Open Question!
- Thread starter Robbo
- Start date
yes it was very civilised
if mine came across in differently i am sorry
like i said since i last took a serious look here there could be change but thats how it was in my eyes
I think you've got it wrong about the mods, we'll NEVER ban someone just for the hell of it. The ones who get banned are more often than not
repeat offenders
scam artists
general trouble makers
bad manners
and even at that EVERYONE is given a chance to change. I can count on one hand the amount of people who've been banned outright without warning in my time.
We know that the forum is a big part of people's paintball experience, equally we know that no single member is bigger or more important than the forum. Robbo's been told before that he's wrong and he's the owner. He's also man enough to think about it and apologise where appropriate, or take corrective actions if required.
The mods do discuss members and we also keep each other informed of the threats (yes, threats) which we receive. Now obviously we laugh it off, if you'd ever seen the size of some of us, some 14 yr old hardman wouldn't even warrant more than a pat on the head and a toe in the hole......
Spelling and punctuation is jumped on, it's not difficult to make a small effort and it's easy to spot a typo as appoosed 2 terabble speeeling + txt spk ok m8 thnx pm'd u thr bout da ting u gt 4 sle msg me bck asap ok cuz i is mtng me m8's l8r 4 a smk......
As for having the courage of our convictions? If you aren't prepared to stand by what you say, don't say it.
repeat offenders
scam artists
general trouble makers
bad manners
and even at that EVERYONE is given a chance to change. I can count on one hand the amount of people who've been banned outright without warning in my time.
We know that the forum is a big part of people's paintball experience, equally we know that no single member is bigger or more important than the forum. Robbo's been told before that he's wrong and he's the owner. He's also man enough to think about it and apologise where appropriate, or take corrective actions if required.
The mods do discuss members and we also keep each other informed of the threats (yes, threats) which we receive. Now obviously we laugh it off, if you'd ever seen the size of some of us, some 14 yr old hardman wouldn't even warrant more than a pat on the head and a toe in the hole......
Spelling and punctuation is jumped on, it's not difficult to make a small effort and it's easy to spot a typo as appoosed 2 terabble speeeling + txt spk ok m8 thnx pm'd u thr bout da ting u gt 4 sle msg me bck asap ok cuz i is mtng me m8's l8r 4 a smk......
As for having the courage of our convictions? If you aren't prepared to stand by what you say, don't say it.
Having done some thinking on what DJForbes has said, I'm wondering...
Most of us mods now eachother. We've met in real life for the most part, and for the few I haven't met, we've been seeing eachother online for years. So it's safe to say that I know what the other mods are like and I can "read" their mannerisms in the same way that they know me.
However, there are thousands of posters on here, most of whom haven't had any real dealings with the mods. Sure, they may have been part of the same thread, but that would be about it.
So maybe, without intending to do so, sometimes we do come across as DJForbes describes. At least to the people that don't know us, or the way we speak. I guess that's caused by the limitations of communicating through nothing but the written word.
In the future I'll try to be more conscious of how the words I post can be interpreted, besides the way I mean them.
But please guys (this goes for everybody), keep in mind that all of the mod squad are passionate about paintball and/or the forum. So sometimes emotions will come into play and things may seem harsh when seen in writing, but this is just emotions causing people to post in the same choice of words they'd use when amongst their peers. (We all talk a little less civilised when amongst fellow ballers or our friends, be honest.) And the more emotional we get, the worse this gets! And sure, sometimes Robbo can seem a little harsh and you don't have to always agree with what he says, but keep in mind that the guy is VERY emotional when it comes to paintball and his friends.
Bet you didn't think you'd get this kind of response, did you DJForbes?
Most of us mods now eachother. We've met in real life for the most part, and for the few I haven't met, we've been seeing eachother online for years. So it's safe to say that I know what the other mods are like and I can "read" their mannerisms in the same way that they know me.
However, there are thousands of posters on here, most of whom haven't had any real dealings with the mods. Sure, they may have been part of the same thread, but that would be about it.
So maybe, without intending to do so, sometimes we do come across as DJForbes describes. At least to the people that don't know us, or the way we speak. I guess that's caused by the limitations of communicating through nothing but the written word.
In the future I'll try to be more conscious of how the words I post can be interpreted, besides the way I mean them.
But please guys (this goes for everybody), keep in mind that all of the mod squad are passionate about paintball and/or the forum. So sometimes emotions will come into play and things may seem harsh when seen in writing, but this is just emotions causing people to post in the same choice of words they'd use when amongst their peers. (We all talk a little less civilised when amongst fellow ballers or our friends, be honest.) And the more emotional we get, the worse this gets! And sure, sometimes Robbo can seem a little harsh and you don't have to always agree with what he says, but keep in mind that the guy is VERY emotional when it comes to paintball and his friends.
Bet you didn't think you'd get this kind of response, did you DJForbes?
DJ, I got this feeling that I am doing the wrong thing here in responding to you. I think there is a good chance I could end up banning you and falling into the trap of proving you right but I wouldn’t ban you because of anything so trivial as petulance but basically because I just don't like you .... I hope you prove me wrong here.
