Mod Dictatorship

[LiquidMercury16]

Alright well I'm sure this thread will get shut down because the mods have shown that they do not like to be questioned/commented on/held accountable?

I think that a major issue is going on with the boards these days. I have been a long time poster and been here longer than most of the mods on the boards and have posted more and been more active (except when it comes to deleting posts). The problem is that the mods are using their "mod powers" in a poor manner and taking away the free-thinking spirit of the boards as well as a very helpful source of information.

Here are some examples:

I posted in "you know you're a regular at TLF when..." thread and made a comment about the mods in there in jest sleeping with their gf's. It was the 2nd or 3rd post in the thread, it's been deleted now.

I was warned yesterday for making a thread asking about the durability between db803 shaft and k-lyte shaft. Is this an opinion thread? No, it's the durability and which seems to be stronger. As far as equipment reviews go I think there needs to be a separate forum that these can be moved to/posted in so that way if people want the member's opinion on a particular piece of equipment, there is somewhere to go and check this out, instead of just getting a warning for asking about it.

Yes the mods have a hefty job regulating these boards and the traffic that comes through, but they must understand that the reason the ad's are up, the people that pay for this forum's ability to be up and running do so for the members, not for the handful of mods. I believe that the mods do indeed do a great job when it comes to regulating such issues as inflamatory remarks (no this is not meant to be inflamatory, just hopefully the mods will see this as a suggestion issue), when it comes to poor language and useless reposts. However, they have taken it above and beyond to over-regulate and it seems to me that we are being run by a dictatorship of mods that do not seem to listen to the members (the people) suggestions.

So there it is, any comments?

To the mods: I'm not out trying to stir up too much trouble, but I think that something needs to be done about the over-regulation on the boards. Lighten up, have a drink, and just enjoy the free-flowing information of our wonderful sport of lacrosse. I think you all do a great job in all honesty but sometimes you do your job too much. I expect I'll get a temporary ban over this (maybe permanent) which would be terrible considering all that I've given to the boards as far as info goes in training/instruction/nutrition.

[Laxmann019]

As for your thread about the 803. If you searched you might have found some answers and if you didn't you could have went to the review sticky and looked at both shafts. As for cracking down on comments I've noticed this but it's just to prevent any arguing and keep order.

[stinisonfire]

I deleted your post and put a "bwahaha". Lighten up, it was a response to your post, which was a joke, right?

I'm sure Hooligan will handle this better, but realize that this is a website. It's a privately run site and the powers that be have every right to handle every issue anyway they see fit. You agreed to the terms and conditions, etc.

they must understand that the reason the ad's are up, the people that pay for this forum's ability to be up and running do so for the members, not for the handful of mods

The mods are members. Every mod has put his or her time in on these forums with useful information and a great deal of time on and off the field. Not to toot my own horn, but I was voted TLF's MVP on the Posty's. Do you really think I'm just a mod and not think I'm not a member of these forums?

[WIlax]

........nevermind :thumbsdow :ahhno:

[slinkyspine]

a.) That topic has been discussed. It's an opinion to say one is stronger than the other if you have no statistics to back up a claim. Now "Alright so I have to get a new dpole and looking at the db803 and the k-light. I need a stronger shaft more so than a lighter shaft because I'm definitely rough on shafts. So what's everyones opinion?" is your post. You asked for opinions... and in my opinion that's a thread doomed to become "I LEIK THE KPRO CAUSE I HAVENT HAD A DB803!"



b.) We do not stir up trouble. You agreed to our terms when you hit register. Furthermore, if you disagree with a warning talk to the specific mod for an explanation, a public thread of whining is not going to help your cause.






To follow up on Stin's post.

We aren't the forum police. We simply keep this site clean and running smooth, while still posting. We're the friendly ex mechanic janitors if you will. Most of our mods and all of the recent selections have won or been nominated for posty awards, they arent randomly selected. We aren't the gestapo we are here to help. If you disagree with a warning pm the mod with a repectable response and debate why he/she is wrong in warning you. If you can't prove your point to the mod(we will all admit mistakes) then the warning is obviously justified.

[ReLaxin 13]

I agree on some points youve stated and disagree with some...but like you said..youll most likely be getting SOME kind of ban for this...good job taking one for the team!! I salute you

Taking one for the team? We aren't going to ban anyone for making a thread like this...

[stinisonfire]

I really don't understand this martyrdom that is taking over TLF. If you think your thread is a preference thread and might get closed, then it probably will.

Your best bet to discuss anything you think is wrong with TLF would be to PM a mod and discuss it from there. A thread (in the wrong forum, no less) won't get you anywhere because your point isn't even valid. I could bring up your preference thread if you really want me to.

