Ok I want everyone's input, since a long time member got Banned, I want to know, from the Mods, admins, and users, what qualities does a good forum member have?
Because I do not know. :confused:
so please explain to me, what makes a user special? :D
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Ok I want everyone's input, since a long time member got Banned, I want to know, from the Mods, admins, and users, what qualities does a good forum member have?
Because I do not know. :confused:
so please explain to me, what makes a user special? :D
Hi, I think that a lot of common sense is required here. There is a policy of acceptable useage applicable to any forum. This one is perhaps one of the most orderly on the web. No doubt some members have been upset by what they percieve has happened. I for one find it incredible that after the never ever members lounge we suddenly have one. Am i dissapointed by this, no I am heartened by the flexibility that allowed it. My response has always been to work within the rules and if they are wrong point this out so that reforms can be made and thus all of us benefit. Mindful that what some people consider wrong (including myself may not be so, just our perception of things)
Like many here I am a member of other forums (not always as Jenae). This one is moderated by many who also moderate on other forums, so there is a fare amount of cumalative experience. On one forum the mod's always openly explain ( and politely too) why some thread or decision has been made, this is something I think is good policy. Your need to ask your question indicates that you feel the need for more information, perhaps some of the Mod's could explain.
Hmmmmm a sharp wit, keen sense of humour, an ubiquitous knowledge of things I.T. and an indefatigable ability to not step on the toes of others.
Well OP we both have the first two down too bad we have so far to go on the last two. :)
Wow Jenae and Calpitor great responses, like last week I percieved that a member was banned, but now I've read the truth(in a VERY unusual way!)Quote:
No doubt some members have been upset by what they percieve has happened.
Since Jenae mentioned perception....I could certainly take OPs last post and perceive it to be sarcastic.
This board would not be what it is without members....however...members that it seems their only agenda is to stir the pot and cause trouble are not needed.
While we have opened up the lounge we should also remember this place is here for tech support. The lounge is a place for members to come together and get to know each other and relax a little between trying to help others with their computer related problems
We have a team of mods and admins to worry about what goes on with the members and to make disciplinary decisions when need be!
While you are free to question what goes on here I would certaily say beating a dead bush is unecessary.
Very good answers from the last three posters, What makes a good member:
1. For a member to do thier best to help with other members computer problems, be polite, not putting someone down because they know less than you do.
2. A member that has read the AUP & understands the rules and regulations of our forums.
3. A member that does not criticize decisions made by the staff and administration. Most of us are professionals & have been doing our jobs a very long time.
We do what we have to do to make this an enjoyable place for all members to come to because without them we would not exist. Im happy to say that the majority of the members follow the rules and believe me it is appreciated. :D BJ
Have a good sense of humor.Quote:
Originally posted by OilPatch197
....what qualities does a good forum member have?
....so please explain to me, what makes a user special? :D
Being able to ignore Bistro's insanity.
Have patience.
Being able to ignore Bistro's ramblings.
Be professional.
Being able to ignore Bistro's inane explanations.
Be courteous.
Being able to ignore Bistro's interruptions without cussing him out.
Have a good-size monitor. So you can read Bistro's tiny comments between the lines.
ROFLMAO Bistro:D:D
I come to VDr because of the quality of the posting and the focus on tech issues. For comparison, I frequent another Jupitermedia tech site which is much more social, this can be fun but can also over-ride the purpose of a tech forum. However a well maintained lounge can certainly add to the sense of community and enhance the forum for members.
In both areas (technical and social), being sensitive to the "spirit" or maybe "essence" of the forum - which is what is making it successful and a desirable place to be - and seeking to make a contribution that will enhance that essence, seems to me to define being a "good" member.
There are times when courteous and constructive criticism is an appropriate contribution from a good member. But it all needs to be within the context of the raison d'etre of VirtualDR, to help people with their computer problems.
Amen Platypus
Who got banned, did I miss something...
TJolly :(
Hopefully he isn't banned for life, maybe after a month put TJ on restirctions and maybe he can be shaped and molded back into a good member.
I like what Bristol said, very true indeed.
Being Original is neat, I am a member of another forum with international members, so ya here things the way Dutch say 'em and how the brits say things, makes a topic interesting.
I have always considered Vdr as the Adult forum, for adults of all ages. I very much hope that an atmosphere of mutual courtesy and respect can be maintained with the addition of this lounge. :)
I'd like to PM TJolly to hear his side of the story but unfortunately his PM has been turned off:(
Phil.....Since Tj is banned from VDR....if you want to contact him you will need to email him.
