Statement on genral forum behavior. [DE]

[DZComposer]

You know... I don't want to be the Bastard Operator From Hell (BOFH). I quite honestly do not. I have gone out of my way and stuck my neck out for people that would have been banned at other boards.

I don't believe in chastising new members. I was new once, and I remember how much it sucked being called "n00b" and treated like I was an idiot.

But now, I have to put the rant hat on.

Lately, the general feeling of the behavior on this forum is unacceptable. We've had spam, numerous flame wars, image policy violations, disasters in the RP board, back talking, and even people thinking that they can do a better job running the place than the staff.

Over the past few weeks, this place has hit a low. I feel like the community is starting to fracture. I don't want this to happen. I've put countless hours into this place. I don't want to see this place follow the path of Papetoon, Mouth-Off, starfox.org, and OTG. Those once-great SF communities DIED over the exact same crap that I am starting to see here, and to be honest is scares the living shit out of me.

And today, I did something that I knew I would have to do someday, and it was an action I feared, as I do not know how he community will react: I closed the Krystal Art thread. I already know that Mr. K is disappointed, and I imagine many of the rest of you are as well. Also, Sideways is telling me that the RP board is starting to go nuts again.

DAMMIT, I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE THINGS AWAY!!! I WANT to have RP. I WANT to have art appreciation threads. I'm busting my ass to start a radio drama podcast. I want to have general discussion. I want to have discussions on the future of Star Fox. I want a chat room.

But, when these things get turned into flamefests and spam nests, what option do I have when warnings fail? I have to close things and start waving the ban-stick.

I quite honestly do not know what else to do. I have provided a clearly-written rules document, made it easy to access, and I keep it up to date. This document contains everything that we as a community have agreed that we want to see with regards to behavior. I hate unwritten rules. They are tools of the BOFH. I am lenient. I would much rather remove all of your extraneous permissions than ban you for a week. The BOFH would ban you on first violation.

I also try my damn hardest to be fair. I'm not perfect, I'm only human, but I do my best to be impartial. I don't lock things because I personally don't like them.

Despite my attempts to be fair. Despite my attempts to give this community an excellent, feature-rich and visually appealing platform for discussion. Despite my dipping into my own pocket to give this community a web home.

I feel like I have failed this community.

I failed to maintain a civilized discussion. I have failed to make this community emerge strong from the SF game drought.

And for that I most deeply apologize.

Sadly, I feel like I am at a point where I have two options:

1. Leave for a while

2. Become the BOFH.

I don't like either option. Option 1 is the coward's option. It does nothing for the community. Option 2 is equally ugly, and I fear may also damage the community.

Please... Give me another option. I beg of you.

Look at this:

The purpose StarFox-Online is to provide a fan-friendly, all-ages, site that contains useful and unique information about the Star Fox series while maintaining a community of fans who discuss the series as well as other topics amongst each other in a peaceful and friendly manner.

This is SFO's mission statement. My biggest failure is that under my leadership we have not maintained this.

Please... Help me help you. I want this place to be better, but I don't want to become the BOFH. I also think having to become the BOFH would also fail the mission statement.

But, when I try being nice and lenient, things go nuts.

But I tell you this. I am not coward. I will be the BOFH if I have to. And some of you will hate me for it. But in the end I feel that this is the only way to save this place from that crap.

So please, do not put me in that position. Just tell me where I -F-Bomb-ed-up and let me learn to fix it. That way I do not have to be the BOFH.

I don't want to be the Bastard Operator From Hell.

[Kursed]

I think we need a new starfox game....or something I can't really say anything other than I'm sorry.

[Sideways]

Regardless of whether or not we get/need a new SF game, the behavior is unacceptable.

[Star Fox Runner]

I have kept quiet about the rising situation for quite some time, but I feel as if I need to say something, now I am not flying off the handle, or pointing fingers at anyone here, or saying that I can do a better job than the staff, because that is simply not true. I am simply voicing my opinion and fears.

