applelove
Legacy Supporter 5
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2011
- Location
- In a basket
-Index-
1. Being a good user
1a. General forum behavior
1b. The rules
1c. Member interaction
2. Forum Staff and You
2a. What is a moderator/admin?
2b. The roll of a moderator
2c. How can I help as a member?
3. The Dark Side
3a. Troubling members
3b. Dealing with out of control arguments as a user
3c. The Dark Arts (aka necroposting)
3c1. When is it okay?
3c2. What to do when it happens
3d. Grey areas in forum rules and etiquette
3e. Reporting.
3f. The abuse of power
---------------------------------------
Being a good user
Being a good user isn't that complicated, most forum members don't need to put forth any effort to be a helpful and integrated part of the community. There are, however, a few things that one should keep in mind when posting on a forum. For the sake of relevancy, this guide will be written to address the perspective of a semi-private community forum, such as Herocraft.
1a. General forum behavior
As a good user, you'll want to post in a way that promotes discussion and growth. Okay, that's a little cheesy.
Read the rules. Read the rules for the section your about to post in. Read the rules for the topic!
Almost everything you need to know before posting is in some form of rulebook, and while ignoring them may not get you strung up by your toes, it may cause you to look like a bad egg.
Here are a few bits and bytes that will make a bit more sense-
And remember, as a good member, you are a leader whether you like it or not! Post carefully and intelligently, and the next guy will to! Hopefully.
1b. The rules
http://herocraftonline.com/forum/index.php?forums/rules.10/
Forum rules should always be observed, and kept in mind when posting and dealing with other users. These are the universal laws of Herocraft's forums. As with all laws, there are some gray areas, but it is best to understand the rules and abide by them. This will allow a user to not only excel as a productive member of the forums, but promote good behaviors in other users as well.
There are rules for some sections as well, and it is very important to read those too. There aren't many gray areas when it comes to section rules, so make sure you don't slip up!
1c. Member interaction
It's important to remember that in any community there is a diverse population with different backgrounds and cultures. Often times you will see very prim and mature users, as well as trouble makers discussing under one thread. Interacting with members who have very different opinions and backgrounds as oneself can be very delicate, and sometimes escalate into real problems in the community, that may even be made worse by well-meaning individuals.
As a courtesy, and to prevent potential problems with other users, a well-rounded forum member should post as if in a PG13 environment. While this is not necessary, and some crude or mature material (language wise.) is to be expected, it is courteous to assume that all age groups will be reading what you post, as well as people of different beliefs and customs. A good hearty argument is often welcomed, but when it isn't intended it can be quite problematic and possibly avoided by being aware of how you are posting, and who you are posting to.
---------------------------------------
Forum Staff and You
All forums have a staff, no matter how big or small. In many cases it can be only a single person watching over the entire forum, but in others it tends to be an entire staff with varying levels of authority and abilities that lead and direct the forum and community as a whole.
2a. What is a moderator/admin?
A moderator is a user that has been given the ability to manipulate threads and posts, and in some cases, users, for the betterment of the community. A moderator typically has the ability to open/close threads, move/delete posts, and suspend or ban users. They function as community leaders or sometimes just as janitors. An admin is a step up from a moderator, having privileges such as promoting users, manipulating account and forum features, and usually access to higher control panel options.
2b. The roll of a moderator
A moderator, in its strictest definition, is only there to ensure everything is in proper order and that no rules are being bent or broken. In a less literal sense, a moderator is a leader to the community. Moderators are here to help members with forum related problems, as well as function as a catalyst to forum activity and discussion. Pushing discussions in the right direction and maintaining a calm and clean environment are very important, and help a community to grow and expand onto new ideas and new opportunities.
2c. How can I help as a member?
Members are what make the forum. Without their ideas and opinions, there really isn't anything to moderate, is there?
Being a good user is the best thing one can do to help the staff out. Reporting threads instead of exacerbating the problem, being careful in dealing with other members, posting helpful topics or thoughtful replies, anything that gives you that satisfied feeling inside is probably a very helpful action. A moderator wants to push discussion forward, and by replying intelligently a user can add a lot to any discussion.
In fact, many of these are traits a good admin will look for when picking his moderators: the ability to lead, level headedness, and thoughtful interaction with other users.