[WIlax]

Taking one for the team? We aren't going to ban anyone for making a thread like this...

Forgot to throw the (10) in there for the sarcasm meter... :nut:

[LiquidMercury16]

I've responded to all said things in the last couple posts in another window (it is freezing up because of length I think) if it doesn't post in next 5 mins or so I'll have to type it all over again.

[roycegracie47]

To build on points already made, ALL moderators are responsible for their actions and do have to answer for them. If you have a problem with a moderator that cannot be hashed out by communicating with them, whether it is disputing a warning or something non-warning related, contact a Supermoderator or one of the Admin (Snake~eyes or Hooligan) with the problem.

[LiquidMercury16]

Ok for the third time typing this over.

I'm not going to quote everything as I did in the last two times to see if it will work. And I feel as though I'm getting more irritated each time trying to post this heh thus resulting in less quality posts.

Basically:

a. I used the search tool multiple times and trying to sort through that was impossible. An advanced toolbar would be great so that we could try and get a more specified search result.

b. I have always responded to a warning to a mod to present my case and, yes I do deserve to be warned sometimes I'm well aware of that but in other cases I think I do a respectable job at prooving my case, even though it seems to no avail.

c. I feel as though threads like my 803/klyte thread (I am not trying to get preferance thread stinsion, i'm using it as an example) could be put in a forum dedicated to opinionated threads like this. If you think about it every thread is an opinion and every arguement/advancement in society started as an opinion. Why should we delete these? Lets make them available and it truly will minimize that happening I feel. If I ask abuot the 803 durability and 20 people respond with "it broke in half" I can reasonably say that I wouldn't buy it. There is no scientific data but it has answered my question so I may make a good consumer decision. It serves the same purpose.

d. I recall signing terms of use in 2003, but it feels as though it has changed some for better some for worse.

e. To the members: This is not a bash the mod thread, this is a thread dedicated to bringing issues to the forefront with the status quo. Our mods have done a great job and everyone should appreciate them, even royce in his cute little furry hat.

[LiquidMercury16]

Also there may be an issue with long posts being typed out on the forums. I had tried to post that last segment twice before this with quotes but it froze up each time.

[Live4It]

Yea, that happens to me too, with PMs as well....but as far as your disagreement with the mods, I have no comment, it's between you and them.

[LiquidMercury16]

I really don't understand this martyrdom that is taking over TLF. If you think your thread is a preference thread and might get closed, then it probably will.

Your best bet to discuss anything you think is wrong with TLF would be to PM a mod and discuss it from there. A thread (in the wrong forum, no less) won't get you anywhere because your point isn't even valid. I could bring up your preference thread if you really want me to.

This is not about a preferance thread, that thread is used as an example. And yes I know this thread was in the wrong forum. I wanted to draw attention to it because people check in the open forum and technically this could be considered a subcategory of the open forum.

Also I have pm'd all mods before whenever I am warned. I wanted this thread to be an open discussion, because I am not the only one with complaints it seems....I mean I'm getting pm's saying thanks for sticking up for the members. Members feel as though there is a high-and-mighty approach by the mods. I realize that you do a great job, all of you, even those I personally don't agree with, and will always appreciate all you do. So just a thought to hopefully take to heart some of my issues because it is not just me.

[dta06]

Honestly TLF is getting boring. When I joined were allowed to post mesh jobs, have debates, and whatnot. I found myself making plenty of posts. Now I only make like 2 posts a day.The SDL has become a boring forum, and the majority of threads that pop up are dumb questions like "Where can I get mesh", "How do I make a traditional pocket", "How do I dye a head, "How do I get rid of whip, etc; and we're lucky to get a new mesh job once every week in the mesh job megathread. I wrote "I miss the old SDL" when I posted one of my mesh jobs in the new "Post your mesh jobs" thread (which is why the SDL lost it's greatness), and a mod edited that out and wrote "your not allowed to post that there." Are the mods trying to purge TLF of the old TLF when we were allowed to post mesh jobs, so TLFers in the future wont get any ideas? The open forum has gotten so strict that the greatest debate we can get is on a pointless topic like "what's your favorite pop tart." Why cant we have games in the open forum like this (http://lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=74391&highlight=games) or this (http://lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=29921&highlight=paper+beats+rock)? I know we aren't suppose to dumb ways to raise our post count, but no one can see them anymore so who cares?

[LiquidMercury16]

Yea, that happens to me too, with PMs as well....but as far as your disagreement with the mods, I have no comment, it's between you and them.


