Ask the Staff Anything About RF

[allfoak]

I use Firefox.
RF is very slow to connect.

 

[Revoltingest]

Hey, FB....delete that post quickly.
Staff are like nuns with rulers....just itch'n to rap knuckles.

 

[4consideration]

Okay, I did. So what am I supposed to do? I am sick of all the petty nit-picky junk they are hitting me with.

Have you tried opening a Site Feedback thread to discuss it? I have no idea what you were dinged for, and it is best not to discuss any details on the open board. It just creates upset and doesn't solve anything.

If you do so, I have a few pointers:

1. Don't create a SF thread when you're angry. Wait until you have calmed down. Be polite, or at least civil.

2. Leave the emotion out the conversation as much as possible. Staff member don't have to take being yelled at, accused, insulted, and threatened. Such things happen in SF and if you want a SF thread to lead to something constructive, keep it constructive.

3. The person responding to you might actually see things your way. Or, they might be one that has seen your posts as problematic. You don't know. But, staff actions require a consensus of at least three, so it does not bode well when someone starts out by accusing the first person that responds, or the person that delivered the message as having a personal agenda against them. Don't make it personal unless you can back it up, with evidence.

 

[First Baseman]

I guess I'm just pissed right now. Let me calm down and come back in a better state of mind. That's probably best.

 

[Revoltingest]

True. But I prefer being direct and appreciate others being direct to me. So there lies my dilemma.

There are 3 kinds of direct.....
1) Direct which is diplomatic enuf to stay within the rules.
2) Direct which lets too much antagonism slip thru.

If I can survive here, anyone can.
But there are also many things I'd like to say, but I hold me tongue.

 

[Revoltingest]

I guess I'm just pissed right now. Let me calm down and come back in a better state of mind. That's probably best.

Wise words.

 

[Jedster]

Hello and welcome to RF, new members!

This thread is for you to ask the mods anything about RF. This can include questions about the rules, the forum history, or the different forums in general.

A note for all members: Please keep in mind that only staff members may answer questions in this thread. Any answers by non-staff members will be deleted.

Thank you,

Debater Slayer, on behalf of the RF staff.

I have a question about banning. Is this the right place?

 

[Quintessence]

I have a question about banning. Is this the right place?

If you'd like us to clarify our general policies and decision-making processes on banning, sure! We can't talk about any specific cases here, though, so do not ask "why was so and so banned" or "why hasn't so and so been banned yet." You can ask "what are the reasons you might issue a ban," though.

 

[Revoltingest]

If you'd like us to clarify our general policies and decision-making processes on banning, sure! We can't talk about any specific cases here, though, so do not ask "why was so and so banned" or "why hasn't so and so been banned yet." You can ask "what are the reasons you might issue a ban," though.

I think he's wondering why @Wirey & I haven't been banned yet.
Go ahead & say.....
Bribes!

 

[Jedster]

If you'd like us to clarify our general policies and decision-making processes on banning, sure! We can't talk about any specific cases here, though, so do not ask "why was so and so banned" or "why hasn't so and so been banned yet." You can ask "what are the reasons you might issue a ban," though.

Ok, hypothetically speaking, can a person be banned without any prior warning ? The only reason given being that two long-term members wanted them banned.

 

[savagewind]

Ok, hypothetically speaking, can a person be banned without any prior warning ? The only reason given being that two long-term members wanted them banned.

I do not think so!

 

[Jedster]

I do not think so!

Nor do I from reading the rules,however I would like a definite answer from the management here...please ..anyone

 

[Quintessence]

Ok, hypothetically speaking, can a person be banned without any prior warning?

Yes - "members" who register solely to advertise/spam are banned on sight by the staff team and given no prior warning. If, however, there is any doubt, the content gets reported and goes through our consensus system as usual.

For anything else, it'd have to be something extreme, and it'd be mostly an admin call. If, hypothetically, someone registered on the site and started posting a ton of gratuitously violent imagery, odds are one of the admins would ban them without warning. You guys don't want to see that, and neither do we.

The only reason given being that two long-term members wanted them banned.

No. Only the staff team makes decisions for bans. When making those decisions, there has to be a reason within the framework of the rules... it can't be "just because I'm established here." Except for cases of obvious spammers as described above, all staff actions, including issuing bans, requires the consensus of at least three staff members.

 

[Jedster]

Yes - "members" who register solely to advertise/spam are banned on sight by the staff team and given no prior warning. If, however, there is any doubt, the content gets reported and goes through our consensus system as usual.

For anything else, it'd have to be something extreme, and it'd be mostly an admin call. If, hypothetically, someone registered on the site and started posting a ton of gratuitously violent imagery, odds are one of the admins would ban them without warning. You guys don't want to see that, and neither do we.



No. Only the staff team makes decisions for bans. When making those decisions, there has to be a reason within the framework of the rules... it can't be "just because I'm established here." Except for cases of obvious spammers as described above, all staff actions, including issuing bans, requires the consensus of at least three staff members.

Thank you.
It should also be noted that in the above hypothetical situation, the person could not even access their inbox here to ask about it. A complete shunning.