I don't really like the way you have implied I ban people just because they disagree with me, and done it by 'shouting' it .... if it were true, I still wouldn't like the way you have said it but it's just not true.
We shall see how you respond to this post.
We have rules and regs on here to stop the site descending into the mire of English that sometimes surfaces on other sites such as Pbnation.
Of course you feel the need to be exempt from such conditions because on occasion you can't be arsed to do a spell-check ... well Mr DJForbes, the world is full of people who like to feel they are exempt from conditions but I'm afraid unless we draw a line somewhere, then this site's standard of communication will descend into a pit of confusion.
We ban textspeak because although some people will understand what's being said, others will be left pondering what the heck's going on; after all, even monkeys understand what they talk to each other about ... I hope you get my point here ...
It's basically bad manners to expect people to do your spellchecking for you; it's also bad manners to not adhere to the rules and regs of this site.
If you wish to read garbage, then you are free to go visit a site that allows it .... but it won't happen here ... understand?
Good !
As for banning people who send me over the edge?
Yes, you are right .. I can't argue with that but I need to qualify this.
If you owned a cafe and one of the customers ‘sent you over the edge’, then I think most people would understandably not allow that person to come back.
What needs to be clarified here is what do we really mean by ‘sending me over the edge’?
I think you are trying to imply that it doesn’t really take a lot to send me over the edge and it’s all done on a whim .... I think it’s fair to say that maybe used to happen 5 or 6 years ago but not now.
I can’t think of anyone I have banned in the last few months that has arisen from a thread discussion ... I have banned people who pis$ed me off because they have used our site to try and scam people or tried to cheat our members with trades or purchases ... some of them have threatened me, abused me, whatever... they all get banned .. end of!
By the way, have you any idea of just how many members I have gone out on a limb for in trying to help them get their money or possessions back when trades go wrong?
You have zero idea and I doubt you care .....
And just so’s you got a handle on what I have had to do sometimes to make sure some of our members get back what’s theirs [you can verify any of this by asking any of the mods]
I have gotten into arguments with people and had to ... I suppose the best way of putting it is, I have had to explain the ‘consequences’ to them of trying to scam my members.
I have gotten involved with Lord knows how many people who were being lined up for a ‘personal get together’ with me but thankfully they decided to give back what wasn’t theirs ....
Now, you seem to be implying I ban people on a whim ....
But as for banning people who merely disagree with me?
This is just not true ... there are plenty of people who disagree with me who are still very much members of P8ntballer.com and that’s the way it’s gonna stay.
Now, if you send me ‘over the edge’ as you put it, then I will ban you yes, it’s my right as owner of this site but as for what it takes to ‘send me over’ ..... you can find out if you like but I would much prefer for this to end amicably with you hanging around and perhaps understanding our position a little better.
Disagreeing with me ain’t gonna get you banned ... if that were the case, I’d have no mods left believe me ..you might piss me off if you are being deliberately contrary but it ain’t gonna send me over the edge DJ.
[FONT="]I think Buddha might have a point. As were only using words it can seem harsher than it’s meant to be.
I also think you have a point when you say you all know each other and of course can understand each other on a more personal level.
I do however pick robbo up as a more aggressive person. Who knows he might be a kitten I’ve never met the guy. I would like to, as he seems to be big force in the paintball world and am sure could teach allot about the sport.
Id rather not keep going down a road that can only lead to more confrontation after all I only meant to post my opinion and let everyone see my thoughts and maybe use it as constructive critisim [/FONT]
I also think you have a point when you say you all know each other and of course can understand each other on a more personal level.
I do however pick robbo up as a more aggressive person. Who knows he might be a kitten I’ve never met the guy. I would like to, as he seems to be big force in the paintball world and am sure could teach allot about the sport.
Id rather not keep going down a road that can only lead to more confrontation after all I only meant to post my opinion and let everyone see my thoughts and maybe use it as constructive critisim [/FONT]
Maybe not for the hell of it, but sometimes it does happen because a mod or a group of mods disagree with a certain persons opinion, then ban them for 'flaming' 'trolling' or 'spamming' I have seen this a few times. I know were all just human and get wound up sometimes but i do feel this shouldn't be happening, this is a community forum we should be able to voice any opinion as long as we are not seriously breaking the rules.
So when the Mods as a whole decide that someone is more trouble than they are worth then we should let them carry on regardless? What specifically is the difference between breaking the rules and seriously breaking the rules then?
If people stuck to opinions then there would be no problems, trouble is they don't and opinions become an attack on pepole all of a sudden.
You 'pick up' correctly Mr DJ and this is exactly why I asked Jay [Buddha] to be in charge around here; sometimes I need to be reigned in and he's the man for the job in more ways than one not least because he has my utmost repsect on many different counts.
It has worked well thus far and thankfully Jay hasn't had to put me in my place too many times but make no mistake DJ, he would do so in a heartbeat if there was a need, and more importantly, I'd take notice of him.
I count myself extremely lucky to have Jay and and one other around to look after me and effectively protect me from myself.
Still, if I'm at a CPPS or NSPL event and you're there also, please come up, I'm not gonna eat you .... I promise ... well not unless you support Arsenal anyway.