Forums | MacLife

oatmeal · 2005-03-14 2:23 pm

I'd like to direct your attentions over here, to the "The Rules" thread. I'd like to suggest you peruse them, re-read them, scan them, familiarize yourself with them. I'd like you to do this now.

'Cause the times they are a'changin.

MiniThink has evolved into a particularly big thorn in the side of the MacAddict forums. More hate, discontent, and bannable behavior goes on in here than anywhere else in the forum. Except for spammers, almost all of the bans come out of here. This place burns through mods like no other forum, and new members are constantly driven out of this forum by the regular users in here - the red state/blue state cliques are more than a little off-putting.

The title of the thread the mods have been discussing this in, if you're at all curious, is "Is it Time to Get Rid of MiniThink?" We're not being quite that draconian, but most of us seem to agree that something needs to be done. As such, we're taking a fresh look at MiniThink, and we're making some changes.

1) The rules will be enforced.
Lately the "The Rules" thread at the top of the forum has been largely decorative. People get into heavy fights, name calling, and spew invective that in other parts of the forums would get them banned; no one blinks an eye.

That's going to change. This will no longer be the place for unregulated arguments, hate, and discontent. As I said above, re-aquaint yourself with the rules and follow them. Ask yourself "would this post be a problem in Unplugged?" before you hit the submit button; that's a good place to start.

Failure to re-read the rules (or this thread, for that matter) will not excuse you from being required to follow them. This is your fair warning.

2) Big Brother: The Usergroup you don't want to join.
Everyone who joins MacAddict forums has the option to post in all of the forums, except those forums which require you to be a member of a usergroup. "Big Brother" is different from most usergroups: instead of gaining privileges, membership in Big Brother denies you permission to post in MiniThink. Again, so it's perfectly clear; anyone in "Big Brother" will still be able to read everything in MiniThink, but they will no longer be able to post in it. Being in "Big Brother" will not affect your status in any other non-usergroup forum.

A big part of the problem seems to be that people who are perfectly capable of normal conversation in other forums lose all control when they hit politics or religion in MiniThink. Can't act like a normal human being in here? Can't pay attention to the rules? Well, then you can't post in here. The rest of the forums are still available to you so long as you continue behave in them.

Before anyone gets any bright ideas, creating an alternick to get around being unable to post in MiniThink once you've joined the Big Brother usergroup is a ban-worthy offense. Don't try it.

freakoutjackson · 2005-03-14 2:29 pm

Hank Rearden · 2005-03-14 2:43 pm

freakoutjackson wrote:

I second FOJ.

stoned · 2005-03-14 2:50 pm

i like the big brother idea.

will everyone be able to view who is on this big brother list?

can anyone voluntarily join the big brother group?

Kirk · 2005-03-14 2:56 pm

Yeah, you can join voluntarily if desired. Post here or in FFF.

oatmeal · 2005-03-14 2:58 pm

stoned wrote:
will everyone be able to view who is on this big brother list?

If they can figure out how to view usergroups, they should be able to.

stoned wrote:
can anyone voluntarily join the big brother group?

I don't see why not. I don't see why you'd want to, either...

stoned · 2005-03-14 3:00 pm

oatmeal wrote:
stoned wrote:
can anyone voluntarily join the big brother group?
I don't see why not. I don't see why you'd want to, either...

i don't want to but in the past people have posted stuff about having to resist getting involved with minithink.... it'd be useful for them.

kamizuno · 2005-03-14 3:25 pm

I think trying to cut down on the flamage and swearing in Minthink is a good idea, especially since MA advertises ALL the forums as being family friendly. This is just IMO, but some people just go too far, and say insulting things online that they wouldn't if they were face to face, it's pobably one of the hazards of this faceless media shrug Anyway, I hope you mods and admins can get control of minithink, it can be a most intersting forum sometimes

fizzwinkus · 2005-03-14 3:29 pm

Kirk wrote:
Yeah, you can join voluntarily if desired. Post here or in FFF.

if you join voluntarily, can you leave? (i have no interest in joining big brother or even posting in minithink, just curious)

and oaty, i applaud you on using hitherto

oatmeal · 2005-03-14 3:31 pm

fizzwinkus wrote:
and oaty, i applaud you on using hitherto

Heh. Thanks. big_smile

ShnickyShnack · 2005-03-14 4:12 pm

I'm a little fuzzy on the Big Brother thang. Is it an actual forum that's up and running? What, exactly will it be?

ShnickyShnack · 2005-03-14 4:15 pm

I'd also like to add that another type of poster that stirs up a ton of trouble is the type who stays within the rules but engages in pointless, irritating deabte with the sole purpose of pissing people off. Unfortunately it's not possible to do anything about that, as it will require too much modding.

It's amazing to see the kind of nasty-ass arguments over nothing.

oatmeal · 2005-03-14 4:18 pm

ShnickyShnack wrote:
I'm a little fuzzy on the Big Brother thang. Is it an actual forum that's up and running? What, exactly will it be?

No, it's a Usergroup. Members of usergroups have different permissions than normal members. Members of the Moderator usergroup, for example, have mod powers. Members of certain gaming usergroups have access to game forums that others don't.

Members of the Big Brother usergroup have the same priviliges as everyone else... except that they're not allowed to post in MiniThink.

stoned · 2005-03-14 4:19 pm

ShnickyShnack wrote:
I'm a little fuzzy on the Big Brother thang. Is it an actual forum that's up and running? What, exactly will it be?

go to "user list" and there will be a pulldown for usergroups. select "big brother" and hit submit. you will see a list of everyone on the big brother list. it is already live, but no one is on it yet.

