Wanna-be Moderators?

[Perfect Balance]

This is something I've noticed for a while and I don't know what to think of it. I don't want to point fingers, but in the last month or so I've seen quite a lot of people, (normal users) posting stuff like "This thread needs to be locked about now" and "Now, why isn't this thread locked yet?" ect...

Do mods find this helpful at all? If they report the thread or something, and then post that kind of coment, thats one thing, but posting something like doesn't add much to the thread, and it sort of aggravating. IMO the mods do a good enough job at managing thread that they really don't need normal users pointing out obvious things. On a number of occasions I would see a post like that, and then the thread wouldn't get locked anyways.

I could be wrong though...

 

[OZZYGT]

I think you've expressed your feelings now and this thread is no longer useful and therefore it should be locked.

[/jocking]

I understand and I've seen it too. But IMO, this kind of comments like "why this thread isn't locked yet? doesn't influence on the moderators staff. Like you've said above, the moderators are good enought to realize when a thread should be locked or not. Let's just thank God these people aren't moderators, otherwise we would witness hell in GTplanet.

What I find useful, is when regular members indicate or guide a new member to search and point out the site's FAQs...pretty much to prevent him to make another useless thread. That is different.

I'd have to read the AUP again to see if there are any rules in regards of spaming with these kind of comments.

my

thugh.



Ciao!

 

[Sage]

This is a huge peeve of mine, as best exemplified in this thread.

Even though I made that thread over two years ago, everything in it still stands. In other words, no, those statements aren’t helpful, and if they’re annoying enough, are considered spam.

There is one exception though: If a thread is created by an advertiser or an obvious troller, we would greatly appreciate it if the first person who sees such a thread makes a post saying “Reported” (or something to that effect), then sends a report to a moderator. By making that one post, that’ll inform other members that the thread has already been reported, so that we mods don’t get multiple reports on the same thread.

 

[Thiele]

yeah, a post saying "reported" would be a good idea to members that aren't new, and/or are advertisers or spammers that have been told to stop and haven't

 

[Duke]

Do mods find this helpful at all? If they report the thread or something, and then post that kind of coment, thats one thing, but posting something like doesn't add much to the thread, and it sort of aggravating. IMO the mods do a good enough job at managing thread that they really don't need normal users pointing out obvious things. On a number of occasions I would see a post like that, and then the thread wouldn't get locked anyways.

I could be wrong though...

Could be wrong, but instead you're 100% right. I consider it akin to standing next to a cop, pointing to someone, and yelling "Arrest him, officer! Arrest him now!" The cop is perfectly qualified to judge who needs to be arrested and when, and to tell him how to do his job borders on rude. Sage puts it quite well above.

I assume that these people are bucking for favor from the real mods, or are hoping to get promoted themselves. Either way, they are doing exactly the wrong thing. The people who get invited to join the staff are the ones who are polite and constructive and do their best to lead by example, not the ones who act like Junior G-men and appoint themselves unofficial deputy status.

 

[Keichi Tsuchiya]

To all those who do so, Ripped!!(acknowledged in light of The lord of the Duchy of the GTP Forum of The United Internets' comment.

But all joking aside, I've noticed this also, like my Band director once said, It reminds you of those people you would beat up in elementary school for putting your name on the board.

 

[inferno]

not only is it annoying, but i thought this was the verry type of thing that the "IBTL" ban was put in place for? these kind of comments more than qualify imo.

 

[El Gigante]

Exactly, saying things like 'this thread is gonna get locked' is just like an IBTL post.

 

[Wolfe]

Exactly, saying things like 'this thread is gonna get locked' is just like an IBTL post.

Not always. I remember happening upon a thread that had links and detailed instructions on how to get GT2 up and running on an emulator on a PC, once. It wasn't crudely written or meant to promote downloading the game for free -- the kid honestly just wanted to share his knowledge on how to set all of that stuff up.

I informed the thread-starter of GTPlanet's policy on emulators and piracy, thanked him for wanting to help the community, but ultimately warned him that the thread was most likely going to be locked.

I don't believe my "thread-lock" comment was out of line in that situation...although that's not my judgment to make.

 

[McLaren]

Wouldn't something like this be along the lines of "IBTL"-type posts, posts that the mods specifically asked we do not do?

 

[Perfect Balance]

Not always. I remember happening upon a thread that had links and detailed instructions on how to get GT2 up and running on an emulator on a PC, once. It wasn't crudely written or meant to promote downloading the game for free -- the kid honestly just wanted to share his knowledge on how to set all of that stuff up.

I informed the thread-starter of GTPlanet's policy on emulators and piracy, thanked him for wanting to help the community, but ultimately warned him that the thread was most likely going to be locked.

I don't believe my "thread-lock" comment was out of line in that situation...although that's not my judgment to make.

I think that is quite different from just, "wheres a mod when you need one, this thread needs to get locked?"

If the person did something against the AUP and you just informed him that the thread may be locked because of that, it isn't the same as just making useless posts that don't add anything to the thread or help anyone out.

 

[G.T]

When someone makes a thread, and they obviously didn't do some research on the subject beforehand, it is not your responsibility to go in and rip on them. There are a good number of you who see such a thread, go in, and start yelling "Mods, close this thread!", "Terminate this thread!", "Where are the mods?!?!?!?!?", "SEARCH first, n00b!", "You obviously didn't search you dummy!". No, no, no! Don't do that, because it upsets the new member, it's a waste of space, and it upsets me and other moderators.

