Home  | Login  | Register  | Help  | Play 

"Warnings" vs. Warnings, Infractions, and Disciplinary Action

  		Logged in as: Guest
  Printable Version
All Forums >> [AE Forum Resources] >> Forum Support and Suggestions >> "Warnings" vs. Warnings, Infractions, and Disciplinary Action
Forum Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
6/28/2012 19:08:05   
Watashig
Member

Recently, I have broken multiple rules. Although they have been rather minor transgressions, I do not feel that it is right that I am able to consecutively break rules with no disciplinary action taken against me. I have read the =AE= Comprehensive Forum Rules multiple times along with other resources, and I can find no listing of disciplinary actions for infractions like this one here. Although I ask not that the rules become as harsh as these, I would like the enforcement of them to become more tangible, along with the possible disciplinary action. In the past, I have been "warned" to be careful with breaking any further rules, yet not once have I received a single official warning. I believe that there needs to be some solidity and tangibility to how infractions will be given and disciplinary action will be taken to transgressors. Perhaps a similar point system should be implemented to allow people to understand what level of rulebreaking they have done. The old "warning" system should be gone and replaced with a system in which every transgression results in at least an official warning.

I understand that these forums should be more open to everyone, and that they should have a chance to become acquainted with the system before being banned immediately. Therefore, I propose that the official warning system be given a wider berth so one has the room to make multiple mistakes before receiving disciplinary action. Perhaps warnings can reset during certain periods, as explained here.

quote:

There is also cool down period we institute during times of high forum traffic. If you are violating policy during one of these times due to frustration, you will be given a three-hour cool down suspension. This does not get logged on your record and is simply in place to keep the forums readable and civil. Serious violations will still have the appropriate action taken against them as documented in the Code of Conduct, and we do keep track of these cool down periods separately—if one is found to be repeatedly violating policy, appropriate action will be taken.
Post #: 1
6/28/2012 19:24:47   
The Game
Pegasus Overlord


 Posts are generally evaluated on a case by case basis, although history does come into play in certain situations. Unofficial "warnings" are called "notices" and, if you accumulate enough of these notices in a short period of time, you would probably receive an "Official Warning" for both the infraction and because you would be disobeying the instructions of the AK or moderator in question.

There are multiple factors when handing out Official Warnings, principle among them the severity of the post. If you have a series of minor infractions spaced out across a long period of time as opposed to receiving, let's say, five notices in the span of a week, you should not worry about anything official, although these minor infractions are noted in some fashion. You needn't worry about that. There is a system and guidelines in place for moderation that is not available to the public. There is no point in sending out official warnings for every single infraction when it proves counter-intuitive to the actual goal of moderation, fostering a place where people can discuss topics without the pressure of trolling and harassment.

< Message edited by The Game -- 6/28/2012 19:27:27 >
AQ  Post #: 2
6/29/2012 2:35:16   
  Grixus Faldor



 True, but having a clear reference, I'm unsure as to how it works here, but on vBulletin and other forum software providers, there are warning histories for each and every user not visible to that user or any user barring staff members, of course. Setting up a system in place which for the most part would be unnoticed by users would allow for centralised logs which would ideally improve accessibility.
AQ DF MQ AQW Epic  Post #: 3
6/29/2012 3:46:34   
The Game
Pegasus Overlord


 Such a system is already in place, both for official warnings and notices.
AQ  Post #: 4
6/29/2012 11:56:45   
Eukara Vox
Legendary AdventureGuide!
quote:

In the past, I have been "warned" to be careful with breaking any further rules, yet not once have I received a single official warning.

The level of warning is dependent on the crime. If what someone were guilty of was extremely minor, then notices are given. Many times, the most minor transgressions happen in the heat of the moment or in a time of playfulness that got out of control in a thread, which we take into account when we decide upon what level of notice/warning is given.


quote:

I believe that there needs to be some solidity and tangibility to how infractions will be given and disciplinary action will be taken to transgressors. Perhaps a similar point system should be implemented to allow people to understand what level of rulebreaking they have done. The old "warning" system should be gone and replaced with a system in which every transgression results in at least an official warning.

