He-Man.Org Rules, Guidelines and How-To's Feedback and Question thread

[JVS3]

Where is this contest posted? A mod should have caught it when it was first started.

[MOTU_Maniac]

Hi JVS3,

i got your message and read the new rules, which i was unaware of, sorry

Anyway, regarding the rule: Fan Contests > No raffles or entry fee requirements are allowed.

Unfortunately when i got your message and became aware of this rule, the raffle was already closed, and no further participants were being accepted. However, 21 fellow members had already participated and as of this message, are waiting for the draw to determine which one gets the prize (one free figure).

Even though i committed an infraction, i believe it is the RIGHT thing to do to honor my promise to those participants. I am an honest person who keeps his promises and my infraction was out of misinformation, not out of being sleazy and wanting to deliberately break the rules.

So anyway, please let me know how you would handle this specific case... hopefully i'll be able to give the prize as promised, because you know, the infraction was on my part, the participants are all innocent and were all really friendly and supportive.

Thank you.

Where is this contest posted? A mod should have caught it when it was first started.

http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/...-for-your-VOTE

[JVS3]

People don't have to pay for anything, right? The rule is no raffles/entry fees. Raffle being "pay a buck for a chance!" type thing.

[MOTU_Maniac]

People don't have to pay for anything, right? The rule is no raffles/entry fees. Raffle being "pay a buck for a chance!" type thing.

Oh no, no one paid for anything. JOXE just created a REALLY COOL shirt and was encouraging people to vote for his shirt. If we voted for his shirt then he would put our name in a drawing for a free MOTUC figure. It ended up being 21 people in the drawing and Jack Olesker and his wife agreed to do the drawing later today. The winner would get a free MOTUC figure

I hope none of us overstepped any boundaries. We were just trying to help a friend with his shirt design.

[JOXE]

People don't have to pay for anything, right? The rule is no raffles/entry fees. Raffle being "pay a buck for a chance!" type thing.

NO money involved and NO money solicited. It's a "giveaway", i give away a free MOTUC figure to one .Org member, all that was asked was that the members vote for my shirt design, and the voting process itself is free. As i said, NO money involved, given or requested from any part whatsoever.

I got a PM from you, JVS3, with a brief summary of the New Rules, so i thought you had seen the thread and you were, umm, arresting me?

[JVS3]

Everyone got notice of the updated rules and news of the new infraction system.

[JOXE]

Everyone got notice of the updated rules and news of the new infraction system.

Oh that's a relief! So after all my giveaway is not illegal or forbidden!

[Executioner]

How will we know when we have infractions, will it be visible next to our avatars or something?

[dorrmann]

How will we know when we have infractions, will it be visible next to our avatars or something?

You'll get a PM about the infraction once it's given. In addition to that, you'll be able to see all infractions given to you on your profile. That's visible only to you and moderators, so it's private.

[ksensor]

LOL! Don't worry, that won't happen ...or will it? MWA HA HA HA HA!
*goes off to start fake ksensor profile*

NOOOO! My good name on the innnerwebbernette will be forever contaminated!

[bigassbuzz]

We. Fear. Change...



I found this: ( http://he-man.org/forums/boards/show...e-Read#itrader )

>>>
Can I give feedback on past transactions?
Yes, there's no limit. As long as a thread exists for the deal, no matter how old, you can offer feedback on this transaction.
>>>


Obviously this is a big concern for me because of my previous feedback really helps the HYVE (my store, job.)
http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/...ews&order=desc

I have like 10 pages of positives from a whole bunch of great orgers I'd rather not ask to do homework for me.
I'm assuming I'd need to solicit that whole list to click my iTrader button and do this...
Select if you were the Buyer, Seller, or if this was a Trade
Select if the transaction was positive, neutral, or negative
Please post a link to the associated Marketplace thread in the Deal Thread URL field
Please add a short comment about the transaction. It must be between 10 and 80 characters in length.
If you want, you can add a much more detailed description. This info is there for moderator use, and is only visible to the buyer/seller/trader and moderators.
Click on the “Submit Reply” link on the lower right.

ouch.