---------------------------------------
The Dark Side
Isn't there always one of these? Every forum has trouble makers, and they come in all shapes and forms. You may not even realize some of the problems you have contributed to in the past that can often be prevented entirely!
3a. Troubling members
There are always bad eggs. Always. In many cases they come in the form of forum "trolls" or other very immature people. This particular person is looking to start a fuss and cause drama, often times posting controversial but uneducated opinions in order to illicit a response. In these cases it is important to fall back on the previous section and maintain a cool head while dealing with the thread in a mature way, so as not to make things worse.
Other times there may be a user who simply doesn't know that they are being problematic. In some cases it may be okay to address this issue oneself, but most of the time the thing to do is message a moderator, and let them know about it. They will more than likely be able to address the member in private and prevent any outbursts or arguments between the users. You may find that in many cases the best thing to do, is to simply do nothing!
3b. Dealing with out of control arguments as a user
Sometimes it just can't be helped, that you will end in an argument with somebody. Hopefully, it'll be about who is cooler -- Mario or Luigi -- but for now, let's assume it is an angry exchange of ad hominems between two or more users.
3b1. Between you, a mature and well rounded member, and this punk who just insulted your mama!
In a lot of cases, you will be dealing with a very angry user with little maturity or sense enough to calm down. The first thing to think about, is that you need to take everything said with a grain of salt, and try not to make things worse. With any luck the user will be a pretty okay person, and calm down if you argue your side in a calm and non hostile way. In other cases, you'll explain your point in astonishing detail, and just have a typo insulted. In any case where the member is too belligerent to discuss the problem maturely, report that user to a moderator, and say nothing else.
3b2. Between two other users
Stay out of it. If it is an argument that is quickly degenerating into an exchange of foul words or hateful comments from both parties, report it immediately and forget it ever happened. If one party is trying to remain level headed, a few quick words in a private message may help them to make the right decision, but either way, report it.
3c. The Dark Arts
Otherwise known as necroposting. Necro posting is the art of posting in a thread that has had no discussion in a very long time. This is a major gray area that many forums have troubles with, and many moderators despise.
3c1. When is it okay?
Okay to be a necromancer? Believe it or not, there are acceptable times and ways to revive a long dead thread. The important thing here is to provide meaningful insight that can spark a new discussion under that thread, while remaining on topic.
So let's suppose you see a thread that really interests you, but it's been on page 231 for nearly a year. yikes! There are some considerations you can make about posting in this thread.
If you can post a thought provoking opinion or otherwise reignite the discussion, by all means post! If you have a revolutionary theory about the topic and absolutely must let it be known, maybe it's better to start a new thread entirely. It's not always necessary to use some old dusty thread!
3c2. What to do when it happens
So you're just strolling along, checking out a few threads, and BAM, some cool cat posts "lol, that's so cool!" to a thread from '06!
So what do you do? The best thing to do, is just mind your own business. However, consider reading the thread, and see if you can't go ahead and turn that necro post into a great discussion again. That's leadership! If you can reignite it yourself, go for it. Otherwise, just ignore it and the icky smelly thread will quickly be pushed back down under the dirt where it belongs.
3d. Gray areas in forum rules and etiquette
There are a ton of rules, and there's a good chance many of them will be broken from time to time. In most cases, this isn't all that serious, really. To be more clear, accidentally double posting doesn't count against a user. Posting several different replies one after another is what gets you!
Multiple posting is not a malicious activity; however, it does violate basic etiquette and even the forum rules. Learn how to use the edit button, and avoid having to double post. If you do accidentally repost your message, you can make a quick edit noting it, or just report the duplicate.
There are other gray areas as well. In fact, there are far too many to cover! There are exceptions to many rules, and in most cases you just have to use a little of your better judgment (that old thing?). However, if you were warned for breaking a rule that you feel is unjust, just chill out and let it go. Unlike a speeding ticket or a bad facebook photo, a warning won't follow you forever or ruin your reputation. The only way to get a bad reputation here is to build one from the ground up.
3e. Reporting
My favorite part! This is something that, sadly, very few members understand. You know that tiny little button next to the "post reply" button? The one that says "NOTIFY"? That's your best friend! In the vast majority of circumstances, you should report a post or thread to a moderator and leave it.