Again, the PM received fits the level of the crime. The PM anyone receives when they break the rules should have within the text, a note of what the behaviour was and how severe the infraction was. If you get a "notice" you weren't doing anything major and it wasn't bad enough to warrant anything more than a polite "please don't do this anymore". A warning is the first level of true documentation, though like I said earlier, severe notices (which are usually given to the newest forum members if deserved) are documented. If anyone has received a warning or above, it recorded for posterity. A severe warning is a result of either a REALLY bad post, or given to someone who seems to have no regard for the warnings given in the past for that transgression. A ban, well, that is obvious. You repeat a transgression after both warnings and severe warnings, and you go for a short amount of time. Length is based on severity of the infraction or the person's history... or both.

Having every transgression result in a warning is not feasible. First time users are given a grace period to adjust to the system of rules. Minor infractions, like I described earlier, happen. Just like when you stub your toe and curse in a house where cursing is frowned upon, you are not kicked out because it is understood that your foot now hurts like hell and first reactions are not always controllable. They may not appreciate the language used, but you aren't going to be punished for it. We do employ a reserved amount of grace towards our players. It is that grace that has enabled many once troublesome players to actually mature and realise that they can be a better poster. Granted, it doesn't work on everyone, and in those cases, nature will progress and takes its course.

quote:

I understand that these forums should be more open to everyone, and that they should have a chance to become acquainted with the system before being banned immediately. Therefore, I propose that the official warning system be given a wider berth so one has the room to make multiple mistakes before receiving disciplinary action.

Trust me... as I said before, people receive grace and chances to correct their mistakes before real, recordable warnings are given. We employ "blanket warnings" given to an entire thread after a rather long time period or just mass spamming of a thread occurs containing an infraction. This gives everyone a chance to take a step back and re-evaluate where things are going. And even after warnings are given, if a person has gone a while before another infraction, they may receive a notice instead of a new warning, because their behaviour had been so good for so long. We aren't robots who cannot show compassion and understanding. As a matter of fact, it is what we are constantly striving for. Being a group of people who understand and find ways to correct an action before we have to hand out warnings. Because we all know where warnings lead most of the time and really, contrary to popular belief, we don't enjoy bans.

I, personally, do not want to go to a system where every time a forumite messes up, they get slapped with a warning. It seems cold and calloused to me, leaving little room for a person to learn. Not everyone learns from harsh discipline and such actions could discourage and even enrage those who would do better under a system of notice and gentle instruction. As a parent of two children who respond drastically different to the same disciplinary actions, I know not everyone benefits from a blanket, all for one, way of doing things.
AQ DF MQ AQW Epic  Post #: 5
6/29/2012 13:08:00   
seventy two
Member

If I may add, from a task standpoint it is a much greater task to send warnings for everything over notices. I have sent probably ten times as many notices as warnings, and the idea that a warning should be sent every time is daunting.
AQ MQ  Post #: 6
6/30/2012 3:34:03   
Watashig
Member

Thank you for this information, but may I ask that additional information regarding discipline be released? I understand that they may vary on a per-case basis, but is there a basic structure from which individual punishments stray from that may be released? I'd like simple information like Warning -> Temporary Ban of _ -> Temporary Ban of _ -> etc -> Permanent Banishment (see finally) or how severe each transgression may be, like here.

quote:

there are warning histories for each and every user not visible to that user or any user barring staff members, of course.

quote:

Such a system is already in place, both for official warnings and notices.

Good to know that we have a system, but I am slightly concerned that I have gotten away for breaking rules consecutively without merely a warning. A warning is just that -- a warning. It's not quite a punishment, but it seems to be treated that way due to how it lasts.

I'm not satisfied with the results, but I'm satisfied enough with replies that I feel this thread can be closed now.
Post #: 7
Page:   [1]
All Forums >> [AE Forum Resources] >> Forum Support and Suggestions >> "Warnings" vs. Warnings, Infractions, and Disciplinary Action
Jump to:






Icon Legend
New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts




Forum Content Copyright © 2018 Artix Entertainment, LLC.

"AdventureQuest", "DragonFable", "MechQuest", "EpicDuel", "BattleOn.com", "AdventureQuest Worlds", "Artix Entertainment"
and all game character names are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Artix Entertainment, LLC. All rights are reserved.
PRIVACY POLICY


Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition