Trolls

I haven't been moderated since I was banned for originally expressing my views (maybe once actually, but that got taken care of). My goal in all this, was never just for me (it originally was what got me started though, because of the heavy and ridiculous moderation I had been enduring). But once these two new guys had started their threads, I already knew what time it was. I actually tried to get in before everyone on one of these (this one?) to curb the appetite of some of the bullies.

As for the whole lower post count thing. I might have taken it out of context, but that's what you said right? And if new guys were to read that constantly, do you really think they'll want to start posting? Or if they do, they now think that everyone with a low post count= troll?

I never took that as an attack on me personally, because yes, I have been getting a few likes here and there. Like I've said a few times here, it's not about me or you. It's about this community as a whole. It's about this game succeeding. For that, we all have to be united. We all have to be respectful to each other. It's going to be hard because like I said before, everyone grew up differently.

What one person may think is a "troll" post, another may see a genuine concern or feedback. Not everyone has an English major ( I don't). Not everyone graduated college, or high-school even! (And I think I read somewhere Lord Brittish (LB) didn't either.)

ALL I WANT IS FOR EVERYONE'S VOICE/WRITING TO BE HEARD ON FAIR AND EQUAL TERMS. GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT FIRST BEFORE CONDUCTING A WITCH (TROLL) HUNT.

If their OP sucks, well, write some constructive feedback ASKING them to elaborate first. Don't just assume, maybe they were rushed but didn't want to forget what they wanted to say. Instead of taking things out of context so quickly, let them explain themselves. Maybe they just don't know how to express themselves correctly through writing.

 

You think moderation is an issue for you? I am Australian, my daily vocabulary would make a sailor blush but here i restrain myself after a moderator renamed one of my threads and i took the hint. You still don't seem to get the difference between "low post count" and my comment that mentioned "post count is substantially higher than your likes received" which was a reference to a Jeff Foxworthy comedy routine.

 

No, I get it. Low Post Count with substantially lower likes = potential troll in your eyes.

What I want you and everyone else to understand, is that that may NOT be the case.

Maybe the person just posted a lot in the Brittania Story. Or maybe the person posted things that people did not agree with about a certain topic. It does NOT mean that the person is a troll. Just that his or her views were not received in a manner that people felt like hitting that like button for that person. It doesn't mean that their views are worth less than those with a higher post/like ratio. Maybe they just need some constructive feedback into how to express themselves better on the forums to receive more likes (because I guess Likes are a big thing on these forums)

 

I give up again.

 

XcomVic and Thermo Lock.........LOL you guys are both aweseome. I say no worries. I can tell by the amount of posts you each made talking this out that perhaps something is just not coming through in the conversation. I've had that experience myself. You have stuck with your conversation and tried to work it out, that proves it. I'm sure not every conversation you have will go this way so have faith. I do know that you are both a great addition to our community here. ***majoria bows to you both***So if you can continue on and chaulk this conversation as one that is a hmmmm, and let us hear more good ideas, I would love that. Sorry to interfere, I do that sometimes, only for what I see is possible, and because I care about why we are here and see that you in both of you. ***cheers***

 

Please don't. Elaborate. What did I post that was incorrect? I really want to know what you are thinking!

 

Well, what if a Kangaroo boxed him too hard in the head? I would feel bad

 

'Troll' like 'the word 'racist' is often used by those that would stifle debate, these terms are power-words meant to suppress and control, once both words had real meaning employed to make a stand against serious wrongs; however, today they are abused so often that their meaning has been diluted to the point that their original definition has been lost in the chatter.

 

Welcome out of the shadows Mystic Cat

 

Uhm, so do you really think that the reactions that you get are totally and completely independent on how you phrased the posts they are responding to?
And we are all having to adapt to the medium of conversation. For instance I acknowledge that I am crap at talking emotions with my SO over the phone. But since I know that I'm crap at that, I can make an extra effort to make it work.

And yes both I and Richard thinks that those reactions were partly his fault, he gave them a bad soundbite. "At that moment, I knew to brace for an out of context backlash. "-RG. If he had written it down and read it through before posting to a public forum - he would have edited that text before posting - this because he realized that the specific sentence could be misconstrued to hold a different opinion to what he was trying to convey.
The word "suck" is contentious. It was a poor choice of words just like Richard acknowledged in his respons to the bruha. "Perhaps my statement that has been quoted so often in recent days could have been presented in a more eloquent fashion."-RG

However these situations are not analougus at all. Richard didn't have editorial rights on the article - you do. Richard couldn't give the context in the same medium immediately - you can.

If someone totally misunderstands my post, I wouldn't immediately assume that the fault lies in the reader.

 

But what have I said that was incorrect or false? What is it that really is getting people all riled up? Is it the fact that there's some truth behind it and that the truth hurts?

How exactly is it the writer's fault that someone that grew up differently may take something he or she said out of context? Or take offense to it?

