AMA Ask The Mods!

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

And what about Reader Mode? Cause that's for trouble makers. People will get confused.

AM will get its own badge/custom title.

Don't worry

 

[ZEGA ZONICZEGA ZONIC's icon]

AM will get its own badge/custom title.

Don't worry

 

[Jayonnaise6105 Jayonnaise6105]

AM will get its own badge/custom title.

Don't worry

Plus I'm sure people will get used to "Away Mode" in time. Honestly, it's a great idea. Hopefully, it'll save some of the confusion that arises when people have requested to be put in Reader Mode as a means of taking a break.

 

[KamakoKamako's icon]

And what about Reader Mode? Cause that's for trouble makers. People will get confused.

Reader mode will continue to serve its previous primary function of limiting Forum access/permissions for Users whose activity has repeatedly infringed on the Forum rules.

But whereas before, when if a person wanted to take a break we had to place them in Reader Mode (which wasn't its intended purpose and raises concerns within the community), we now have a new special account status (Away Mode) to make things clearer and prevent confusion. :]

Anyone whose account is currently in Reader Mode who is actually just taking a hiatus will have their account status changed to "Away Mode" shortly.

 

[Deleted member 908994]

Hmm, if I had one wish here I think I wish I were able to delete my threads myself. Unfortunately that's the only problem I have here.

 

[Tonberry]

What steps are you actually taking to combating toxicity and users circumventing rule-breaking behavior by using alt accounts?

In the discussion thread the other week @Waffles said several times that ”good changes are on the way” or similar statements elsewhere on the site, but so far the only thing that’s been done is add an Away Mode for addicted users who want to keep their accounts while going on break, and making three users moderators.
I’m not asking for you to baby us or whatever, but Waffles teasing something like that but nothing really happening feels kind of strange.

During this time the only changes I’ve seen so far (aside from users getting the Away badge) have been closing controversial threads, scrubbing them of discourse and then reopening them and pretend nothing has happened, the toxic users still roaming around and well-meaning users caught in the crossfire for simply challenging/questioning them.

Also, has Reader Mode always just been on a timer, or is that a new change? Because if that’s the case then it’s more or a less a worthless feature. Or moreso than I initially thought.

(Oh btw I know I’ve been come off as angry lately, but I’m not, I just wanted to be thorough in my question)

 

[thumbsdown's iconthumbsdown]

I'm interested in knowing what's the next set of awards or trophies to be implemented in the forums and when they're coming.

 

[ZEGA ZONICZEGA ZONIC's icon]

Also, has Reader Mode always just been on a timer, or is that a new change? Because if that’s the case then it’s more or a less a worthless feature. Or moreso than I initially thought.

The mods have been using reader more for people that want to take a break. Away mode is going to be used for that now. Reader mode will be still used for troublemakers.

 

[Xdqwerty]

Why is searching unavaliable for guests?

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

What steps are you actually taking to combating toxicity and users circumventing rule-breaking behavior by using alt accounts?

We warn the HELL out of troublemakers and disable accounts that trigger alt warns upon being created. I know that it doesn't sound like a lot, but I have taught high school before and that led me to believe that people either change their ways or they don't. Not a whole lot we can do after that, outside of reminding them that using the forums is a privilege, not a right.

But if someone's actually that committed to being a pest, we have ways of dealing with that as well and largely have -- you haven't noticed because they can dish but they can't take and have widely deleted their accounts like three minutes afterwards. Perhaps we should make it a complete package and remove that option after they have crossed the line, but I kinda already live in an oppressive state IRL & don't wish to import it.

In the discussion thread the other week @Waffles said several times that ”good changes are on the way” or similar statements elsewhere on the site, but so far the only thing that’s been done is add an Away Mode for addicted users who want to keep their accounts while going on break, and making three users moderators.
I’m not asking for you to baby us or whatever, but Waffles teasing something like that but nothing really happening feels kind of strange.

The changes I was specifically referring to were:

- Introducing Away Mode (which is meant to stem the constant bleeding of members who are otherwise great but suddenly can't put these forums on their schedules).

- Nilla's themes.

- Appointing Guinea, Jayo and Isegrim as mods.