Just one more hypothetical question:
If someone has evidence that the above did happen, and felt an injustice had occurred, and although they were invited back(twice) were never given any explanation of treatment, what recourse should they take in this situation(mainly to alleviate bitter feelings that remain)?

(Edit to add)..and should the staff/members who did the deed be punished?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Staff has a lot of duties. Do mods get trained or work the fields first?

Oh. In an extreme legal circumstance, are members able to make an apeal going through rank of command?

I notice many forums dont have contact information for specific things of that nature. Is it a software issue or is RF privately owned?

 

[Quintessence]

Just one more hypothetical question:
If someone has evidence that the above did happen, and felt an injustice had occurred, and although they were invited back(twice) were never given any explanation of treatment, what recourse should they take in this situation(mainly to alleviate bitter feelings that remain)?

Something like that would really have to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and I'm not aware of anything like this having happened recently. Generally, best course of action would be to contact one of the admins so they can investigate the case directly. If that requires creating a new account, it is absolutely imperative to be transparent throughout that process, because having multiple accounts is not allowed. It is very rare we allow returned banned members, but it has been known to happen. In all cases, it requires the member be cooperative with the staff and demonstrate real initiative in working to follow to the forum rules this time around. Sometimes, real and demonstrated change happens, but it takes mutual effort and cooperation.

(Edit to add)..and should the staff/members who did the deed be punished?

We don't punish our staff team - doing this job is practically a punishment in of itself with some of the crap we have to put up with behind the scenes (seriously, if you guys could see some of the things that are said to us for doing our jobs).
Part of the job of the admin side is to supervise the rest of the staff - if a mistake is made, we gently let them know.

 

[Quintessence]

Staff has a lot of duties. Do mods get trained or work the fields first?

Back before the software transition, we used to have two tiers of staff mods. There were moderators (basically mods in training) and super moderators. There was also a more formalized mentoring system back when I was hired on staff. Since the software transition, that structure has kind of fallen by the wayside. There's a moderator's handbook in the staff zone that can be used for reference, and we encourage all new hires to ask questions if they have them while learning. Admins keep an eye on things for quality control and poke them with reminders here and there where needed.

Oh. In an extreme legal circumstance, are members able to make an apeal going through rank of command?

I'm not sure what you mean, so it's hard for me to know how to reply to this. This is a privately owned forum. "Legal" stuff barely applies, if at all, to the forum (Rule 6 notwithstanding).

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Back before the software transition, we used to have two tiers of staff mods. There were moderators (basically mods in training) and super moderators. There was also a more formalized mentoring system back when I was hired on staff. Since the software transition, that structure has kind of fallen by the wayside. There's a moderator's handbook in the staff zone that can be used for reference, and we encourage all new hires to ask questions if they have them while learning. Admins keep an eye on things for quality control and poke them with reminders here and there where needed.



I'm not sure what you mean, so it's hard for me to know how to reply to this. This is a privately owned forum. "Legal" stuff barely applies, if at all, to the forum (Rule 6 notwithstanding).

I go to another private forum where the owners communicate with members given the nature of the forum. When there is an issue, we can go to the owners directly after consulting mods, staff, and so forth. It hasnt came up far as I know but in a business, Id assume if there were legal infractions overlooked, say something in "conversations", and was not addressed fully then there'd be a "higher up" to go to.

The only example I can think of are bans. If a member was banned and he thought it was unwarrented, as with uother business, is he able to "file a grievence" (thats the term, not apeal) and take legal action if it got to that point?

If it did, how would he get contact information for legal issues between the RF owner and himself? (For example, for lawyer info).

Im just curious as most businesses have business contact say a form, bus phone, and/or email address or address.

Personal businesses, Im not sure how legal situations are addressed if there isnt a way to contact parties to settle matters like that.

This is outside the "RF scope of things." Ive always wondered about that.

 

[Sees]

I go to another private forum where the owners communicate with members given the nature of the forum. When there is an issue, we can go to the owners directly after consulting mods, staff, and so forth. It hasnt came up far as I know but in a business, Id assume if there were legal infractions overlooked, say something in "conversations", and was not addressed fully then there'd be a "higher up" to go to.

The only example I can think of are bans. If a member was banned and he thought it was unwarrented, as with uother business, is he able to "file a grievence" (thats the term, not apeal) and take legal action if it got to that point?

If it did, how would he get contact information for legal issues between the RF owner and himself? (For example, for lawyer info).

Im just curious as most businesses have business contact say a form, bus phone, and/or email address or address.

Personal businesses, Im not sure how legal situations are addressed if there isnt a way to contact parties to settle matters like that.

This is outside the "RF scope of things." Ive always wondered about that.

It would be like someone filing a grievance for another person not allowing them over to the house for TV shows or BBQs anymore.

Though, if a law firm truly wanted info on who owns the website, regardless of reason, it would take them only a couple minutes time.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

It would be like someone filing a grievance for another person not allowing them over to the house for TV shows or BBQs anymore.

Though, if a law firm truly wanted info on who owns the website, regardless of reason, it would take them only a couple minutes time.

Yeah. It would be kinda petty. Thanks.