There is a topic that has been raised numerous times in numerous threads (just working from memory here — I could be full of crap) that I haven’t really seen directly addressed. And that is in particular the issue of members being unable to be snarky or jerkish toward mods in this forum (or any other, which is okay by me) while members in general are forced to refrain from the same sort of snark or jerkish behavior (which would be okay within a context of reciprocation).
The reason I bring this up … again and again, it seems — maybe I’m the only one, and it just seems like there’ve been others — is that I took an interpretation based on mod chatter that what they wanted for ATMB is a place where civil discussion about board issues and rules and rulings could take place. Somewhere without the rancor and abuse of the Pit.
It would be nice if mods and admins would pledge themselves to the same sort of behavior that they expect from members. After all, there can’t be a discussion at all (other than a Socratic monologue of some sort) without at least two people. And it cannot be civil unless both people are civil. It is a civil and repectful discussion if and only if all parties are civil and respectful.
This post by GFactor is a great example of a civil and respectful way to correct something without making the offender (me) the object of some sneerful and snarky rhetorical bludgeoning. He could as easily have said, “Lib, if you can’t stay on topic, then stay out of the thread. No warning issued, but let’s everybody discuss this narrow little thing.”
Nicer than a pledge, however, would be a hard and fast rule. I’m not a fan of more rules, and I don’t think a new one would be necessary. Just apply the rule that is now in place — the famous Don’t Be A Jerk — to everyone in this forum: mods, admins, members, and guests.
Lib-
You aren’t the only one.
However, apparently no one else wishes to go on record with it.
“I would hope that everyone would be civil to each other in ATMB.” Me too. I would also hope for a pony for Xmas.
I haven’t seen any warnings issued for members being a little snarky or sarcastic in ATMB. I assumed the rules forbade members insulting or being grossly offensive to staff, that’s very different from a little snark.
By the same light I can’t recall mods insulting or being grossly offensive to members in this forum.
Civil discourse does not preclude a touch of sardonicism or sarcasm now and again.
I’d assume that you can report a mod’s post (or even an admin’s post) in the same way as you can report any other post. However, how it gets dealt with may be different: one mod probably would not admonish another mod in public, for example, but there might be some action behind the scenes that we plebeians don’t get to hear about.
On the other hand, one of the things I like about this message board is that members can complain about the behaviour of mods and admins, and it doesn’t get treated as something that needs to be punished. Complaints might get ignored or trivialised, but people don’t get banned for that. There’s some lack of transparency here, but I do like the general fairness.
Is the concept of “let it go” unfamiliar to some particular subset of dope posters?
Liberal, we don’t need more rules. We have too many rules as it is and more rules just gives the rules lawyers (and you people know who you are) something to squawk about.
No, mods and admins shouldn’t be snarky, but some of the stuff people have complained about as being snarky is hair splitting nonsense.
And does anyone seriously think mods or admins are going to be given warnings and threats of bans? IIRC, they’re mostly volunteers here. So yeah, let’s piss of the volunteers to try to keep the place running and not turn into a cesspool. That’s a GREAT idea, Liberal. :rolleyes:
People don’t know how good they have it here. If they didn’t they wouldn’t piss, bitch and moan over ever little percieved slight.
I’m not a fan of more rules, and I don’t think a new one would be necessary. Just apply the rule that is now in place — the famous Don’t Be A Jerk — to everyone in this forum: mods, admins, members, and guests.
Trust me, don’t review a book until you’ve read the whole thing.
