Warning System... I'm perplexed!

[palm55]

I read the "Warning System" note, and I understand the "3 rules" of CS as they are written... But I'm a but confused and disturbed by the following exerpt:
__________________________________________________ ________

The CS Warning System is a simple system where when a CS rule, written or unwritten, is broken, a user will receive a "warning". Once a user receives 5 "warning points", they will be temporarily banned from Club Stogie. This ban could last as short as 7 days, or be permanent. It will end up depending. For instance, an obvious spammer, or a continued offender will likely get a life time ban. A regular user who just "lost it" for some period of time would find themselves with a temporary ban.
__________________________________________________ _________

What's bothering me are the "unwritten" rules.

If I'm driving 55 mph on a street with a posted limit of 35, and I'm pulled over, I sure couldn't argue over a ticket! But if there's no posted limit, and I'm pulled over for traveling 55 in a 35 zone, I'd be a bit whizzed!

NOT trying to be insolant here.... Just trying to understand something that has the outward appearance of being arbitrary and capricious.

[illuminatus]

Ehh.. don't worry bout it.. your posts are always level headed, and attack ideas, instead of people. I don't see it ever becoming a problem for you. This new method is for asshats like kwagga or rabiis (look em up in the user directory, and view all their posts, you'll see what I mean). For 99% of us, this will never even come into play. But the warning could come in handy for, say, someone who asks "Hey, where can I buy xxxxx ISOM" or "Hey, is xxxxx.com a reputable vendor?" stupid stuff like that... All the mods here are great, and not prone to fits of capriciousness (except IHT, he's kind of a forum nazi.. ), so it's not something you gotta worry bout...

[joed]

I know that I am going to hate myself in the morning for saying this - but the oompa loompa makes some sense.


I think an easy way to explain it - from one newbie to another - is

1. play nice in the jungle -
2. don't call people names -
3. respect the FOG's.

That's all there is to it - I think the reason that there is a warning - and you can get up to 5 of them - is so that you can realize that it's important when one of the FOG's tells you - "Hey, you broke one of the unwritten rules - let me explain it to you."

[palm55]

Please don't misunderstand me, guys... Asking questions is part of my nature (guess that's what you get for being a newspaper reporter for 7 years).

I have the utmost respect for all who post here, and have tried to limit my comments to either questions or reviews. I don't give two squats for "ring gauge," and the bananas don't impress me either.

Just here as a participant/observer, and if a question pops into my head, I'll ask it!!!

All of that said, I'm faced with the monumental challenge of choosing a cigar that will keep me sufficiently occupied to suppress the GWB message to "background noise" (God knows it'll be disected and trisected in tomorrow morning's news), but not so mesmerising that it prevents me from wupp'n my wife's butt in a game of Scrabble (she stomped me last night, and my ass still stings!).

[King Cat]

I guess I'll throw my hat in the ring regarding this issue since I've been thinking about it every time I post and see my own personal warning gauge. While I believe the system has value, and actually is a good idea, I'm not crazy about it being on the screen everytime one posts (even though no one else sees it). I strongly doubt that the overwhelming majority of us will ever get a warning, so why not put the warning gauge on the profile screen or in your controls where you don't have to see it constantly. The reason I suggest this is although 99% of us have nothing to worry about, it sort of has a negative tone and feel to it. Everytime I see my post, although I know I have nothing to be concerned about, I don't especially like the idea of seeing it constantly. This is probably my psychology influence coming out and is simply one man's opinion, for what it's worth.

[ShawnP]

Damn Nick bet you wouldn't wrote that MSG if you knew you would be BANNED for now reason a few hours later!!!!


What the hell is going on in this place???


Of course you will read this when your allowed back in.

[Thurm15]

Originally Posted by palm55

I have the utmost respect for all who post here, and have tried to limit my comments to either questions or reviews. I don't give two squats for "ring gauge," and the bananas don't impress me either.

Come on, over 300 posts in a month and your limiting your comments? You sir are a Fluffmeister.

