Board for everybody who is interested in BrainKing itself, its structure, features and future.
If you experience connection or speed problems with BrainKing, please visit Host Tracker and check "BrainKing.com" accessibility from various sites around the world. It may answer whether an issue is caused by BrainKing itself or your local network (or ISP provider).
Fencer: I agree with Tulip,I dont think you should be able to use programs to play here,thats why I play on these site and dont buy a chess/backgammon game!!
harley: Hmmmm?..Fencer just answered me and says its ok???
im amazed!. and will tone down how many games i play here!...in fact after that i might not bother anymore ;(
can someone tell me if this is allowed here?
my opponant has just told me he's using one and i find this annoying!!
i play against people not a program...
<disgruntled Tulip>
1) My view of the matter was if someone is sincerely wanting resolve, I feel the person that felt they were wronged would raise the issue and not a friend.
2) There are channels to follow when one has a complaint. It is requested that they go through the Globs, if the existing Mod doesn't resolve the issue.
3) This issue was between a Moderator and Globs not a member and a moderator.
4) There are several places that desire this type conversation.
a)The Mod Squad
b)Moderator Complaints
c)Flame room
These 3 places have done a lot to open up undesirable conversations in public and have received noticeable results.
They are VERY open even down to discussing all the gory details.
All Mods do not feel the same on this issue. I hesitate not to discuss any issue that I am up to speed on and it is my feelings if we cannot take the heat for the decision we make then we need to think twice before making one.
I believe if your trying to develop a customer base through good will and offering a friendly place to enjoy and play games, then all of those disagreements, some found to be true but many to be false, that potential customers do not need to think...........Dang, what's going on here? Is this all they do here?
This isn't about us guys. It's about BrainKing and keeping it a first class professionally ran site. Airing dirty laundry in public is not Kosher. Keep it out of the public's eye and resolve it behind closed doors.
Present your case professionally and with facts. Then when you win you will know, it wasn't because of all your friends that you could muster and rile to support you, but because in all honesty you were totally innocent as charged and you now stand vindicated.
To handle it here in public hoping for a human wave of outcry will only let the members see your true intentions.
harley: What is this swamped thing you fear? Is there something wrong with the scroll feature of your computer? Plus, in this case I'm sure the overwhelming majority of people are interested as no one wants to run afoul of the moderators and by reading it here one may learn what to avoid. As for the personal posts, those are what the moderators are supposed to take care, aren't they? All the rest of the posts have a legitimate place if they're on topic or are part of the general conversation. You guys moderate with too heavy of a hand at times and completely stifle things with even a small comment. No one likes taking the time to compose a post only to be rebuked by a moderator that has grown weary of the posts even when the posts in question are on topic. Posting is an almost umlimited resource here and yet you guys would limit it to as little as possible from the way you go about your business at times.
But at the same time Walter, we don't want this board swamped with issues that could (and quite often should) be dealt with either in private or in other places. If every issue was raised here and hashed out over one or two pages, other things would be missed. It would be ok if something was raised, and the reason(s) given were accepted, but quite often people want to dispute them and discuss every point. Then it can get personal and before you know it, there are a few hundred posts of which only a handful are of interest to the majority of members.
Subiectul: Re: Global Moderators and Complaining about the system
bwildman: Well, it would appear that my predicition that I made after being removed as a moderator has come true. And remember, I was removed without ever using a swear word, violating the user agreement, and without warning. Since this conversation is avoiding the particulars involved I had to look at who's moderating the boards that I don't read along with the ones that I do to try and make sense of what it is that you guys are talking about. I notice two moderators that have been replaced. One of whom is being defended here and the other no one apparently misses. I am not going to rehash my arguments that I posted about this system of moderation. As it is set up now, it is personality driven and is the perfect breeding ground for favoritism and corruption even if we have good people holding the Global moderator's positions, which is arguable in itself. It's been over two months since my time and Fencer has never said a word or asked a question of me about it. At least from what I've read here about this lastest incident seems to show that some sort of procedures have now been implemented and the people were at least warned to change their ways.
ClayNashvilleTn: I agree with bwildman and disagree with you. This is the perfect forum to air complaints about how this site is run. It's first and only statement says it quite clearly and as bwildman pointed out Fencer could at any time post something if he wants too.
"Board for everybody who is interested in BrainKing itself, its structure, features and future."
It says everybody and it says structure. What could be more clear than that? Your suggestion to join some fellowship won't work for me and bwildman states one of the numerous reasons that it won't. Hiding it in some obscure fellowship that only some members have access to is just sweeping it under the rug.
