Members on Probation/Restricted members/forum groups

[Bossanova]

On a previous forum that I had been banned from (long story, don't ask 😛), I got to come back on a Probation status. Everything was going fine when it came to me helping out in support, however, some of the veteran members started picking fights with me, and provoking me. The SR Global Mod of the forum told me that it's very common for members on 'probation' to get picked on in hopes of them getting banned again.

Well, on my forum, I made a 'restricted member' group for suspected spammers. It got me to thinking. I know my current member that's on probation hasn't been getting hassled, but it just amazes me how this type of thing happens. On the forum I was with, the staff said they 'talked to the members' that were harassing me, and yet, it kept happening.

I just find it interesting how forums can almost form a cult-type relationship, but without the killings/rituals/etc. I mean, you get a whole group of vet forum members, and they decide that 'if the member isn't a vet/well known member, they will be shunned and banned by any means'.

I've been on several big/active forums, but this one (FP), by far is the friendliest, and has a calm atmosphere. Hell, there are no 'cults' on FP, nor are there any real social classes. All the members get along equally. Yes, some members may be a pain to one another, but at the end of the day, we're all friends and we're all enjoying posting on the same forum.

Note: I am no longer on the forum in question, so no worries.

 

[David]

*gives group hug*

Yeah, I must agree. Its either join their "cult" or try and survive. Most of the time, a staff member is part of that "cult" and so its hard for you to avoid the facts.

I reckon a long break will do it. They will think your gone, and so they tend to stop and then later, when you come back, they will have moved onto another user.

Take care, anyone can do anything behind their computer screen.

 

[Bossanova]

*gives group hug*

Yeah, I must agree. Its either join their "cult" or try and survive. Most of the time, a staff member is part of that "cult" and so its hard for you to avoid the facts.

I reckon a long break will do it. They will think your gone, and so they tend to stop and then later, when you come back, they will have moved onto another user.

Take care, anyone can do anything behind their computer screen.

I don't do group hugs unless it's females in the group. 😛

True, most of the time staff are involved.

Good thing I never visit that forum anymore. 😛

 

[David]

Lol, but anyway, the best thing to do is to try and forget about it. Just get attached to someplace else eg. FP 😉 and then it will be easy going.

 

[Bossanova]

Lol, but anyway, the best thing to do is to try and forget about it. Just get attached to someplace else eg. FP 😉 and then it will be easy going.

I am attached here. 😛

I occasionally have to visit this other forum because it has a code index for my forum.

 

[Ashish92]

the most friendliest forum i have been on is dntemple and i was a staff in there too and the best thing i looked about it is that only the staff knew who are the members in suspicion and in special cases the members themselves knew that so hardly ever flaming and stuff broke out there 🙂

 

[Kevin X Dragon]

I used to be a member of this forum that had over 500,000 posts and it had some mean veteran members. The veteran members will attack members that stand up for them self when veteran members make fun of them, new members who post in their "part" of the forum (General Discussion Forum), and anyone they want. Mos of the Mods and 1 of 2 admins are part of the group so you couldn't do anything about them unless they go too fare. Even when the veteran members get in trouble they are never banned for more then 6 months.

 

[Justin]

Members picking fights with other members, online! BAHAHAHAAH :rofl:

Well I woulden't even make that group, if someone broke my rules so bad to get banned, they stay banned, granted it is just a build up of warnings, they will just become a regular member again. You don't add them to staff.

Just don't let your members know they have been banned. User Titles such as "BANNED" or "Not Retuning" will not help with that issue. Adding them to those groups as well will not help and simply make the spark that starts the fire.

That was their whole problem there.

 

[Bejay]

Lol, but anyway, the best thing to do is to try and forget about it. Just get attached to someplace else eg. FP 😉 and then it will be easy going.