[plexiprs]

Running a forum elsewhere I've learned that no matter how well you think out rules, there will always be a situation that arises that doesn't fit the rules but merits some action be taken to protect the board.

After all the whole purpose of the rules is to keep the flavor of the forum intact, keep the majority of the members comfortable (you can NEVER keep them happy!), and try to stay true to your origianl vision when you decided to take on the thankless task of running a forum.

Like others have already said, the warning system is for 3% of the people, the other 97% will probably never have to deal with it. Don't become a warning watcher and check your level every time you post, most of us will know when we stepped over a line.

[FpDoc77]

Palm you seem to be a good guy, I highly doubt you will ever have to worry about it.

[joed]

Originally Posted by King Cat

I guess I'll throw my hat in the ring regarding this issue since I've been thinking about it every time I post and see my own personal warning gauge. While I believe the system has value, and actually is a good idea, I'm not crazy about it being on the screen everytime one posts (even though no one else sees it). I strongly doubt that the overwhelming majority of us will ever get a warning, so why not put the warning gauge on the profile screen or in your controls where you don't have to see it constantly. The reason I suggest this is although 99% of us have nothing to worry about, it sort of has a negative tone and feel to it. Everytime I see my post, although I know I have nothing to be concerned about, I don't especially like the idea of seeing it constantly. This is probably my psychology influence coming out and is simply one man's opinion, for what it's worth.

Well, maybe you should notice that it's at 0% and see it as a positive reinforcement that "Gee, they don't think I'm an Asshat - today" It will make you feel better. - Right?

[Pablo]

I think alot of people are taking this to seriously...or at least more seriously than it was intended. Perhaps if i pose the problem that created the system, someone has a better way to solve it.

Problem: As CS has gotten bigger we have had users abuse the principle of the forum. The written rules are obvious, as they are written. The unwritten ones revolve around basic respect. What do you do when two users continually bate and flame each other in a thread, making CS a less enjoyable experience for everyone else? What about users that come from other forums just to stir up things here? The mods can't keep track of every incident, nor can we spend the time to constantly be PM'ing folks who get abusive.

The warning system allows a user to be pinged. The system remembers it, and if they accumulate warnings, they eventually are banned.

Some people are ultra-sensitive to this and take it very personal. i understand their concern, and the goal was not to get folks walking on eggshells.

One of the solutions is zero-tolerance. Get in a public flame war - banned. Violate the written rules - banned. I have no problem with this, the warning system was a less aggressive solution.

I'm open to suggestions as long as they don't include taking more time from the people that run this site on their own time without any financial renumeration whatsoever. I have a family, real job, and responsibilities away from this forum. I simply can not answer 50 PM's a day from folks that don't like soneone else, are offended by a post, etc.

Ball is in your court members. Looking for suggestions.

[Da Klugs]

You have to work pretty hard to get kicked out of here with lots of warnings and many second chances. Usually happens to folks that don't agree with forum rules and thus ignore them over, and over and over.........

Glad the warning system was not in place when I was first here. Greg and Mike would have dinged me into the next century. (Sometimes I even deserved it. )

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by FpDoc77

Palm you seem to be a good guy, I highly doubt you will ever have to worry about it.

yet, he is not alone. We have had a few members bring this up via PM. Perhaps if we change the name from "Warning System" to something warm and fuzzy...like:

Douche meter
Gauge of love
Assometer
Love-O-Meter
XOXOXOXO

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

You have to work pretty hard to get kicked out of here with lots of warnings and many second chances. Usually happens to folks that don't agree with forum rules and thus ignore them over, and over and over.........

Glad the warning system was not in place when I was first here. Greg and Mike would have dinged me into the next century. (Sometimes I even deserved it. )

I was thinking of dinging you just because I think you have a bigger cigar collection than me.

[plexiprs]

pds, any name is fine but did you mean for the "What is this?" link to show up on everyone's posts?

Oh, how about the U'R-Outta-Here-Meter?