You don't see as many posts from me because I don't want to be dragged into any of the arguments or craziness that has gone on recently. In many of these situations, I want to jump in and try and put a stop to it, but I don't because that is not my job to do that, that is the job of the Administrators and the Moderators. And more than likely if I were to jump in constantly, I would be contributing to the problem at hand. Any time I do attempt this is few and far between. I personally think that there are some people that need to be suspended, or downright banned, but that is not my job, so I'm not saying any names.

Though you don't see me post as much as other people, I still post regardless because I don't want to let down Mr. Krystal or DZ, because I don't want their hard spent working hours and money to be wasted, I stay here because they deserve my time spent here, and the time of many others, because they put a lot of effort and passion into resurrecting this site after it died the first time, to leave them and let this place crumble once again is an insult to two hard working individuals.

The fact that this forum is starting to fracture scares me as well, because this is not only my current home on the internet, it is my FIRST and ONLY home on the internet. I'm not active anywhere else because I don't feel welcome anywhere else. I feel welcome here, and this place is very special to me. You guys share my interests and my lifestyle, and in truth my being a furry started because of this site, and though I have always liked games, this site made me an avid video game enthusiast and helped me in my decision to try and make my way into the game industry. In a way, this site has made me into who I am. Plus, I made three very good friends here, Mr. Krystal, former member Absoludicrous91, and Catwings30.

If this site dies, me and possibly a few other people would be thrown out into the cold, and would probably have nowhere else to go. This is a great community, and to see it die due to petty and immature arguments is a downright injustice.

To those who continue to cause and contribute to problems here on the site, please try and change your attitudes and work toward making this site back into what it was originally created to be, a fun place where people feel welcome and happy, not a den of arguments, spam, and flame wars.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

I have kept quiet about the rising situation for quite some time, but I feel as if I need to say something, now I am not flying off the handle, or pointing fingers at anyone here, or saying that I can do a better job than the staff, because that is simply not true. I am simply voicing my opinion and fears.

You don't see as many posts from me because I don't want to be dragged into any of the arguments or craziness that has gone on recently. In many of these situations, I want to jump in and try and put a stop to it, but I don't because that is not my job to do that, that is the job of the Administrators and the Moderators. And more than likely if I were to jump in constantly, I would be contributing to the problem at hand. Any time I do attempt this is few and far between. I personally think that there are some people that need to be suspended, or downright banned, but that is not my job, so I'm not saying any names.

Though you don't see me post as much as other people, I still post regardless because I don't want to let down Mr. Krystal or DZ, because I don't want their hard spent working hours and money to be wasted, I stay here because they deserve my time spent here, and the time of many others, because they put a lot of effort and passion into resurrecting this site after it died the first time, to leave them and let this place crumble once again is an insult to two hard working individuals.

The fact that this forum is starting to fracture scares me as well, because this is not only my current home on the internet, it is my FIRST and ONLY home on the internet. I'm not active anywhere else because I don't feel welcome anywhere else. I feel welcome here, and this place is very special to me. You guys share my interests and my lifestyle, and in truth my being a furry started because of this site, and though I have always liked games, this site made me an avid video game enthusiast and helped me in my decision to try and make my way into the game industry. In a way, this site has made me into who I am. Plus, I made three very good friends here, Mr. Krystal, former member Absoludicrous91, and Catwings30.

If this site dies, me and possibly a few other people would be thrown out into the cold, and would probably have nowhere else to go. This is a great community, and to see it die due to petty and immature arguments is a downright injustice.

To those who continue to cause and contribute to problems here on the site, please try and change your attitudes and work toward making this site back into what it was originally created to be, a fun place where people feel welcome and happy, not a den of arguments, spam, and flame wars.

Hear, hear!

What about me, though, Star Fox Runner, aren't I your friend too?

DZ, I'm sorry for screwing around and causing trouble...I don't want this place to die, either...perhaps recruiting a couple of extra mods are in order? (I'm not asking to become a Mod, mind you)

[ndf]

I think you're being a little hard on yourself. You shouldn't leave. But I do feel that the rules need to be reinforced more heavily. Warnings don't seem to cut it.

And I admit that I've been "back-seat moderating" recently; For that, I apologize because, like Runner said, it's probably only contributed to the problem.. :

[Guest Julius Quasar]

I think you're being a little hard on yourself. You shouldn't leave. But I do feel that the rules need to be reinforced more heavily. Warnings don't seem to cut it.

