New Updates to Infractions and Bans

[Blacksite]

Cuguy mentioned in the OP that there is no autoban system, saying that mods and admins are able to instantly ban anyone if they see fit for any length of time.

[MATRIX 2]

While discussing some things in another thread, I decided it was time to visit the infraction system again.

While the point values are the same, I made two noticeable changes.

First, the points for infractions now expire after 6 months for ALL infractions, except instant perma-ban.

Secondly, there is NO autoban system any longer. Mods and Admin are now able to instantly ban anyone if they see fit for any length of time, just like the past. Of course, each ban will be discussed in staff forums unless it is a blatant disregard for the rules and clearly deserving of a ban. This again is a return back to the old style of moderation.

FYI for those who haven't seen it, or want to, here is the current rule list with associated infraction level points. We will also be amending the rules (removing some, modding others) to lighten the load so to speak. We are going to be putting a lot of trust in you, the members, to post what is right and tasteful. Keep in mind as you post, a rule doesn't have to exist for a staff member to infract you for what you are doing.

No Advertising Other Sites, Rule 14.	1
Text Must be Black, Rule 17.	1
No Fanboy Terminology, Rule 20.	1
No Rep Begging, Rule 21.	1
No Mod/Admin Begging, Rule 10.	1
No 'l337 Speak,' Rule 8.	1
Signature Violation, Rule 7.	1
No Spoilers, Rule 6.	1
No Religious or Political Topics, Rule 24.	1
No Necro-Bumping, Rule 24.	1
Don't Abuse the Smilies, Rule 15.	1
No Thread Derailment, Rule 22.	2
No Excessive Thread Making, Rule 23.	2
No Impersonating Mods/Admins, Rule 18.	2
No Abusing the Report Button, Rule 25.	2
No Spam, Rule 1.	2
No Infraction/Warning Contesting, Rule 12.	2
No Ban Contesting, Rule 11.	2
No Warez, Rule 5.	3
No E-Mail Abuse, Rule 13.	4
No Insubordination, Rule 9.	4
No Insulting/Harassing Other Members, Rule 26.	5
No Unfit for Minors Material, Rule 2.	5
No Flaming, Rule 3.	5
No racist or homophobic remarks, Rule 28.	5
No Trolling, Rule 4.	10
Instant Perma-Ban	30

How is that supposed to work?

Remove the infraction and ban contesting. It's important that members are able to speak with an admin, etc., when they've been disciplined wrongfully.
Examples:

• Reversed: Microsoft's line up for TGS 2011
  No Insulting/Harassing Other Members, Rule 26.
• Reversed: Private
  No Trolling, Rule 4.
• Reversed: MS Respond to Slim red dot claims
  No Flaming, Rule 3.

Move trolling up to be right after Insubordination, 5pts.

Other than those things, it all looks good.


My postbit shows - Infractions 1/0 (0)

That's from something expired from 2 years ago.

+1

Discussion needs to be able to take place about these things.

[Chille]

How is that supposed to work?



+1

Discussion needs to be able to take place about these things.

Problem is alot of users become defensive even if its a small warning which means its hard to get a normal discussion going.

[Rapture]

I can finally have these reversed and unnecessary infractions wiped from my history. As well, can't racism and aggressive homophobia be considered trolling and/or flaming anyways? I guess that's up to the mod/admins choice given the situation.

[*goo]

Was just messing around man, calm down.

Clearly, the sarcasm was lost on you. Or bitchiness, if you will.






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[MATRIX 2]

Problem is alot of users become defensive even if its a small warning which means its hard to get a normal discussion going.

Yeah, but the whole idea that you can be infracted and that's it (99% of the time) is kind of unfair. IRL you get a trial and a lawyer to work on your behalf. Now I know PSU isn't RL and has its own TOS, but still there needs to be a process for this since normal members can't see the discussions taking place in staff forums about the infractions being given the green light.

[RaY_210]

Problem is alot of users become defensive even if its a small warning which means its hard to get a normal discussion going.

I think it should be allowed. There's nothing wrong with those that are civil having a conversation about it. If one is stupid about it, then the rule should be that the infraction/ban can be increased.

Clearly, the sarcasm was lost on you. Or bitchiness, if you will.






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Haha sorry. I kind of thought so, but lack of a smiley threw me off lol

[Cuguy]

Discussion needs to be able to take place about these things.

Discussion CAN be had about these things. The rule is there to cover the public rants people put on about either themselves, or someone they are friends with receiving infractions. However, it is worded like it is to cover excessive ban contesting as well. People who don't want civil discussion, but rather flood your PM box with whiny posts about how PSU is so unfair and bringing up 200 archived examples about why they SHOULD be able to break the rules.

Like when a member gets banned and his "buds" start threads asking why he was banned, or bring him back, etc... publicly is not the way to do that, as it is more an attempt to rally the masses to force a staff decision.

I welcome ANY PM to ask about an infraction or ban, but if someone starts being dickish and posting in the forums to launch into the staff and others for infractions, well then we will act on that behavior.