For example, you see a spammer, what is the wrong thing to do? "HEY SPAMMER! Stop spamming!"
Report it instead!
Or you see someone posting their topic in the wrong place? "This doesn't belong here."
Report it. But, this is another gray area. Alternatively, you could point them to the correct forum, and tell them to repost it there. But still, report it to have the thread removed when the new one is created. Any moderator worth their weight will allow time for the new thread to be created, move the old thread, or notify the user to repost after the thread is deleted.
In almost all cases, it is better to just report a thread and allow the staff to take care of it. What if that friendly gesture is taken the wrong way, and that confused member suddenly goes psycho on you? Now we've got you in a tussle with a punk, and probably 3-4 others jumping in to "defuse" the situation.
Report!
3f. The abuse of power
This happens as often as you think. Assuming you think it happens a lot, that is. Many times you'll see a member of the forum staff acting haughty or naughty, or downright rude! Unfortunately this means that the admin simply picked the wrong person (or in the worst case scenario, is also this kind of person) for the job. If you encounter this power crazy mod, what's the plan?
Seek a higher power. The Bible may help, but that's not what I mean, head over to your local staff list and find the name of an administrator, as this is the guy who can handle anystaff related problems. Explain your problem in great detail, and provide links to posts where this moderator has been acting up or violating rules, and explain your personal concern for the well being of the community. The admin will take care of it, usually by having a talk with the moderator in question, and occasionally by finding a replacement (maybe you!).
Unfortunately power abuse is somewhat common, as it's impossible to tell how a user will behave as a moderator until they are in the position. In many cases, it's just a foul personality, or a feeling of superiority, which isn't good, but it isn't hazardous either.
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Sorry if the formatting is odd or hard to read, this was written quite a while ago for a different community. Feedback is welcome, as always.
1. Being a good user
1a. General forum behavior
1b. The rules
1c. Member interaction
2. Forum Staff and You
2a. What is a moderator/admin?
2b. The roll of a moderator
2c. How can I help as a member?
3. The Dark Side
3a. Troubling members
3b. Dealing with out of control arguments as a user
3c. The Dark Arts (aka necroposting)
3c1. When is it okay?
3c2. What to do when it happens
3d. Grey areas in forum rules and etiquette
3e. Reporting.
3f. The abuse of power
---------------------------------------
Being a good user
Being a good user isn't that complicated, most forum members don't need to put forth any effort to be a helpful and integrated part of the community. There are, however, a few things that one should keep in mind when posting on a forum. For the sake of relevancy, this guide will be written to address the perspective of a semi-private community forum, such as Herocraft.
1a. General forum behavior
As a good user, you'll want to post in a way that promotes discussion and growth. Okay, that's a little cheesy.
Read the rules. Read the rules for the section your about to post in. Read the rules for the topic!
Almost everything you need to know before posting is in some form of rulebook, and while ignoring them may not get you strung up by your toes, it may cause you to look like a bad egg.
Here are a few bits and bytes that will make a bit more sense-
- Keep subject titles direct, descriptive and accurate
- Use caps, repeated punctuation, and BB code/formatting judiciously
- Do not create multiple threads for one topic or post your thread in every category
- Bump threads judiciously. If a thread has no new posts since the last bump, please don't bump it again.
- Post large images in spoiler tags.
- Do not make posts requesting the locking of another user's thread within a thread. Use the notify button and report it.
- Work out differences politely
- Be respectful when posting about controversial material.
- Keep posts clean: free of vulgarity, racism, profanity, and bigotry. PG13!
- Have a sense of humor!
- Format large blocks of text (Paragraphs, headings, etc..)
And remember, as a good member, you are a leader whether you like it or not! Post carefully and intelligently, and the next guy will to! Hopefully.
1b. The rules
http://herocraftonline.com/forum/index.php?forums/rules.10/
Forum rules should always be observed, and kept in mind when posting and dealing with other users. These are the universal laws of Herocraft's forums. As with all laws, there are some gray areas, but it is best to understand the rules and abide by them. This will allow a user to not only excel as a productive member of the forums, but promote good behaviors in other users as well.
There are rules for some sections as well, and it is very important to read those too. There aren't many gray areas when it comes to section rules, so make sure you don't slip up!