And I admit that I've been "back-seat moderating" recently; For that, I apologize because, like Runner said, it's probably only contributed to the problem.. :

We all make mistakes, Pig-Kay, it's all right, you meant well...

heck, I lit one too many fires myself...(please don't quote me on that >__> )

and don't leave, or lose faith, DZ...lots of these online web communities have a slump or problem patches at one time or another, things will pick up again (soon, I hope)...

This place is a hell of a lot better than ANY online web community I've belonged too, some of these places that I was a member of, they were just online ghettos (still are)...but this place...it's my home (online).

[Falcory]

This is something I've noticed for a while actually, and it's really the main reason I decided to leave this place.

I notice there's about three main trouble makers here, (Possibly four after I got some info from a friend) and they never seem to get any sort of punishment or temp bans at all.

This is important to do, even if it seems mean. Why do parents punish their children? So their children can learn not to misbehave.

If you don't do the same for trouble making members I can guarantee that things will get worse. SF-O is just starting to erupt into chaos. But it's not to late to save it. You just got to do, what you know you gotta do.

[Steve]

I think you guys know where I stand, I've been doing a lot of mod job lately and being over nice with everyone, but if I don't see a change either, I'll have to change as well. I don't want to lose this site, I'm probably one of  the most attached people here ,and if being more of rough is going to stop this site from becoming hell, I'll do it.

[Star Fox Runner]

Hear, hear!

What about me, though, Star Fox Runner, aren't I your friend too?

Heh, sure I consider you a friend, what I meant was people here that have become my friends that I correspond with them outside the site.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Heh, sure I consider you a friend, what I meant was people here that have become my friends that I correspond with them outside the site.

Ah, okay, thanks! ^^

As for this site, it's the best web community I've ever belonged to..

there were these online sites run by corrupt Admins, a******s for mods, who were probably direct descendants of Hitler Youth Officers, they were worse then the worst behaved members...

I've never been part of an online community for this long, ever!  and I'm gonna stay here...I've made tons of friends, honed my conversational skills, and found a reason to live.

I'm serious, SF-O and lots of its staff. creators, and members saved my life....

and DZ, YOU DID NOT FAIL THIS COMMUNITY

[Rapidfire]

Allow me to expound a few observations contributing to the apparent decline of the SFO community.

Perhaps most critically in terms of garnering new members and community interest is the want of a new StarFox game. We are, after all, a community oriented to a video game series. We do not have the luxury of having a large library of critically acclaimed games, nor so many recent games that continue to compel our attention. Such boredom will repel some members. It also leads to a "make-your-own-fun" attitude among the rest. The kind of energy we would otherwise put into discussing game news is diverted into conversing about material that is potentially more banal and not necessarily worth exchange.

Of course, even when there are topics that generate popular interest, it does not take much to derail them. This is an internet forum, so this kind of thing will invariably happen. However, simply to invoke Chinua Achebe and claim things fall apart is unfitting for what happens here, which is an unusual level of impropriety. One small statement provokes four subsequent posts of back-and-forth nonsense, almost for its own sake; it certainly does not contribute to the topic at hand. I do not mean to profess some kind of forum malaise, but we could do from people individually considering what they are going to post before they actually post.

As long as the subject of individual posters is being broached, we may as well admit that there is an unreasonable amount of rudeness that has flared up in the community. Not only does this provoke more arguments, but it is an anathema to those members who do not want to be embroiled in the roiling cauldron of internet drama. Two short-term outcomes result: either the moderately-tempered members retreat from the community, or back-seat moderating erupts. The long-term effect snowballs: general resentment in the community rises. It says much about our community right now that there have several times already in this topic to the tune of, "I won't name any names, but there are some people who need to be castigated." In all likeliness, we probably have many of the same people in mind.