Believe it or not, that last point probably cost me a few years off my life... Not because of them (of course not), but because it takes a hell of a whole lot of convincing to get anyone at all to join the team. I don't like sending "corporate mail" to people and copy/paste the same soulless thing fifty times over in case someone bites -- that's the literal definition of insanity.

I want to make the pitch personal, interesting and also see what points can be bent in order to properly accommodate their needs... You never know what works! And even then, one candidate didn't even reply when asked! I have gotten stupidly close to poaching staff from my own projects to maybe get a helping hand, but some godsend member always emerges in the end... And these three are the latest iteration of that.

During this time the only changes I’ve seen so far (aside from users getting the Away badge) have been closing controversial threads, scrubbing them of discourse and then reopening them and pretend nothing has happened,

Wait, wait, wait... We never pretended nothing had happened. We have been pretty specific about not tolerating any new shenanigans after a line had been crossed.

I personally think that leaving those threads closed would have been infinitely worse by robbing people like you of the chance to properly discuss important topics without seeing memes every third post.

Is it perfect? Of course it isn't... But if the choice falls between separating 400 posts from an otherwise worthwhile topic or leaving it closed the second it showed signs of derailing, I'd always choose the former.

Also, has Reader Mode always just been on a timer, or is that a new change? Because if that’s the case then it’s more or a less a worthless feature. Or moreso than I initially thought.

Reader Mode engages when you reach three active warnings and disables automatically as soon as one of them expires. It should be pretty damn hard to get three active warnings during the same thirty-day period, yet some people make it really easy to accomplish.

That said, RM can also be applied manually for particularly egregious actions and set to expire at a much later date.

(Oh btw I know I’ve been come off as angry lately, but I’m not, I just wanted to be thorough in my question)

I have known you for two years. I know how you roll and I assure you that you don't come across as angry to me. Don't worry about it

Hopefully that clears something things up.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Why is searching unavaliable for guests?

Database overloading concerns.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

I'm interested in knowing what's the next set of awards or trophies to be implemented in the forums and when they're coming.

I'm thinking about a Former Staff / Staff Alumnus badge, a Theme-Maker Badge and something for particularly useful suggestions or constantly contributing to the community.

Haven't discussed any of those yet, though.

 

[thumbsdown's iconthumbsdown]

I'm thinking about a Former Staff / Staff Alumnus badge, a Theme-Maker Badge and something for particularly useful suggestions or constantly contributing to the community.

Haven't discussed any of those yet, though.

No, no. I wasn't referring to badges, but trophies (like the duplicate hunter thing, stuff you'd earn progressively while participating in any of the forums games or other forum usage dynamics). Good to know about the badges, regardless.

 

[Tonberry]

We warn the HELL out of troublemakers and disable accounts that trigger alt warns upon being created. I know that it doesn't sound like a lot, but I have taught high school before and that led me to believe that people either change their ways or they don't. Not a whole lot we can do after that, outside of reminding them that using the forums is a privilege, not a right.

But if someone's actually that committed to being a pest, we have ways of dealing with that as well and largely have -- you haven't noticed because they can dish but they can't take and have widely deleted their accounts like three minutes afterwards. Perhaps we should make it a complete package and remove that option after they have crossed the line, but I kinda already live in an oppressive state IRL & don't wish to import it.


The changes I was specifically referring to were:

- Introducing Away Mode (which is meant to stem the constant bleeding of members who are otherwise great but suddenly can't put these forums on their schedules).

- Nilla's themes.

- Appointing Guinea, Jayo and Isegrim as mods.

Believe it or not, that last point probably cost me a few years off my life... Not because of them (of course not), but because it takes a hell of a whole lot of convincing to get anyone at all to join the team. I don't like sending "corporate mail" to people and copy/paste the same soulless thing fifty times over in case someone bites -- that's the literal definition of insanity.

I want to make the pitch personal, interesting and also see what points can be bent in order to properly accommodate their needs... You never know what works! And even then, one candidate didn't even reply when asked! I have gotten stupidly close to poaching staff from my own projects to maybe get a helping hand, but some godsend member always emerges in the end... And these three are the latest iteration of that.

Wait, wait, wait... We never pretended nothing had happened. We have been pretty specific about not tolerating any new shenanigans after a line had been crossed.

