Moderators are tolerant of new members, and do not issue official warnings to them immediately. We allow them time to settle in, during which if they slip up, we remind them of the rules in a friendly PM. And you're right, the result is good - they respect the rules and their knowledge of them is reinforced. Cyber-Slig has been here for about a month, and I'd say he's adapted extraordinarily well to the sudden enforcement of rules, especially given his age. I don't anticipate him needing any warnings any time soon.

Yeah... not now... but initially yes!

I just think this whole thing could have been handled a whole lot differently... to be honest if a different mod.. not Peter... had posted a similar thread as "rule enforcement" then none of this outrage would have happended... his tone is just... *CB balls fists and counts to 10*... know what I mean?

OK, I'm back from Slovakia!

Ok, a quote from the greatest hungarian starcraft site, the Huncraft's forum ( translated):

Thread Name: "Everything - You can spam to earn rank level, test your reply, so a thread where you can do anything!"

I thought the hungarians are mindless motherf***ers ( sorry dripik, brewmaster and me), but when I readed this thread I changed my mind! And there is no chaos now!
WE NEED THE SPAM THREAD!!!!

/there is 9 days to school :( /

Actually its been about 3/2 months almost.I've been banned from my fav forum before but it was pathetic.Cos I said ''gay'' he took it serious and blew it.I like this forum for the part of free will.No ''Hey you swore time for a warning!'' I know big foul obese words are'nt tolerated but a lil' swearing now and then.And the mods here aren't power hungry , goofy or extremely strict.And the fact not everyons from the same place.Theres americans , Hungarians , other brits so talking has more variety.But why are you still argueing I thought there was a new Spam thread up?

There is indeed, and the mods will be watching it closely for any cases of... how can I put it... ultraspam. But a place to go for basically any kind of posting is never going to happen. Ranks are earned for proper posts, and if you really, really want to get up to "Shot doc" so very, very badly, everyone's just going to laugh at you for taking something that's just for fun so seriously. You don't need to post to test your signature, either, as vB automatically updates it in all your previous posts for you to check.

I really think that anyone spamming in the spam thread should be dealt with internally. We've done a pretty good job in the past of taking the piss out of anyone who stuffs up (and starts talking about warcraft of pig 'roids)

Yes. Deal with it internally. I sure don't feel like having to keep up with a bunch of convorsation I'm taking no part in.

Another good example of how something OW forums really needs goes in the bin as a result of poor management.

If you have people who think spamming is ok everywhere else, then do your job and tell them off - don't go deleting useful threads because you think your sherlock holmes mind has discovered the cause of the spam.

Spam goes in the spam thread. Make sure everyone knows. Make announcements or whatever, the technology is there, use it!

I think we should make a spam thread. But if there is any spam outside of it we should delete it but don't give a warning right away. Tell them what they were doing wrong and if they keep doing it then you can start warning.

Call me a hippocrit and I'll kill you.

The whole idea of the warnings is that they warn you anyway. Unofficial warnings are given only to new members who have yet to accustomise themselves to the Forums.

I think unnoficial warnings should be called cautions so as to avoid confusion

I've been posting as I've done for many many months on this forum, and I've already got 2 warnings as a result of this fucking stupid anti-spam crap. Nobody ever had a problem with me in the past, but now suddenly they do, and one warning more will see me banned from the forum.

Spam is junk email - the translation of spam to a forum is sketchy at best, but in most cases it means; contentless or unwanted bulk posting. That means, off topic posting is not spam, it's off topic posting. A negative opinion is not spam, it's just a point of view which is as valid as any positive opinion. We can't have moderators running around dictating to people the meaning of the word "spam" by constantly changing the already unclear definitions to suit whatever twisted rubbish this forum is run by.

NO MORE bullshit please, NO MORE using the word "spam" to describe crap that doesn't even fall within that catagory, NO MORE warning people when they've done nothing wrong or harmful. State what IS allowed and what ISN'T allowed, and we'll follow it. NO MORE umbrella terms.

Excuse me for saying that that's simply not true.

As for this 'spam', there is a very simple solution. It involves getting rid of the word spam and using the term "pointless, non-contributing, offensive or off-topic posts". However, considering that is a crap idea, why can't we just use the term "spam" as it has come to mean on Forums anyway?

I think the people of OWF should decide what spam is.

On an old forum I wen't to they did'nt warn you for going off-topic on a post they would ignore it.Most of the time everyone would go off-topic and the thread can't be saved.But did they hand out warnings and delete the off-topic posts?No they did'nt.If a post is off-topic its off-topic sorry.All you can do is close it.Noone is interested in it anymore.Warnings should be for harsh or personal stuff which people say e.g. ''Ill come to you're house and knife you'' as silly as it is and they obviosly can't do that it's pretty sad and deserves a warning.Not some off-topicness

I think that's a good idea. The forum members can compromise with the mods and make something both sides can mutualy agree on. Then, the members can't have a problem with the rules because they participated in making the rules.

We could hold an annual vote so that as the forum grows, new members can participate as well. Then, after the vote, there can be no discussion about unfair spam rules until the next annual spam meeting.

Something like that.

-oddguy

I don't know where all these warnings are coming from. Alcar, Max, have you boys been bullying again?:p The forums members deciding. Though I don't see what major difference would come with definition, I'll go for that. Then create an updated version of my ancient "Reminders about Spam" thread. Mod boys, give in a little slack. Let's do some equal value, democratic style coop work.

And if the results are dysfunctional arguments and petty insults, then... Psh, if people can't handle some tame input, then I don't really see the point in trying. Is there any chance I can be the one to start this one up, Mr. Lazuli sir? People seem to get agitated when the word "spam" comes in the same sentence of your name.

The major difference which would come with a definition on the word "spam", is that you would not be able to "deem a post not worthy". In other words, your opinion of a post wouldn't matter, you would just go by the book.

I don't trust you moderators with your perception of spam. hobo has already proved that what he thinks is spam, isn't the same as what I think is spam.

But that doesn't matter, because I'm GONE until this shit blows over. Currently it just blows.

Hobo is no longer a moderator.

And I don't think you have much to complain about regarding the rest of the staff and spam, either. Well, maybe Alcar. But that's it:p

Number 1) Alcar it doesn't matter what you or I think is spam; there are very clear rules set out for us to follow.
Number 2) We don't need any bullshit vote on the definition of spam. Start a polite thread discussing it and if we can agree on a definition (fat chance) then I'm sure the mods will incorporate it.
Number 3) This thread is here to discuss the SPAM thread, not SPAM in general. Thus your comments on spam are spam themselves. And since we've reintroduced the spam (sorry, spiced ham) thread this discussion is dead and should be closed.

[QUOTE=Nate_dog_woof]Start a polite thread discussing it and if we can agree on a definition (fat chance) then I'm sure the mods will incorporate it.[QUOTE]

That's what I'm for starting up. If not just to provide some closure to the situation.