H
HanSolo
Guest
PERSONAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Obviously, you guys have noticed that my public title has changed from “Senior Member” to “On Probation”. Given that the title is public, I have decided that it would be appropriate for my response to said title change be public as well.
A few days ago, I used a word alluding to a feminine hygiene product while referring to Verizon’s way of handling things. I said the same thing in a tweet I sent to Verizon in response to something they said. After posting this, I noticed that it was soon edited by a Mod here, redacting the word. I also received a kind PM from the same mod telling me that this particular word continued to be viewed as inappropriate and to please not use it again. I assured the Mod that such a word would not be used by again in this forum. I kept my word.
Today, I posted something that alluded to my frustration regarding the ongoing delays with the SGN. I said that if they delayed past Christmas I would tweet Verizon, using my new Transformer Prime, about what they could do with their SGN.
A little while later, I received a PM from the same mod telling me that I’d been put on probation for “Disregard of Staff Warning”. I was, at first, perplexed, since I knew I had been very careful to avoid the dreaded feminine hygiene word. However, after reading the rest of the message, I concluded that this warning about the “D” word implied a warning about all other words or phrases that are deemed to be offensive, even though that was not expressly communicated during the “D” word warning. I am, therefore, of the opinion that the probation for “Disregard of Staff Warning” is unjust and misleading.
But that is not the point of my announcement. The point of this is to express my feelings about the forum we belong to.
In the beginning, it was very exciting to be a part of such a historic and massive thread. I have formed friendships that I treasure, I have felt the satisfaction of making some of you laugh when the situation got dire, and I have felt the acceptance in the face of my group-diagnosed bipolar disorder regarding this phone.
I truly appreciate the sense of unity we’ve achieved in awaiting the arrival of the best phone to come out in a very, very long time.
During the same period of time, however, I’ve noticed that despite the overall excellent work of the mods (Steven in particular), the “spankings” doled out have become more and more frequent, and a result of an increasingly subjective point of view. Particularly, in the past few weeks, I’ve noticed that efforts to “nip things in the bud” or redirect conversations that are not of an offensive nature, have become more and more frequent. These warnings often come with a wink, a smile, and a “please?” attached, all the while serving as a superficial layer covering over an implied warning “or else.”
I have read and re-read the Site Rules and Guidelines, especially those regarding language, and it doesn’t harmonize with the “rules” established by the mods in the thread. When I brought this up to the mod who handed me the infraction, I was “politely” told that Phases had established his support for the banning of the “D” word in the forum, and that he would be happy to find the link to the post and forward it to me. At that point, I politely declined to continue the discussion. In my opinion it is irresponsible to establish such an important rule in a simple post within a thread that has more than 50,000 posts in it. If it is an important rule, it should be placed within the Site Rules and Guidelines, not buried.
I’m sorry if this is a bit long. I just need to get it out there. My opinion is two fold: Putting me on probation for “disregarding a staff warning” when I clearly didn’t (the warning referenced the “D” word only, which I complied with) is unfair. Being overzealous in directing conversations, handing out numerous warnings over relatively insignificant things, and burying important warnings deep within a thread and then using them to chastise others is irresponsible at best, and an abuse of power at worst.
Some of you noticed that I am now on probation and sent me PM’s expressing concern and even anger over my punishment. I thank you. [removed by mod]
I am not alone in my feelings, and it saddens me to see that others have felt somewhat oppressed by the overzealous moderation on this thread.
In conclusion, I have made a choice that, in my opinion, is for the best of the forum. It’s “just” a forum, but I genuinely care for the people in it, and I would rather it continue without me being a negative influence or a pain to the mods. I have, therefore, decided to leave. I’d rather it happen this way instead of having to constantly walk on eggshells so as not to disturb someone. My sense of humor, as you can see, is a bit edgy at times, so it would only be a matter of time before I got banned, I’m sure. I’d rather go out on my own terms than to just have “banned” under my name and not be able to say anything about it.
I’ll really miss you guys, and I mean that.
Steven, you’re the best mod I’ve ever had the pleasure of being around. You’re a good man, and your family is very fortunate to have you.
OTD, thanks for the recipes and for being great.
Dawnierae, thanks for the picture of you and the dummy in the Lounge thread. Still makes me laugh, and I hope you enjoy the rest of this season of Dexter.
BabyBlues, I’ll miss your avatars and awesome sense of humor.
Chief, I’ll miss your constant optimism that always seems to make sense even though it shouldn’t.
To the rest of you guys (too many to name), I’ve really appreciated hanging with you for almost the entire duration. I’ll be picking up my SGN on day 1, and I’ll be celebrating with you guys in spirit.
Yes, this is “just” a forum, but it’s full of real people that I’ve come to really appreciate.