I personally think that leaving those threads closed would have been infinitely worse by robbing people like you of the chance to properly discuss important topics with seeing memes every third post.

Is it perfect? Of course it isn't... But if the choice falls between separating 400 posts from an otherwise worthwhile topic or leaving it closed the second it showed signs of derailing, I'd always choose the former.

Reader Mode engages when you reach three active warnings and disables automatically as soon as one of them expires. It should pretty damn hard to get three active warnings during the same thirty-day period, yet some people make it really easy to accomplish.

That said, RM can also be applied manually for particularly egregious actions and set to expire at a much later date.


I have known you for two years. I know how you roll and I assure you that you don't come across as angry to me. Don't worry about it

Hopefully that clears something things up.

Thank you very much for the detailed answer!

I wasn’t sure if my post came off as confrontational which is why I added that disclaimer

 

[X Paulo]

I have a question: what is the opinion of the residents about the lod? I also have another question: what do you think I should do?

 

[DragonMals]

I appreciate Waffles for creating a forum topic that's as helpful as such. A bunch of questions the members have asked has cleared up so many thoughts I've had to ask of the mods ever since the incident that happened right after I've joined back onto the forum. There may be some that I still have yet to ask, but I do think this'll suffice for now. :)

 

[thumbsdown's iconthumbsdown]

Some folks around here use the forums very similarly to how they would use a chat room, discord server, or mainstream social media. We're able to see this especially in general discussion areas or threads like "hot takes" and similar ones. Given this situation, and considering it's detrimental to the health and organization of the forums or isn't the scope of mod work nor the forums (generating only poor discussion and unnecessary tension imo), I would like to know if xenforo offers any solution to mute/hide entire areas of the forum at the user-level settings, same way as on a discord server and the-like. This way, instead of ignoring specific accounts and some of the valid interactions they bring in less "loosen" topics, what would be ignored is an area in which a specific/potential harmful practice to the forums is amplified. I feel like this is just external behavior some users are bringing from other places to the forums, so nothing more reasonable than bringing external remedies similarly to "save" the forum from losing its identity.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Some folks around here use the forums very similarly to how they would use a chat room, discord server, or mainstream social media. We're able to see this especially in general discussion areas or threads like "hot takes" and similar ones. Given this situation, and considering it's detrimental to the health and organization of the forums or isn't the scope of mod work nor the forums (generating only poor discussion and unnecessary tension imo), I would like to know if xenforo offers any solution to mute/hide entire areas of the forum at the user-level settings, same way as on a discord server and the-like. This way, instead of ignoring specific accounts and some of the valid interactions they bring in less "loosen" topics, what would be ignored is an area in which a specific/potential harmful practice to the forums is amplified. I feel like this is just external behavior some users are bringing from other places to the forums, so nothing more reasonable than bringing external remedies similarly to "save" the forum from losing its identity.

I'll look into it, but it sounds like a plugin-type deal.

We have actually earmarked a lot of those to keep the forums running, but those are rarely free and often very expensive.

I'll tell Spike about it, too.

 

[thumbsdown's iconthumbsdown]

Nice, thanks in advance!

 

[Xdqwerty]

How do you decide when sharing a game from the downloads section to the repo?

 

[BigTony]

How you doing boys?

 

[ZEGA ZONICZEGA ZONIC's icon]

Will there be more sections & threads to talk in?

 

[Clippy]

How do you decide when sharing a game from the downloads section to the repo?

This might come across as a cop out but most of us don't decide that at all. It's up to the Repo curators. I, for instance, have nothing to do with the Repo at all other than policing the comment section every once in a while.

How you doing boys?

Will there be more sections & threads to talk in?

Well, making new threads is pretty much up to everyone here, isn't it? As for sections, that depends I guess. If you have any good ideas feel free to suggest them. Whether or not they'll be implemented I can't say but it's worth a shot, no?

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Will there be more sections & threads to talk in?

Threads, you are free to make as many as you want.

Categories... What do you have in mind?

 

[Jayonnaise6105 Jayonnaise6105]

Will there be more sections & threads to talk in?

It would depend on the content of, and demand for, more sections, I imagine. There was no "food & cooking" section at one point, but that was added after some demand.