Andre Faria: You're the reason I was hidden for ahwile, not the reason I was banned. LOL Okay harley I'm done with this, and thanks for taking the time to listen to me privately.
bwildman: Uniformity is not possible. I agree mods don't all opperate by the same standards or use the same exact proceedures but to think they all would is to ignore the "human factor". They aren't computers. I was put on hide, then let back in, then banned without an explaination. I found a mod who might help me understand what happened and she told me what I wanted to know. It turns out I was banned for the same post I'd been hidden for previously. I posted a PM from someone who was taunting me privately for baiting he was doing publically and I posted his PM on the general chat board. At least now I know why I was hidden and then subsequently banned. I won't ask to get back on because I know who the mod was (no, it not's you hannalore) who has something personal against me. It could happen again, and without warning, so I figure why bother. Anyone who thinks life is supposed to be fair hasn't lived for many years. You have to factor who you're dealing with in anything you do. That's the way it is. No hard feelings or anything, I just like knowing where I stand and that's good enough for me.
Jules :It isn't over the one issue. It isn't over 10 issues. It is over his constant inability to abide by the rules in the user agreement.
How can a Mod, any Mod, Moderate members for violating a rule in the user agreement and then turn around and violate the very same user agreement because he is a Mod and "some" of his friends that think he can ignore the violations because he is a Mod and the Code of Honor, for Mods is a joke?
Members reading all this are sitting there, wondering, why should Mods not be Moderated?
Some Mods ignored the "Moderator Complaints f/s", because they apparently felt they had no need to answer to the Membership.
Take the time to go there and read all the stuff people said about him.
I say the Members have been rescued and will applaud the decision while "some" of his friends are understandably upset.
Stevie said it was OK to talk about his situation, so here it is. Normally, we would not talk about details about someone, but in this case permission was given.
The issues with Stevie as a moderator has been under review for awhile.
Mostly it has to do with language on many boards all over the BrainKing site. Most of the time when he uses foul language, he knows it is wrong and is just waiting for another moderator or Global Moderator to remove it. This is not how a moderator - someone who was picked to help represent this site should act.
The "word" in question is just the last straw. This "word" was something he just got hidden/baned for using the day before, so he KNEW it was something he should not use on a public board. Even knowing all this, he posted using this "word" on the board he moderator - I guess hoping that it would not get edited/removed since it was on a board he moderates.
His post with this "word" which he already knew there was an issue with was removed by a moderator. At this point, the discussion went on with the Global moderators - and it was basicly a "last straw" type of thing - where Stevie purposly posted this "word" already knowing that he should not post it. At this time, the Global Moderators agreed that he should not be representing this site as a moderator, and he was removed from his moderating duties.
And even though this "word", many people may not have a problem with - this is a global site so sometimes what does not bother one person can bother another. And I can see if he was not warned about it first - but he was just hidden/banned for using this same "word" the day before. So he KNEW he should not be using this word on the public boards. Again, he KNEW he should not be using that "word" on a public board.
Again, Stevie gave permission to talk about his issue.
ClayNashvilleTn: No-ones doubting that he deserved moderation. but what the moderation was for was minor. An editing/deletion of the post with a pm'd warning would have worked... The person involved does listen, and if he'd not stopped then hiding does the job, then if he'd not stopped then ban him.
The rules are there over how we moderate for a reason.
bwildman:I don't get the.........If you don't like a member because he runs rampant on BK offending, using vulgarities, belittling other members being arrogant to Mods, and you don't like those actions, and you tell that person that..........Now, all at once, "YOUR PREJUDICE" "YOU DON"T LIKE HIM" Welllllllll duhhhhhhhhh Guess why?
Using your scenario, all he has to do is make everyone upset at him and now no one can moderate him. That's exactly what he did! That's why it APPEARS that the Globs that moderated him, didn't like him.
harley: some words are worse han others.
the woird you pounced on was borderline at best. this site would not have crashed if you left that post period.
its my opinion its your dislike of him that promted you to jump in and put him on hide...which is a secondary moderation tool.
bwild, if there had been one other person online who could have moderated him, I would have left it to them. None of the board mods or other globals were online at that time.
I didn't remove him as moderator on my own, that was a group decision.
And the language happened BEFORE the moderating. He swore, I moderated.
If a post does not fall into the site guidelines, the moderator should:
Edit post for content if rest of the post belongs in the board.