Thanks Sarrkazztic
I think it takes patience, and tolerance to be a good member too. As well as a knowledge of things I.T. helps of course.
I enjoy this forum more than many others on the net that I also belong to, and visit. I find that this is the only one I consistently come back to, and check out every day just to see what's new, and how I can learn a bit more today.
I try to treat others the way I would like to be treated myself, sometimes hard, but always worthwhile to do.
By the way, I thought "TJolly" just came back, he was posting just a while ago it seemed; has he been let go again?
He seemed to have a pretty good knowledge base, sorry to see him go.
I hope he can make it back soon...
ecrosson (not ecross's son) :D
for what did he get banned for anyway?
I searched his posts and I can't find anything horrible..
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sea...earchid=439698
must have been deleted...
I have never known TJolly to do anything horrible..
anyways, this forum has pretty high standards..., if you take a look at some other forums.., you'll find forums for just for flaming people and stuff like that..
I think that is the reason they didn't want to open a OT forum, they were afraid it would turn into one of those...
A good member need to be open to new possiblities.., repect the opinions of other memebers and such, and do your best to answer other people's questions..
Whenever a member is banned, it is always done for a good reason, and it is never a decision that is taken lightly. Much discussion takes place in our private moderators forum before such action is taken, and there will always have been several warnings issued to the member before a ban is imposed. However, what will never happen, is that we will openly discuss why a member was banned. It's not fair on them, for a start, as they aren't in a position to answer back.
Having got somewhere around 8,000 posts as a member before I became a moderator, and never once had a warning about any of my posts, here is the SuperSparks' condensed guide to the AUP:
- Always be polite to other members at all times
Keep the language clean
Do not discuss illegal activities
That's pretty much all I've found that I've ever needed to remember, and it's stood me in good stead for years.
Here here Sparky.....noticed one thing that rings true here too....I have never been called on the carpet for anything I have posted at vdr.....only time I was ever contacted by a mod or admin here was to ask me to be a mod....
I have always tried to post in a style or manner that if my twin boys were to read I would be okay with what they read......While I am probably one of the more lenient moderators here.....that is what I strive for....a family environs.
Ok, I would agree with the general consensus so far but have one thing to add.
If you are going to be critical of the board, it's members or the moderators then know when to back down or say enough is enough.
As previosuly mentioned the moderators do discuss things before making decisions and in most cases will either PM or explain in situ why a thread has been locked, modified or deleted.
Discussion of these decsions with the mods can be healthy to clear the air and make sure the member(s) involved are not still angry / annoyed etc, but there comes a time when going over the same old stuff again and again does nothing for the relationships of those involved.
Sometimes it's simply time to get over it and move on.
At the end of the day "the judges decision is final" and as Thumper says to Bambi "Mama always says, 'If you can't say something nice, don't nothing at all".
Life is too short - enjoy it while you can.
Very good post Nix :D You are a fine example of what a good member is, thank you. BJ
k, I guess that is true..Quote:
Originally posted by SuperSparks
However, what will never happen, is that we will openly discuss why a member was banned. It's not fair on them, for a start, as they aren't in a position to answer back.
I wasn't looking for anything specific.., I was just curious cause I have never known TJolly to do anything wrong
anyways, nevermind..
Thanks.Quote:
Originally posted by BIG JOHN
You are a fine example of what a good member is
First, let me say that finding this forum has helped me so much I can't begin to explain it. I come here here day to read up on the different problems, and especially the solutions that have been offered. I hope to have the opportunity to learn much more, and actually be able to contibute in the future.
But I must take issue with one of Big John's criteria for being a good member: 3. A member that does not criticize decisions made by the staff and administration. Most of us are professionals & have been doing our jobs a very long time.
Big John, you've probably forgotten more about computing than I can hope to absorb. And tomorrow, I wouldn't hesitate to ask your opinion on one problem or another. But that last rule sounds just a bit ballsy to me. If all of your (managements) decisions are just ones, we (the membership) would never have a reason to question them. But, just supposin', they weren't? Don't we all have a right to question what we feel is wrong? I just feel that you are projecting an "I'm right, even if I'm wrong" attitude, and you shouldn't be questioned.
Now, maybe my "perceptions" are off tonight and you didn't mean to portray it this way. Or maybe it's my never--ending issues with authority figures :) . But if I feel if somethings wrong that I should be able to voice my opinion about it (in a polite manner, of course).
Now, after having got that off my chest, let me say I have no idea what TJolly did or said to cause this ruckas. And I have seen instances of "corrective" action being taken with members that have come close to crossing the line, so I have no doubt that TJolly's removal was not done on some tyrannical whim.
