EVERYONE READ: Major Changes on the Raptor Board!

Post #1 » by **TheDoctor** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:13 pm

Good morning everyone,

I'd like to take the time to announce that we will be having a number of changes to the Raptors board today, that we think will have a great effect on the board going forward.

First of all, I'd like to announce that 3 of our existing moderators will be retiring, effective immediately. They've done a great job helping us out on the boards over the years, and will still be welcomed as posters:

Wham!

Kohanz

CanuckPete

Thank you for everything, and I'm glad I got a chance to get to know you guys over the years on and in some cases off the boards.

Post #2 » by **TheDoctor** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:14 pm

Now if there are moderators retiring, then that means we have new people coming on board to help out. Because this is such a time of major change, and a few of the existing moderators are still busy as well, we are bringing a familiar face out of retirement to ease the transition.

Everyone welcome back

Maritimer

who was universally respected as a poster and moderator in his years helping out here, and continues to be active as his time permits. Thanks for volunteering to help out for the next few weeks, and everyone will appreciate your help.

:clap:

Post #3 » by **TheDoctor** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:22 pm

Thirdly, I'd like to welcome new moderators to the team, in the largest single-day expansion around here EVER!

We're a busy board, and we need a good, respected and active team.

So everyone please welcome:

supersub15

You've applauded his efforts over the years on the daily papers and bringing news to our attention, well now he can sticky and unsticky the news too! He's been a valued contributor, and we look forward to working even more closely with him.

The Duke

A veteran of over 4.5 years on the board, and always a steady and reasonable poster, I'm sure you'll appreciate his efforts.

Shaazzam

In a similar vein, he's been providing well thought out responses for a few years now, and we think he'll make a great moderator.

Schadenfreude

A well-reasoned poster who under the name Abe, and now his new name has been contributing greatly to the board over the past couple of years, and I know many people really enjoy his posts.

SkinnyP

Now that he's a mod, he's decided to capitalize his name too. You know that he keeps things light and fun around here, and is a very big Raptor fan who attends a lot of games. He'll continue to provide a similar contribution as a mod.

Post #4 » by **TheDoctor** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:26 pm

Now as I said the other day, things have taken a turn for the worse around here and we need to work together to get things fixed up. We have the manpower to make things happen, but I think a few things bear repeating to everyone on the board.

I've taken a few points from around RealGM that I think bear thinking about, and taking to heart, and we're going to be using a similar set of principles here going forward:

1. Respond to posts, don't attack the poster.

The meaning of this is pretty self-explanatory.

2. Reasons don't excuse bad behaviour.

It doesn't matter if you feel you are in the right, or have been wronged, that they did it first, that you've been around a long time, or your target isn't a real fan in your estimation. You are still subject to the parameters of this forum, whose purpose is to allow discussions without degenerating into the idiocy we have seen around here far too often. Its going to stop.

3. If you have an issue with a poster's point, debate it or ignore it. If you have an issue with a poster's behaviour, report it or ignore it. Do not try and debate posting behaviour.

As the rules always apply, and reasons do not excuse, there needs to be a medium for addressing issues with other poster's behaviour, and that is provided for in the form of reporting posts and private messaging mods to make them aware of the situation. Otherwise, even the most well founded and intentioned efforts to correct other posters can lead into chaos. If you have a great idea on how a situation should be moderated - let a moderator know. But don't let the board know publicly, because that makes the situation worse.

4. Respect Differences

While we're all fans of the same team, it bears mentioning that there is no one right way to be a fan. Some fans will always be unabashed homers. Others are always extremely critical. Fans exist at every point along this spectrum between the two, and thats' ok and part of what makes this place great. As long as you respect each other, we can all coexist. You don't have to like the opinion, but you have to respect the poster's right to say it, as long as they follow the rules.

At all points, all posters and moderators must adhere to the above principles and of course the additional forum rules. (http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=504107).

Work with our newly reformed team to clean this place up, and please welcome them aboard, so we can have a great time here for a long time to come.

Post #5 » by **Maritimer** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:36 pm

Hi everyone,

I want to be blunt about one thing -- the undercurrent of racism on this board is a problem, and I will help weed it out. So...

To the offenders: If you say something questionable, it's a warning. If you say something overtly racist, I'm going straight for the suspension/ban, and I'm not interested in hearing your case.

To the rest of the community This little fella --

-- is your friend. If someone posts something offensive, report it. If you know one of us is around, you can help us act even more quickly by sending a PM.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Luv 4 da game · Post #6 » by **Luv 4 da game** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:48 pm

Thank you - To all the retired mods. (Please keep posting your insights as regular fans.)

Welcome - To all the new ones. (Hope you guys don't cut short on posting after given the new jobs because you all are great posters)

Special Welcome to Maritimer whose back from retirement.

rdtx2005 · Post #7 » by **rdtx2005** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:50 pm

supersub15 a mod?...... :eek1:

speechless....

I guess he'll ban dagger first.

Post #8 » by **The Duke** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:54 pm

Hello Everyone:

With the new changes, means that this board will be mod'ed more forcely. There has been a call by many posters for stricter use and quicker action. That is what we intend to do.

