Notice to all members #2

Follow up of the last one.

The following excerpt was taken from another thread....

""Sherry was out of order, talking to us like children in one group when a more tactgul way to handle the situation would have been to show humour and character."

Now some of you may not like what I'm about to say and to that my response is, oh well, you can't please everyone.........The reason I use the above excerpt as an example is because there are a few of you who continue to challenge and berate the mods constantly, and as some of you like to call it under the guise of checks and balances. Well I'm here to tell you, there are no checks and balances anymore, not until the administration takes more control of their responsibilities as site owners. In essence at the present time, we (the mods) are the administration...and if I remember correctly there is a statement written by Janis himself stating that the administration can add and make any changes as they see fit. So there you have it, we will run this site as we see fit collectively, we will try as we have been to be fair, involved and continue to moderate this site, but fair warning: we will no longer accept any outright disrespect to any member, or any mod. There will be no more love taps, you will find yourself on the outside looking in and wondering what happened. Some of you may say, pfft so what, that's fine to, but no more. These forums are for discussions, enjoyment etc....not a place to belittle someone or to edify yourself by putting others down. For those of you who have attacked and questioned the positions of certain mods, consider that your last time in doing so on this site, because the next time you'll be gone.....Have a great weekend and please enjoy the site as it was intended to be enjoyed....Peace

***In closing Let me thank those members who have have been a true asset to this site and have stayed for the most part within the rules...Kudos to you.....

Yep, so can you please answer those questions, Joe?

Hey Joe, I just want to know what happened to the member's version of the rules?

^^^^Ok, I remember this very well. I do believe this was disscused with everyone in the feedback forum, but I could be wrong. As to what happened to it, well to be honest not really sure, I do think it is in the feedback forum still. I'll have to take a look.

Also, there was a time when mods agreed to welcome questions about their actions on this website- a very momentous decision. What happened to that?

^^^^Indeed that was always welcome, but to a certian degree, somethings must be kept secret hence the reason we have the Mod Forum.

Yes, could you please take a look? Because those rules were written with the best intentions, for both mods and members...to try to equalise and make things as fair as possible, as modding is quite a subjective task in general.

Now we have posts and threads disappearing that don't seem to warrant it, members being suspended seemingly without proper notification...I feel things are snowballing here, and we just need this to get somewhere.

The mod problem thread was mutually created for members to question an action by the mod in a respectful manner. This was aimed to increase the understanding between mods and members, not to demean their authority, or tweak their supposed "secrets". This right should always be available, it should be not viewed as "disrespect".

Thanks for not ignoring us, Joe. Haha.

Nicko: I had deleted that thread for a simple reason. We said no more chat threads allowed, although; your was a question about what is considered as chatting and what isn't.

I do believe you are an intellectual that can surely figure out the difference between that, but I guess you can't so here it is.

Any threads with "chat" qualites will be deleted.

For example:

How are you so-and-so?
I'm doing fine. How are you?
Oh I'm doing good.
That's good.
Yeah!! Funny thing is I just got kicked out of school
etc.
etc.
etc.

There is no real disscusion that is important there that can't be done via the PM system.

Also any thread pertaining to the closing of the chatroom will be deleted, the chat was removed for a reason and will stay like that until we see fit.

Abby: I am more than happy to answer you guys. No need to ignore anyone.

Great, so is there some action that is going to take place regarding the rules? (Because, according to the rules, Nicko's chat thread did not deserve deletion. It wasn't chatroom-related. But if that was just plain misunderstood, it's all good.)

And if a member challenges a mod with a valid, thoughtful argument- that does not equal suspension, right?

Also, do members receive notification prior to going on a mini-suspension? How does this work exactly? Are there points?

I just don't understand why people just can't accept that this was done as a temporary feature because we disrespected the mods...?

The past is the past accept the reality and you'll see the mods aren't so mean you make them out to be

Ok fine... I'll accept it.. See ya in three days

Bob, this is almost laughable. No more warnings, straight suspension with points? Kevin, Angelina, Noir...

Even your forum rules state:
"Threads or posts that will be terminated upon sight by a mod without warning or explanation are as follows:
Offensive racial remarks vulgar, nasty sexual content....Certain words will automatically get you banned"
which implies that other types of perceived misbehaviour deserve at least a warning...don't they?

This seems rather drastic, Bob. Confusing, considering the progress I thought we'd made a couple of months ago. Are you going to be doing something with the member rules at all? What happened to that?

Bob...that was a very honest post, I really felt it.

All I'm going to say is how do you know for certain "if a mod screws up", a very important step, unless there is some definite reaction from the members? And how can a mutual understanding, that effects everybody, be made in private? I think the real problem is that it all seems to be coming from the same members- the ones that happen to belong in the club- and this makes it specifically aggravating. Ideally, it shouldn't be tainted this way, it is hurtful and unfair- perhaps this is exactly how the mods feel at times, except they can do something conclusive about it.