Take care of yourselves.
Ben
Obviously, you guys have noticed that my public title has changed from “Senior Member” to “On Probation”. Given that the title is public, I have decided that it would be appropriate for my response to said title change be public as well.
A few days ago, I used a word alluding to a feminine hygiene product while referring to Verizon’s way of handling things. I said the same thing in a tweet I sent to Verizon in response to something they said. After posting this, I noticed that it was soon edited by a Mod here, redacting the word. I also received a kind PM from the same mod telling me that this particular word continued to be viewed as inappropriate and to please not use it again. I assured the Mod that such a word would not be used by again in this forum. I kept my word.
Today, I posted something that alluded to my frustration regarding the ongoing delays with the SGN. I said that if they delayed past Christmas I would tweet Verizon, using my new Transformer Prime, about what they could do with their SGN.
A little while later, I received a PM from the same mod telling me that I’d been put on probation for “Disregard of Staff Warning”. I was, at first, perplexed, since I knew I had been very careful to avoid the dreaded feminine hygiene word. However, after reading the rest of the message, I concluded that this warning about the “D” word implied a warning about all other words or phrases that are deemed to be offensive, even though that was not expressly communicated during the “D” word warning. I am, therefore, of the opinion that the probation for “Disregard of Staff Warning” is unjust and misleading.
But that is not the point of my announcement. The point of this is to express my feelings about the forum we belong to.
In the beginning, it was very exciting to be a part of such a historic and massive thread. I have formed friendships that I treasure, I have felt the satisfaction of making some of you laugh when the situation got dire, and I have felt the acceptance in the face of my group-diagnosed bipolar disorder regarding this phone.
I truly appreciate the sense of unity we’ve achieved in awaiting the arrival of the best phone to come out in a very, very long time. During the same period of time, however, I’ve noticed that despite the overall excellent work of the mods (Steven in particular), the “spankings” doled out have become more and more frequent, and a result of an increasingly subjective point of view. Particularly, in the past few weeks, I’ve noticed that efforts to “nip things in the bud” or redirect conversations that are not of an offensive nature, have become more and more frequent. These warnings often come with a wink, a smile, and a “please?” attached, all the while serving as a superficial layer covering over an implied warning “or else.”
I have read and re-read the Site Rules and Guidelines, especially those regarding language, and it doesn’t harmonize with the “rules” established by the mods in the thread. When I brought this up to the mod who handed me the infraction, I was “politely” told that Phases had established his support for the banning of the “D” word in the forum, and that he would be happy to find the link to the post and forward it to me. At that point, I politely declined to continue the discussion. In my opinion it is irresponsible to establish such an important rule in a simple post within a thread that has more than 50,000 posts in it. If it is an important rule, it should be placed within the Site Rules and Guidelines, not buried.
I’m sorry if this is a bit long. I just need to get it out there. My opinion is two fold: Putting me on probation for “disregarding a staff warning” when I clearly didn’t (the warning referenced the “D” word only, which I complied with) is unfair. Being overzealous in directing conversations, handing out numerous warnings over relatively insignificant things, and burying important warnings deep within a thread and then using them to chastise others is irresponsible at best, and an abuse of power at worst.
Some of you noticed that I am now on probation and sent me PM’s expressing concern and even anger over my punishment. I thank you. [removed by mod]
I am not alone in my feelings, and it saddens me to see that others have felt somewhat oppressed by the overzealous moderation on this thread.
In conclusion, I have made a choice that, in my opinion, is for the best of the forum. It’s “just” a forum, but I genuinely care for the people in it, and I would rather it continue without me being a negative influence or a pain to the mods. I have, therefore, decided to leave. I’d rather it happen this way instead of having to constantly walk on eggshells so as not to disturb someone. My sense of humor, as you can see, is a bit edgy at times, so it would only be a matter of time before I got banned, I’m sure. I’d rather go out on my own terms than to just have “banned” under my name and not be able to say anything about it.
I’ll really miss you guys, and I mean that.
Steven, you’re the best mod I’ve ever had the pleasure of being around. You’re a good man, and your family is very fortunate to have you.
OTD, thanks for the recipes and for being great.
Dawnierae, thanks for the picture of you and the dummy in the Lounge thread. Still makes me laugh, and I hope you enjoy the rest of this season of Dexter.
BabyBlues, I’ll miss your avatars and awesome sense of humor.
Chief, I’ll miss your constant optimism that always seems to make sense even though it shouldn’t.
To the rest of you guys (too many to name), I’ve really appreciated hanging with you for almost the entire duration. I’ll be picking up my SGN on day 1, and I’ll be celebrating with you guys in spirit.
Yes, this is “just” a forum, but it’s full of real people that I’ve come to really appreciate.
Take care of yourselves.
Ben
