STICKY: Trolling, Baiting, Flaming and how to avoid it

[Miklo]

Alright so in speaking to Mods from a few boards, it sounds like some Suns fans have been stirring up a bit of trouble elsewhere. I know other team's fans are too but we have to lead by example.

For a long time we've known that this free agency class would leave well over 50% of fan bases upset. Unfortunately it seems entirely possible we will be a part of the "losers" of this free agency.

Lots of feelings and anger start flying around when one team gets screwed, or a player bolts to another team. Please keep visits to other teams' forums constructive and keep posts on topic, not attacking posters or their teams. During this free agency period in general, most boards have low or zero tolerance and will not hesitate to hand out warnings and suspensions for people who start trouble. We have a rep for being one of the best boards in terms of quality posters, let's PLEASE not embarrass everyone by having a couple of us running around talking trash.

Thanks

-Your friendly mod team

[Miklo]

I should also mention, if anyone has any questions about what is or is not appropriate on other teams' boards, please feel free to post here or PM one of us.

On the other hand, if you feel someone is trolling the Suns board, please report the post by clicking the Report Post button at the upper right hand of the person's post and do not try to take matters into your own hands.

[Miklo]

Alright, quick update here. I've seen some stuff tonight on our own board that can easily be classified as baiting and flaming. We have some of the best basketball discussions on RealGM around here, we really can't let this board turn into a big flame war. Debates are ideal for forums, but they need to stop before you get to comments directed at the other poster as a person. And if someone goes off the handle and says something really inappropriate, you need to report the post and then ignore what they said. Continue the conversation with others and be the better person. This will keep your name out of the warning hat.

There's no need to walk on eggshells because all I'm asking is to have civil, intellectual conversation so you don't need to overthink this.

[grumpysaddle]

You should also throw up a sticky that maybe gives the n00bz an idea of when its a good time to start a new thread so there aren't 80 threads about the same thing, and also so they can't say they didn't have any warning.

[DRK]

^ I agree 100%.

[Miklo]

Eh threads we can deal with. We don't end up with a terrible amount of junk threads, so some deserve a chance and then they can run their course. For the others though, we lock up what we feel doesn't merit it's own thread and we always post a reason why the thread is being locked. If an individual poster ignored that and continued to make such threads they would receive a warning.

[Frank Lee]

I think we should have 1 day a week designated as .....

SMACKDOWN SATURDAYS

and let it rip.

Really, outside of a few name callers and some subtle 'retarted' references... it isn't too bad around here. A good spirited argument has entertainment value.

Just quit warning people Miklo... lower the boom, 3 strikes, your out for a while. I trust your judgement....

By the way, I think you are doing a marvelous job and could be the best thing that happened to this forum (insert smiley face with a brown nose here)



PS.... @ GrumpS... I purposely misspelled... so no need to correct me. I just hope my sentence structure is OK.

[grumpysaddle]

Hah. I understood that you were doing that on purpose. And the sentence structure is A-OK, dude. I just have to point out when that one dude posts walls of texts that give me an aneurysm while trying to read them.

[Frank Lee]

[Miklo]

Heh, I've been sprinkling some public warnings around cause I don't wanna turn into too much of an enforcer around here til I have to, the board has too much potential...and we've had some warnings and perhaps my first ban behind closed doors so the possibility is very real for ye of little faith

I think what it comes down to is I'm hoping to just open up a bit about where the board should be and how not to turn anything into too much of a pissing contest. Don't want people to be afraid to start topics or argue, but I don't want it to get out of hand either. The worst suspensions I'd give out would be for slanderous statements about JJ Redick

[grumpysaddle]

Heh, I've been sprinkling some public warnings around cause I don't wanna turn into too much of an enforcer around here til I have to, the board has too much potential...and we've had some warnings and perhaps my first ban behind closed doors so the possibility is very real for ye of little faith

I think what it comes down to is I'm hoping to just open up a bit about where the board should be and how not to turn anything into too much of a pissing contest. Don't want people to be afraid to start topics or argue, but I don't want it to get out of hand either. The worst suspensions I'd give out would be for slanderous statements about JJ Redick

[Miklo]

[grumpysaddle]

NOT THE BANHAMMMMMMMER!

[Miklo]

Alright I'm un-stickying this as I feel everyone has seen this or other public warnings. Now it's time to sit back, relax, and talk Suns basketball!