As for LB, he said what he wanted to say. The truth came out of his lips, he could have phrased it differently, but didn't. It's his * opinion. But one that many agree with. IMHO, he wouldn't have changed a bit of what he originally had said, even if he wrote it out. Sadly, in this day and age, even with millions of dollars around you, you have to be a master of tact however. You don't want a bullseye on your back for eternity, especially in this industry.

*edited for language - Koldar

 

Communication is an art form. I will spend my life failing at it.

 

OK XcomVic, I hope these are geniune questions, because I will take them at face value and interpret them literally.

Let me go through your last posts.
1 Comparison between your situation and RGs was incorrect.
2 The kangaroo comment was incorrect behavior.
3 People do not disagree with you because you are "right", they disagree with you because they think you are wrong.
In human affairs there doesn't even have to be a "right" or a "wrong". Music preference being a typical such discussion.
4 No people's posts/text should not be read on equal terms. If someone is proven to be wrong more than right and someone else is proven to be right more than wrong. Then if those two disagree on something then both prejudice and statistics holds true that we should be more sceptical of the person who is usually wrong. Same thing with someone we know is usually right versus someone we don't know.
5 No you were not temp-banned for the views you were expressing, you were temp-banned because you either broke the rules or that you needed to cool off.
6 Yes you were taking the post count comment out of context and then said to that person that one shouldn't be held accountable for things we say which get taken out of context.
7 Yes you accused people of various things without being 100% correct and right after that claimed that one shouldn't accuse people of various things without being 100% correct.
8 Yes, you can and sometimes should accuse people without being 100% correct. Society, Law and science relies on such assumptions.
etc
That was from the last page alone.

We are all incorrect or state things that might be false all the time. It is part of being human.
Thinking that one is correct or don't state false things is really not a healthy attitude to have. This since one stops questioning one's own thoughts or prejudices.

Your attitude.

No that is not it. And no what you have claimed is not a fact, it is an opinion.

It is after you point it out to them and yet they continue. You learn and adapt to your audience and your medium. Writers do this all the time.

There is no easy answer since it always depends on the situation. Human interaction is always a grayscale - not black/white.

If someone becomes offended for something you didn't intend as offensive, then the socially accepted response is to apologize and rephrase.
If you keep doing it, then you are really at fault because you are doing it on purpose.

Then some people will have a passive-aggressive mindset and will use whatever you say as an unintended insult. (Sitcom mothers trope).

That again, is the wrong attitude to have in life. Humans are social pack animals.
It is a choice not to be tactful, and if one has made that choice then one shouldn't act suprised or take the martyr's role when people become upset.

The proper response to
"Do I look fat in this?"
is not
"Yes."
if you think so, and yes you are partly to blame if you make someone upset with such a response.

 

Having further reviewed of the thread, whilst I understand the perspectives, there does not appear to be an objective way to conclude the discussion, and therefore posts are bordering on bickering rather than fruitful contribution. For this reason the thread will remain closed.

However, as a one off I will add this closing note:

Every individual around the world goes through the process of socialisation into their respective communities. That is, the lifelong process of learning the norms and customs of their peer groups. Unfortunately on our forums, those mixed ideologies are thrown together and dont always complement positively. For this this reason it is neccesary to establish an entirely new process of socialisation... a set of clear global guidelines for all to follow, in order to allow for a unified community, capable of communicating clear and valuable feedback to Portalarium.

Welcome to the forum rules

The process of moderation should not be seen as an attempt to stifle a voice, or punish those with differing opinions, but rather to educate that the method of communication being exhibited, may not be as nurturing to a meaningful discussion as would be expected from this community.

As moderators, we realised very early on that we had to emotionally detach ourselves from the community, which is why you will very rarely see a moderator contributing their own input to any game mechanic discussions. We essentially gave up our right to a voice in that respect, despite (at least in my own case) having invested at a higher than developer level pledge.

When we receive a report, the first and foremost question we ask is:

"Has the reported post broken any of the forum rules?"

That is it. Quite simply and objectively:

"Has the reported post broken any of the forum rules?"

Factors such as who posted it, who reported it, who has more posts than who, simply and plainly do not play any part in the decision making process.

The answer is not always clear cut, but the moderation team are very unified and in constant group communication. It is not uncommon for a moderator to spend 2-3 hours reading over a case several times before a verdict is reached. Likewise, it is not uncommon for a case to be reviewed by three or more moderators to gain a balanced insight. And finally, it is not uncommon for moderators to escalate cases to Portalarium to help reach a verdict.

Finally, in closing I would like to quote the following passage from our rules:

"We are all one community, and everyone here is as excited about Shroud of the Avatar as you are! We will do our best to stay active at the forums wherever possible and we will establish a fair system of moderation to keep the boards clean and active. We want this community to grow and thrive and help us to create the best game possible. By following these rules, we will be able to spend more time involving you in the process!"

Regards,

~LV