DO NOT attack posters, but discuss their positions or arguments.

The Board has also become much too clutered with threads that do not need to be here.... including the following.

*OT: Before making a OT thread, please remember most of these threads do not belong on this board, and can be address on another board, (Trade board, fantasy board, or Off Topic Canada Board, Off Topic General Board) .... Also these board can better answer ur intended threads.

*Threads Regarding Other Players, where the intent of the post is to discuss how could we have passed on such a great talent in the draft. We need to move forward beyond this

As mentioned, we will be pushing for quicker suspensions or bans.
Thank You,
-Duke

Post #9 » by **Maritimer** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:56 pm

rdtx2005 wrote:supersub15 a mod?......

speechless....

I guess he'll ban dagger first.

Well, to clear up a misconception, we have to ask for bans from the commissioners, so no one can ban a poster for not liking or disagreeing with them. Furthermore, we generally make an effort to not moderate our own conversations unless there is a very clear violation of the TOS.

We have every bit of faith in the new moderators, and hope that the rest of the board will as well.

C Court · Post #10 » by **C Court** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:57 pm

Congratulations, guys! :clap:

Now, get 'er done!

Post #11 » by **theSkinny** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:58 pm

Thanks to the Mods who are off to greener pastures with their wagon full of women and beer....

Im looking forward to helping make this board great again, So lets all play nice and make it enjoyable for everyone.

Otherwise my itchy suspension/warning finger will be put to quick use.
Welcome to all the other new recruits as well

Consequence · Post #12 » by **Consequence** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:02 pm

Congratulations to all of the new mods, and thanks to all of those who are retiring.

SuminderJi · Post #13 » by **SuminderJi** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:04 pm

Git 'er done..

Congrats to the new mods.

Question... are you assigned threads or times to moderate or is it "I have time, let me take care of this..."

Also how do moderate discussions happen? Secret forum or just PM's.

..last question, do you wear special robes and such? I keep picturing the Stone Cutters (Simpsons)

Thanks

Post #14 » by **Cyrus** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:09 pm

I want to first thank the guys who are retiring. Not only are they great posters, but put in tireless effort to help police these boards. Enjoy the retirement, and hopefully you comeback out of retirement like Maritimer did, after some rest.

To the new mods, welcome aboard, this is the our biggest addition of mods in 1 day, and there might be more. So be on the look out.

TheDuke

He's a long time poster, been here pratically from the start. He wanted to pitch in.

Now on to the 4 S's.

SuperSub

He already does alot of work for the community with his daily news threads for the past few years, now he'll also be doing his part to help this community get back on track.

Schadenfreude

You may know him as Abe, but he now goes by Schadenfreude. A relatively new poster as compared to the others, with he may lack in senority, he definitely makes up in postings.

Shaazzam

Another Veteran poster, who's added to the board with well thought responses, and I'm sure he'll continue that now as a MOD.

SkinnyP

Lastl but certainly not least, SkinnyP. A great raptors poster, who's a huge raptor fan, like us all, that wants to do his part in helping get this board on track.

All of these guys above had 1 commonality in them (Besides being great posters), they wanted to help this community, which in my opinion has gone down the tubes. WE'll be cracking down alot harder on violations around here.

Not just these guy, they'll be joinning the largest team of mods on Real GM. Doc, Maritimer, HP, Ranger, Cy, TerryOh, MAS, HA!, plus these new additions.

If you see violation, personal attack, etc. please do report the violation, pm a mod.

Thank You

Ill Mago · Post #15 » by **Ill Mago** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:10 pm

Congrats to all the new mods!

especially SS and Schadenfreude. two great, great posters make for a very much needed shakeup in the moderation team.

i like!!

hksazn · Post #16 » by **hksazn** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:12 pm

congrats and good luck to both new and retiring mods

seanied · Post #17 » by **seanied** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:19 pm

I thought all those guys were contender.

Hank_Scorpio · Post #18 » by **Hank_Scorpio** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:19 pm

TheDoctor wrote:Good morning everyone,

I'd like to take the time to announce that we will be having a number of changes to the Raptors board today, that we think will have a great effect on the board going forward.

First of all, I'd like to announce that 3 of our existing moderators will be retiring, effective immediately. They've done a great job helping us out on the boards over the years, and will still be welcomed as posters:

Wham!

Kohanz

CanuckPete

Thank you for everything, and I'm glad I got a chance to get to know you guys over the years on and in some cases off the boards.

Welcome to the club!

See you in the steam room!

biblast · Post #19 » by **biblast** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:20 pm

Congrats guys !

mr sunday night · Post #20 » by **mr sunday night** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:24 pm

SuminderJi wrote:Git 'er done..

Congrats to the new mods.

Question... are you assigned threads or times to moderate or is it "I have time, let me take care of this..."

Also how do moderate discussions happen? Secret forum or just PM's.

..last question, do you wear special robes and such? I keep picturing the Stone Cutters (Simpsons)

Thanks

Naw, Mods wear bomber jackets, jeans rolled up at the bottom and Doc Martins.

(wonder if anyone will get that....)