This is not a personal vendetta against the mods, and it is not about a particular situation, but a collection of thoughts from some members.

[roycegracie47]

a. I used the search tool multiple times and trying to sort through that was impossible. An advanced toolbar would be great so that we could try and get a more specified search result.http://www.lacrosseforums.com/search.php?
Here's a more advanced search tool, it allows you to go by more specific parameters (though some things like common words will still be a problem)


d. I recall signing terms of use in 2003, but it feels as though it has changed some for better some for worse. And you must understand that in 4 years this site has grown exponentially from what it once was. So yes somethings must be accounted for as they come up and as the years progress, for better or worse as each member sees it.

even royce in his cute little furry hat.It does keep my head warm :thumbsup:

[LiquidMercury16]

http://www.lacrosseforums.com/search.php?
Here's a more advanced search tool, it allows you to go by more specific parameters (though some things like common words will still be a problem)


And you must understand that in 4 years this site has grown exponentially from what it once was. So yes somethings must be accounted for as they come up and as the years progress, for better or worse as each member sees it.



Thank you for the search tool, is there a link to it on the home page that I am missing? And yes I understand how much we have grown in 4 years and I love it even if it is a bunch of little kids. I stated that mainly for the fact that stinsion and slinky were commenting that I had signed the terms of service agreement which to me insinuated that I should accept their authority or get off because the terms of service is 'end-all to be-all' of the forums and that by agreeing to it I have to automatically accept what they say and not challenge their authority.

[ML_LAX09]

Honestly TLF is getting boring. When I joined were allowed to post mesh jobs, have debates, and whatnot. I found myself making plenty of posts. Now I only make like 2 posts a day.The SDL has become a boring forum, and the majority of threads that pop up are dumb questions like "Where can I get mesh", "How do I make a traditional pocket", "How do I dye a head, "How do I get rid of whip, etc; and we're lucky to get a new mesh job once every week in the mesh job megathread. I wrote "I miss the old SDL" when I posted one of my mesh jobs in the new "Post your mesh jobs" thread (which is why the SDL lost it's greatness), and a mod edited that out and wrote "your not allowed to post that there." Are the mods trying to purge TLF of the old TLF when we were allowed to post mesh jobs, so TLFers in the future wont get any ideas? The open forum has gotten so strict that the greatest debate we can get is on a pointless topic like "what's your favorite pop tart." Why cant we have games in the open forum like this (http://lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=74391&highlight=games) or this (http://lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=29921&highlight=paper+beats+rock)? I know we aren't suppose to dumb ways to raise our post count, but no one can see them anymore so who cares?

As I've seen recently, people still post mesh jobs. Just not nearly as many and not the seasoned members. I agree with you on the games, the mods said that it's so we won't raise our post conts and make bad posts, but your right, we can't see them now. But people do still care a lot about post counts. I've seen one member who joined only a month or two ago ( I'm not entirely sure when) and they have over 1000 posts.
Many of them are pointless.

[Live4It]

This is not a personal vendetta against the mods, and it is not about a particular situation, but a collection of thoughts from some members.
Yes, I guess that's true...but I've seen many of these threads, and have even commented on some, but it goes no where, and it's just not worth it.

[Solstice]

What I'm getting sick of is all of the members, young and old, who are starting these anti-moderator threads. The mods are an educated and non-biased group of guys and girls, if they close a thread, there's a specific reason.

If one of your posts get deleted, live with it, and move on. If you honerstly cant figure out the reason for it's deletion, then kindly PM a mod about it.

LiquidMercury has been respectful about how he has addressed the mods, but that doesnt justify creating a thread like this every time you get angry at the system. So dont follow his lead.

As stated earlier, it does seem like TLF is filling up with more and more whiners and martyrs though.

[tiplax]

What I'm getting sick of is all of the members, young and old, who are starting these anti-moderator threads. The mods are an educated and non-biased group of guys and girls, if they close a thread, there's a specific reason.

If one of your posts get deleted, live with it, and move on. If you honerstly cant figure out the reason for it's deletion, then kindly PM a mod about it.

LiquidMercury has been respectful about how he has addressed the mods, but that doesnt justify creating a thread like this every time you get angry at the system. So dont follow his lead.

As stated earlier, it does seem like TLF is filling up with more and more whiners and martyrs though.
Amen. i've been notceing a couple threads that were very disrespectful towards the mods, for stupid reasons. a lot of these issues could eassily be handled through a pm.
it's terrible when people new to the site get their threads closed for breaking the rules, then they make another thread calling out the mods and questioning them, while the Mods have the best interest of TLF at heart

[LiquidMercury16]

Although my way may have not been ideal way to take care of the effort, I did want to get the attention of the mods as a collective whole, not just a particular one. I have been seeing some threads that have been completely disrespectful to the mods and that should not be tolerated. When I made this I was not seeking martyrdom or "props" from the masses. I am glad I can now see my avatar again though.

