Help me clean the joint up...

[Merkava_4]

The thing about infractions is that no one is really going to know you got one unless you tell them. Also, since it's a three-strikes deal, the first one shouldn't be hanging over you like a cloud...if it makes you think before posting something potentially insulting, then I guess it's doing the job it was designed to do, right?

JMO.

Yes I agree, the 3 strikes system is very effective at preventing a member from making an insulting post. It's even more effective after the member has his first strike. In fact, the member may feel he's safer not posting at all anymore. In my opinion, it would be nice if the infraction had an expiration date, say one year...

 

[bazzateer]

In my opinion, it would be nice if the infraction had an expiration date, say one year...

I think Ryan agreed to that one page 1.

In my opinion if you cannot post without being offensive etc then perhaps you shouldn't be allowed anywhere near anything that requires a small degree of intelligence (computers, heavy machinary, cars, guns, wax crayons?)

 

[Merkava_4]

I think Ryan agreed to that one page 1.

In my opinion if you cannot post without being offensive etc then perhaps you shouldn't be allowed anywhere near anything that requires a small degree of intelligence (computers, heavy machinary, cars, guns, wax crayons?)

In my opinion, the post I was issued an infraction for was no where near as offensive as what you just wrote right there...

 

[Bull]

In my opinion, the post I was issued an infraction for was no where near as offensive as what you just wrote right there...

He didn't use any names or epithets, Merk, and I don't think he was saying anything negative about you. He just said that if a person can't post without being offensive then etc. etc. But clearly you CAN post without being offensive, so the remarks don't apply to you!

 

[sk farmer]

merk gets a warning, i am surprised it took so long. i think merk is great contributer with a pile of posts. i think more than anyone else by far. statisticly it is going to happen. when you post and post often you will eventually say something wrong. no matter who you are and how careful you are. merk will eventually do it again and will eventually get banned as will others. did not like the rule when it came out and don't like the rule now. i don't see that much has changed since the introduction of this vague rule, well other than merk has a strike. a strike that brings us one step closer to the loss of a valuable member.

 

[Bull]

SK, I like you, but you are sounding like Chicken Little right now.

Nothing is inevitable, and we are NOT losing old-guard members because of this rule.

 

[Bob Heine]

Ryan,

This has been a particularly bad winter for most regions of the country/continent. Some of the venting and drama is probably just a symptom of Cabin Fever. I'm spending more time in my den (used to be an office when I worked for a living) and less in the garage. That makes me cranky (at my age you never use the word "pissy"). I'd recommend a few gentle warnings until the weather turns. If the drama continues, then start the crackdown.

I come to this site to get ideas, not stress. If I want stress, I leave the house.

 

[sk farmer]

SK, I like you, but you are sounding like Chicken Little right now.

Nothing is inevitable, and we are NOT losing old-guard members because of this rule.

oh really,death seems inevitable and taxes are close behind. according to the rules his second strike would be 1 week and third strike is banning. i just stated what has happened and can happen. i assume other member have been banned through this method, just not any big names "yet". by merk's reaction and his wishing to have it erased after one years time he seems to be more than a little concerned with being banned. is he a chicken little also? the other moral of chicken little is to beware of the fox as he often gets to you when you are not paying attention. unless you plan on bending the rules or changing them merk has one of three strikes on his way to a ban and that is not chicken little, that is fact.

 

[Bull]

Let me get this straight. Your rhetorical tactic is to reply to my statement that "nothing is inevitable," which I obviously meant in the context of our discussion about individuals on this board and their own personal behavior of which they are in full control, by citing the inevitability of death?!

Ok, we're done debating here. I have nothing more to say on the matter at this time.

Ryan has made the rules clear.

 

[sk farmer]

lighten up bull. why can you referance me to a nursery rhyme and i can't referance the well known saying about death and taxes? i had not posted on this thread since early november and your response is to compare me to chicken little. i find that offensive to me. i only repeated the facts. i have no idea what merk said nor did nor do i care. i have only responded in a polite manner on this subject. i really resent you comparing me to chicken little. i am not sure why you now wish to avoid the subject now.

 

[tatra]

so 3 strikes and you're banned period?............no consideration for behaving?........man, even where i work , after 1 year i get a reduction in demerit points for good behavoir...........i know this is ryan's law here but a little leeway could go a long way to alleviating the stress that comes with having a strike or 2 against ya......for example, at 60 points i am fired, so when one has 40, 2/3 fired, 1/3 work...........i see much the same in the content being contributed by members with strikes against them......for a lot of us, this place has become more than a place to check out the latest thing, it has become a family, complete with the cranky and weird old uncles, the pretty cousins, adopted family memebers, etc........... we all make mistakes and our family usually will forgive us in time, shouldn.t big daddy?............again , thanx for the time and effort ryan and the mods put into this site, but i also thank all the members too, who without their input all this wouldn't be possible........

 

[Mickey O]

There should "grow a pair" and "man up" warnings issued as well.

 

[sk farmer]

Or, just be polite and reasonable. That's all I'm asking fellas...

i believe my quotes today are polite and reasonable. i am not sure that comparing me to chicken little or the wtf smilie fit in with ryan's request. i was hoping for better from a moderater.

 

[1950ChevySuburban]

Boy, this thread has a lot of talk, and not much to say!
I thought it was clear what Ryan meant the first time around.

 

[lpigg]

Seriously guys, the drama has already started here. Rules are rules, there is a seldom a place that you can go that doesn't have rules. Just live with it and move on. If you get banned, then you probably weren't really wanted here in the first place.

 

[dreamingmuscle]

A report will not lead to an infraction. Once a post is reported, I can then read the entire thread in context and decide if an infraction is necessary.

