Leave the staff to do their jobs...

[Zidargh]

I feel it would be appropriate to post this here and stress the problem I am seeing grow very frequently. If it is not right to post it here, by all means delete it.

As you can see by the title, I am a little angered by a few members here. If you would like to know who I am referring to, just PM me. Humiliation is not something I resort to.

Lately I've been seeing a number of members 'play Mod' in the sense that they either feel they are superior to new comers or patronize new comers to 'read the rules' or give them warnings that only the staff here have the right to do. Except for the feeling superior part.

I understand that it seems quite nice of people to try and help the staff out with their job, but to constantly do this to an extent is outrageous because let's be real, these people are just trying to get into the Admin's good books and try and obtain a role as a staff member.

I am getting pretty damn annoyed with [b]members[/b] who act as if they have the right to degrade 'newbies' or lay down the law when unnecessary. I just don't understand why they act this way.

Anyway. I was just asking moderators to keep an eye out for these types of members. Dagger has already responded to a member so that's a start and I'm glad the awareness levels are increasing.

But please try and sort this problem out. I will name names if necessary but I will also not chase up these people as I do not have the right to do so.

Thankyou.

Best wishes,
Zidargh.

[James]

[color=#707875]Well, if you took a look at Meggido's thread in Otaku Lounge...I think you'll see a good example of both newer and more well-established members "playing mod". But not only playing mod...also being blatantly rude.

There's just [i]no [/i]reason for anyone to post a kind of "we don't want you here" message. That just goes against everything OtakuBoards stands for. As I mentioned in the thread, all of those people who expressed that kind of sentiment in their post are one step closer to a ban -- if I see that kinda thing again, I won't hesitate to take action against those members.

So, I don't think that your concerns are unfounded. This should hopefully serve as a reminder that members (and staff) don't have to tolerate rudeness like that.[/color]

[Prince Van]

I ahve to admit I did this once, but once warned I will not do ti again.I've seen lots of peoplen do it and when you say people think they are better and degrade "newbies" your actually wrong it's mostly newbies, some don't even know how to report posts and would if they knew so they tell other people but I've got to agree with you; too many people are doing this now and msot (unlike me) continue even after they've been warned .

[Dagger]

Thank goodness that you posted this, Zidargh. Your comments are intelligently presented, and I agree with everything you've said. I find it really bizarre that people post in threads which they [i]know[/i] are eventually going to be closed. ^_^;

While "playing mod" does irk me, flat-out rudeness is equally aggravating, and ends up hurting more people than the one who was originally insulted. It affects the entire forum's atmosphere, making the community seem disrespectful and unwelcoming. Part of the reason I love OtakuBoards is because the members here are normally quite flexible, kind and understanding. Let's try to keep that from changing.

~Dagger~

[Morpheus]

I will say, though, it is good to tell a new member what they have done. But, as you all have said, be respectful. You've never seen Asuka or Semjaza Tell a newbie on their first post, "you're banned!" They just kindly tell them what they have done wrong and offer a rules link. If you see someone get out of hand, don't feel like you have the power to stop them. Just PM a mod as soon as possible and let them handle it.

[Burori]

[QUOTE=James][color=#707875]
There's just [i]no [/i]reason for anyone to post a kind of "we don't want you here" message.[/color][/QUOTE]

I DON'T WANT YOU HERE JAMES!!!! YOU STINK! J/k.

On a more serious tone.

I agree though with this. I was tired of seeing other members pushing me around when I had my n00bs stats when I joined in v.6. Some I notice are still doing that and I for one am getting tired of it. I propose that a punishment be set for those who lust to act modish towards others. Nothing rational mind you but enough to stop the childish acts.

[Morpheus]

There is no need for that, as James keeps people that do this on their toes by telling them their close to banning and conveniently not telling them just how close.

[Gavin]

[SIZE=1]I know how you feel Zidargh since we've both been here long enough to have seen this kind of thing go on to take it's course. I think though we're looking at this from a fairly black and white point of view when there are cases of grey, if we really get down to the nitty-gritty there are in fact two kind of people who "play Mod".
[List][b]Type I: Power-mongers[/b] These are the people we have to watch out for, as they're only acting like Moderators in the vain attempt to impress someone into promoting them to a higher position. Often these guys are rude and downright unpleasant in their attitudes to other members and staff alike because they see themselves as being better than the averages person.


[*][B]Type II: Those who just want to lend a hand:[/b] These are the people who often pay for the crap dished up by Type I's. Often they see that a Moderator is busy in another section of the forum and decide to let a spammer know that what they're doing is against OBs regulation in the hope of getting them to stop. Sometimes this is misinterpreted as an act of "Playing Mod" by a staff member and they (the Type II) end up crucified over trying to help instead of being given a pat on the back for helping that spammer realise he needs to clean up his post. These guys are just trying to pitch in a hand in keeping OB free from spam and helping members avoid more strict encounters with Staff Members.[/list]

I guess it's really down to the Staff themselves to decide on a person's motives for "Playing Mod" but I think we really have to look at the issue in full color rather than black and white. In the cases of downright rudeness and being an asshole I don't think that anyone should have to put up with and as such should simply inform a Moderator.[/SIZE]

[Charles]

[quote name='Kane][size=1']I guess it's really down to the Staff themselves to decide on a person's motives for "Playing Mod" but I think we really have to look at the issue in full color rather than black and white. In the cases of downright rudeness and being an asshole I don't think that anyone should have to put up with and as such should simply inform a Moderator.[/size][/quote]
The character of each individual member reflects on the entire community. So, we don't really care what a person's motives are; it's annoying behavior and if we see members doing it, we're going to politely ask them to stop. No in-depth dissertation or analyzation is required. These situations just aren't deep enough to warrant careful insight.

[Zidargh]

[quote name='Charles']The character of each individual member reflects on the entire community. So, we don't really care what a person's motives are; it's annoying behavior and if we see members doing it, we're going to politely ask them to stop. No in-depth dissertation or analyzation is required. These situations just aren't deep enough to warrant careful insight.[/quote]

Exactly. It's as if you see a bully being downright ridiculously cruel, you'd step in without thinking, if you have high morals.

This thing needs to be stopped here and there, you can't just offer temporary warnings to assess the situation, etc. (These points are directed at Kane(Lynx)

As much as I think that it is well and good to consider the origins, here it is obvious whether there is a right or wrong. I mean, as mentioned before, if you saw someone spamming to a ridiculous extent you'd either report to a mod or tell them right there and then, but if it's a simple misunderstanding, people pushing people around because of that is 'playing mod'.

[Gavin]

[SIZE=1]I suppose you have some good points there Zidargh, and coming from you I know they've been well thought out. I do agree that having somebody else "Playing Mod" and berate a newbie isn't something we want to see here, and that such individuals as Charles said should be given a polite but firm warning to leave such things to the forum's Moderator. I guess maybe I just believe too strongly in giving people the benefit of the doubt in cases where 99% of “Playing Mod” is just somebody who wants to feel big at another person’s expense.[/SIZE]