If you see such a thread, you can go in, and politely explain, in detail, what they did wrong. Politely explain to them how to use and where to find the Search function; politely explain that the Read This threads have a good deal of information; politely explain that most everything has already been covered by another thread. It's not your job to be a jerk and spit on a new member who just happens to be excited at discovering a GT forum. It's not your job to tell the mods how to handle the situation – I get particularly annoyed when I receive a report along the lines of "Ban him, he's annoying me" or "Close this useless thread". We will decide how to handle the thread – whether it can be saved, if it needs to be closed, or if it needs to be round-filed. The last thing I need is for somebody to rudely tell me how to handle a thread that I haven't even seen yet. (I don't mind when people make suggestions as to where a thread should be moved.)

👍

GTP has got quite a lot more mature recently on people being rude when they come across a new member, thankfully. Though, there are still a few people that do it, hense why this thread was probably made. The one example that annoyed me the other day was someone telling a new member to "search before you post!" and finding out from a Moderator a few hours later that you can't find anything at all on the same subject through the search function, thus making him seem like an idiot and probably scaring the new member away. I'm glad you Moderators saw the lights and put a crack-down on this a few years ago.

I try to be as polite as possible when telling someone they have done a few things wrong, but, from past experience, it's harder to get across HOW polite you are through the internet than real life. But sure, it's a hell of a lot better than just saying those phrases above - it makes them look n00bs themselves!

 

[ßen]

This is a huge peeve of mine, as best exemplified in this thread.

Even though I made that thread over two years ago, everything in it still stands. In other words, no, those statements aren’t helpful, and if they’re annoying enough, are considered spam.

There is one exception though: If a thread is created by an advertiser or an obvious troller, we would greatly appreciate it if the first person who sees such a thread makes a post saying “Reported” (or something to that effect), then sends a report to a moderator. By making that one post, that’ll inform other members that the thread has already been reported, so that we mods don’t get multiple reports on the same thread.

That was really well put Sage. I find it annoying myself, and I'm not a moderator. Being told how to do something you are already very familar with, and indeed very good at, is incredibly rude in my opinion. I have seen people explain to new members how to be a good member, and they have been good explainations. Smallhorses is the main person I am thinking of here. 👍
Unfortunately not too many GTP'ers have that tendancy and scare the member in question away. I agree with James here, the one who want's people to think 'Look at me, aren't I a good member'. Is the one that looks like the 'N00b'
No buddy, you're not a good member.

 

[Speedy Samurai]

These posters should also realize that by continuing to add 'this thread should be locked' (ttsbl) they are bumping the thread up and keeping it near the top of the list where other people will read it. If you feel it shouldn't have been started, let the moderators deal with it, or let it die on its own.

 

[Robin]

I agree that saying in the actual thread 'could a mod lock this or delete this' doesnt help because it bumps up a thread... the mods know what needs locking a what doesnt..... a thread containing advertising, abuse or illegal topics should deserve more attention......

....basically cops will do their best to throughly deal with every call but its better their dealing with the murders than the pety thiefs!..... to put it in that context!

Oh and also, (this is not a criticism of the mods in any way)..... With GTP growing more and more and new sections being added like the GT5, PS3 and Nintendo ones is there a need for more moderators?

I think that currently the job is being done very well and credit to those who take the time and effort to deal with the sites dirty work but I was just wondering if it grows anymore especially with the playstation launch soonish there will be a huge influx of members like when GT4 came out and do more people need more moderation?

I suppose if people just followed the rules and used common sense there wouldnt be a problem...!

Robin

 

[Flerbizky]

Reported !.. *click*

/* snickers */

 

[Dave A]

All you need is for one member to politely explain what is wrong with the thread in question (that's 1 member) and to hit that report button at the bottom of the post.

 

[Sakiale]

Its ok on your OWN threads though, right? Because one of my threads was really going downhill and I was just begging for it to be locked (the emo thread... yes that one... )

 

[Dave A]

Yes, there is nothing wrong with making a request for your own thread to be locked.

 

[El Gigante]

Not always. I remember happening upon a thread that had links and detailed instructions on how to get GT2 up and running on an emulator on a PC, once. It wasn't crudely written or meant to promote downloading the game for free -- the kid honestly just wanted to share his knowledge on how to set all of that stuff up.

I informed the thread-starter of GTPlanet's policy on emulators and piracy, thanked him for wanting to help the community, but ultimately warned him that the thread was most likely going to be locked.

I don't believe my "thread-lock" comment was out of line in that situation...although that's not my judgment to make.

I was referring to comments like 'OMG this thread is gonna get locked!'

If you provide a sensible explanation to the member I guess it is alright.

 

[Wolfe]

I was referring to comments like 'OMG this thread is gonna get locked!'

If you provide a sensible explanation to the member I guess it is alright.

I didn't mean to put you on the spot by responding to you specifically -- your post just offered the perfect context for me to make my point.

 

[G.T]

Its ok on your OWN threads though, right? Because one of my threads was really going downhill and I was just begging for it to be locked (the emo thread... yes that one... )

It's funny you should say that. MANY people post in their own threads around here "Mods lock my thread!" without contacting the staff in any other way. They don't look at EVERY thread, so it might take a while to see the request or they miss it altogether (unless they're superhuman, which is unlikely. ). PMing them or Reporting your own thread is absolutely fine.

 

[Perfect Balance]

(unless they're superhuman, which is unlikely. ).

You havn't heard of Famine?

 

[El Gigante]

I didn't mean to put you on the spot by responding to you specifically -- your post just offered the perfect context for me to make my point.

Ok, I get it now