Me thinks you're going to be doing a lot of reading.

Glen
________
no2 vaporizer

 

[mtwaterguy]

Boy, this thread has a lot of talk, and not much to say!
I thought it was clear what Ryan meant the first time around.

What he meant evidently isn't clear or there wouldn't be so many people asking for clarification.

 

[sctattooer]

Clarification, I think, is quite simple. Ryan's house, Ryan's rules. Laws are written each day, and lawyers spend their entire careers interpreting their intent.

I'm hopeful that Ryan will take each infraction as a case-by-case basis. Sometimes a simple PM to the offender is enough to make them realize that what was typed was deemed inappropriate, or perhaps misconstrued.

This is one of my favorite forums of the many I participate in, and I'm an administrator of a forum with over 3500 members. I've seen situations before where rules were imposed and adhered to strictly, and in almost all instances the forums suffered, as more long-term members began to post less. Some of the most helpful members of these communities became simply readers, so as to not "rock the boat".

A suggestion I may have is to make a separate section of the forum for admins and moderators only, to discuss these reported posts, and decide on an action to take. Obviously, if the administrator of the forum would choose people to moderate, he must trust those people's decisions, and also must believe that those people would only do what they feel is right for the benefit of the forum as a whole. I also believe it could help those who are asking for clarification to feel that they are being judged fairly.

 

[mtwaterguy]

Clarification, I think, is quite simple.

It certainly should be. Unfortunately not here. If you'd have read the thread you would see that specific questions have been asked and not answered.

 

[X1 Mike]

I was banned for a day once and didn't feel it was necessary. Someone was replying to me in every post I made telling me how much Harleys **** and one day I finally told him to quit being a douche bag and that got me banned. If I was asked why I called him that maybe the poster I replied to would have gotten banned for cyber stalking, but now I’m one strike from being banned for a week. Kind of ***** because I like it here, but really it’s quite alright because I’m intelligent enough to insult the hell out of someone without being rude, mean or having them even realize it sometimes.

 

[sctattooer]

It certainly should be. Unfortunately not here. If you'd have read the thread you would see that specific questions have been asked and not answered.

I did read the thread, but really, nobody can expect Ryan to answer every "what if....." hypothetical scenario, can we? Do you think that would make every member of the forum feel more secure about posting?

There's a lot of great information shared here, and it's really a shame that the owner of a forum has to resort to bannings, especially since we're all adults here. But sometimes the written word is taken out of context, situations escalate, and moderation becomes necessary. I just hope that the moderation process is structured a bit, so as to not adversely affect the forum as a whole, but I can only hope.

 

[Shocker]

I have been attacked once or twice here. Merk was one. Told me to not be a ***** and that my wife was a so and so when I decided to not pursue the Cornwell truck route local to me.

I shot back that he needs to stop jerkin' off to pictures of ratchets.

That was it. I didn't get a warning and neither did Merk (not sure if the rule was in place then).

I hope that common sense rules the rules. Guys try to nail each other to the wall. It's just the nature of things. Everyone usually walks away and gets a beer together.

Now, if we were on a women's board, discussing window treatments, Lifetime (lots of lesbian and loose girls shows on that channel), the Oprah book club and The View, well, then I can see some strict rule.

Chicks kill over that stuff....

 

[Merkava_4]

I have been attacked once or twice here. Merk was one. Told me to not be a ***** and that my wife was a so and so when I decided to not pursue the Cornwell truck route local to me.

I shot back that he needs to stop jerkin' off to pictures of ratchets.

That was it. I didn't get a warning and neither did Merk (not sure if the rule was in place then).

I remember that post, I said - "If your wife wasn't such a dictator, and if you weren't so [censored] whipped, you'd already be driving that Cornwell truck!!" And I wrote it just like that without using the 'P' word. I was totally kidding when I wrote that post and I didn't intend for you to take it to heart the way you did. I'm sorry Shocker.

PS - I really wish you would have of gotten that Cornwell truck.

 

[krusty the clown]

i simply cannot believe an infraction was given over the word degenerate. there has been a lot of post's here that have been truly offensive and some very personal attack's but that ain't one of them.........

i bet there is more offensive thing said in my mothers quilting circle. this is rediculous.

 

[djd99]

Yes I agree, the 3 strikes system is very effective at preventing a member from making an insulting post. It's even more effective after the member has his first strike. In fact, the member may feel he's safer not posting at all anymore. In my opinion, it would be nice if the infraction had an expiration date, say one year...

I agree with merkava I now Watch everything I say in all posts and even don't post in alot of threads just for fear I might incur another infraction. I received the first one for being called ignorant and clueless and I just responded to that post so now I just don't post like I would normally on other forums. I still don't understand that one I was insulted and received a infraction. Now mostly I just read.

 

[Nuit Damnant]

I saw earlier mention that the people with the lower post counts seemed to show more support for this policy, and I believe Shocker and Merk's comments above illustrate why. The guys that have been around longer get to know one another better, become friends and people joke with friends, sometimes in a way that could be considered harsh from an outside perspective. Just have to be careful that they understand that it's only jest. Unfortunately a 3rd party may take it out of context, or someone may misunderstand. Alot of what we say is lost in typed words so the smile that may come along with a friendly quip about someones favorite sports team may not be as apparent if you're only reading it on the internet.

 

[jake00]

I post pretty heavily on another forum (ford-trucks.com). and it's moderated as if the person reading it was an 8 year old. this usually works out well. Sure there are some problem users, but its nothing like what happens on the pirate4x4 forums.

There is one forum on ford-trucks where politis, ***, religion is allowed. It works out fairly well.

 

[marty_p]

Thanks, Ryan, and good luck! You did what you had to do, and people do have choices...