Hey, Mods, tell me: are we on a 3-strikes-and-you're-deactivated policy here? Let's say a person's accumulated 2 strikes--can those strikes be wiped off of their record if they're really good for awhile, or is it permanent?

No, you assuming Org bastards, I"m not talking about myself!

I think we have a right to know how many strikes we have against our name.

I also think ian will tell me to shove that idea somewhere unpleasant!

I wonder if I have any strikes?

althom said:

No, you are too much of a goody-two-shoes!!

AnotherLoverToo said:

AnotherLoverToo said:

No.

The "strikes" system that we employ is strictly for moderator use - a way of tracking who has been making a nuisance of themselves. The "3 strikes auto deactivation" system is specifically to stop posts from people who are repeatedly causing problems on the site - but the deactivation is only a temporary measure, to allow the moderator and the user to resolve the issue without causing more problems in the forums. It is usually a simple matter and the account is restored shortly thereafter.

I should point out also, that in the history of the Org I don't think anyone has been permanently banned from the site. If someone really wants to access our site, one way or another they will do that. Deactivating accounts is just a way to keep the peace on the forums, which is my primary concern as moderator, it isn't about "banishing people forever" or anything like it.

I hope that clears things up. Generally if people are reasonable, cooperative and understanding in dealing with moderator requests, no deactivation is permanent. So anyone trying to goad a certain someone into flaming more in the hopes of earning them that magical "final strike" is wasting their time

mcmeekle said:

Well we did talk about that idea actually... The main reasons we decided against it were that (a) if someone knows that their account has no strikes, they might try to flame in the hopes that they could get away with it at least twice (b) if someone knows how many strikes a person has, they may try to goad them into getting another strike in the hopes of seeing the user account deactivated.

Ultimately however, account deactivation exists merely as a tool for moderators to stop problematic posters from creating more problems in the forums. It is a moderator tool, as is the strike system, and I don't see a need to make it visible to users - that would probably cause more problems than it solves. However there's no big secrets - if someone asks us privately about their account I have absolutely no problems sharing that info.

ian said:

DRAT! My 100 alter-egos and I are foiled again



Do you officially alert us when we get a strike, or should we consider ourselves as having earned one when you "snip" us or orgnote warning us?

How many bootlegs can we get for one strike?

AnotherLoverToo said:

We try to, but there isn't always time. However when a user hits 2 strikes it is our standard practise to issue a "warning" - simply because another strike would see their account deactivated and naturally we want to avoid such nastiness

Of course as you might have gathered, moderating this site isn't an exact science! The strike system is mainly useful as a way for the site moderators to compare notes. It's not designed as a means of "punishing" anyone, it just forces the site mods to work with repeatedly problematic users and get things sorted ASAP. Anyway, 99% of the people who have had accounts temporarily deactivated in such a manner are usually very understanding and so it only takes a short time to clear things up.

It's not an ideal system but since the mods all live in different timezones etc, it is better than nothing

mcmeekle said:

That's it, soliciting bootleg materials. you're nicked!

ian said:

Give it to him Ian!





Errr...that sounded a bit rude.

althom said:

and you LIKE it!

INSATIABLE said:

I don't believe it, you've even managed to turn a dull, serious, site-related thread like this into another homo-erotic fantasy! How did you do that?!

ian said:

I'm bad-ass like that

INSATIABLE said:

GIVE HER A STRIKE!!

althom said:

GROWLLL! I'll strike YOU!


TO THE MOON, ALICE!

INSATIABLE said:

I have reported this post to Ian!

althom said:

what-EVER!

ian said:

Cuz he's a crack whore, and that is his crack-whorish way...

I've grown up to know that when U're kicked off, there's a reason for that...And a very good one, indeed!

althom said:

We lawyerly types sometimes employ something called a "Motion to Strike."

matt said:

Good to see you are taking my complante about INSATIABLE seriously.

althom said:

You struck out ages ago. You're just getting by on your shiny, metal ass now.

minneapolisgenius said:

althom said:

althom said:

This matter is before the Moderator on althom's Motion to Strike.

And the Moderator, being duly advised, hereby DENIES the Motion.

SO ORDERED this 16th day of July 2003.

/s/ Matt
prince.org Moderator

matt said:

yay!!

matt said:

I'd like to take it to a higher court.

2 questions, though.



do the strikes stay with you, even after you've been reactivated? how long do they last?


also, shouldn't the deactivation apply to the forums only? so that the user and the moderator can communicate with one another on the issue? because, the only email address i use is one that is linked to an account that was deactivated here a year ago. i don't use any of the emails that i signed up succeeding accounts with. in fact, they probably don't even exist anymore due to inactivity.

also, is it possible to notify us when we DO get a strike? for example, i was told tonight that i have 2 strikes against my account. 1, i can understand. i have no idea where the other one came from, unless it's one i accumulated over the last week, month, whatever...


clarification, please?

thanks.