strong points,Walter,and I agree with everything,but the pay for it part.Moderators need to be unbiased,and cannot let personal feelings guide their judgement on moderation.This is exactly the case with princess purple moderation team.

I see little wrong with swear words, in and of themselves. It's the context of their use that can deem them profane or appropriate. I rarely use them while talking, and even less when writing. To me they're generally used by people that have feeble minds and say them because of a limited vocabulary. Especially those people that use them in every sentence. They just don't get it. The words completely lose any possible impact they might have and just become filler.
The best cussing and swearing that I've seen is the kind where not one swear word is used. It's become a lost art, but when you come up against someone that knows this kind of talking you can be amazed at the words that spew forth with nary a bad word amongst them.
I side with grenv on this. No filters, besides ain't that what the moderators are for?

As for moderators being too arbitrary and capricious, we do need a mechanism for helping their removal and replacement. If more than a few complain about a moderator as some of you have been doing on this board about the Music board, it certainly must take some looking into. You know that's right Fencer, or you wouldn't have installed me as moderator of the Gothic Chess board. You have the power to do it, but not the time or resources to police each board and still run this site.
Perhaps some sort of polling device, or a complaints registry. We all know if you do a good job, no one will say anything. But screw up just once, and they're on you like flies on fecal matter. This is certainly the case for baseball umpires! :) If they do a good job, you don't remember them. One bad call, and that's the main topic of discussion after the game most of the time.

The other thing is sharing the job, or letting others do it after you've served for awhile as moderator. As has been proven through the course of history, power is rarely ceded or given up freely. No matter how bad a leader is, it usually takes a very bad one before the masses will rise up to do something about it. Even something as inconsequential as being a moderator in an obscure message board of a game site seems to bring out the worst in a good percentage of people. They get a little power, and it goes right to their heads.

Suppose I want to moderate a board, and the current occupant doesn't want to step down or share it. What can I do? Are we in for life, or do newcomers have any rights? How do others complain when they think a moderator is overstepping their authority? They obviously need a public forum. Looks like posting to a different board trying to drum up support is their best option. That's why people have been posting here Fencer. Same thing as to the Gothic Chess board. CothicInventor's one major mistake, and obviously the people in the Music board haven't made it yet, was to make Fencer mad. Oops!

You created the other boards Fencer. Why, I don't know, but they're here. They have nothing to do with games, but people use them. Now the monster is getting a life of its own and will take over your site if you're not ever vigilant. Short of just deleting the non-game related boards, you're going to have to come up with a solution to this soon. Poll a few of the people that care about it, including the ones that people complain about and see if they have any ideas for you. I'd make it easy for a current modrator to advice people of a board that he wanted to step down. Such as a check box at the top of the page. As for someone the wants the job, or wants a new moderator but not themselves inhis place, you need to have a way to change them or atleast let the challenger compete for the job. Perhaps he shouldn't take over as the present person is doing a good job for the rest of the people of the board. I'm not going to suggest an election or something of the sort, but you can think of something. If any of the boards are really that important to someone, let him pay for the position. A challenger could outbid him for the job. Negative comments could also be factored in. Hey, a free market for moderators! :) Such a system could work for the people that get mad at a moderator. They could pool their money by all chipping in a few bucks each and buy it out from under him since it would cost too much for himself to maintain. Most of the boards will remain as they are. Forums for like minded people.

2¢

I think censorship is stupid, my kids are no worse for having heard or seen swear words. In fact I show them that they are silly words instead of words to be feared. They seem to be still able to play and laugh freely. Amazing.

I was given none when accepting Stories. Except for LJ's opinion, how am I doing?

the biggest liar may never swear,and the most honest of people may talk like a sailor,
I see no reason for Fencer to pull himself away from playing games to appy a censor filter.What he needs to do is solve the many bugs that are occurring and remove the moderating team of the purple princess.

Yes there are times and places.. there are some young children who play on this site.. they dont need to be seeing the words..
Yes they probably here them amongst friends and family... but here we should be showing them respect and not letting them see them..
This is a family site..

And thanks steve for the suggestion.. yes we will still know what the words are.. but at least it will look better untill it can be removed!

UGhaibu:
I get the feeling they all know that you and I are not frightened of the words LOL
But, theres times and places I guess

Shall we burn a few books then? Being frightened of words seems particularly inappropriate for the information age.

sure, but if someone adds dots or asterix because the real word cant be done,it is better than having the proper word show up until a moderator gets on etc

I dont think its a waste of time at all, and I am sure there are many others that would agree

SakisP: Fencer has been provided with the information regarding the three tavli games.

In the meantime I know of a good site that plays all three - portes, fevga and plakato. PM me if you're interested.

Especially you, Stevie, should know that any word censor filter can be bypassed by replacing certain letters with dots, asterisks etc. :-) Even the best algorhithm can be overridden, each anti-spam software developer will confirm it. It's not worth wasting my time.

Yes, it can be done in the future.

Maybe an automatic word censor filter would be a good idea.
I have one set up on my site that if someone swears, it automatically changes the word/s to a preset replacement. This could also just delete or replace with ***** etc.

How about creating the two remaining versions of Greek backgammon? I refer to Plakoto and Fevga, as described at http://www.bkgm.com/rgb/rgb.cgi?view+344

How about in Amazons, when you shot an arrow, the whole square turns solid black. I think that would make it easier to see the positions on the board.