1c. Member interaction
It's important to remember that in any community there is a diverse population with different backgrounds and cultures. Often times you will see very prim and mature users, as well as trouble makers discussing under one thread. Interacting with members who have very different opinions and backgrounds as oneself can be very delicate, and sometimes escalate into real problems in the community, that may even be made worse by well-meaning individuals.
As a courtesy, and to prevent potential problems with other users, a well-rounded forum member should post as if in a PG13 environment. While this is not necessary, and some crude or mature material (language wise.) is to be expected, it is courteous to assume that all age groups will be reading what you post, as well as people of different beliefs and customs. A good hearty argument is often welcomed, but when it isn't intended it can be quite problematic and possibly avoided by being aware of how you are posting, and who you are posting to.
---------------------------------------
Forum Staff and You
All forums have a staff, no matter how big or small. In many cases it can be only a single person watching over the entire forum, but in others it tends to be an entire staff with varying levels of authority and abilities that lead and direct the forum and community as a whole.
2a. What is a moderator/admin?
A moderator is a user that has been given the ability to manipulate threads and posts, and in some cases, users, for the betterment of the community. A moderator typically has the ability to open/close threads, move/delete posts, and suspend or ban users. They function as community leaders or sometimes just as janitors. An admin is a step up from a moderator, having privileges such as promoting users, manipulating account and forum features, and usually access to higher control panel options.
2b. The roll of a moderator
A moderator, in its strictest definition, is only there to ensure everything is in proper order and that no rules are being bent or broken. In a less literal sense, a moderator is a leader to the community. Moderators are here to help members with forum related problems, as well as function as a catalyst to forum activity and discussion. Pushing discussions in the right direction and maintaining a calm and clean environment are very important, and help a community to grow and expand onto new ideas and new opportunities.
2c. How can I help as a member?
Members are what make the forum. Without their ideas and opinions, there really isn't anything to moderate, is there?
Being a good user is the best thing one can do to help the staff out. Reporting threads instead of exacerbating the problem, being careful in dealing with other members, posting helpful topics or thoughtful replies, anything that gives you that satisfied feeling inside is probably a very helpful action. A moderator wants to push discussion forward, and by replying intelligently a user can add a lot to any discussion.
In fact, many of these are traits a good admin will look for when picking his moderators: the ability to lead, level headedness, and thoughtful interaction with other users.
---------------------------------------
The Dark Side
Isn't there always one of these? Every forum has trouble makers, and they come in all shapes and forms. You may not even realize some of the problems you have contributed to in the past that can often be prevented entirely!
3a. Troubling members
There are always bad eggs. Always. In many cases they come in the form of forum "trolls" or other very immature people. This particular person is looking to start a fuss and cause drama, often times posting controversial but uneducated opinions in order to illicit a response. In these cases it is important to fall back on the previous section and maintain a cool head while dealing with the thread in a mature way, so as not to make things worse.
Other times there may be a user who simply doesn't know that they are being problematic. In some cases it may be okay to address this issue oneself, but most of the time the thing to do is message a moderator, and let them know about it. They will more than likely be able to address the member in private and prevent any outbursts or arguments between the users. You may find that in many cases the best thing to do, is to simply do nothing!
3b. Dealing with out of control arguments as a user
Sometimes it just can't be helped, that you will end in an argument with somebody. Hopefully, it'll be about who is cooler -- Mario or Luigi -- but for now, let's assume it is an angry exchange of ad hominems between two or more users.
3b1. Between you, a mature and well rounded member, and this punk who just insulted your mama!
In a lot of cases, you will be dealing with a very angry user with little maturity or sense enough to calm down. The first thing to think about, is that you need to take everything said with a grain of salt, and try not to make things worse. With any luck the user will be a pretty okay person, and calm down if you argue your side in a calm and non hostile way. In other cases, you'll explain your point in astonishing detail, and just have a typo insulted. In any case where the member is too belligerent to discuss the problem maturely, report that user to a moderator, and say nothing else.
3b2. Between two other users
Stay out of it. If it is an argument that is quickly degenerating into an exchange of foul words or hateful comments from both parties, report it immediately and forget it ever happened. If one party is trying to remain level headed, a few quick words in a private message may help them to make the right decision, but either way, report it.
