Infractions

Pottsy · 4th February 2009, 12:20

When the forum was small, it was easy to monitor the more wayward members here. Everything could be done by memory and maybe a couple of PMs.

This is now much more difficult, so the moderators will be using a tracking and points system called "infractions". If you are breaking the rules in a post or in the chatbox, then a moderator may issue an infraction against that post. You will get a PM from the moderator, and some infraction points will be issued to you (you will be able to see a list of infractions and a points total in your UserCP).

If you reach a certain points level, then you can possibly expect forum permissions to be removed (your posts may be moderated, you might not be able to post in certain areas and so on). At another points level, you may get an automatic ban.

Different infractions get different points. But the system should work the same way as we operate now - generally (but not always) polite request / warning / final warning / short ban / permanent ban. Just now it is all documented by the software, and one mod can see what another moderator has done.

After a while, your infractions expire. Only you and the moderators can see the infractions (it is a private system). If a mistake is made by a moderator, then the infraction can be reversed. Or worsened!

It's a shame that there are a tiny minority of members who insist on breaking the trading rules, being impolite or antagonistic, or who like to pick on and wind up other members, but I guess this will continue so I felt we ought to use the simplest and fairest system available to us.

Pottsy · 9th February 2009, 15:09

One of the reasons that the forum has done well, I believe, is that the simple rules here encourage legible, intelligent, polite and on-topic discussion.

There are a few people who feel that the rules are for others, so we'll be using the infraction system quite liberally to "remind" those members to try and stick to the rules. It's just an attempt to keep the original ethos of the forum from being eroded by the wayward behaviour of a tiny minority.

If you find yourself getting an infraction, please remember it's just a reminder.

If you find yourself with a pile of them, then maybe it's time to take notice.

FWH · 9th February 2009, 19:48

As this thread was being drowned in what was mainly off topic rubbish, all posts except Pottsy's have been recycled and the thread closed.

FWH · 17th February 2009, 19:30

Also, please note that the moderator can choose to issue a "Warning" infraction.

This works in the same way as a regular infraction, but does not carry any infraction points. It is therefore a milder form of infraction.

This may be used if the moderator feels that it is a very minor rule break, but still wants to point this out to the member as a reminder of the rule(s).

A "Warning" is really just a "Friendly Reminder", but the software (unfortunately) calls it "Warning".

Again, the benefit of issuing a "warning" infraction, rather than just sending a PM, is that the other moderators can see what has been done in the system, and there is no risk of one member receiving multiple PMs from different moderators on the same topic.

FWH · 3rd May 2009, 10:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by FWH

A "Warning" is really just a "Friendly Reminder", but the software (unfortunately) calls it "Warning".

Pottsy has now been able to work some of his usual magic with the software, so now, these are now actually called "Friendly Reminder" and not "Warning".

4th February 2009, 12:20	#1 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Car: Jag XF 3.0 Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 12,342 Thanks given: 127 Thanked 2,274 Times in 776 Posts iTrader: (0)	Infractions When the forum was small, it was easy to monitor the more wayward members here. Everything could be done by memory and maybe a couple of PMs. This is now much more difficult, so the moderators will be using a tracking and points system called "infractions". If you are breaking the rules in a post or in the chatbox, then a moderator may issue an infraction against that post. You will get a PM from the moderator, and some infraction points will be issued to you (you will be able to see a list of infractions and a points total in your UserCP). If you reach a certain points level, then you can possibly expect forum permissions to be removed (your posts may be moderated, you might not be able to post in certain areas and so on). At another points level, you may get an automatic ban. Different infractions get different points. But the system should work the same way as we operate now - generally (but not always) polite request / warning / final warning / short ban / permanent ban. Just now it is all documented by the software, and one mod can see what another moderator has done. After a while, your infractions expire. Only you and the moderators can see the infractions (it is a private system). If a mistake is made by a moderator, then the infraction can be reversed. Or worsened! It's a shame that there are a tiny minority of members who insist on breaking the trading rules, being impolite or antagonistic, or who like to pick on and wind up other members, but I guess this will continue so I felt we ought to use the simplest and fairest system available to us.

17th February 2009, 19:30	#4 (permalink)
FWH Super Moderator Car: MX-5 & V70 Join Date: 3rd June 2007 Location: Where Polar Bears roam the streets Posts: 22,078 Thanks given: 507 Thanked 962 Times in 724 Posts iTrader: (0)	Also, please note that the moderator can choose to issue a "Warning" infraction. This works in the same way as a regular infraction, but does not carry any infraction points. It is therefore a milder form of infraction. This may be used if the moderator feels that it is a very minor rule break, but still wants to point this out to the member as a reminder of the rule(s). A "Warning" is really just a "Friendly Reminder", but the software (unfortunately) calls it "Warning". Again, the benefit of issuing a "warning" infraction, rather than just sending a PM, is that the other moderators can see what has been done in the system, and there is no risk of one member receiving multiple PMs from different moderators on the same topic. Last edited by FWH; 23rd March 2009 at 17:56.

9th February 2009, 15:09	#2 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Thread starter Car: Jag XF 3.0 Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 12,342 Thanks given: 127 Thanked 2,274 Times in 776 Posts iTrader: (0)	One of the reasons that the forum has done well, I believe, is that the simple rules here encourage legible, intelligent, polite and on-topic discussion. There are a few people who feel that the rules are for others, so we'll be using the infraction system quite liberally to "remind" those members to try and stick to the rules. It's just an attempt to keep the original ethos of the forum from being eroded by the wayward behaviour of a tiny minority. If you find yourself getting an infraction, please remember it's just a reminder. If you find yourself with a pile of them, then maybe it's time to take notice.

9th February 2009, 19:48	#3 (permalink)
FWH Super Moderator Car: MX-5 & V70 Join Date: 3rd June 2007 Location: Where Polar Bears roam the streets Posts: 22,078 Thanks given: 507 Thanked 962 Times in 724 Posts iTrader: (0)	As this thread was being drowned in what was mainly off topic rubbish, all posts except Pottsy's have been recycled and the thread closed.