James:

I don't use them to control your votes, when you are wrong, you are wrong. That simple. In PM's I won't let you spin to rationalize a bad vote and you don't like that. I also can't PM to pay you a compliment which sometimes I want to do, but that's your choice, not mine. Like I said earlier I do not desire to go into great detail, simply because I do not consider it to be anyone's business.

Thank you for the explanation.

Quoting TheMadMartian:

Quote:
Quoting m.cellophane:

Quote:
Thank you for the explanation.

Indeed.

Exactly. Too bad Ken doesn't appear sooner when we have those kind of discussions that would safe a lot of bad vibes argument.

I've really been trying to stay out of this but...

Quote:
The thread was locked and the user warned. I'm not sure where the impression was given that an immediate ban would be given - a warning was appropriate in this case. If the problem is repeated, it will be dealt with..

You questioned where we got the impression a ban would happen. I am fairly confident I can speak for many here in this case so let me try to clarify where we got confused.

On May 12th a moderator locked a thread and warned everyone that is was not acceptable to bring voting issues to the forum"
Link

Quote:
If you note a potentially inaccurate vote, feel free to politely PM the user in question.  If they don't respond or are not accepting PMs, it is not acceptable to bring the issue to the forums.  We consider this a form of harassment and so will be putting a stop to it.

An offense happened
The moderator locked the thread
The moderator told us this was a form of harassment and you will be putting a stop to it.

About a week after you warned us that this type of post was considered by you as harassment and is unacceptable the same person posted the same type of message. This was 100% against what you had already warned us we cannot do. The community, based on your action a week ago, knew this and called him out on it. We also called Invelos out for seemingly letting him get away with it since you told us you would be stopping it.

So once again we have the following:
An offense happened (same offense as last week)
The moderator locked the thread (same action as last week)
The moderator warned us (again) we can't do that.

Since you already locked a thread and we were already told it was not acceptable and you would be putting a stop to it I guess people expected something other than the thread being locked and another warning issued.    I hope that clears up the confusion on why we thought something would actually be done about it.

It really comes across as "No, for REAL this time, it is not acceptable". 

Although in all fairness you did warn us in bold font this time.

Quote:
To the op: Perhaps you missed this part:
If they don't respond or are not accepting PMs, it is not acceptable to bring the issue to the forums.

Let us know if next time we can expect something like this:
it is really really not acceptable to do this

followed a week later by:
I mean it this time...it is not acceptable to do this

and
Don't make me tell you again...

Yes, I am being a smart a$$ but I hope you get the point. The poster defied you. He does not claim he wasn't aware it was unacceptable. He defended his post saying Invelos caused the issued when they created the block user system.
After being called out on that he said he "consider(ed) the database and the value of the data to take the higher percedence". Once again showing his complete lack of respect for what you want to do with your program. The arrogance is amazing, or maybe not. Perhaps he does know he can do anything, even knowingly defy you, and simply get a "warning". 

Add to that the fact that in the week between warnings the user had 7 posts moderated as well. If you can't see how this gives the rest of us a feeling that your warnings are meaningless and there is special treatment then you need to step back and look at the situation with fresh eyes. Especially when you read stories like Taro and Cliff posted about their bans and reputation.

I'll get off my soapbox now, after one more point. 

Quote:
The original message was left unedited so that others could see what the offending post was.  In cases of name calling or other direct attacks, we generally prefer to remove the language but in this case felt it would be beneficial overall to leave it and instead warn the user and lock the thread..

  If that is truly why you left it then you should say so. Edit the post. Add to it "Posts like this are not acceptable. We are leaving it here as an example of what you cannot say". Simply leaving it unedited gives the impression it is acceptable. Personally if something is not moderated in any way I don't see it as a possible example of what you consider unacceptable. I can't be alone in this, can I? 

OK, now I'm done.


No, for real this time.


I mean it.



I'm really done.



I wont tell you again.




After this time that is.





And this one too.





Seriously, I'm done. I'll say no more about it. I have made me feelings clear.





(get it yet?)

I was keeping out of this, but I've got to lend my support to Lyonsden. Less than a week after everyone is warned that those types of threads are a form of harrassment, the same user creates another one and even admits that it's breaking the rules but that the issue is "more important" than the rules, and all that happens is another warning? 

Also as the last few pages have shown, for moderation to work it must be seen to be working. The lack of posting by the moderators give the impression that they either consider the posts acceptable or they don't care. As Lyonsden says, how are we to know the original post was left as an example if we are not told?

As a side note, I have been asked by the moderators to remove/change my avatar. I'm curious as to what will happen if I don't - will I just be asked again, and again? 

Edit: I just want everyone to know, I have NOT removed my avatar. It has obviously been done "on my behalf". 

Quoting northbloke:

Quote:
Edit: I just want everyone to know, I have NOT removed my avatar. It has obviously been done "on my behalf". 

Wow.

Quoting northbloke:

Quote:
I was keeping out of this, but I've got to lend my support to Lyonsden. Less than a week after everyone is warned that those types of threads are a form of harrassment, the same user creates another one and even admits that it's breaking the rules but that the issue is "more important" than the rules, and all that happens is another warning? 

Also as the last few pages have shown, for moderation to work it must be seen to be working. The lack of posting by the moderators give the impression that they either consider the posts acceptable or they don't care. As Lyonsden says, how are we to know the original post was left as an example if we are not told?

As a side note, I have been asked by the moderators to remove/change my avatar. I'm curious as to what will happen if I don't - will I just be asked again, and again? 

Edit: I just want everyone to know, I have NOT removed my avatar. It has obviously been done "on my behalf". 

So someone who mocks moderation, has no respect for the forum members and Ken himself, is responsible for lost sales for Invelos and takes glee in running off well loved members = OKAY.

Someone who has an avatar that above person doesn't like = BAD.



Glad the priorities for the forum are in check. 

Quoting Kathy:

Quote:

The removal of anyone's avatar is unacceptable and should be immediately be reinstated. It did not violate any rules and its removal is uncalled for.  Shame on invelos for doing this.

I have to agree with you on this. There was no reasons to remove the avatar at all, it was not against the forum rules at all. Unless an evil Walt Disney is now highly offensive... So now we aren't permitted to make a point with our avatar? Good that I have remove mine who was against your anti-adult politics.

Completly ridiculous and you (you being Invelos, not Kathy of course) certainly own a public apology to Northbloke for this unfounded unilateral decision