A plea to you guys

[Mike Olbinski]

Guys,

For some reason, this forum seems to lead the charge when it comes to people biting, snapping, ripping and insulting each other. Subtle...or not so subtle...that's the reputation this board has. I think it's gotten better, Chris Sanders has done an excellent job.

But we can't sit around banning and editing posts you guys make all day long. At some point, you guys need to take matters into your own hands and try to get along.

Some of you think you deserve respect. Some of you are antagonizing others just for fun. Some of you don't like someone else and want to get them in trouble.

Whatever it is, there is one thing we need to remember:

All of us are SUNS fans and we're ALL on the same side

So why don't we try to start over here today. Let's all just relax and have fun again. We're all fans of the same good team and we should be able to disagree without crossing the line.

I'd like to see you guys who agree with this to reply to this thread, maybe apologize for your behavior, or explain things, or whatever. Air it out...and let's move on.

Can we do that?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I definitely agree that Sanders has done a good job. For this boards faults, he can't be blamed for any of them. The trolling policies that are in place here, albeit strict, keep most of the talk about Suns (or Lakers ) and I really appreciate that.

Moderating is a thankless job that forces you to dedicate a great deal of time to this board, and for that, I say Thank You.

 

[dodie53]

sorry for my bad english..

be nice to the foreigner..
=)

 

[abomb]

All of us are SUNS fans and we're ALL on the same side

j/k, I like this forum too.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

j/k, I like this forum too.

Okay, we're not ALL Suns fans

But you know what I mean.

 

[elindholm]

I think there are three main phenomena in play here:

1. The admins don't spend much time in this forum unless someone reports a "problem." For instance, Chandler Mike, you rarely post here, and when you do, it's almost always to tell us that we're using the board wrong. You had some posts about Garnett shortly before the draft, but other than that you aren't involved in the daily discussion here. So the perspective you get is a bit distorted.

2. That said, you're right, there is a lot of snippiness here. But it becomes somewhat less noticeable when you're immersed in the forum and following the discussions. When I sometimes visit the other forums, say for the Cardinals or Everything Else, I notice a great deal of snippiness there too. It's more apparent to me because I'm encountering it as an outsider. The "reputation" this forum allegedly has for being nastier than the others is largely undeserved -- they're all about the same, and it just depends on where you're looking.

3. But if this forum is a bit more hostile than the others, it's because the Suns are a good team and draw more trolls. No one trolls the Cardinals forum, because what would the point be? Once the Cardinals become good, it will be a different story. I agree that Chris Sanders has done a good job, but it's almost impossble to keep this place clean of trolls, and that's always going to set everyone's mood on edge.

It's the nature of the beast. Some people could tone down their acts a little, and that would help, but the only real solution is to ratchet the level of censorship even higher. That will make the board worse, not better.

 

[abomb]

Trust me, you guys have been more ornery toward each other as of late, but the mods do an excellent job of keeping this board mostly crap free. You want crap? Go to any Lakers board. They are disasters.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Ive been around a few message boards in my time. And one thing I have learned is:


Internet arguments are not a test of intelligence, but endurance. Dont engage.

You will always have resident posters whose main priority is not keeping civil discourse, but facetiously trying to bait people with shocking or intentionally opposing views

In contrast, you also have people naive enough to not see such bottom feeding intentions, and will persist in adhering to their principles regardless of the irrationality or futility of their efforts


I wont name names though.

 

[elindholm]

Heh. But seriously, let's try to keep the "subtle" personal attacks out of this thread, at least.

 

[slinslin]

I think it's a joke, this forum has gotten to the point where its way too much moderated.

I get banned 4 days because I told cheesebeef that he is simply looking for things to whine about with the Suns after he dooms the Suns for picking Tucker and trading JAMES JONES for more cap relief.. Are you kidding me?

 

[dodie53]

..??
..??

hehe.
=)

 

[Goldfield]

Ive been around a few message boards in my time. And one thing I have learned is:


Internet arguments are not a test of intelligence, but endurance. Dont engage.

You will always have resident posters whose main priority is not keeping civil discourse, but facetiously trying to bait people with shocking or intentionally opposing views

In contrast, you also have people naive enough to not see such bottom feeding intentions, and will persist in adhering to their principles regardless of the irrationality or futility of their efforts


I wont name names though.

LMAO nice!

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I think there are three main phenomena in play here:

1. The admins don't spend much time in this forum unless someone reports a "problem." For instance, Chandler Mike, you rarely post here, and when you do, it's almost always to tell us that we're using the board wrong. You had some posts about Garnett shortly before the draft, but other than that you aren't involved in the daily discussion here. So the perspective you get is a bit distorted.

You are totally right. I do visit here a lot more lately though, but I don't have the time to read everything. But when I get reported posts from you guys about each other, I have to deal with it, meaning I have to get my nose dirty and start sniffing around.

