MattW
Administrator
As many members will be well aware, there has been a recent diminishing of the standards of discussion on the forums, with members feeling that staff aren't doing enough to combat poor posting and that some areas of the forum are particular problem points that cause issue. I'd appreciate it if you can read this whole post, but there is a summary at the bottom.
Over the past week there have been a series of discussions among Staff and the Administrative team to discuss options for getting out of this situation and to bring back quality to the forums, in a way that can hopefully bring long lasting improvements and make the forum a happier and more civil place.
Changes to the Rules and Infraction System
Members attempting to take moderating into their own hands
One of the greatest areas of issue the Staff have identified is members who take it upon themselves to try and tell other members what to do. This often ends in arguments among members and not any clear message going to the supposed initial offender.
To counter this:
Members are reminded that it is the quality of your own posts and the value your posts add to the forums that is the biggest factor in decisions on adding new Staff, trying to act like a moderator is a sure way to not become one.
In addition to this, over the coming week the Admins will be adding more prominent area specific rules to the forums, as well as increasing the visibility of the main forum rules, as well as tailoring the infraction system to better match the content of the rules.
You are responsible for what you write on the site, the Moderators are responsible for dealing with what others write. Staff dealings with other members are not the subject of discussion, nor are they made public. Another member 'getting away' with something is not an indication you are allowed to break a rule as well. Staff make decisions about issues on a number of factors based on each particular circumstance. Actions against members by staff are between the member concerned and the staff team - you don't see another member's infractions, you don't see their deleted posts and you don't see the discussions they have with moderators.
Reputation
Staff believe that Reputation has the ability to be a good tool in helping members to highlight those who contribute well to the forum. To give this a better chance of doing its job,
Staff will additionally look in to further options for rewarding good members into the future.
vCash
The issue of vCash 'inflation' has resulted in it loosing its 'fun' and getting taken too seriously by some and outright abused by others.
To bring back a level playing field and to try and prevent this in the future,
Area Specific Changes
Cricket Games Forums
With specific reference to the Cricket 07 Download forum, but not exclusively the following actions will be taken,
Additionally, this is an area where staff view the issue of members taking moderation in to their own hands is the greatest.
Cricket Discussion Forums
A renewed focus on making sure quality discussion is started, with the following changes being made,
The Issues Forum
While we have welcomed the level of serious discussion taking place in there, a small few are ruining things for the rest of the members. As such, the forum is being limited for posting.
Members who wish to be able to post in the Issues forum will be required to make an application to do so, which will then be approved or not approved by Staff. Members not upholding a standard of sensible and reasoned debate will have their privileges of posting in that area removed.
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Closing comments and summary
I appreciate this is a long post, but there are a lot of issues to discuss, and I hope to have given you a clear understanding of staff intentions. For those who want a brief version:
I'd like to thank members for their sensible contributions to recent discussions of these issues, and hope that everyone can get on board with improving the site going in to the future.
Over the past week there have been a series of discussions among Staff and the Administrative team to discuss options for getting out of this situation and to bring back quality to the forums, in a way that can hopefully bring long lasting improvements and make the forum a happier and more civil place.
Changes to the Rules and Infraction System
Members attempting to take moderating into their own hands
One of the greatest areas of issue the Staff have identified is members who take it upon themselves to try and tell other members what to do. This often ends in arguments among members and not any clear message going to the supposed initial offender.
To counter this:
- The rules have been altered, emphasising that members must leave the moderation to the moderators,
- Members are asked that they use the post report button in any situation where they believe a rule is being broken,
- And a 5-point infraction will be given to members who repeatedly make posts telling other members that their posts break the rules
Members are reminded that it is the quality of your own posts and the value your posts add to the forums that is the biggest factor in decisions on adding new Staff, trying to act like a moderator is a sure way to not become one.
In addition to this, over the coming week the Admins will be adding more prominent area specific rules to the forums, as well as increasing the visibility of the main forum rules, as well as tailoring the infraction system to better match the content of the rules.
You are responsible for what you write on the site, the Moderators are responsible for dealing with what others write. Staff dealings with other members are not the subject of discussion, nor are they made public. Another member 'getting away' with something is not an indication you are allowed to break a rule as well. Staff make decisions about issues on a number of factors based on each particular circumstance. Actions against members by staff are between the member concerned and the staff team - you don't see another member's infractions, you don't see their deleted posts and you don't see the discussions they have with moderators.
Reputation
Staff believe that Reputation has the ability to be a good tool in helping members to highlight those who contribute well to the forum. To give this a better chance of doing its job,
- Reputation will be reset to default levels for all members,
- The amount of points given per rep will be capped very low to ensure that the system highlights genuinely good members,
- An infraction for asking for rep to avoid people abusing the system,
- And making the names of those giving rep public, so that members cannot abuse the system - additionally, attempts to give 'revenge' with negative rep will be monitored and the system disabled for those who abuse it
Staff will additionally look in to further options for rewarding good members into the future.
vCash
The issue of vCash 'inflation' has resulted in it loosing its 'fun' and getting taken too seriously by some and outright abused by others.
To bring back a level playing field and to try and prevent this in the future,
- The vCash for all members will be reset to 5,000
- The bank interest rate will be reduced to a more reasonable 0.1% per day
- Donations will be limited to 5,000 vCash per transaction and monitored
Area Specific Changes
Cricket Games Forums
With specific reference to the Cricket 07 Download forum, but not exclusively the following actions will be taken,
- Allowing guests to download attachments, designed so that future members of the site get a greater perspective of the forum and aren't just joining out of compulsion.
- A renewed staff effort to enforce current rules, including thread titles and the standards of comments
Additionally, this is an area where staff view the issue of members taking moderation in to their own hands is the greatest.
Cricket Discussion Forums
A renewed focus on making sure quality discussion is started, with the following changes being made,
- The moving of PlanetCricket View articles to the main cricket discussion forum, with an emphasis on getting members to contribute articles that are insightful and start real discussions,
- Discouraging threads to be created for minor articles, with the introduction of a General Cricket Discussion Thread in which minor comments can be made instead,
- And discouraging members from posting 'commentary' in match threads, rather than genuine discussion. Comments simply mentioning what has occured without any contribution to further discussion will be removed, and members who constantly make little attempt to make thoughtful posts will have their privileges of posting in the Cricket Discussion forum removed.
The Issues Forum
While we have welcomed the level of serious discussion taking place in there, a small few are ruining things for the rest of the members. As such, the forum is being limited for posting.
Members who wish to be able to post in the Issues forum will be required to make an application to do so, which will then be approved or not approved by Staff. Members not upholding a standard of sensible and reasoned debate will have their privileges of posting in that area removed.
[aname]endofpost[/aname]
Closing comments and summary
I appreciate this is a long post, but there are a lot of issues to discuss, and I hope to have given you a clear understanding of staff intentions. For those who want a brief version:
- Keep moderating to the moderators - Members who try and tell others off will be infracted
- Report posts that you think break the rules, staff can't deal with what they don't see
- Modified and more visible forum rules
- Allowing guests to download attachments - allowing them to get more acquainted to the posting standards needed before hitting a registration required screen
- Resetting vCash and Reputation and putting greater restraints on their use to prevent abuse
- Cleaning up the Cricket Discussion forum with fewer threads and making match discussion a real discussion
- An invite only Issues forum, with only responsible and sensible debate accepted
I'd like to thank members for their sensible contributions to recent discussions of these issues, and hope that everyone can get on board with improving the site going in to the future.