I guess I'm asking for some kind of IMPORT OF or direct LINK TO the older FB thread.
Is this possible?

I've really been working hard to build my standing with this community for the past few years.
I feel a bit like Sisyphus watching his boulder roll down Snake Mountain again...

[JVS3]

I'm assuming I'd need to solicit that whole list to click my iTrader button and do this...
Select if you were the Buyer, Seller, or if this was a Trade
Select if the transaction was positive, neutral, or negative
Please post a link to the associated Marketplace thread in the Deal Thread URL field
Please add a short comment about the transaction. It must be between 10 and 80 characters in length.
If you want, you can add a much more detailed description. This info is there for moderator use, and is only visible to the buyer/seller/trader and moderators.
Click on the “Submit Reply” link on the lower right.

Correct. I suggest just doing it a little at a time for the trade deals that have existing threads with information intact. There's no rush.

I've really been working hard to build my standing with this community for the past few years.
I feel a bit like Sisyphus watching his boulder roll down Snake Mountain again.

The iTrader is a feature that is there to help by giving folks a review at a glance. But all of your Trader Review reviews and feedback are still there. It's not like anything is going to be removed, and forum users can still review this as they have in years past.

Plus it's not like we're kicking out everyone who has been active in the Marketplace for years and replacing them with a whole new group of people who have no clue who you are.

Just take it a day at a time and build it little by little.

[Sword-of-Grayskull]

Rereading the rules, I don't see anything about an appeals process for the infraction points system. If we do not believe we violated the rules, is there a place we can state our defense?

[JVS3]

Please talk to the mod who issued the Infraction. They usually issue an explanation with the Infraction, though.

[Executioner]

Please talk to the mod who issued the Infraction. They usually issue an explanation with the Infraction, though.

That doesn't work. Asking the same MOD who just banned you is not a proper court of appeal. It is like asking the judge who just sentenced you to rethink your case 5 minutes after he sentences you.

A fair process would be to hold an election for an appeals committee of 6 or so members, where the committee is entirely independent from the MODs and free from their influence. Appeals would go through the committee and whatever the decision they make has to be respected by the MODs and the posters. But before any decision is rendered, both sides get to state their case, and then the committee deliberates. In other words, we need a jury system.

Without this type of appeals process, what we have is an unchecked system of authoritarianism that is unfortunately highly susceptible to abuse.

[JVS3]

This forum has been doing great for almost 16 years. Meanwhile, you've been here for only 6 months and proposing change suitable to your individual tastes. I appreciate that you like it here enough to where you want the forums to be conducive to yourself. But that isn't going to happen.

This is a privately owned forums where the rules are posted and it's the right of the mods/admins to make the final call. It's like this on almost every other forum out there. You can post here and adhere to the rules and the decisions of the mods/admins or find another online community more suitable to your individual tastes.

[TheShadow]

To add what Val already stated -- all the mods and admins see each infraction that is issued so no single mod will be able to abuse their power to issue the infractions. If a member would like to question his or her infraction, simply PM the moderator who issued it. That mod will add to the report we see about the infraction and the mods/admins will debate on the infraction. We can and will reverse infractions if we find it necessary to do so. The mods are not out to get anyone; they are just trying to make sure all members follow the rules to keep the forums running as smoothly as they have been for years now.

If by some chance you are feeling uncomfortable about PMing the moderator who issued you the infraction, feel free to PM me and I will address it in the system.

[Executioner]

This forum has been doing great for almost 16 years. Meanwhile, you've been here for only 6 months and proposing change suitable to your individual tastes. I appreciate that you like it here enough to where you want the forums to be conducive to yourself. But that isn't going to happen.

This is a privately owned forums where the rules are posted and it's the right of the mods/admins to make the final call. It's like this on almost every other forum out there. You can post here and adhere to the rules and the decisions of the mods/admins or find another online community more suitable to your individual tastes.