3c. The Dark Arts
Otherwise known as necroposting. Necro posting is the art of posting in a thread that has had no discussion in a very long time. This is a major gray area that many forums have troubles with, and many moderators despise.
3c1. When is it okay?
Okay to be a necromancer? Believe it or not, there are acceptable times and ways to revive a long dead thread. The important thing here is to provide meaningful insight that can spark a new discussion under that thread, while remaining on topic.
So let's suppose you see a thread that really interests you, but it's been on page 231 for nearly a year. yikes! There are some considerations you can make about posting in this thread.
- Is there a more recent thread with the same topic?
- Is the thread still relevant? (If it's a discussion regarding rule changes made a year ago, it isn't relevant.)
- Can you contribute to this thread with a thoughtful reply, that may spark discussion?
If you can post a thought provoking opinion or otherwise reignite the discussion, by all means post! If you have a revolutionary theory about the topic and absolutely must let it be known, maybe it's better to start a new thread entirely. It's not always necessary to use some old dusty thread!
3c2. What to do when it happens
So you're just strolling along, checking out a few threads, and BAM, some cool cat posts "lol, that's so cool!" to a thread from '06!
So what do you do? The best thing to do, is just mind your own business. However, consider reading the thread, and see if you can't go ahead and turn that necro post into a great discussion again. That's leadership! If you can reignite it yourself, go for it. Otherwise, just ignore it and the icky smelly thread will quickly be pushed back down under the dirt where it belongs.
3d. Gray areas in forum rules and etiquette
There are a ton of rules, and there's a good chance many of them will be broken from time to time. In most cases, this isn't all that serious, really. To be more clear, accidentally double posting doesn't count against a user. Posting several different replies one after another is what gets you!
Multiple posting is not a malicious activity; however, it does violate basic etiquette and even the forum rules. Learn how to use the edit button, and avoid having to double post. If you do accidentally repost your message, you can make a quick edit noting it, or just report the duplicate.
There are other gray areas as well. In fact, there are far too many to cover! There are exceptions to many rules, and in most cases you just have to use a little of your better judgment (that old thing?). However, if you were warned for breaking a rule that you feel is unjust, just chill out and let it go. Unlike a speeding ticket or a bad facebook photo, a warning won't follow you forever or ruin your reputation. The only way to get a bad reputation here is to build one from the ground up.
3e. Reporting
My favorite part! This is something that, sadly, very few members understand. You know that tiny little button next to the "post reply" button? The one that says "NOTIFY"? That's your best friend! In the vast majority of circumstances, you should report a post or thread to a moderator and leave it.
For example, you see a spammer, what is the wrong thing to do? "HEY SPAMMER! Stop spamming!"
Report it instead!
Or you see someone posting their topic in the wrong place? "This doesn't belong here."
Report it. But, this is another gray area. Alternatively, you could point them to the correct forum, and tell them to repost it there. But still, report it to have the thread removed when the new one is created. Any moderator worth their weight will allow time for the new thread to be created, move the old thread, or notify the user to repost after the thread is deleted.
In almost all cases, it is better to just report a thread and allow the staff to take care of it. What if that friendly gesture is taken the wrong way, and that confused member suddenly goes psycho on you? Now we've got you in a tussle with a punk, and probably 3-4 others jumping in to "defuse" the situation.
Report!
3f. The abuse of power
This happens as often as you think. Assuming you think it happens a lot, that is. Many times you'll see a member of the forum staff acting haughty or naughty, or downright rude! Unfortunately this means that the admin simply picked the wrong person (or in the worst case scenario, is also this kind of person) for the job. If you encounter this power crazy mod, what's the plan?
Seek a higher power. The Bible may help, but that's not what I mean, head over to your local staff list and find the name of an administrator, as this is the guy who can handle anystaff related problems. Explain your problem in great detail, and provide links to posts where this moderator has been acting up or violating rules, and explain your personal concern for the well being of the community. The admin will take care of it, usually by having a talk with the moderator in question, and occasionally by finding a replacement (maybe you!).
Unfortunately power abuse is somewhat common, as it's impossible to tell how a user will behave as a moderator until they are in the position. In many cases, it's just a foul personality, or a feeling of superiority, which isn't good, but it isn't hazardous either.
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Sorry if the formatting is odd or hard to read, this was written quite a while ago for a different community. Feedback is welcome, as always.
