Members that debate everything you say

[Galvanize]

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, didn't really take a look although I really should've...

So recently, there's been a member on the forum that i'm administrator on that is debating absolutely everything that is said. Myself and the rest of the team agreed to just keep a check over his posts to see if he was a genuine member or just a troll. Just from the subject title, it sounds like he's a troll.

He's contributed quite fairly and decently for the small space of time that he's been with us, but quite a few of his recent posts have only been one word replies. I addressed the situation in the following post, before then talking about the thread itself.

This then led him onto accusing me of starting the spam off in the thread by addressing his one word replies, before then saying that I have a poor grasp of English and that I was "trolling".

What's people's opinions on this? He's contributed fairly well to the forum, but is starting to attract attention of a few of the members who seem to go off topic all of a sudden now too. Do I go for a warning then ban, or an instant ban before things kick off and get out of hand?

 

[Kaiser.]

How you have descirbed it does make him sound like a troll. I dont tolerate members that constantly argue or start fights with members for no reason. Give him an infraction, if he continues ban him.
His contributions dont matter if he starts trolling.

 

[amaan]

If you addressed the situation in a post like you said, with him and not in a private message that's definitely a no-no on your part and you're pretty much asking for a spam off. But perhaps I misunderstood your post, did you call him out in a public thread?

 

[Galvanize]

Kaiser. - Thanks for your input, a warning then a ban seems fair enough.

amaan - Yeah I did call him out in a public thread which I shouldn't have done. Although it did seem that it was the best option considering he'd probably go down the staff vs him route, and then it wouldn't be my word against his.

I've also replied in the public topic to him with the following:

You started it off with the one word reply, which I would class as spam. Your interpretations of spam may be different, but i'm the one who has to keep this forum in check otherwise it'd be overrun with people just giving one word replies. I also don't appreciate your comments about me supposedly having a poor grasp of the English language and the fact that you say that i'm trolling, when in most of the cases seen recently it's been you that's been the most likely one to troll.

If you've got a problem about my grasp on the English language or me in general, then i'd be happy for you to PM me to sort things out. Otherwise, just keep on topic.

It's kind of an ultimatum. If he replies in the topic, then he's getting a warning because i've said to keep on topic in the future.

 

[AnAccount]

I'd go for a warning myself, and then if he persists, then a ban would eventually be inevitable. You don't need someone who is going to question everything everyone says. Someone did something similar to me on Kaisers site, I'd post a status update for my forum, and he always said something like, "you need more members/activity." I'm thinking, "duh, why else do you think I'm promoting my forum everywhere I go?" One of the staff members finally chewed him out in the end and he gave up replying to every update I posted. I'm sure had he been persistent more than what he was, he would've eventually have gotten banned.

 

[MrJohn]

I agree with Ashley. I would start with a long PM explaining what he did wrong, and then if he continues to do it after that, a suspension for a few days with another PM. Then if he still does it, a ban. You want activity, but not from people like that.

 

[Galvanize]

Cheers for your views guys, we got it all sorted out with a warning and a firm telling off.

 

[AnAccount]

Cheers for your views guys, we got it all sorted out with a warning and a firm telling off.

I wish you luck and hope that all goes well for you. I also hope that the offender heeds your warning as well.<br /><br />-- Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:12 pm --<br /><br />

I agree with Ashley. I would start with a long PM explaining what he did wrong, and then if he continues to do it after that, a suspension for a few days with another PM. Then if he still does it, a ban. You want activity, but not from people like that.

I don't think a long-winded explanation would be necessary, MrJohn. I would just make the PM so that the person in question understands that what he did was uncalled for and will not be tolerated, and that he could be banned if he keeps it up.

 

[Fergal]

I believe that it's important to make the distinction between a member who offers constructive feedback and a member who is constantly criticising and talking down your forum. If a member is taking every opportunity possible to criticise you and / or your forum, I agree, that it's best to give them a warning and then a ban if they chose to ignore the warning.