Thanks, this is what I was missing. I tried to search the forums before asking, but finding this thread without any hint on what to look for seemed impossible. Hence I asked if I missed something. It should be pinned (it maybe even was), or it should be in the
FAQ section, which is were I was looking for any changes.
It was stickied but as always we have to rotate them in and out as we don't like to have too many. At the moment it has been superseded by the ban message for TLOU II spoilers, as we felt although we had cross posted in many threads, we needed a more visible statement as well to avoid a 'gotcha!'. Depending on how things go we may put it back into rotation. Things seem to have calmed down a little, probably due to repeat troublemakers being on hiatus and probably due to the thirst to discuss identity politics issues that are suddenly in the limelight.
Do perceived "anti-PS5" posts get reported at a much higher rate than perceived "anti-XsX" posts? Or is it pretty even?
It really varies. Usually it goes back and forth with various announcements and current affairs/news. Since we got a lot more visible and made several posts with a bit more finality in them, people are responding when obvious derails take place around those terms. We still just tend to delete/edit or nudge when a user hasn't had any previous warnings so they get on message going forward. If they continue, then we establish the pattern and more intrusive sanctions are applied, like reply bans and eventually site bans.
#MeToo. And I check it several times throughout the day in case there are any fresh award-winning Mod comments.
The ban messages are childish and they are confusing when people are getting banned for less like calling someone a fanboy.
The ban messages have a meta behind them in those cases - deliberately made to draw attention to the 'banned' behaviour. For regular posters or people who are genuine but just overstepped their mark, we tend to be to the point. For obvious trolls (or those who repeatedly wear out the good will of mods reaching out to them and giving them multiple chances), the messages can be more acerbic. There's only one that falls into this category on the entire first ban page from a quick scan. Let us just say, you have to reach a certain level or have an interesting post history/participation level to earn those messages.
But, for clarity, if you are banned there is a chance you will get a colourful ban message. Just as you can enter a lot of threads and there also be a colourful exchange between posters. We're not here to shine our light across the land to touch lesser mortals, nor do we intend to moderate in a fashion where we are the 'know-it-alls' on every topic. We're here to 'moderate' discussion, and part of that moderation involves allowing for heated exchanges and infrequent frustrated insults/expletives where people genuinely just overstep their good nature. But there is a threshold when it derails cross thread or becomes an agenda to force into every thread and cause fighting. Some posters need a dose of reality and need to be made explicitly aware that based on history and audit logs, they are walking a very tight line, or in certain cases flew too close to the sun.
The ban message will also generally reflect the posters input and mirror the respect they treat the rest of the community with, and how genuine their input it. It will also (most times) call back to why they are being banned. If you're acting like an asshole, then you don't get the privilege of hiding behind appeals of 'high ground', and you have to reap what you sow. This extends onto posts and members as well. If a member is being provoked and then reported we will usually side with the non-baiter who just let frustration bubble over. Fortunately the ban messages are not targeted at you, so you can safely ignore them. You've shared your opinion and we respect it, but it won't be starting a movement for change etc.
I have a related question, what is report-worthy when it comes to system wars? Obviously we can discuss the specs of each console, our preferences, etc. but when does it become a problem?
Generally people aren't getting banned for technical discussion. Some threads are being further scrutinised by certain users as they are dropping their technical interpretation, which is different to conclusion drawn by supporting evidence. These aren't meant to be over bearing, but it's meant to make users more responsible in their statements. Ok - I am saying this is a fact. What support that fact, who supports that fact, how have I arrived at that calculation, why have I arrived at that conclusion, what is being disputed etc. As guidance, if the topic is discussing a breakdown of technical nature, or is a thread that is just more of a round table discussion to hypothesise or play devil's advocate then we will protect it more from those type of driveby's. Some people do just follow these threads for information, and a lot of reports come from names that aren't even active posters in the thread but fed up individuals needing to wade through the 'fat' and 'rind' to get to the meat and sustenance of the debate.
Usually driveby posts along the lines of 'xbots jealous', 'ponies hating' are going to earn a reply ban, at least. And of course, if you have previous unexpired warnings (usually 2 but depends on severity/spam level), then it will be a ban. Neo members (or absent members suddenly returning), to immediately go into the nextGen thread and troll with terms like Ponies, xbots and 9.2TF will have less leeway and earn a ban right away to establish expectations and prevent copycats. Most forums have
censoring features built into them but it becomes an overhead and they can be over zealous solutions for passing problems. Language is so dynamic, it is very difficult to police, especially when certain phrases go in and out of vogue within a twitter thread.
Other threads run more on frontier law. Meme
threads and the like will expect users to have a certain thickness to their skin and unless extreme guidelines are being broken (slurs, nudity, porn), then you'll be expected to ignore it. Some posters have had a post deleted in the last couple of days with a notification to say drop the terminology that gets everyone het up and riled as an example. We think most users know what type of posts can be construed as console warring, or when they are trying to deliberately antagonise users. We also respect the battle of users trying to shift those boundaries, or looking for technicalities in something written down they can recite to the letter, and claim ambiguity to troll. Unfortunately, we work on a more informal level. We don't want members being lawyers looking for interpretative loopholes, because it just forms a very unhealthy relationship.
i) If you have a point make it, that means knowing when you've made it and when it becomes a pattern of ignoring replies and issuing the same question
ii) if you're in a heated debate that's genuine know when to park it and move on
iii) if you're involved in a personal feud/fight know when to park or mods will intercede
iv) if you're deliberately antagonising/baiting users expect warnings/reply bans
v) if you ignore reply bans/warnings expect a ban
We find the community does a decent enough job of running itself, with a some steering and correction at times. Forums - at times - contain their own little character arcs and underlying drama's as well. Again this is where we apply adaptive moderation. Certain interactions between a subset of individuals fall into this scope - these are the ones where probably new members will send a report in, but the mods are either aware of the underlying meta or the historical intricacies that need more sensitive and sensible moderation. Moderation isn't a science, and it can be frustrating in an age where google can provide very specific answers within seconds, that we still have inconsistency due to context, interpetation and adaptability. The only thing we can say in response is that we are truly independent, everything is fair game if the case is compelling enough, and we will do our best to allow even the most contentious discussions take place as long as they are rooted in genuine curiosity. We only really pull the trigger when we really have to, but are also open to appeals and reducing punitive measures if users are contrite and own their problems.