I agree 100%. That was a terrible ruling.
But I have to tell you, Sleeps, if you can let it go, you should let it go. Holding on to it isn’t doing you any good, and it isn’t doing Marley any harm. Take it from an old pro at grudge-holding and payback–just let it go. Enjoy the board. Have fun the way you used to.
No, that one stands. That was clearly intended as a personal attack against tomndebb, and was jerkish. Sleeps With Butterflies put words in his mouth, and her comments were deliberately inflammatory.
The entire point of moving discussion of moderator actions from the Pit was to allow an atmosphere in which they can be discussed civilly. Posts like Sleeps With Butterflies are counterproductive to that purpose.
Holding a grudge is like drinking poison expecting the other person to die.
I’d say it’s your (admittedly recent) history of posts like this that show you just. can’t. let. it. go. And not only can’t you let it go, you have to remind everyone constantly, with great vigor and detail in every single thread. Advice: Stop poking the bear(s).
It seems to me that where the “fucking” is concerned, we’re back to something I mentioned in another thread. Humans or not, when speaking in an official mod capacity, direct and professional language should be used. Be clear, be concise, be polite, be adult. Say your piece, don’t make it personal (since the turn-around would net a regular user a warning, clearly) don’t editorialize and be done with it.
I get what you (the collective you) are saying about letting it go. I have mentioned it a few times in ATMB because I think it’s relevant to the reliability and honesty of the mod in question. It’s a sad situation when such a small amount of authority can go to one’s head, but that’s the way it is.
SoulFrost, I appreciate you mentioning my warning in your OP but unlike Jeff (whose warning was way, way over the top) I wasn’t looking to have mine overturned. It’s a good example of how it all depends on who you are as to what warnings are given to you here. I’ve seen several posts in this forum in the last few days that are far more hostile and pointed than mine was, but they are from those who take the mod side of things. I’m not naive enough to believe that a ruling is ever going to go my way again.
I swear though, when I surf away from this board to another part of the internet it is completely forgotten. This place isn’t real life to me so to let it enter into a space in my head where an actual grudge would be is not possible. I know it doesn’t seem like it because tone is hard to judge when all we have are written words to go by, but I’m more amused than angry about the situation with Marley. I can’t imagine having to stretch the truth over something so silly as a heated discussion on a messageboard, nor can I imagine having to use my ability to give warnings to make my points for me. It does, however, amuse me to no end that there are those who do.
So, I shall take your fine advice and say no more on the subject while on this board. 
Sure. When will you start? 
Sleeps. Not trying to provoke you. Just late night humor. Sorry.
RAEG! You are my sworn enemy!
samclem said:
This 100%. We have posters who complain that about any complaint about moderation there are a rash of posters jumping in to come to their defense. The problem is with any complaint we have a rash of posters coming in to bring up every other complaint that’s ever been made. Nobody can keep to the issue at hand. (And now I’ve just repeated the process. Sigh We can’t win.)
Let’s try something new: Let’s not start threads with titles “Moderator X screws up yet again”. Let’s not get into the game of playing who loves the moderators and who hates the moderators. Instead, let us address each issue individually and try to keep a civil discussion, since we’re in ATMB.
tumbleddown said:
Absolutely. Some of the moderators here are responding like “the good old days”. They remember the times when moderators would slam people in the mod actions and everybody had a good laugh. The problem is that the rules have changed around here. Enforcement has tightened on posters, the “Don’t be a jerk” rule is more stringently enforced. Well, incumbent upon that attitude is the corresponding responsibility that the moderators be 100% compliant. The moderators need to be sure they are not adding fuel to the fire. No snark in official comments. Explanations and instructions need to be direct and explicit, not vague.
That’s some good wise words there. I’ll have to keep it in mind.
Thanks for dropping some knowledge there.
Excellent points. We’ve actually had some discussion of this on the mod loop. Unfortunately there is a tendency for complaints about specific moderator actions in ATMB to branch out into side issues and sometimes develop into a general melee. The main purpose of having complaints in ATMB is to allow them to be discussed in a civil fashion and hopefully resolved. When all kinds of other issues are dragged in, it interferes with this objective.
This isn’t to say that threads on more general concerns wouldn’t be allowed - there are a couple of active ones now - just that it would be better if individual threads remain focussed on specific issues.
Actually, I would like to thank you for starting this thread, and most particularly for addressing the issue in a civil manner. I had been considering reversing the warning to Jeff previously; by making a straightforward request, this thread facilitated doing so.
This is the kind of moderation that although it is not fun for anyone, it is absolutely necessary to keep ATMB working in a civil and useful manner. On the good side, it should only be necessary for a short time while people get used to the new face of ATMB.
The problem being that this is the type of behavior that needs to be nipped on the bud. If the sniping is left to happen for too long then there is no stopping it. Maybe if ALL mods made themselves ATMB mods. Not in that they have to answer on sdmb policy but just keeping an eye on the level of conversation. The only idea being that ATMB is being continually policed for bad tone.
And maybe if the mods agreed to keep it super duper low key on ATMB since this is where tempers tend to flare the quickest. Again, see Marley’s post (don’t worry, Marley, I can catch up with hating you if this is troubling you). It has three parts, the problem, what is desired, and a polite request to comply. Bingo.
Zero tolerance with velvet gloves, if you will.
And responding to tomndeb from the Bad Precedent thread which was untimely closed (although I was absent anyways for reasons of my own):
True, but only for a while. I don’t know if it will take a week or a month but I am sure that after some time of seeing you on the high road, observers might start taking a dimmer view of the complainers. Which would lead to:
Of course, that’s the famous third faction that can make or break the whole thing. If every time someone voices a complaint, just or not, the psychophants (if you pardon my own made up word) rush the scene saying “oh, it had to be you” then there goes the good will. Alas, the solution to that is moderating them. I know it is not fun having to moderate someone who is taking your side but it pays out on the long term.
Supporting moderator actions and attacking someone who complains are not the same thing.
This cuts both ways. If someone’s complaint is judged not in its own but on that person’s past, then it is not surprising if they then bring up the past of the moderators to light. If you want to stop the malcontents to stop dragging ancient history, it cannot be with the argument of “shut up, you malcontent. You are always doing this”.
That is true but I think would rather see a measured response from a mod than an over the top reaction from a vigilante. Having a third party jump in like that sounds too much like junior modding. Again, I appreciate your point that popular support would be welcome but I think that nodding from the sidelines would be better than spontaneous plastic badge flashings.
I want both sides to back off the hostility, I am just saying that there is a better chance to see the first step come from the moderators’ side since you are better able to organize yourselves.
Don’t see it as punished when being civil. Take it as the price of progress. I do believe that after some time of sticking to doing the right thing, you will see the support you want.