[MiddieMan05]

For all those saying TLF seems to be getting boring, is it possible that maybe those people just have seen about everything? I mean personally, I find TLF with new things to discuss and look at almost everyday, and that might be because I have only been here for less than a year. But, for those who have been here for years and years, there's only so much a forum can have before coming up with the same thing. So maybe in an attempt to bring something new, older users are bringing up illegal topics or something of the sort, thus causing bans, closed threads, and more. Maybe I'm wrong, but it just seems strange that some people think forums are boring while others find it with something new everyday.

[Hooligan]

Sooner or later, all members on this forum will go through something like this. At one point, TLF (as it would be with any forum) will no longer interest you, and you'll either find a new community in which to reside, or you will discontinue your online community use. People change, and so do their interests. We will all outgrow TLF at some point. Some will take longer than others. I've been message boarding on different lacrosse based forums since 2000. In those 7 years, I've been a member of countless forums, have modded most of them, and have administered 4 of them. Its taken me a lot longer to get tired of online communities than it takes the average person. In fact, in 7 years I have yet to become disinterested.

I might have a bias opinion, but I feel that in my experience, I have yet to see a better online lacrosse community. There are problems from time to time with this site, like any site or real life community, but we deal with them as best we can, and we have a great group of people here who have created the greatest lacrosse community on the net. Heck, I'd be willing to put this site up against any other online community, and I bet that we'd stand up to any of them.

TLF is only as good as you make it. This is still my favorite place to visit while online, and I hope that it will stay amongst your favorites for a very long time.

That being said, if there's ever anything that I can do for you, or even if you ever have a question about anything (including a warning, such as the one that started this thread), feel free to ask me. Thats what I'm here for.

[zak]

Im going on 3 years here, and I can count on one hand the number of times i've flat out disagreed with the mods. They generally do a better job at modding than most members do posting. I also get a little bit of a feeling that most of the people who have major problems with the way TLF is are immature, if only because theyre 15.

As to the shelf life, yeah, after about a year you dont see anything new really. I mean even the "music isnt boring youre just lazy" thread has been done about five times already. Once TLF got stale I stopped coming around as much, I went from most talkative posty winner to like 5 posts in two months. You just have to take TLF at face value.

[LiquidMercury16]

[QUOTE=Hooligan]Sooner or later, all members on this forum will go through something like this. At one point, TLF (as it would be with any forum) will no longer interest you, and you'll either find a new community in which to reside, or you will discontinue your online community use. People change, and so do their interests. We will all outgrow TLF at some point. Some will take longer than others. I've been message boarding on different lacrosse based forums since 2000. In those 7 years, I've been a member of countless forums, have modded most of them, and have administered 4 of them. Its taken me a lot longer to get tired of online communities than it takes the average person. In fact, in 7 years I have yet to become disinterested.

I might have a bias opinion, but I feel that in my experience, I have yet to see a better online lacrosse community. There are problems from time to time with this site, like any site or real life community, but we deal with them as best we can, and we have a great group of people here who have created the greatest lacrosse community on the net. Heck, I'd be willing to put this site up against any other online community, and I bet that we'd stand up to any of them.
[QUOTE]


I'd have to fully agree that it is what you make of it. I think my main issue with everything was me taking my hiatous from the boards for a year+ and coming back expecting things to be the same. Obviously they cannot be. I will always respect the decisions of mods even though I may not agree with them and people need not heckle them for heckling sake. The mods have done a great job and normally said I would not advocate approaching a situation like I have done. I did so for specific reasons of wanting to get the attention of all the mods (most, if not all, of whom I've seen turn from members to mods). So for those who are just whining without a specific purpose, don't. TLF is a great forum with a load of information. If you have a specific point other than to just bash mods, bring it up to them via pm or drop a comment in here if you feel the need.

[LiquidMercury16]

And for the record hooligan, the issue regarding long posts and computers freezing up is still a problem. I don't know if there is anything for TLF to do but figured I'd let you know. I tried this problem on a couple different computers to make sure it wasn't just a glitch in mine but it's been freezing up everytime no matter what computer I use if I put any decent length post up.

[faceofflax15]

Long posts and posts with quotes freeze less if you copy it and paste it under "post quick reply" and then bam./

And if you have a problem with the mods, just talk to the, most of them are cool and pretty reasonable.