And speaking of punishment, the moderating staff has been quite kind. Unfortunately, that has been a bit of an enabler for anyone angling to be problematic, intentionally or otherwise. It is hard to pick between the stark dichotomy of anarchy against rigid inflexibility. I personally do not think that any of the staffers have failed us yet. Still, I offer this point: we members are not, individually, so important that either DZ or Mr. Krystal should think themselves beholden to us. In joining this community, we all entered into a social contract centred on mutual respect. Those who break the contract deserve consequences.

Even with all that for consideration, rebounding is not out of the question. I do not pretend to have answers to resolve most problems that have already been outlined. However, I will say that DZ's community project, the radio drama, is a capital idea in that it gives many of us an opportunity to demonstrate our fortes, thus giving us something onto which we can focus our attention. The community could stand to have ongoing projects of the like, channeling our energies into positive productivity. Veritably, many of us have invested ourselves in some way in this forum and would dearly not like to see it come undone. I would say that we members have to conduct ourselves in such a way that indicates we are prepared to meet the staff halfway in revivifying the community. It is through diligent personal responsibility that the members of the StarFox-Online community will press on, will prevail, and will become stars in the greater StarFox internet community.

[Mr. Krystal]

My view is that certain members tend to generate problems in vastly disproportionate numbers than others. I have warned certain groups on numerous occasions, most of the staff have, and those warnings and suggestions have gone largely unheeded. DZ, it's not your fault. It's other people's fault. We've had YEARS of self-regulation, that has worked wonders... until recently, when certain activities have reached new lows and in high enough post counts that we the staff have a hard time keeping up with. This necessitates action on a more strict scale. This requires banning. I don't want it any more than DZ does, but it appears there is just no reaching some people.

I'm intentionally not mentioning names because I believe those involved know who they are, as do the rest of the community. Be warned, we will HAVE to get rid of bad eggs if they refuse to change. That's the nature of civilization.

[Sabre]

Your unhappy aren't you? Allow me to coo reasurences that it will be alright before voicing my opinion.

The problem with me trying to unserstand your plight is that you don't give names or examples. I will gladly point fingers, but that will cause a flamewar here which would sort of defeat the purpose. I have no problems with harsh ban stickery and closing of certain boards provided it's justified. The RP boards in paticular are rife with petty squables over who should romance character x, what's strictly canon and so on. If that means closing them down, I say go for it.

Another issue is hollier than thou view of peoples own opinions. I notice this pretty much everywhere. Yesterday, someone on another website was talking about how dreams were magic, predicting the future. He then went on to say how we only use 10% of our brains ect ect. However, when I presented the scientific evidence to him, he through a wobbler.

The moral of the story is that their is no point in discussing something unless you either want to know what other people think, or your want your own thoughts chalenged. Don't ask questions you don't want the answer to basicly. My finger points squarly at someone who again goes unnamed, but has tried on a number of occations to get threads locked that disagree with him.

[evilwaffles]

I feel like I have failed this community.

It is not you who has failed us DZ, it is us who has failed you. You, Mr. Krystal, Steve, and the other mods have done a great job running this community, it is the reason why I signed up to this place other than the other forums.

You should not have to leave your forums because of the members, I do think that sometimes that the staff are too lenient, action needs to be taken against these members causing crap and I hate to have to suggest that.

[Asper Sarnoff]

It is not you who has failed us DZ, it is us who has failed you. You, Mr. Krystal, Steve, and the other mods have done a great job running this community, it is the reason why I signed up to this place other than the other forums.

You should not have to leave your forums because of the members, I do think that sometimes that the staff are too lenient, action needs to be taken against these members causing crap and I hate to have to suggest that.

You put words to my thoughts there as well.

It isn't the mods who have failed. I don't like the idea of bans either, but if it is what it takes to make SF-O a better place, then it should at least be considered.

[DZComposer]

Thanks you for your words of encouragement.

Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere.

But I was serious about becoming the BOFH if I have to.

The reason I feel I have failed is that I let people get away with crap for far too long, and the crap is starting to negatively affecting the place. Those days have come to an end.

I will try to do it without becoming the BOFH, but the time has come for me to put my foot down with some people.

Just Please.... Read the rules. And follow them. It's the best way you can help this place.

[Kursed]

Thanks you for your words of encouragement.

Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere.

But I was serious about becoming the BOFH if I have to.

