slightly below an admin, of course, but they're still another person to talk to of a high rank.

Quite frankly while the first action to seeing a mod publicly lose the rag a little is to get the gasoline and torch, it's a little unfair. Repeat offence though may show they may not be able to handle the job and not everyone can.

Remember mods are typically just members who are promoted. They're not all parcelled in from factories with years of experience.

[Diabolii]

yep

Frogboy banned a friend of mine off the Demigod forums just for pointing out that theyve done a horrible job with the game and abandoned it.

then banned him here because he said no one should buy the crappy game that cant even compare to free games.

The guys on a power trip and he anyone who disagrees with him he handles with a banhammer, he had a vendetta against my friend for sure since the guy was 100% correct about stardocks lying to its customers.

the guy seriously needs to get some people skills, all hes here to do is spread PR for stardock and censor things against them...

Everyone is human, everyone has off days, would you guys want mods to have warning ratings as well? As that's the only fair way I could see it work. They're not robots, people under stress and scrutiny from members from all angles, parts of the world, different beliefs, different personalities is some weight on your shoulders to act neutral. Which again is why I point to the hierarchy of command. Even if it's an admin you have an issue with go to a Supervisor, the may be slightly below an admin, of course, but they're still another person to talk to of a high rank.

Quite frankly while the first action to seeing a mod publicly lose the rag a little is to get the gasoline and torch, it's a little unfair. Repeat offence though may show they may not be able to handle the job and not everyone can.

Remember mods are typically just members who are promoted. They're not all parcelled in from factories with years of experience.

wasnt an off day, hes always this unstable

[Dark_ph0enix]

Well my Warning level is at 0% so I guess I'm OK - however, and I think this has been touched on by others, there are some inconsistencies when it comes to the rules on Copyright material - I got a 20% Warning about 9 Months ago, for a throw away reference to downloading an episode of a certain TV show. Now while I understand that was against the rules, and have made a point not to include such references since when posting, it does seem strange that I've seen Moderators discuss the latest episode of specific shows (for arguments sake Lost), when I know they haven't watched those episodes "legally", as they haven't been screened in their country. The only diference I can see, is that I said "I downloaded via BitTorrent" as opposed to "I watched the latest episode...."

But yeah, other than that, I've never really had any gripes with how the site is run - in fact most of the mods are quite helpful - for example my last siggy was slightly over the recommended size, so I got an email about it, with the link to the thread that contained the guidelines, which was quite helpful.

[Vice]

Co-owner gives you the ability to do as you please, if you owned your own company, you'd do as you pleased also, there will always be someone who disagrees with your actions... right or wrong be it that they are

I don't know what the owner percentages are, I'd assume Neobond has the majority, but Frogboy has a big say in it too I'd assume since there is what three owners in total?

That is great when you are dealing with a business but Neowins only commodity is its community and if you treat it like your own personal farm people start leaving and the quality declines. Which appears to be what has happened as the viewings since 2007 have halved which would indicate the quality of the topics and posts have declined in quality and/or usefulness for the web fairing public who came here from search engines (indicated by Google Trends which shows declining click-through since 2007).

And yes he may be Admin and he may be able to 'do what he wants' but morally he is dealing with a community he doesn't own and he needs to understand that by making such statements people will just leave and then he will have nothing.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Everyone is human, everyone has off days, would you guys want mods to have warning ratings as well? As that's the only fair way I could see it work. They're not robots, people under stress and scrutiny from members from all angles, parts of the world, different beliefs, different personalities is some weight on your shoulders to act neutral. Which again is why I point to the hierarchy of command. Even if it's an admin you have an issue with go to a Supervisor, the may be slightly below an admin, of course, but they're still another person to talk to of a high rank.

Quite frankly while the first action to seeing a mod publicly lose the rag a little is to get the gasoline and torch, it's a little unfair. Repeat offence though may show they may not be able to handle the job and not everyone can.

Remember mods are typically just members who are promoted. They're not all parcelled in from factories with years of experience.

Amen to that. (Y)

(Speaking as a former member of staff who has seen what kind of abuse the moderators get to deal with from certain folks here.)

[neufuse Veteran]

yep

Frogboy banned a friend of mine off the Demigod forums just for pointing out that theyve done a horrible job with the game and abandoned it.

then banned him here because he said no one should buy the crappy game that cant even compare to free games.

The guys on a power trip and he anyone who disagrees with him he handles with a banhammer, he had a vendetta against my friend for sure since the guy was 100% correct about stardocks lying to its customers.

the guy seriously needs to get some people skills, all hes here to do is spread PR for stardock and censor things against them...

wasnt an off day, hes always this unstable

I'm not defending either side here, but I think no one should ever be banned for their opinnion, just like if I was to say I don't like neowin's design (not saying this is my real opinnion!) or something they worked hard on, thats my opinnion and I am entitied to it, I'd offer constructive cirtisim, but I'd sure hope I wouldn't get banned for it

[Fred Derf Veteran]

How about not being given given a double warning for the same offence?

This has happened to me twice.

I think you should be able to log in and read, but not be able to leave comments for the resepctive 40%, 60%, 80% levels.

The one thing that I always hate to see is for somebody to repeat a rule violation. We, as moderators, go out of our way to point out that a certain action is not desired and contrary to the Community Rules (that they probably haven't read). The members gets a 20% warning which, frankly, doesn't mean all that much in itself.

If a member repeats the rule violation then that is just showing contempt for the site. Even under the old moderating guidelines I would have started restricting members who repeat rule violations because now I know that they know that it is against the rules.

Keeping a 0% warning level on Neowin is really not all that difficult:

1. Show some respect to the other members (even if you think they are completely loopy, chances are that other people can see it too without you spelling it out).

2. Don't make it look to other viewers that Neowin supports warez (we don't want that reputation).

Actually that's pretty much it. They only other thing that I can think of is to not push the boundaries of PG-13/work acceptability (but that doesn't come up all that often).

[Diabolii]

I'm not defending either side here, but I think no one should ever be banned for their opinnion, just like if I was to say I don't like neowin's design (not saying this is my real opinnion!) or something they worked hard on, thats my opinnion and I am entitied to it, I'd offer constructive cirtisim, but I'd sure hope I wouldn't get banned for it

i never saw the actual post that got him banned, and i know my friend can be a bit inciteful at times. I do know though that he repeatedly voiced in opinion, and it was a very mutual opinion,that the developers have abandoned the game and put it as a back project. Ive seen one of his posts there where it was pretty well written and he stated his concerns with the game. So im gonna go on a whim here since i know my friend, and i know frogboy is a powertrip.

He basically stated that the game had horrible netcode, slow development, no added features in a year, when free beta's have gottenway more and on release will be 10x more than demigod will ever be. Im guessing Frogboy, not liking the truth, banned him for it, oh and then publically insulted him telling him to get a life. See a trend there. This is why i warn people not to touch anything Stardock, its wasted money on crappy software anyhow. Impulse is useless and will never be popular given that their top sellers are mostly noname games..

[Vice]

The one thing that I always hate to see is for somebody to repeat a rule violation. We, as moderators, go out of our way to point out that a certain action is not desired and contrary to the Community Rules (that they probably haven't read). The members gets a 20% warning which, frankly, doesn't mean all that much in itself.

If a member repeats the rule violation then that is just showing contempt for the site. Even under the old moderating guidelines I would have started restricting members who repeat rule violations because now I know that they know that it is against the rules.

Keeping a 0% warning level on Neowin is really not all that difficult:

1. Show some respect to the other members (even if you think they are completely loopy, chances are that other people can see it too without you spelling it out).

2. Don't make it look to other viewers that Neowin supports warez (we don't want that reputation).

Actually that's pretty much it. They only other thing that I can think of is to not push the boundaries of PG-13/work acceptability (but that doesn't come up all that often).

I think what he actually meant was getting warned twice for 1 thing. Like he did something bad and two different members of staff warned him for it giving him an extra 40% warn for doing only one thing wrong.