[jedimasterPIMP]

Mutiny and anarchy man thats the way to go right now

Seriously, I have seen the change in TLF over the years and I guess its understandable. The mods have to represent IL I guess and keep the forums in some what respectable shape, even if it means warning people for stupid things. Its the way it is though so we deal with it. The mods do a good job keepin this place tidy though.

[LiquidMercury16]

If I have a problem with a mod, I'll generally take it up with them. They are all reasonable for the most part and I've been in an out of contact with them for the past 4 years.

Appreciate the notice about the freezing. I'll give that a try next time considering most of my posts tend to get long-winded.

[RIT37FO]

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j92/rshields30127/viva-la-resistance-OPOL.jpg

[ML_LAX09]

Lol, great RIT.

but why would you want to rebel when your an assistant mod? Yea, why? Why? You can't fool me RIT, your planning a rebeling with Castro aren't you? Well, we won't go communist. So ha.

[LiquidMercury16]

either way it's funny

[spenny]

OPOL = One Parent, One Language?
che was a punk.

teen rebelion, been there, done that. now i'm the man.

now where did i put my thumb of oppression.....

[RIT37FO]

i have no idea what it means i just GIS it

[DutchyLacrosse]

It's about finding the perfect balance in leeways and rules, members and mods, wich is never going to happen.

Conflicts always have two parties involved and there is only one to take the cake.
It happens everywhere in the world; Warrior goes for the big bucks and chinese workers make $5 in a 10 hour shift if they're lucky.
There is not going to be a perfect balance in TLF, or in any community, society, country or whatever.
Look at the ruskies, they tried communism to make everything equal and it failed beyond infinity.

The mods have to be a figure that emits power, it keeps TLF members from breaking rules.
They are above you, deal with it, they have the capital B(an) magic stick and you don't.
Keep in mind that the majority of the users tend to forget the bad old days;
Go to lax.com, read the equipment reviews, calculate times 10 and your answer is the Brine forum *gasp*.

I have to shoot the mods a 5 star salute for maintaining the quality of TLF we are enjoying to this very day.

They are the ones behind the screens keeping the forums from cluttering up.
They keep people like "a-train" aKa "a-train2" out of these forums.

Ask yourself this: have you read a thread containing an advise to fling fecies into your lacrosse head to improve aerodynamics or a thread where the before named user calls every TLF user a retard? I have, but it lasted only a few minutes, after that these useless threads ended up in the forums trashcan where the regular TLF members can't look for what's inside: you'd be amazed.

To end my preaching: Learn to press the green buttons and leave the red ones for what they are, it'll instantly make your life easier.

[stinisonfire]

And on that note...

[kryptic]

I have to shoot the mods a 5 star salute for maintaining the quality of TLF we are enjoying to this very day.

A five star salute? Never heard of it, sounds motivating.

'rah

[RIT37FO]

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/2/VinceMcMahonDancing.gif (http://www.threadbombing.com/details.php?image_id=1635)
im done being serious

[kryptic]

nevermind... darnit

[RIT37FO]

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/2/blackzilla.gif (http://www.threadbombing.com/details.php?image_id=1367)

[jedimasterPIMP]

some on a little animation/graphic happy?

[abomb]

I was a wee bit "ticked" when they closed down the "Im a 14 yr old that needs help with girls" thread. They said that it was a pointless topic or something along those lines. Well thats the beauty of it.

Ive also recieved some moot warnings but whatever.

[Mark]

Be very glad I am not active in moderating this forum as in the early days. This thread would have been deleted and the troublemakers banned.

Honestly, there are enough good members who appreciate the admin/mod staff and are grateful for what is provided here free of charge. Anyone out there want to test me and see how things were handled in the beginning ?

[LiquidMercury16]

Mark, so good of you to drop by. And I do remember how things were handled in the beginning but I still had qualms with some of what seemed to have been going on here so I presented them in a respectful matter. Hopefully you do not include me as a troublemaker to be banned. I do appreciate the mods and all they have done and always will, but sometimes actions need to be questioned in order to better ourselves and the way we go about things. If the mods were allowed dictatorial power without question than I'd say there is something very wrong as the forums are here just as much for the members.

I stand by what I have said and I stand by the mods at the same time. I would hope that no one would automatically get banned for questioning the mods. Either way it's good to see ya again.

[Hooligan]

I'm getting flippin dizzy. This keeps going around and around and around. Mark is right. I've said this so much, I should have it in my signature: "if you don't like how we do things here, please leave"

Its a pretty simple concept. You wouldn't physically stay in a place that you felt you were being treated unfairly, why do it on the internet?