And Matrix, we have always had a custom infraction option for anything outside of the rules. Our rules are not all encompassing, nor are they exclusive. While we don't have a rule specifically saying blood and gore are banned (although it could go under unfit for minors) we can ban or infract for it. basically any negative behavior the staff has always been able to smite users for. I just wanted to make it clear to anyone reading this, the rules are not ONLY what you can get in trouble for, but more so just what we are trying to clearly define. In the military this is called the "general clause" under the uniform code of military justice. If they can't find it in the rules what you did is wrong, they will put you under the general clause. Same thing here.

[The Black Wolf]

I have a question about the "Unfit for Minors Materials" rule.

So basically, if I were to post a thread unfit fo minors here on out, I'd get a 5 point infraction? Is that enough for a instant temporary ban?

Would someone please answer this?

[Cuguy]

Would someone please answer this?

Keep in mind, this isn't a new list of rules. These rules (for the most part) have been around since the dawn of PSU over 7 yrs ago.

To answer your question, yes, if a staffer felt it was deserved you could get an infraction.

Most of the time though, especially if it isn't typical behavior, you will get a warning or two before hand to let you know you are treading a line.

I can't stress this enough, our rules are not, NOT, absolute. It isn't completely black and white. break a rule = infraction. No, we like to have the staff use judgement when this happens, not just slap a rule violation down and move on. That is part of why I let go of the autoban. I thought that some people, and the rest of the staff as well did too, were banned just due to points and it didn't fit the infraction severity.

[The Black Wolf]

Thank you, Cuguy.

[Cuguy]

Here is a quick FYI. Since June 2010, here are all of the infractions handed out. Obviously instant perma encompasses bots.

Instant Perma-Ban	[573]
No Insulting/Harassing Other Members, Rule 26.	[150]
No Trolling, Rule 4.	[76]
Custom Infraction	[75]
No Thread Derailment, Rule 22.	[29]
No Flaming, Rule 3.	[15]
No Insubordination, Rule 9.	[15]
No Spam, Rule 1.	[9]
No Warez, Rule 5.	[8]
No Fanboy Terminology, Rule 20.	[7]
No racist or homophobic remarks, Rule 28.	[7]
No Advertising Other Sites, Rule 14.	[7]
Don't Abuse the Smilies, Rule 15.	[5]
No Unfit for Minors Material, Rule 2.	[4]
No Spoilers, Rule 6.	[3]
No Necro-Bumping, Rule 24.	[2]
No Impersonating Mods/Admins, Rule 18.	[2]
No Excessive Thread Making, Rule 23.	[1]
No Abusing the Report Button, Rule 25.	[1]
Text Must be Black, Rule 17.	[1]

[T0PGUN]

And you wonder why there is nobody left here!?

Also, wtf is this?? -

"Keep in mind as you post, a rule doesn't have to exist for a staff member to infract you for what you are doing. "

How can you get an infraction for breaking rules if there wasn't one??

[Cuguy]

And you wonder why there is nobody left here!?

Also, wtf is this?? -

"Keep in mind as you post, a rule doesn't have to exist for a staff member to infract you for what you are doing. "

How can you get an infraction for breaking rules if there wasn't one??

I explained it in a following post. Our rules are not all knowing, all encompassing. There may be things out there people post that may not be explained in the rules that are simply inappropriate. Simply put, if someone posts something that is offensive, but isn't defined in the rules, we have the ability (and always have, always will) to make a custom infraction.

[T0PGUN]

Every post i make is offensive!

I'll grab me coat

[Cuguy]

Every post i make is offensive!

I'll grab me coat

lmao

[ToonAssassin]

i second that LMAO

[RaY_210]

what if someone's face is offensive to me? Can you give them an infraction for that? lol

[T0PGUN]

Why would you wanna infract your mom??

[mooninites]

Why would you wanna infract your mom??

LMAO that was good

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[RaY_210]

Why would you wanna infract your mom??

Lol. Good one. Though I'm sure my comeback would be an infraction. So I'll just leave it at that

[radgamer420]

I can see it now. You look in your inbox and it says you have a recieved a "custom" infraction from PSU. lol Well as long as custom isnt another word for arbitrary then I'm ok with that.

[Cuguy]

I can see it now. You look in your inbox and it says you have a recieved a "custom" infraction from PSU. lol Well as long as custom isnt another word for arbitrary then I'm ok with that.

definitely not used lightly if that is your concern. most of the custom infractions we hand out are because a member breaks many rules at once. Trolling, insults, etc... and we just hammer them. Rather than issue 2-3 infractions, we use the custom infraction. I don't seem to recall us ever issuing a custom for something outside of the rules, but it is possible.

[radgamer420]

definitely not used lightly if that is your concern. most of the custom infractions we hand out are because a member breaks many rules at once. Trolling, insults, etc... and we just hammer them. Rather than issue 2-3 infractions, we use the custom infraction. I don't seem to recall us ever issuing a custom for something outside of the rules, but it is possible.

I gotcha. Sounds fine to me.

[squirrelbo1]

Yeah, but the whole idea that you can be infracted and that's it (99% of the time) is kind of unfair. IRL you get a trial and a lawyer to work on your behalf. Now I know PSU isn't RL and has its own TOS, but still there needs to be a process for this since normal members can't see the discussions taking place in staff forums about the infractions being given the green light.

This is a dictatorship not a liberal democracy.

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