I am attached here. 😛

Join my forum if your that bored.. You know you wanna. 😉 :rofl:


I've had to put someone on moderation and remove full permissions for one user, that meant they couldn't view anyone's profile... They could only post. :lol:

 

[Ashish92]

Just don't let your members know they have been banned. User Titles such as "BANNED" or "Not Retuning" will not help with that issue. Adding them to those groups as well will not help and simply make the spark that starts the fire.

i agree with you
only the staff shud know who's in suspicion or inspection and not others and the staff shud all have 0 warnings 🙂

 

[Bossanova]

Members picking fights with other members, online! BAHAHAHAAH :rofl:

Well I woulden't even make that group, if someone broke my rules so bad to get banned, they stay banned, granted it is just a build up of warnings, they will just become a regular member again. You don't add them to staff.

Just don't let your members know they have been banned. User Titles such as "BANNED" or "Not Retuning" will not help with that issue. Adding them to those groups as well will not help and simply make the spark that starts the fire.

That was their whole problem there.

Well, luckily, on my forum, that doesn't happen. All members treat other members equally, even if they are on probation.

 

[Raymond]

@Grevious so I'm guessing youve never been on a sports team? If you don't do group hugs

anywho back on topic, No I think having members on probation ect.. just incourages them to either make a new account and do what they did even more. Or wait and just spam it up again.

 

[Acorn]

"The SR Global Mod of the forum told me that it's very common for members on 'probation' to get picked on in hopes of them getting banned again."

But he/she didn't do anything to stop them, correct?

A poorly run forum and eventually, it'll run itself into the ground. Check back and see where they are in 3 years...hopefully well after you've moved on without looking back.

Forums are communities and ALL communities without exception have a tendency to form cliques which are basically social competition. On a forum though there are many more means by which to stop the destructive tendencies of these cliques. And if anyone thinks that it's impossible to stop them on a forum or that a forum without them just won't have that close knit feeling or whatever, think again, there are plenty of examples out there. Once you take steps to disallow and prevent them, everyone relaxes and you wind up with a non-competitive atmosphere between members.The problem with a forum that allows cliques is that the community becomes divided unto itself. And we all know how that saying goes...

 

[YourMaster]

I ran quite a big forum myself and this kind of behavior was not uncommon. When members were to return from a rather long ban I witnessed them being 'attacked' by multiple members. I didn't understand their motives at the time, however I did try to prevent it.

A Vbulletin option allowed us to check the Private Messages certain members were reporting. I was able to stop some bullying but I'm sure there was more. We only checked the PM's that were reported, my guess is many others were being victims of veteran members.

Forum Promotion is indeed a very relaxed forum, the staff and members alike are quite friendly. 😉

 

[CaptianSyrup]

The most you can do is just ban them or warn them.
I really don't like it when members gang up on a particular group of people or one person.
I just don't like cliques on forums because they can take over an entire forum with their group. I used to go on one website where it's basically a place for liberal and democrat members to call out republican members at any given chance to settle some virtual vendetta they have against eachother. It's quite boring.

 

[Justin]

Members picking fights with other members, online! BAHAHAHAAH :rofl:

Well I woulden't even make that group, if someone broke my rules so bad to get banned, they stay banned, granted it is just a build up of warnings, they will just become a regular member again. You don't add them to staff.

Just don't let your members know they have been banned. User Titles such as "BANNED" or "Not Retuning" will not help with that issue. Adding them to those groups as well will not help and simply make the spark that starts the fire.

That was their whole problem there.

Well, luckily, on my forum, that doesn't happen. All members treat other members equally, even if they are on probation.

Then you are raising a good forum mate :great:

 

[Bossanova]

Members picking fights with other members, online! BAHAHAHAAH :rofl:

Well I woulden't even make that group, if someone broke my rules so bad to get banned, they stay banned, granted it is just a build up of warnings, they will just become a regular member again. You don't add them to staff.

Just don't let your members know they have been banned. User Titles such as "BANNED" or "Not Retuning" will not help with that issue. Adding them to those groups as well will not help and simply make the spark that starts the fire.

That was their whole problem there.

Well, luckily, on my forum, that doesn't happen. All members treat other members equally, even if they are on probation.

Then you are raising a good forum mate :great:

Thanks, J. 🙂 My members are very laid back, but they still get their posting done, etc. 🙂