In all honesty, I'd rather just let you guys go at it without much moderation if you could play nice, but it tends to escalate.

 

[Goldfield]

I think it's a joke, this forum has gotten to the point where its way too much moderated.

I get banned 4 days because I told cheesebeef that he is simply looking for things to whine about with the Suns after he dooms the Suns for picking Tucker and trading JAMES JONES for more cap relief.. Are you kidding me?

I agree, although I think they are just trying to keep the entire board under control so it stays up to ASFN standards.

I agree with just about all your posts and never find you out of line.

 

[elindholm]

In all honesty, I'd rather just let you guys go at it without much moderation if you could play nice, but it tends to escalate.

Fair enough. Maybe you should ask the moderators to hand out a lot more short-term bans, even like six hours or something. As soon as someone starts to act up, they get a time out, if that's what you want. I think that the moderators have (for the most part) been appropriately restrained with their banning, maybe because a multiple-day ban seems awfully strict for simple arguing.

 

[az1965]

Ive been around a few message boards in my time. And one thing I have learned is:


Internet arguments are not a test of intelligence, but endurance. Dont engage.

You will always have resident posters whose main priority is not keeping civil discourse, but facetiously trying to bait people with shocking or intentionally opposing views

In contrast, you also have people naive enough to not see such bottom feeding intentions, and will persist in adhering to their principles regardless of the irrationality or futility of their efforts


I wont name names though.

 

[wsupkid]

I am a sarcastic (Insert words here), I cant type, and I am not much of a writer. For that I appologise. I know we sometimes get out feeling hurt.
I LOVE YOU GUYS! Thanks for all the hard work put in so we could have this forum.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Okay, I hear what everyone is saying.

I have one question for you that I'd like to hear responses on:

How would you like to see this board moderated?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

I think moderation should entail:

spammers
crude hijacking insults
f-bombs
requests/complaints

The End.

Aside from probably two random and isolated idio...incidents, I think my encounter with the moderation here is just fine considering they are volunteers who probably have jobs in real life.

I do like the x-hour ban idea too

 

[Chaplin]

Chris does do a good job, but it's always a fine line. He has a tough job, but it's hard to keep it from getting to your head. I feel like it's much easier to get banned if you happen to disagree with a moderator over a specific point. That's an emotional reaction, on both sides, and throwing threats around does not help the coherence of the board. And not just from moderators. It's a two-way street.

I think the mods should use the PM system for warnings instead of calling people out publicly on threads. That way, the offender, if he has a chance to make things right, can go back and fix the situation without the embarrassment of Chris announcing to the world that they are banned.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Which is better?

1. Continue as we are, just banning people for x hours/days if they cross some line we think has been crossed.

2. Less moderation on discussions other than for Trolls, blatant thread hijiacking and swearing at each other.

Point 2 basically means you guys can argue, and get away with the occasional comment about someone being a baby, or ignorant, etc. But if we see bad stuff, swearing, trolling, etc., we'll deal with it.

 

[wsupkid]

Chris does do a good job, but it's always a fine line. He has a tough job, but it's hard to keep it from getting to your head. I feel like it's much easier to get banned if you happen to disagree with a moderator over a specific point. That's an emotional reaction, on both sides, and throwing threats around does not help the coherence of the board. And not just from moderators. It's a two-way street.

I think the mods should use the PM system for warnings instead of calling people out publicly on threads. That way, the offender, if he has a chance to make things right, can go back and fix the situation without the embarrassment of Chris announcing to the world that they are banned.

Im sure if a mod is doing their jobs people will have problems with them. I know I need to do a better job of understanding that they are not out to get me. I believe that is what Chan Mike is talking about. (that and the Mods being a bit more understanding)

 

[Covert Rain]

What about getting another mod or 2 if people feel like Mods are not reviewing enough posts? In terms of banning. I don't see it the way some do. I don't think this forums is overly strict. I am registered on other boards and I think that compared to some others this board is ban light. I guess it's all a matter of perspective. Overall I think you guys are doing a great job IMO of keeping the piece.

Bottom line this is my favorite forum.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Just say NO! to more mods.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Which is better?

1. Continue as we are, just banning people for x hours/days if they cross some line we think has been crossed.

2. Less moderation on discussions other than for Trolls, blatant thread hijiacking and swearing at each other.

Point 2 basically means you guys can argue, and get away with the occasional comment about someone being a baby, or ignorant, etc. But if we see bad stuff, swearing, trolling, etc., we'll deal with it.

#2
I don't care what people say to me online, other than stalker PM's, which just creep me out, I have no issue with being called anything online, but that's me, and I like to rant sometimes.

As for trolls, I'd rather have a troll be ripped apart by posters than to have them autobanned to be honest.