But okay, I'm going to leave this for now. I'm disappointed that nothing resulted from all the previous efforts and kind gestures, that they were effectively ignored. It doesn't reflect well on this site.

Amanda, I hope these drastic measures will not be necessary for long. I wonder how the exiled will return.

Ha, Amanda, I know they'll be back, otherwise there would have been a much bigger fuss about all this eh?

What I meant was, I wonder whether the suspended will have changed their ways at all...will they be subdued or blazing? How is this going to work? I just suspect they'll be shaking their heads wryly.

I'll make some pink lemonade, that makes everything better.

Umm... can someone please give me a topic and a viewpoint on a discussion. I wish to partake in some controlled, friendly, controlled, respectful, topic related, controlled banter and I'd like to know what I should write. Please can one of the mod's PM me with an original post and various options of replies to my thread as my brain has ceased to function entirely on its own and my physical body has regressed to that of a two year old (just from reading this thread). Its pathetic.

Hail Hitler!! I mean Bob. I mean Amanda is a man... I mean... who's for a power shower?

Cheers.

I'll walk myself out.

(Let this be a clear showing/example to all of the disrespect. You can argue in a civil and not revert to childish ways.)

Kev...Angelina...Mo, who's next? I'm drunk and I'm concerned, hahaha. Please stop eliminating my club members, surely what they have done has been done by various other unpunished members :(

We come in peace.

Why can't we all just get along? Because one side is corrupt and evil while the other is crazy and wierd. You do the math.

Maybe we should settle this in an intense poetry SMACKDOWN!

If not, I hope it gets settled some way that actually -leaves- some poets on the site. This is becoming so ridiculous.

"All I'm asking and I'm not talking for any other member here, but both sides must take equal blame for whats happened here! the difference being if the mods don't like what we say we get suspended, what is our recourse?"

^Well stated, Nicko. This is really what I see as the biggest difference between these two pseudo-groups. We're all being quite silly, but we get banned for it, because we aren't the ones holding any power.

What the heck had happened to this site? When i joined 3 yrs ago there weren't all these rules...all this arguing...freedom of speech was still allowed. Now its like a constant war...mods vs members. ive been disrespected dozens of times...yet no action has been taken...but if any mods get talked down upon, suspension? Banned forever?

I like how it used to be much more... Afterall, this is a poetry site. We all use our way with words to express how we feel. Now all I do is second guess myself and not know what I can and can't say...and I never can really say how I feel because of fear of being suspended or banned...my only place to express myself has been taken away...

But ppl were at least kind

And I meant like expressing in conversation. Poems don't do the same thing for me

-shrugs- whatever. Just seemed nicer to me...

My question though is why is it when I, or any other member, gets disrespected nothing happens? Just curious...I know u guts can't help everyone, but still :-/

No I hate the friendship forum lol

But ok I'll just be. Tattle tale next time :-p

Thanks :)

Did you ever go into the chat when it was working?
People on there are the same as what they are on the forums.
Its no different, it has not changed.

I never went in the chat rooms...they never worked when I tried to get on

Http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/discussion/topic.html?topic_id=99289

I don't think that language is appropriate.
She should get penalty points.

"The site revolves around the members..last time i checked we in the club are members. we are more vocal than others thats for sure. we are ALL at fault here"

Damn straight. Love ya, Lizzy. Mods, we are members too :(

Thank you Infected for reporting that. It has been taken care of.

Next time please PM the link to a mod. It will have abetter chance of being cleared up than just posted on a thread.

~~Sher

I'm not sure, but my posts keep getting deleted so I think we should change the subject...eh?

So NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS:

Have a great day! A great 3 days if I don't see ya!

This is revolting.

Jane was banned for joking that the Mods don't have a sense of humour?

I suppose irony really is the closest thing to the truth.

I am not asking Mods to listen anymore, they have certainly made their point, and their undeniable power is being felt.
But after all this respectful hard work, I reckon Mods should go on a 3-day holiday as well, if possible. Come on, Mods, you deserve it. Come back refreshed and refriendly eh.

".....If you or anyone else has a problem with that....go elsewhere, or get Janis and Dainz back in control of the site, because that's how it is from now"

They are never here to control this site. And yes it is their responsibility but do they? I don't think so.

I know you were against the club idea from the start. But we're all trying to "fight for the truth", or at least, for fairplay here. The difference is, ddavidd, you're not in a club, and so cannot be classed as being a follower, even if you share the same popular opinion.

So good on you, all the best. You haven't been here from when this all fired up two months ago, though, when we wanted to have some baseline rules for both members and moderators to make things fairer. It should just be common sense, but as you well know, common sense ain't so common when egos are involved, which is why this move was thought necessary. Eventually, members were invited to write their version of the rules, but when submitted, the rules were ignored. How idealistic we all were then...

This will get nowhere. It will be dragged out, made painful, and get nowhere. Just like before. Ugh. This outcry from the members was well expected and predictably dealt with by the mods, and reasoning never works with a 'zero tolerance' attitude. Disheartening to say the least.

