[Rex Tirano]

Righteos... I know this should be put in the R/E thread, but I would just like to put my opinion into the thread before everyone moves back. (Gosh. I'm so lazy!) This is my opinion and what I think has happened. It'll be wrong though.

I do not think that the rules enforcement was a bad idea or a good idea. The staff did become lax, and by the time they noticed this there was more spam than there was a few weeks before. So they all got together in a group hug and decided what they believed was best for the forums (or so I believe anyway. It's much nicer to think like that. ^_^)

New members have obviously conformed (most of them) to these rules, and don't mind because the staff have fully explained the situation. The older members (mostly) don't mind, I'm not sure why. But it's a good idea to have a crackdown, just to make sure before, during and after the Stranger period the forums are more manageable. Also, the staff don't get as stressed with certain forumers and have a little vendetta ^_^. The forum (hopefully if allowed to mature) will become a nicer place to post, and a more wholesome (sounds like an advert now >_<) forum to visit. The forumers will benefit from more varied and enjoyable discussions, and everyone will dance around happily.

However, the crackdown was a bad idea due to many different things. The way it was brought about was done to harshly; it felt like a dictatorship was being produced (those of you who remember Syd...). This obviously made some forumers feel violated, as if their freedom of speech was being ripped from them. It could have been presented in a nicer way (but then it might not have been taken seriously). So the "Revolution" was made...

The revolution again was neither bad nor good. Like the staff, the forumers got in a big group hug and decided enough was enough! And they made a squad of R/E bashers.

It was a good idea as it got ideas, thoughts and opinions to the staff openly and quickly. Which meant there was room for discussion and change. Due to this (I think.) the R/E wasn't as harsh as it had once appeared to be. The spam thread was restored and everything was well in the oddworld kingdom.

It was a bad idea, because all of the staff that support the R/E got stressed. They handed out warning, and the forumers tried to change the minds which made the staff get even more stressed. Several members have left due to this.

My opinion is to just let the staff keep with their regime. I'm not saying I'm a huge fan, but I believe it was needed. (The fact that Alcar has never ever done anything to jeopardise the forums also helps with what I think.) I think there should be some sort of trial, say 2 months or so. Where the members post normally, and if the rules seem to work they are kept. (If not then the staff and forumers will surely create a new idea ^_^)

As for banned members and deleted posts... Members will be allowed back. Posts were deleted according to the rules and people should stop jumping around. The rules on bans and deletion have been in effect since... Well long before I even joined (which was a few years ago).

*Runs away incase of flame*