Abuse of power

razeraze · #1 (**permalink**) 03-01-2007, 09:04 PM

It seems lately some of the staff have been accused of this. I thought It would be good not only for the staff (to see how they are viewed and why), but for the members (to try and avoid conflict with the staff).
I will start (I am leaving names out as I want this to be a discussion not a finger pointing).
I received an infraction where I feel I did not break any of the TOS, and no staff member has proved I did. The discussion was on behavior in animals (something I have researched for years). The conversation went bad when I stated if we are to label animals with emotion then plants should be the next step. since some plants have rudimentary nervous systems and send out pheromone distress calls to parasitical aids, this demonstrates self awareness and self preservation. The root of all emotions stem from here.
For that "argumentative" stance I received an infraction. I brought it up to 2 MOD's only one would reply. The reply was I did not break any rules but I can not break every discussion down to the simplest forms "parasites". People are "tired of hearing about it" (even though my side made perfect logical sense).
Both accepting and not accepting that 2 things were done on my part.
1.) I wrote the webmaster to find out if I broke TOS, and received no reply.
2.) I try to limit my scientific logic and examples to better suit a more emotionally driven audience, with no regrets.
conclusion the infraction stuck, though I still feel it unjust.
Please share your experiences but leave names out, this way the staff can all see how we feel and staff feel free to comment, but try to keep it from being emotional. If TOS were broken simply say which one.

SoberGuy · #2 (**permalink**) 03-01-2007, 09:07 PM

I don't think there's really that issue here. Cheers.

Aaron_NSBM · #3 (**permalink**) 03-01-2007, 09:10 PM

Well I do feel there is a small problem.... but thats all I will say...

razeraze · #4 (**permalink**) 03-01-2007, 09:14 PM

It is not so much whether or not people are abused as abuse is an emotional perception. More of a "how's that make you feel" so we all can see how to better communicate and try not to crush each others emotions.

to say someone is illogical, narrow minded or foolish can bee seen rude when actually it is one of the most passive ways to say "I do not get your reasoning" With out resulting to more offensive words like, stupid, dumb. ignorant etc...... How ever perhaps it is better to say "I do not get your reasoning" But seldom we truly search for the most passive way to debate.

Aaron_NSBM · #5 (**permalink**) 03-01-2007, 09:20 PM

from what I am talking about is someone in power mod/admin that is taking their power a lil far. I am sure the person knows who I am talking about and I am sure there are others that may think I am talking about them but its only one person and tell you the truth Louise knows who I am talking about because I have talked to her about it. Louise is one that I feel that I can talk to about stuff like this and she understands where I am coming from..and if there is an mod or admin wants to know who I am talking about they can pm me..I have nothing to hide and just learned as of lately us members can report complaints but will not untill I see more abuse of the power this person has...

natas · #6 (**permalink**) 03-01-2007, 09:21 PM

Just to clear up a few things.

Some of you know this and others do not, but I do not frequent this site like most of you all do, and like my admins/mods do.

I have some major things going on in my life right now, and have had them going on for 3 months. I just got engaged so I am trying my best to enjoy that and stay away from internet fights

Now with that said I want to let some of you in on how things are done by admins/mods.

1) Admins/mods hand out infractions when they see rules broken
2) If another admin/mod disagrees with a infraction we start a thread on our Admin forum and discuss it
3) If a admin/mod is not sure about a case, a thread is started asking for advice from other admins/mods
4) When a admin/mod is insulted we try our best to have another admin/mod infract that users to try and stop people from crying "abuse of power"
5) Sometimes 4 has to be done by the admin who was insulted or whatever. We are a big site, but many of us cannot be around 24 hrs/day so when we have to take power into our own hands we do it when its needed.
6) Sometimes we ban without letting others know. This doesn't occur to often, but when a troll is trolling over and over and disturbing the community we do what we have to.
7) Like I said in number 6, most bans and other measures we take (minus infractions) are voted on before action is taken.

natas · #7 (**permalink**) 03-01-2007, 09:24 PM

One more thing.

If we disagree with a opinion (we meaning admins/mods) we don't give infractions. The only time we will do this with a opinion is for 2 reasons.

1) It's obvious trolling
2) It's harmfull to a animal or a person. Example: handling a cobra freehand is not that complicated and does not require training

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