I have never thought of the mods as enemies, that's ridiculous, but this blatant disregard for members' concerns means I have lost some respect for them, which is why I am writing like this. I appreciate your hard work, Mods, and that all this must be tough going on you too, but this ain't right. Instant suspensions replacing penalties with no warnings and no chance of appealing points, especially when the rules are so iffy...ain't right.

But who knows, maybe the suspensions will have a positve effect, and the exiled members will not talk so much anymore. Yay for such positive effects.

Guys,

We are not here to make friends or enimies, but we are here to find a way and keep everything and everyone connected with this site in control and peaceful.

We have been forced to go to these extremes. We have tried on several occassions to warn everyone. And everyone cries "foul" or that we failed to give them an adequate number of warnings.

How many warnings should it take? Honestly... ZERO. Everyone on this site has some witts about them or else they would not be here to begin with.

Look at it this way... at least it is only a three day suspension for those that failed to show respect instead of a permanant ban.

We are not out to pick on certain members nor are we out to disban "The Club". We are only regaining control of this site and enforceing the rules and regulations the best that we can see fit while still allowing everyone another chance.

If you think it is unfair then I am sorry, but sadly a "few" bad apples have forced us into this position and we are even ATTEMPTING to give them another chance.

Say we PM someone and tell them that they are breaking the rules and regulations.. they reply with so when Janis says something then I will comply... Janis has us here to moderate and have them comply when he is not around.

Or, we constantly PM and even pubicly discuss things with certain members on a numerouse amount of times about certain issues and their lack of respect towards other members as well as the mods; however, they fail to change their actions and instead insist that we change all the rules to accomadate them... not once, not twice, not three times, but more than we can count. What options do we have then? Ban them for life or try a new "3 day" ban.

We are not trying to be jerks or a thorn in anyones side, but we are merely trying to restore respect, peace, and merit back to the site.

We are not only moderators, but we are also members ourselves. We just put in the extra effort and work while being chewed alive and spit out from other members for free.

I ask each of you to please take a step back and look at it from our point of view.

We have tried to compromise with certain individuals on a private basis and even tried to put some of their suggestions to use; however, they themselves even abused that and then challenged us pubicly and even tried to force out hand a little.

I recieved a PM for one such individual that more or less said that they refused to change and no matter what they would continue to challenge us and cross over the line if the felt a situation warrented it. Then they had the gall to say "I hope you are the one to suspend me".

We are not wanting to take away your freedom of speech or stop you from asking questions and communicating, but instead we want civilization brought back to the forums, members, and moderators.

Do not say that we have not tried to communicate, work with, or warn you all... because we have on several occasions.

We try to handle things on a private level when members have a problem, and often we go to great lengths to resolve the situation and ask them what they would like from us, but sadly.. they tell us and we do it and yet their behavior continues on.

It is not a personal vendeta (sp) against anyone, but merely an oppertunity for us to restore order and stop this site and everyone one on it from spiriling out of control as recent history has shown us.

And for those wondering.. I would like to let you know that I have not been avoiding issues here nor have I been avoiding questions, but I merely had to leave town for a follow-up from an operation that I underwent not to long ago.

If you have any questions, then do feel free to ask. If needed I will even set up a new email just to post for all of you to come and ask questions. But be warned that if there is any harrassment taking place I will shut the email down without notice.

~~Sher

Actually Liz, though I feel just as sick and tired of all this, I feel ddavidd has some fair points there. Hell, the whole reason I wanted to name the club "THE CLUB" was to make fun of the fact that we ARE such deliciously cool individuals and we know it and like to show it. Of course, somehow, we are ego-driven and self-serving, like most clubs and most leaders. Of course, as he says, this is a power struggle, like you say too, we are trying to outsmart each other and this is all foolish, which is probably why I am still posting this.

ddavidd, I don't think I use my connection with the club to serve myself. But I know I am loyal to many of its members, and this may taint my judgment, though I don't think I would have acted differently had I not been part of the club. Bottom line is this: I wish "the club" never came up in these discussion threads.

And thanks for your message there, Sherry. I am glad the mods have apparently made such efforts to be fair and are still open to questions, freedom of speech, etc. Can't say I can see much of the latter being demonstrated, but I suppose if you want members to tenderly wash their words before hanging them on a thread, I get your point. Genuine respect is totally different to careful politeness though. (Of course, the interpretation is entirely up to you, and I guess the latter substitute would be equally welcomed.)

The former is natural, while the latter uses up energy and is generally only applied to strangers and fools.

I suppose members didn't want to view Mods as either, that is all. But I can see that the constant challenging is clearly too tiring to endure. In general, I am all for the 3-day ban, but not in the manner it is currently "forced" into being executed, which seems like sheer desperate powerplay, and disgusts me.
Hope you are recovering well. All the best with this site.

I wonder where Britt has been.

Enough.... those that will have their accounts suspended it shall be for three days...

Stop the insults and stop being rude! This is why we have elected to take such actions.

~~Sher