I just think that questions can be a healthy thing. Thanks for listening.
Toolman
hmm, interesting thinking Toolman. :)
Toolman, having had a couple of low level 'discussions' with Big John and some of the other mods over the past 3.5 years in regards to things I have posted, I know for a fact that they are a reasonable bunch and that's what I was implying in my post.
You can be critical to a degree, but know that at some point enough is enough and that you will agree to disagree.
Maybe BJ's point should have readBtw I'm not a mod just a long serving member who has been here long enough to see people come and go and know how to be part of a well oiled machine.Quote:
3. A member that does not continually criticize decisions made by the staff and administration or raise past issues for repeated discussion. Most of us are professionals & have been doing our jobs a very long time.
EDIT
I'm not saying that I won't complain if it's needed, but there has to be an understanding that when you get a group of people together, everyone is going to have different views and personalities.
You can either work to be part of a cohesive team or you can be the person that spoils it for everyone else.
Btw I'm not saying that this was Tjolly as my dealings with him have always been more than pleasant. I'm just talking generalities.
Yes the members do have a right to ask questions. We the management have privacy issues we have to adhere to & there are some questions we just cannot answer. When a member ask's these type of questions & they are still not satisfied with what they are told, then become pests with constant pm's then thats when the line has to be drawn. BJQuote:
Originally posted by Toolman55
Don't we all have a right to question what we feel is wrong?
Toolman
I don't want to put words into BJ's mouth, but I'm certain that's what he meant. I feel sure that I can speak on behalf of all of the staff and say we don't have any problem with genuine constructive criticism. Nor with questions as to why a particular action was taken.
But these things are often best done in private. I locked a thread that I thought violated the AUP a while back, and explained why. The member concerned sent me a private message explaining why he thought it was OK. I realised I was wrong, and the thread was reopened with an apology. That's all it needs, and there are no ruffled feathers on either side. On the other hand, a thread in Feedback demanding to know why something was done, always by one of a small group of members who have nothing to do with the original thread, and whos only participation in the forums is to complain, doesn't tend to go down so well.
Am I missing something? : TJolly was banned, then back. Now he's banned again?:( . No, I hope he's not.
This is all that will be said about TJ, he was banned once & once only, not banned & brought back & banned again, there was several weeks of going round & round with him on certain issues before the ban was placed on him. I hope this is a satisfactory answer to this issue because no more explanations will be given. BJ
Thanks, that's enough for me.
Hi, well I would not be truthful to myself if I did not say I am sorry to see TJ banned. Point is I am sure this applies to many of the mod's as well. You can only respond to how your experience has effected you. I have had one thread deleted it was OT ( prior to the lounge) BJ PM'd me and explained the policy and offered to make it the OT for next week if I so wished, I didn't however the offer was fair and appreciated.I don't come here to cause trouble just to enjoy the knowledge and to pass on some of mine.
Maybe I took things out of context, maybe I was misunderstood. To try to be clear-----I focused on that one particular rule of BJ's and took it to mean we should never question his (managements) decisions---ever. I can see by his reply that that people need to take "NO" for an answer---he had been bombarded with questions concerning the TJolly issue and the readership needs to accept their decision and let it go. On that issue I totally agree.
And I also agree that the events of Tjolly's mis-fortune are no one's business and should never be aired to the public.
It's very hard to fully understand what someon'e thinking from these short little blurbs we write here. This is a perfect example-- I read BJ's "rules" and took exception, not knowing all that had gone before, and BJ obviously was "meaning" what he said in his reply to me. I apologise to all concerned for any offence I may have implied. That was not my intent.
I should add that one other thing that makes a good member is one that doesn't threaten to create problems or havoc on the forums. It happens more often than you may think and usually in PM's which is why many don't see what reasons lay behind some decisions that are made around here due to privacy concerns. (and I'm not specifically referring to Tjolly in this case)
this forum, V DR, is a place I come to learn and share what I've learned with those who need the info I've learned.
it's a place of peace for my mind and often chases the headaches of a busy day at work by occupying my mind in learning.
i think the forum staff are more than competent and thank you for your input and expertise.
saved my butt [and a few friends ,lol] a few times.
keep up the good work !
Thank you from all of us, EARLE. ;)
Almost sounds like a quote from buddhist scriptures or something.Quote:
Originally posted by EARLE
a place of peace for my mind and often chases the headaches of a busy day at work by occupying my mind in learning
actually.....i'm catholic,lol.Quote:
Originally posted by Nix
Almost sounds like a quote from buddhist scriptures or something.