First, let me say I'm pleasantly surprised by the amount of supportive replies to this thread as well as the civility shown in the discussion.  Next, let me qualify my post by saying that I am a high school educator.  That doesn't mean I know all, but I do know about dealing with dissent and immature attitudes. 

I don't think it would be necessary to ban in large quantities, but banning the worst / most frequent offenders would help to ward off others that might test the boundaries.  I can tell you that as a teacher, there is nothing I can do to undermine my own authority more than to make threats and then not follow through.  That opens the doors to idiots.

People will do whatever they are allowed to do.  People don't post porn because they know it will be deleted and they will be banned...it's happened before (anyone remember the bestiality avatar?).  People don't make physical threats (that I've noticed).  They recognize the boundaries.  We just need to tighten the reigns.

Quote...They left of their own choice....they are adults....as moderators and members of the site leadership they should be MORE capable of ignoring any "confrontational" posts and handle themselves as professionals...I expect more tolerance from the mods/admins then from other members...if they can't hack it....well we've seen what happens....

I disagree here; if you want order, the mods need to be more strict.  It's overly tolerant mods of which these people take advantage. 

In the words of Cernunos, "love my baby GS and this forum."

well let me chime in a bit. I've always followed the direction that John has set for this forum, meaning Moderators are hands off. However, this doesnt mean that I or any of the other moderators arent doing anything. I for one have been as diligent as I can be and using PM's to let people know they've overstepped the boundaries. Most have been receptive of that and have altered their actions. Some havent. that beastiality avatar pissed me off to no end and I felt powerless, since at the time I was only a moderator and didnt have access to those controls. So...I went through and manually deleted every single post he'd made, all of a couple hundred posts. it was late at night and couldnt reach the admins at the time.

Again,  I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. we all can go a little overboard sometimes so a PM or two usually solves the issue. When it doesnt it goes public, and if that doesnt solve the issue it gets serious and some other form of punitive action is taken, with bans being a last resort.

this board has always been a great board compared to others (anyone frequent the R1 forum lately?) but with the influx of many new members, thanks in part to the renewed success of the gs500 in F guise, the forums have gotten a little crazy. Now here's where it gets interesting. This site has always been good because several diligent members (and mods/admins) have been diligent about keeping tabs on the place. Now with the high number of members its harder to do unless we all keep tabs on it.

Thats what I would ask of everyone here. Just like in society at large, every one of you, as a member of this community bears some responsibility for the order that exists. All of us admins/mods can't keep tabs on everything at all times of the day (although some might find that hard to believe as much as I have been on, LOL). As members of this community, everyone of you has the responsibility and duty to keep a watchful eye for things that arent appropriate and either call people on it (if so inclined) without attacking character, or if you prefer to remain anonymous you can PM one of us to point things you see out to us. We'll take care of it from there. I have in the past received such PM's but in times of crisis like these its imperative we all help keep this place as great as it has always been.

or I'll ban you.

Quote from: pantablo on February 15, 2006, 10:23:12 PMI for one have been as diligent as I can be and using PM's to let people know they've overstepped the boundaries.

Can vouch.  it's actually something you don't see anywhere else except with scratch, and a very select few others, on TLPlanet and SSBC.

Quote(anyone frequent the R1 forum lately?)

The YZF forums are so unorganized, crowded and total pitas to use...there's like 50 stickies in EVERY section!!

Quoteor I'll ban you.

rofl

Quote from: pantablo on February 15, 2006, 10:23:12 PM

....or if you prefer to remain anonymous you can PM one of us to point things you see out to us. We'll take care of it from there...

I like how the new board software has the "Report to moderator" link. I am not sure how it works or who it goes to, but I think that is a nifty lil feature.

Quote from: pantablo on February 15, 2006, 10:23:12 PM

or I'll ban you.

You're the man   This board needs a a firm hand once in a while and someone to draw a hard line.

I like to use the same saying I've said a million times: Your rights stop where someone else's begins.

Quote from: Phaedrus on February 15, 2006, 10:32:07 PM
I like how the new board software has the "Report to moderator" link. I am not sure how it works or who it goes to, but I think that is a nifty lil feature.

It sends an email to me. I'd gotten some not too long ago. I dont know if it goes to anyone else (all the mods/admins at same time?) or what but I did get some...

In VBulletin, which this software is vaguely modelled after, the email goes to the section's designated moderators.  If none are designated, then it sends it to the entire mod group.  The newest VB software lets you set it to inform the regular people, plus whoever else (site owner, admin staff, etc).

Quote from: pantablo on February 15, 2006, 10:23:12 PM

or I'll ban you.

....ah....threaten me will ya....haha....I got a new avatar....so pucker up and kis....uh......wait....I'm not gonna go there yet....Pablo's just itchin' to use the ban button....so yeah....uh...HAVE A NICE DAY  ...

lol yoiu can have that groovy avatar. i had it from messin with johns err the gsgod's avatar. lol and finally got rid of it

Wasn't me, I swear.

banana-hammer ?

Quote from: oramac on February 14, 2006, 05:53:11 PM
...and Davipu would offer insightful comments to noobs no matter how often...

seems Daveepoo is back...

who posted this?  wasn't me!

Quote from: pantablo on February 16, 2006, 12:30:49 AMseems Daveepoo is back...

ditto..noticed that the other night.

stop!

stop what?

Quote from: badkarma506 on February 16, 2006, 12:27:50 AM
banana-hammer ?

this sort of madness...
(funny sig line...)

bananaphone?

NSFW (make sure your speakers are on!)

Well seeing davipoo is back I rushed to give him a custom title.  I also changed his avatar

Maybe he should be in the running for moderator?  The Bananahammer Moderator?  Can't you just see the PM's from him?  "If you don't stop being a weenie I'll drop the big bananna on you"

Quote from: NiceGuysFinishLast on February 16, 2006, 01:27:56 AM
bananaphone?

NSFW (make sure your speakers are on!)

Work safe version