NationStates Jolt Archive

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9390973&postcount=22

The key points are:

Before this little crock pot is filled all the way up with wanksplooge,

and

Anyway, just thought I'd point out some interesting points, some things to mull over for the more feeble-minded of those folks who might be inclined to actually join this thing.

Which I think by default refers to people who've already joined as 'feebleminded'.


Flame: Expressing anger at someone in uncouth ways with OOC (out-of-character) comments (i.e. swearing, being obnoxious, threatening etc).

Swearing? Check
Obnoxious? Check.

Flamebait: Posts that are made with the aim of angering someone indirectly.

Aim of angering? Check

The thread is my announcement of reforming the Galacic Alliance and has, to my knowledge, done nothing which warrants such treatment, espcially from a Mod. While the post isn't a single congealed mass of swearing and threats, the fact that it refers to members and potential members as 'feeble-minded' and the Alliance being filled with 'wanksplooge', when it still isn't even a day old, seems to me to cross a line that a Mod shouldn't cross.

After reading the entire post, I see most of the post as constructive criticism, rather that 'flaming'. I'm not going to assume that I know exactly what Menelmacar was talking about in the post, but I can say what I think she meant by it.

Before this little crock pot is filled all the way up with wanksplooge,
Personally, I don't think you could possibly take this sentence out without checking out the rest of her post. If this were alone, without the explanations that she included later and directed as an attack, then that would be considered flaming, but again, I believe it was meant to be constructive criticism. Menelmacar pointed out the fact that the galaxy is a massive place and that there was still plenty of available space, seeing as there aren't really that many FT roleplayers.

Anyway, just thought I'd point out some interesting points, some things to mull over for the more feeble-minded of those folks who might be inclined to actually join this thing.
I am, in no way justifying this post; however, analyzing this from a roleplaying perspective, some of the things that you put in there, for your Galactic Alliance were pretty controversial. I'm not saying that you should expect any sort of flaming (not saying that she was flaming in any way), but you should certainly expect some sort of response to it.

In my honest opinion, none of what Menelmacar has typed could be considered flaming or flamebaiting.


~The Modified Freedom Forces of Euroslavia
Nationstates Forum Moderator~

Oh, I'm not complaining about the posts point (All the points that M raised were perfectly valid, though I did already know them) merely the condescending way she described the Alliance and Alliance members without any support (The 'wanksplooge' was particulalry hurtful. Brought a tear to my eye.)

But, since there's been no real follow up, I guess I'll just let this slide onward.

Oh, by the way, when did you make Mod? Your title is still a normal user rank.

Oh, by the way, when did you make Mod? Your title is still a normal user rank.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=435692

Ah. Well, congrats.

For reference, Euroslavia seems to have covered this more than adequately, and is dead on with the intent of my post. It should be noted that I do play this game as well as moderate it, just as all the other mods do. If I'm saying something in my capacity as a mod, I note such in the post. I put something like 'OFFICIAL NS MOD ACTION' or something in allcaps at the top of the post. Otherwise, it should be assumed that I am speaking in the capacity of a player.

Flaming or not, the tone was inappropriate, especially for someone who's 'job' is supposed to be keeping others from baiting and flaming and the like.

Before anyone suggests that Mods are not allowed to comment as they like, let me clarify:

Yes, of course they are. However, with the added authority comes added responsibility. There is more weight to their words, implied, percieved, true, or not. While much of the content there such as pointing out the vastness of space and such is valid, the tone is rude, demeaning, and clearly meant to be insulting.

Sorry Siri - you can say you're not speaking as a Mod, but Mod you are, whether moderating or not at any one given moment. That's like the cheerleaders who got in trouble for underage drinking getting pulled off the squad for a while back when I was in HS. Their argument was they weren't cheerleading at the time they were drinking, and ought to be able to do anything they wanted in their off time. The overall sentiment was, they were still representing the school, regardless, because everyone knew who they were, and it looked bad.

The universe isn't the only thing out there that is vast. So are the possibilities presented in the forums. I would think, enough room exists that we do not need to stoop to criticizing every little thread that pops up that we may or may not agree with, especially by folks we may not interact with on a regular basis - such as the case with Menelmacar and Klonor.

Give it a rest, people. Leave well enough alone, and ffs get off the high horses and play nice. This sort of thing got old a long time ago. I'd have to say I'm rather disappointed in seeing it raise it's ugly head again in the form of one whom I'm ic'lylinked to by alliance. This sort of thing makes us all look bad.

So it may not quite be rules-breaking. It still isn't right.

--Nathi's Player

I agree with Nathi's player on this point. Responding in what can be considered a condescending manner does not reflect well on the Moderation staff and is a poor reflection on the site if Moderators are held to a more lenient standard than the rank and file player. They are perceived to be representing Max Barry and the site in general when they post, whether it's acting in their official capacity as Moderators with the signatures typed in or they act as players.

In the working world, you can get in huge trouble for acting in a way that casts your company in a negative light. The same should hold true for the Moderation staff.

To be clear, I don't always like how Mods treat other players in an OOC, non-official capacity. I've seen a small number of cases of rudeness and borderline flaming/flamebait from Mods, and I always disapprove of it just as much as I disapprove of it in myself or another player or someone's random puppet. I think that it sets a not-so-good example for other players and doesn't exactly encourage the kind of "play nice" attitude that Sal mentioned in the One-Stop Rules Shop.

On the other hand, I haven't seen any outright rules violations from a Mod (though that doesn't mean there haven't been any) and the rules certainly don't make rudeness illegal. Besides, this isn't my site and those in charge are hardly obligated to do anything but conform to the rules they uphold. They can take whatever tone they like or be as rude as they like and it doesn't mean I can do anything about it unless it becomes a rules violation.

Fortunately, these sorts of incidents are the exception rather than the rule. Most of the Mods are generally polite (or at least not rude) and helpful, and I can forgive a little occasional rudeness considering what they have to put up with, despite my disapproval of such behavior.

Sorry to intterupt Texas and others, but it was Fris who typed the OSRS... not Sal.

Sorry to intterupt Texas and others, but it was Fris who typed the OSRS... not Sal.

I'm assuming this is what he meant.
Play Nice: Regarding ignores, quotes, and various other interpretations and variable rules listed in this topic: Play nice. If you do that, you'll probably be fine. -- SalusaSecondus

Sal added that himself.


~The Modified Freedom Forces of Euroslavia
Nationstates Forum Moderator~

I'm assuming this is what he meant.

You're correct. That's what I was referring to.