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Firebreak Warning system

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 10:35 pm
by Arano
Hello! This is the last announcement for a while I promise...!

GB is fortunate in that "drama" or the need for Admin intervention is very few and far between, and when things do happen we don't take any joy in having to tell people off for disturbing the peace! We've come up with a new way to give members control over turning around a topic when things get out of hand.

A big clue is in the name, and I'll give a hypothetical example of when you might see this used in the future.

Our #1 Rule is:
You are responsible for the content you post. We encourage all users to be respectful and kind to one another at all times.
It is not expected for everyone to get along, but this does not excuse abusive behaviour and failure to adhere to this rule.
So say a heated discussion about something happens over in the Ginga Densetsu Noah spoiler topic. It gets way off track, so far to the point where someone reports the post of a user being deliberately antagonising and driving the topic off the rails.
Whoever sees* the report first - providing it is not immediately serious enough to close the topic - will post a Firebreak warning which will look exactly like the post below.

*Out of myself, Kasi or Crystal

Re: Firebreak Warning system

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 10:35 pm
by Arano
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FIREBREAK WARNING


This topic/discussion has been reported.

All members posting from this point on are responsible for putting the topic back on track to avoid Admin intervention.

We will take action if any reports are received past this point.

Thank you for your cooperation.


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Re: Firebreak Warning system

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 10:35 pm
by Arano
The idea of this is not just to give you a heads up that the topic is being monitored by us. It is a chance for all members involved to be able to take a step back and draw the discussion to a close on your own terms, and move it along without us having to come along and shut things down abruptly.

After the Firebreak Warning has been issued, and members take heed of it and get the topic back on track - therefore we receive no further warnings - brilliant! We do nothing and you can carry on :)

If some choose to ignore the firebreak and persist, secondary reports on those individuals is what then escalates it to direct admin intervention. This has the potential to include:
- The closure or complete removal of a topic
- Verbal warnings to users
- Users being placed in Restricted Access with their ability to post taken away for a period of time

As this is new and reports are so rare, it will likely be a long time before this is even used! But, we feel this could be a way to give members power over how much you want us to intervene.

What do you think? Feel free to ask questions or feedback on this idea!

Re: Firebreak Warning system

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 10:43 pm
by Wolpard
I think this is a good idea at least for minor cases. Though I would assume if someone is clearly antagonizing/says something outright offensive they will still be punished regardless.

Re: Firebreak Warning system

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 11:10 pm
by Arano
Wolpard wrote: Sun Nov 15, 2020 10:43 pm I think this is a good idea at least for minor cases. Though I would assume if someone is clearly antagonizing/says something outright offensive they will still be punished regardless.
Yes that's correct. It's the off-topic disagreements that can snowball quickly when tempers flare, so hopefully something like this would just give people a second to consider what they're typing. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work and we take action like normal!

Re: Firebreak Warning system

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2020 4:22 pm
by Shining Sirius
I really like this idea of a Firebreak Warning. Sounds as though it's going to be much easier on the admins and members.
But I'm curious about a couple of things:
Upon a user making a report, is the firebreak going to be automatic? Since I'm assuming that posts being reported doesn't happen an awful lot. Well, provided isn't anybody trolling.
And secondly, when a firebreak warning is in place, will inflammatory posts still be cleaned up (without the topic being locked)?

Re: Firebreak Warning system

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2020 11:03 pm
by Arano
Shining Sirius wrote: Mon Nov 16, 2020 4:22 pm Upon a user making a report, is the firebreak going to be automatic? Since I'm assuming that posts being reported doesn't happen an awful lot.
We don't have the ability to automate this warning, the choice to use it would fall to whichever admin sees the report first and use their best judgement for the situation :)
And secondly, when a firebreak warning is in place, will inflammatory posts still be cleaned up (without the topic being locked)?
Yes, the topic will still be cleaned up! Gotta keep a tidy house...

Me @ Kasi & Crystal:
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Re: Firebreak Warning system

Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2020 5:58 pm
by Rals
This is a really good idea! I often find (not necessarily here, but definitely on other forums) that people try to steer a topic on track and there might be one or two that won't take it to PMs*/won't drop the subject.

I think this is a neat little reminder for people to do that! I do have a wee question though! If the problem continues after the warning has been posted, would you like other members to remind the people who aren't steering it that a firebreak warning has been issued, or would just prefer that we straight up report the posts and continue to try and steer the topic without reminding them? Or some combination of both?

*not saying that people need to harass each other over PM!! I just mean that sometimes a discussion gets heated when it gets off topic. Does that make any sense I'm sorry I'm tired.

Re: Firebreak Warning system

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 6:07 pm
by Arano
Morti wrote: Tue Nov 17, 2020 5:58 pm This is a really good idea! I often find (not necessarily here, but definitely on other forums) that people try to steer a topic on track and there might be one or two that won't take it to PMs*/won't drop the subject.

I think this is a neat little reminder for people to do that! I do have a wee question though! If the problem continues after the warning has been posted, would you like other members to remind the people who aren't steering it that a firebreak warning has been issued, or would just prefer that we straight up report the posts and continue to try and steer the topic without reminding them? Or some combination of both?

*not saying that people need to harass each other over PM!! I just mean that sometimes a discussion gets heated when it gets off topic. Does that make any sense I'm sorry I'm tired.
Other members reminding the firebrake has been issued is totally fine! It plays into the combined effort of getting things back on track. It'll be up to user discretion though, if they want to just want to hit the report button that's fine too :)