Remove the post if none of the post belongs in the board.
Warn user IN PRIVATE about edited/removed post, and point them to guidelines if needed.
If multiple users are engaged in a flame war, a public post saying "stop" can be used.
If posting continues after a warning, the poster should be hidden for at least a few hours, possibly longer (24 hours or more).
If after being unhidden a poster continues, then a ban of the user can be used.
Moderators are free to take more strict or less strict actions as needed, but should try to follow the above guideline when possible.
the fact that you two dislike each other is exactly my point.in cases like this...a global mod who has personal issues with an individual,should not be allowed to moderate that person.any moderatio is ultimatly considered a personal attack and language is sure to follow.
bwildman: Well I didn't get to vote on it. I suspect Most members would expect the Mods to abide by it. We enforce "OUR" rules on them but think we are above rules and standards. The code of honor may be a JOKE as you refer to it, but it certainly isn't to me and several others that seem to abide by it with little trouble.
Why should there be exceptions?
Should there be exceptions because they are our friends.
Should the Members reading all this expect Mods to conduct themselves in the same manner that we demand of them?
BIG BAD WOLF: "but I can tell you that it was more then just a "SINGLE word" that lead us to our actions."
Thing is BBW, those other words concerned only came in after the person was hidden for one word which the same moderator the other night just asked another person to edit out.
One person is being treated one way for a minor thing and another is treated differently. If the person was asked to remove the word and refused and then after being hid then carried on I could understand the actions taken.
Bluefin: I've never used cloak mode myself but I believe when you are cloaked, you lose the ability to see what uncloaked people are doing. Kind of like if we can't see you then you can't see us Thats probably what the message is you're seeing.
Bwild, I was the moderator who you say first 'took action' against the individual you're talking about.
There was nothing biased about it. He swore, I placed him on hide. Simple as that. I'd do it to any member, be they moderators of the board they swear on or someone I've never had dealings with before. I messaged him to inform him of my action.
His actions after that prompted me to take it to the other globals, as this is an individual who we've had many, many problems with and a kind of ongoing discussion.
After another discussion between us all, it was decided to remove him as moderator. It is his own actions that caused the decision to be made, and it wasn't one we made lightly or without much deliberation and he had many chances given to him first.
ClayNashvilleTn: casting the first stone?
you try to keep me from voicing my concern by saying I'm stirring trouble,and should take this conversation to a fellowship where only a few would see my concerns.
you highlight one rule.
when I wrote the code of honor...BBW changed the wording to allow grey areas.after the code was implemented by Fencer....the mods then voted to bend the code.its a joke.
bwildman:On many occasions Globs are requested by Mods to intervene. There are a few Members/Mods that seem to delight in creating constant problems.
They go from board to board harassing, using profanity attacking fellow Mods, trying to stir needless turmoil.
The amazing thing Bwild, 70% of the members know exactly of whom your concerned about. His numerous actions of immaturity and lack of respect for numerous BK members could not continue to go unchecked. He hurt BK and offended numerous memebers and attacked them openly and without concern. He cannot ride rough shod over the members of BK and expect to have much sympathy after he had been warned time and time again by members, Mods and Globs.
He sneered at the "MODS CODE OF HONOR"
Moderator's Code Of Honour
To up hold the BrainKing.com user agreement.
To promote goodwill among the members of BrainKing.com
To set an example by which other members should follow (stay out of flame wars, no insults, etc..) To be fair and equal to all posters of your boards (don't let friends post stay when you would normally edit/delete)
To notify the Mod Squad of any major moderating actions. This will allow all Moderators to be aware of situations in case the overflow onto other boards.
Andre Faria: it was a review,as I recall...and not one of yours.
my point is...the global mods feel it is their job to ride herd on certain individuals....and to the point of being biased in their opiions and moderating towards these individuals.
bwildman: Again, just that 1 word was not the reasons action was taken - there is more to the story, more which I'm not going to go into detail here because - well you are not the person involved.
If that person would like me to talk to you about the issue more, then they can let me know that and I will send you a message. Other then that, I can not get into more detail here.
Modificat de Andre Faria (6. Iunie 2005, 16:08:20)
bwildman: The word edited in the music board was in a normal message, or was in a review of an album? For instance, the name of one of the tracks of the album... the context of the message may be important for their decision...
BIG BAD WOLF: if BK rules were followed...we would not be having this discussion.(which by the way..Fencer can read and put in input if neccesary)
who determines if a word(used reglarly by 70%of all adults) is to be considered profanity?