Well I guess my "individual tastes" have much to do with democracy, fairness, transparency, and accountability. These are principles that are not merely "conducive to myself", they are principles that most people would agree with and aspire to. Certainly they are ideas that He-Man himself represents. You seem like a reasonable fellow, so surely you would agree with that statement, wouldn't you? That is a rhetorical question, because of course you do!

As for the 16 years thing, no doubt this website has been a success, and kudos to you for that my trailblazing friend(!), but there have been some recent changes where it seems that certain posters (myself included) are making innocent "mistakes" that rightly or wrongly have resulted in their inability to participate in the forum. I'm not wanting to break rules and make things all about me. On the contrary, all I'm appealing to is some restraint among MODs as the new system is phased in, because honestly, it all seems a little quick on the draw at the moment. I hope you can take this comment as it is intended with utmost respect for the monumental contributions of the MODS and yourself, and with due humility for my newbie status. Of course this sort of scenario of things becoming acutely inhibiting is not unique to this website, as similar process occurs whenever stricter forms of penalization are instituted in any given social context. Many historical examples illustrate this point, which I am sure you are well aware because you're obviously a very knowledgeable chap.

In any event, keep up the great work my friend, you're doing a fantastic job! And thanks for taking the time to engage with me in conversation.

[JVS3]

I'd say the biggest frustration some folks are having with the Infraction system is simply that it's new. A number of people didn't like the upgrade to vBulletin 4.x. Now most everyone is used to it. A number of people didn't like the overhaul in 2009. Now most everyone is used to it. Some folks don't easily adjust to change, and I understand that. Heck, I'm the same way.

We still issued warnings and then gave suspensions before the Infraction system. But we'd get into situations where users didn't remember what they had done before, and we'd have to sort through a huge list of previous discussion threads to identify all the previous warnings/suspensions for a user. We also were warning some users until we were blue in the face but they would never change. Now with the Infraction system, it helps everyone keep track of everything.

It also helped us to make it so all rule violations weren't treated equal. Those 1 point dings are really minor things; stuff that helps keep the forum streamlined and efficient. It takes a while for those to build up, and they fall off quickly because 6 months will be gone before we know it. And for that matter, all infractions expire now where they didn't before.

This time next year, the Infraction system will be common place. And believe it or not, with all the users we have on here, not that many warnings and infractions are issued in comparison to the traffic the forums have. We had a flurry when it went into effect, mostly for users we kept warning pre-Infraction system, but it's already slowing down. It's mostly 1-pointers, and as I mentioned above, those disappear quickly and the people who get them usually remember afterwards not to break the same rule again.

[Sword-of-Grayskull]

It appears my question has sparked some tension, and for that, I apologize. It was not my intent to suggest or imply that anyone on the .Org was abusing power. I believe all of you have done and continue to do a stellar job in keeping the forums a fun and friendly place to foster discussion and even genuine, close friendship. My question stemmed from the point Val made - that the infraction system is new - and as such it can be difficult for some of us to discern exactly what qualifies as an infraction.

[DrPAYNE]

QUESTION: How do I get to the tar swamp?

[Benedict Judas Hel]

A number of people didn't like the overhaul in 2009. Now most everyone is used to it.

Nope! Not yet! Not until I get to upload my pics, Val-ium!

It's mostly 1-pointers, and as I mentioned above, those disappear quickly and the people who get them usually remember afterwards not to break the same rule again.

Nope again! Some of us are incorrigible!

(1 Demerit for Benedict Judas Hel)

QUESTION: How do I get to the tar swamp?

Sin and sin often, Doc P!

[DrPAYNE]

Sin and sin often, Doc P!

I think you'd be proud of me.

[dorrmann]

I think you'd be proud of me.

Straight from the rules:

What is the The Tar Swamp? Why can't I see it?
The Tar Swamp is for discussion of topics of a political, religious, and/or sexual nature. Beware all those who participate as the Tar Swamp is subject to strict rules and guidelines that must be followed. If you agree to these terms and you would like to be able to view and participate in the Tar Swamp forum, please PM JVS3 a request and you will be added to the Tar Swamp user list.

[DrPAYNE]

Thank You Dorrmann.