All time move leader would be intersting. Of course no new person would not be able to get on the list (very easly) - but how about this:

1) All time move leader
2) 2003 Move leader
3) 2004 move leader

.. That way a new user might make it on the 2004 list, and would be ready to make it on the 2005 list also!

how about both? Average MPD and all-time move leaders.

how about a list of "average moves per day"
This would give new members as much chance as old members.

BBW, I agree with number one, but the user agreement gives guidelines as to what moderators should do in case of an offense.
As for agreements between what is and isn't an offense, and how people 'run' the board they moderate, well even among other moderators that could be discussed until the cows come home with no satisfactory agreement at the end. As long as Fencer is happy with the way the board is moderated, its ok in my eyes. If he isn't, he'll change it. I don't always agree with everything he does, but I do respect that its his site, and he has the final say in every decision. Despite what people think, he makes his own mind up. His friends won't change that, and nor will any outcry from a group of people.

BBW: Why don't you try to create a fellowship for this purpose, then invite the moderators of the public boards to join.

As for the moderators of the public boards...Since the boards ARE public, the moderators need to have high standards. Which some definately do. However, there are some that have been "Problems" on this site. It gives a bad impression for the problem members to be given this authority on BrainKing.

Well if a board was made for the Moderators only (Like the "Members Only" board), then hopefully the Moderators of the public board can talk through and get some good guidlines to follow for all the board - that way the rules are the same everywhere.

Take me for example - I watch over all the Gammon board, the Battleboat boards, and the Amazons board. I told Fencer I would help watch the boards, and that is what I do. But other then knowing that a person is not suppose to use "bad words", there were really no rules or guidlines for me to follow.

What I follow is that I usually let some talk pass (It's a game site - people are suppose to have fun) - In all my times, I have deleted 1 post (forget why now), and I have edited 1 post for take out a bad word. But if other moderators where around, some might have ignored those 2 post, some might have deleted both and more, and yet others might have banned or hid others.

I just think some "overall" guidlines would help a lot.

BBW that's a very good idea! It would help the site IMO but Fencer has said the DB's are not a priority.

I think last time Harley was number 1. Heck the scary part is I was number 10 lol

O'yea... this is a game site - I keep forgetting that!

Moderators - I have requested this in the past, but I think a couple things really need to happen with the Moderators on these boards.

1) A special "Moderator" board should be set up so all the Moderators of the public boards can discuss how (and who) things should be moderated.

2) From that, I believe there should be some rules & guidelines that the Moderators follow when the moderate a public board.

As of now, Moderators are just given a board and they do whatever they want (Some very strict, some not as strict, so not strict enough). Maybe if we Moderators can get together (along with Fencer), we can come up with some overall guidlines for all the public boards on this site.

As it is now, rules in one public board is totally different then anotehr public board - and I think we need to get something guidelines for all Moderators to follow.

Stats I would like to see:
1) Most post (of all time) made by a person

so I guess you really havent seen "all" the posts? not tryin to gave you any static,harley...but the current moderators are using their position to "get even" so to speak,and this violates my paid membership rights,as I am unjustifiably refused full V.I.P. services.*edited...thought you said you have read....my bad :)*

Sorry bwild, I didn't see the post.

It's just for information purposes. Who cares who's at the top?

True

Backoff: But it would be virtually impossible for new users to reach the top of such list.

Harley and Builder Q, you are both missing what I'm asking for. I would like to see a list with the TOTAL number of moves made by person from the day they started on the site. Not the highest number in one day and not the total from yesterday. Understand now?

I.E. Backoff=197,647 or something like that.

so harley,my response to a post by the moderator,which was neither abusive or off topic...qualified me for being banned?

harls, I think you know what a joke the music board has become without trying to defend it.

LongJohn, with all due respect, five people isn't unanimous. I haven't read the posts at the music board that have been moderated, but if they weren't about music, then its quite right they were deleted. Regardless of who the moderator is, its still a music board.

No changes like that are made instantly.
And issues related to the real purpose of this site [playing games] have always higher priority.
Try to be patient, please. Keeping the site up and running is more important than solving a problem with one discussion board.

Fencer, seems a little unanimous.
We are just asking for a change in moderator to stop this idiocy at the moment.
Thanks Filip

5th

I 4th!

I third...

I second the motion LJ. There wasn't a problem with the Music DB while David was moderating and he was MIA for almost 6 months!!!

over my top 10 ranks is...... 7.9 :o)
Im happy with that.
I reckon thats a good enough amount of info to include. Just average over top 10 established bkr

Remove Kam/Bill from moderating the Music Board.
This is absolutely ridiculous having to wait for your post to be approved on a PUBLIC board such as that.
There was never any problems on that board until Bill started with his drivel.

Fencer, please return normality and pick a decent moderator for that board.
Thanks

I forgot about that!

Look at this page

It wouldn't worry the server. Maybe the developer though. :)

Not that I'm against the idea! I'd love to see that! I just think it might be a strain on the server?

But the lists are updated, and it must take a lot more to update a moves list than a completed games list? Wouldn't it?

To get to the other side of the street without getting hit.

What's a squirrel function?

Na it's just another SQL fuction, just like the other 4 tables list there. See how's he has total number of games played on the finished games page? I'm just asking for total number of moves made.

Oops, my mistake! That would take some working out for the server though, especially for updates!