Admin / Mod Interventions

AdminTeam

We state that we want admin/mod interventions to be transparent and explained.

We'll use this thread to list our interventions and to explain them.

The logical section for this post would be "Meta".  However, in line with the transparency principle, this section is far busier, and posts here will be seen by more people.

[edit]

This might now look like we're making this up as we go.  That's because we are.  We are reading the various comments about how we intervene and moderate posts, and we are trying to improve what we do and how we do it in line with the feedback.

1. When we decide that there is a need to intervene, we will PM the poster/s concerned.
2. In the PM, we will set out why we think that something was inappropriate, and ask the poster to edit or remove it themselves.
3. There is a time limit to step 2.  If there's no reply to the PM within 4 hours (that clock runs from 8am to midnight), then we will edit or remove the post ourselves.
4. If we edit or remove any part or all of a post, we will state that we have done so, and we will explain why we've done so.
5. It's highly unlikely - but not impossible - that a single intervention will result in a discussion on banning anyone.
6. If such a situation arises, the admin & mod team will discuss whether action is necessary.
7. That discussion will be concluded within 10 hours (same 8am to midnight).  
8. The poster will be involved in that discussion via PMs, and will be told (also via PM) of the decision.
9. The decision will also be posted here.
10. Bans are not the only option, and will be a last resort.  We stand by that principle.  If action is necessary, we'll use "the cooler" first.
11. Whilst in the cooler, a member can see all posts and can use PMs.  They can not post.  Their history is unaffected.
12. We're thinking that there's a 3 strikes principle - 1st strike = 1 week in the cooler, 2nd strike = 2 weeks.  3 strike = ban.

We think - hope - that it's a fair and transparent process.

We realise that it's not completely objective, and we still refuse to try to define rules for every situation.  We could do it, and we don't want to do it.

AdminTeam

The admin/mod team have decided to put Drew_fx on a break for 2 weeks.

Whilst "on a break", members can still access the forum, read posts and deal with PMs.  They can not post on the forum.

This action is not taken lightly, and has been under discussion for several days.  It is not the result of any one individual post.  

It is prompted by a number of his posts that, in our joint opinion, were inconsistent with the principles that we set out in the forum charter.

We have been in long discussions with Drew, who was made aware - last night - of this action.

[edit]

On reflection ... 

We've decided that the cooler period should be 1 week.

There are 2 reasons.  

Firstly, we didn't respond to Drew's posts as we could have done.  We have recognised that failing, and have defined the intervention process as set-out in the first post.

Secondly, as the process now defines, 1st strike = 1 week.  We stand by the decision that an intervention was required and that a cooler period should be the result.  

AdminTeam

We've been editing quite a lot of discussions titles in the Classifieds recently.

We have been adding the prefixes "FS:", "FT:", "WTD:" where appropriate to make it easier for readers to identify whether a post is advertising something for sale, trade, or wanted.

To make our lives a little easier (!) please include those prefixes when you start a new discussion.

monquixote

JFT96 thread was deleted at the request of the OP and others in the thread. 

monquixote

@Drew_fx is on a break for 2 weeks starting from the 21st of December.

This is as a result of a number of posts requiring mod intervention within a short period.

Apologies for the delay in announcing this.

monquixote

Any Jews thread deleted as it hit the flag limit.

digitalscream

Removed the FS ad for the Ceriatone amp with a Marshall logo (under the no-counterfeit rule).

Jalapeno

Moved all the "Fret Begging" threads to parody because as suggested the joke had worn out, broken and died.

Emp_Fab

Deleted the 'Lixarto' thread by Drew due to multiple flags from members.

TTony

Drew_fx is in the cooler as a result of multiple flags on multiple threads.

Third and final cooler period.  4 weeks.

TTony

Lixarto also in the cooler, first trip, 1 week.

As a result of multiple flagging of posts and disregarding previous modmin requests to desist from such posts..

TTony

Lixarto and Planet18 both banned for use of multiple IDs (ie both IDs were the same person).

Emp_Fab

Removed offensive reference to Jews from Holnrew's post in 'Tasers for all frontline officers' thread.

TTony

Split the Chapman thread into 2 separate threads - one about his guitars (and moved that back to the Gear section) - and one about the man himself (in OT).

No comments edited, so some had to be moved, or remain, on balance of its content.

Jalapeno

Split the Chapman pedals thread on a similar basis.

TTony

abc123 and Mesaboogie123 both banned for use of multiple IDs (ie both IDs were the same person).

Could also have been banned for very poor imagination.

Emp_Fab

Brownovich barred from the classifieds until 19.3.15 and the ad thread hidden due to deletion of prices.

Also Suspiciousminds for the same reason.

Emp_Fab

Bygone_Tones sin-binned for deletion of prices until 21.3.15

Emp_Fab

chilly8909 sin-binned for deletion of prices until 25.3.15

monquixote

The user "Ionian" has requested to change username to "Elwood".

Emp_Fab

Dan_C sin-binned for deletion of prices until 30.3.15