ShnickyShnack · 2005-03-14 4:22 pm

Okay, I see it now. But what will its funciton be? A sort of penalty box for people who misbehave?

kamizuno · 2005-03-14 4:31 pm

ShnickyShnack wrote:
Okay, I see it now. But what will its funciton be? A sort of penalty box for people who misbehave?

Is it going to be a permaban sort of thing or a timeout sort of thing

Jehannum · 2005-03-14 4:32 pm

ShnickyShnack wrote:
Okay, I see it now. But what will its funciton be? A sort of penalty box for people who misbehave?

It's primary function is to disallow anyone in the "Big Brother" user group the ability to post in Anti-think.

Funny, we haven't really discussed the possibilities of letting people out of the penalty box yet.

I suppose, just going on extemporaneous thought, is that it could be like a ban, 2 weeks in Big Brother, then you're allowed back in.

Really, though, I'll support whatever Oats wants, especially if it allows his judgement freer reign.

Farmerkev · 2005-03-14 4:44 pm

So you just move all the nastiness to another place?
Shicky and I have to join this other outfit so we can insult each others mothers?

oatmeal · 2005-03-14 4:54 pm

Farmerkev wrote:
So you just move all the nastiness to another place?
Shicky and I have to join this other outfit so we can insult each others mothers?

What on earth do you mean?

This acts like a ban, but for MiniThink only. No one who plays by the rules will ever have to worry about joining Big Brother or not joining Big Brother. Screw up, and you find that you've lost your posting priviliges in MiniThink. You'll still be able to read, just not post.

Try and take the garbage to other MAF forums - forums that are already more tightly moderated than MiniThink - and you won't last long.

NAG · 2005-03-14 4:54 pm

That place would have to be outside of maf, such as email.

Farmerkev · 2005-03-14 4:58 pm

oatmeal wrote:
Farmerkev wrote:
So you just move all the nastiness to another place?
Shicky and I have to join this other outfit so we can insult each others mothers?
What on earth do you mean?

This acts like a ban, but for MiniThink only. No one who plays by the rules will ever have to worry about joining Big Brother or not joining Big Brother. Screw up, and you find that you've lost your posting priviliges in MiniThink. You'll still be able to read, just not post.

Try and take the garbage to other MAF forums - forums that are already more tightly moderated than MiniThink - and you won't last long.

I assume you can post in BB though like any other user group.
Now all the cool kids will want to go there.

ShnickyShnack · 2005-03-14 4:59 pm

oatmeal wrote:
Farmerkev wrote:
So you just move all the nastiness to another place?
Shicky and I have to join this other outfit so we can insult each others mothers?
What on earth do you mean?

This acts like a ban, but for MiniThink only. No one who plays by the rules will ever have to worry about joining Big Brother or not joining Big Brother. Screw up, and you find that you've lost your posting priviliges in MiniThink. You'll still be able to read, just not post.

Try and take the garbage to other MAF forums - forums that are already more tightly moderated than MiniThink - and you won't last long.

I'm diggin' it now. And yeah, I think it's a good idea. Especially since Kev's mother turns tricks on 42nd Street.

mr. penguin · 2005-03-14 5:09 pm

ShnickyShnack wrote:
I'm diggin' it now. And yeah, I think it's a good idea. Especially since Kev's mother turns tricks on 42nd Street.

candidate #1 for bigbrother? wink
sounds like a great idea, keep minithink clean and separate the bounced.

Last edited by mr. penguin (2005-03-14 5:09 pm)

Farmerkev · 2005-03-14 5:10 pm

ShnickyShnack wrote:
I'm diggin' it now. And yeah, I think it's a good idea. Especially since Kev's mother turns tricks on 42nd Street.

Of course, she's a good conservative and makes a profit unlike your mother that just gives it away for free like a typical liberal.

/me imagines mods pulling their hair out about now wink

Pithecanthropus · 2005-03-14 5:11 pm

Will someone be warned before the are Big Brothered? Or will they suddenly find that they're on the out and out?

Forums | MacLife

#1 2005-03-14 2:23 pm

The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

#2 2005-03-14 2:29 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

#3 2005-03-14 2:43 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

freakoutjackson wrote:

#4 2005-03-14 2:50 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

#5 2005-03-14 2:56 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

#6 2005-03-14 2:58 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

stoned wrote:

stoned wrote:

#7 2005-03-14 3:00 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

oatmeal wrote:

stoned wrote:

#8 2005-03-14 3:25 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

#9 2005-03-14 3:29 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

Kirk wrote:

#10 2005-03-14 3:31 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

fizzwinkus wrote:

#11 2005-03-14 4:12 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

#12 2005-03-14 4:15 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

#13 2005-03-14 4:18 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

ShnickyShnack wrote:

#14 2005-03-14 4:19 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

ShnickyShnack wrote:

#15 2005-03-14 4:22 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

#16 2005-03-14 4:31 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

ShnickyShnack wrote:

#17 2005-03-14 4:32 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

ShnickyShnack wrote:

#18 2005-03-14 4:44 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

#19 2005-03-14 4:54 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

Farmerkev wrote:

#20 2005-03-14 4:54 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

#21 2005-03-14 4:58 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

oatmeal wrote:

Farmerkev wrote:

#22 2005-03-14 4:59 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

oatmeal wrote:

Farmerkev wrote:

#23 2005-03-14 5:09 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

ShnickyShnack wrote:

#24 2005-03-14 5:10 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

ShnickyShnack wrote:

#25 2005-03-14 5:11 pm

Re: The Hitherto Lax Enforcement of the Rules (Read me.)

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