The reason I feel I have failed is that I let people get away with crap for far too long, and the crap is starting to negatively affecting the place. Those days have come to an end.

I will try to do it without becoming the BOFH, but the time has come for me to put my foot down with some people.

Just Please.... Read the rules. And follow them. It's the best way you can help this place.

once again I'm sorry.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Allow me to expound a few observations contributing to the apparent decline of the SFO community.

Perhaps most critically in terms of garnering new members and community interest is the want of a new StarFox game. We are, after all, a community oriented to a video game series. We do not have the luxury of having a large library of critically acclaimed games, nor so many recent games that continue to compel our attention. Such boredom will repel some members. It also leads to a "make-your-own-fun" attitude among the rest. The kind of energy we would otherwise put into discussing game news is diverted into conversing about material that is potentially more banal and not necessarily worth exchange.

Of course, even when there are topics that generate popular interest, it does not take much to derail them. This is an internet forum, so this kind of thing will invariably happen. However, simply to invoke Chinua Achebe and claim things fall apart is unfitting for what happens here, which is an unusual level of impropriety. One small statement provokes four subsequent posts of back-and-forth nonsense, almost for its own sake; it certainly does not contribute to the topic at hand. I do not mean to profess some kind of forum malaise, but we could do from people individually considering what they are going to post before they actually post.

As long as the subject of individual posters is being broached, we may as well admit that there is an unreasonable amount of rudeness that has flared up in the community. Not only does this provoke more arguments, but it is an anathema to those members who do not want to be embroiled in the roiling cauldron of internet drama. Two short-term outcomes result: either the moderately-tempered members retreat from the community, or back-seat moderating erupts. The long-term effect snowballs: general resentment in the community rises. It says much about our community right now that there have several times already in this topic to the tune of, "I won't name any names, but there are some people who need to be castigated." In all likeliness, we probably have many of the same people in mind.

And speaking of punishment, the moderating staff has been quite kind. Unfortunately, that has been a bit of an enabler for anyone angling to be problematic, intentionally or otherwise. It is hard to pick between the stark dichotomy of anarchy against rigid inflexibility. I personally do not think that any of the staffers have failed us yet. Still, I offer this point: we members are not, individually, so important that either DZ or Mr. Krystal should think themselves beholden to us. In joining this community, we all entered into a social contract centred on mutual respect. Those who break the contract deserve consequences.

Even with all that for consideration, rebounding is not out of the question. I do not pretend to have answers to resolve most problems that have already been outlined. However, I will say that DZ's community project, the radio drama, is a capital idea in that it gives many of us an opportunity to demonstrate our fortes, thus giving us something onto which we can focus our attention. The community could stand to have ongoing projects of the like, channeling our energies into positive productivity. Veritably, many of us have invested ourselves in some way in this forum and would dearly not like to see it come undone. I would say that we members have to conduct ourselves in such a way that indicates we are prepared to meet the staff halfway in revivifying the community. It is through diligent personal responsibility that the members of the StarFox-Online community will press on, will prevail, and will become stars in the greater StarFox internet community.

Well said, Rapidfire ^

:yes:

[Steve]

Also, whenever you see an issue, make sure to contact us. I personally don't check ALL the posts in the board so by doing that, you are helping us to clear things up faster.

[Thunderstar]

Also, whenever you see an issue, make sure to contact us. I personally don't check ALL the posts in the board so by doing that, you are helping us to clear things up faster.

But, you can check recent posts on the recent post, page...

[Asper Sarnoff]

But, you can check recent posts on the recent post, page...

They do, but there are still a lot of posts to go trough.

[Steve]

yeah, sometimes I don't have the time to browse on everything.

[Vindr]

The moral of the story is that their is no point in discussing something unless you either want to know what other people think, or your want your own thoughts chalenged.

I think there's the classic phrase: "Having a flame war on the internet is like two brick walls yelling at each other."

[Sabre]

Today I got another warning, this time for 'inflammatery comments'. This is, I don't see it, and the admin didn't leave a name. When you said you were going to be a bit more strict, I didn't think it was 'throw random warnings about'. Did I forget to send someone a christmas card or something? What's going on?