The tried and true are no longer working.

[Acorn]

You guys mostly probably know about me and my very colourful forum 😛 well ever since around may 2009 we've had the current rules and rule enforcement system in place, which was made more effective with the use of forum money. but in the past month or two I would say, it suddenly isn't working like it once did.

We still enforce rules the same, and have even ditched a couple rules and lessened others. But new members are saying that we "jump" on them instead of helping them. This has never happened before, newbies never, ever used to complain about this but we've been getting numerous complaints by our members within the past few weeks about it and no, they don't know each other and the complaints came separately so it isn't some "ganging up." These are otherwise nice, intelligent people on our board saying these things and I'm at a loss. We have the same staff we did, even added a few more, and they are doing great. The complaints seem to come in about staff in general, no specific mod is targeted.

I don't understand why the system that's worked perfectly for us {or damn close!} for over a year is suddenly failing.

 

[Grumpy]

I see your staff jumping on users a lot for silly little things like a short post. A post is a post, relax your rules a bit. 😉

 

[Acorn]

We don't jump on anyone for short posts.

Never did, never will.

That said, I told them to relax a bit. 😛

 

[David]

Something that would be nicer is more people welcoming the new members. I see the introductions forum and there are some 0, 1, 2 etc. posts where others have 12, 15, 20ish replies. With such a userbase, surely some new members should get a few more welcomes than that.

It's all about first impressions and if they don't get a good one, they will probably think something other than what you would like.

 

[Acorn]

Oh man, and here I thought people were being good about that! Last I checked, every intro had replies. I'll go look now!

Thanks so much guys for the feedback!!

Edit: I checked up on it, most of the really short ones were of people saying they were going to be away and stuff, rather than new players. People also use the board for that. I posted a row of welcomes anyway.

Man, it's like if you want something done you got to do it yourself XD

 

[Shole]

You guys mostly probably know about me and my very colourful forum 😛 well ever since around may 2009 we've had the current rules and rule enforcement system in place, which was made more effective with the use of forum money. but in the past month or two I would say, it suddenly isn't working like it once did.

We still enforce rules the same, and have even ditched a couple rules and lessened others. But new members are saying that we "jump" on them instead of helping them. This has never happened before, newbies never, ever used to complain about this but we've been getting numerous complaints by our members within the past few weeks about it and no, they don't know each other and the complaints came separately so it isn't some "ganging up." These are otherwise nice, intelligent people on our board saying these things and I'm at a loss. We have the same staff we did, even added a few more, and they are doing great. The complaints seem to come in about staff in general, no specific mod is targeted.

I don't understand why the system that's worked perfectly for us {or damn close!} for over a year is suddenly failing.

Thats what the problem is make new rules (edit a bit the old once and post them as new milder rules ) then the members will stop. I looked your rules and they seem normal(normal as in like in all other forums ) so i think the problem is probably with the visual (what the users sees the users think) so i guess new things will be a + for the new members at least thats what i am thinkig

 

[Acorn]

Well that's the thing, the complaint that repeats is very specific: members feel like they're being jumped on for rulebreaks too much by staff. If more rules are created, that only worsens it.

What I've done as of a couple days ago is shut down the public reports board, making it so all reports of rulebreaks need to be made privately except for things like spammers and other technical stuff. The thing is, half the reports turn out not to even be rulebreaks, so they might as well not get seen by some member who'll feel put upon by it. New members in particular seem to feel harassed by that.