There's not enough bitching

[Grahf]

I worry way too much about stuff.

The guy took it extremely well, including the part where I replied to the wrong e-mail thread and said a different piece of hardware was failing and then redacted myself.  I prevented a 50k$ loss ... but not a 12k$ one.

Many tears from the engineering department.  That 'Harbinger' nickname is going to stick withe me now for sure....

On the bright side, no one wants my bad news, so almost no one talks to me at work unless they have to? :x

Is bad news that saves the company scads of cash still ultimately bad news? It might be a bitter pill, sure, but I'd hardly call saving money a bad thing.

[Dracos]

Technically right, Grahf, but it is a complicated thing.  Being the person that locks down a project that is going ahead otherwise is rarely a great place to be.  Most companies reward people that produce significant gains, even if expensive, not reward those who avoid making significant costs.

[Arakawa]

Good god Chicago is weird.

Also the view from my hotel room sucks.

Spoiler: ShowHide

[Dracos]

Why are you in the windy city?

Are you there to kill someone?

[Arakawa]

If you knew the truth behind my itinerary, I'd have to kill you.

So... hopefully not yet.

(It all boils down to glorified sightseeing at the expense of a gullible corporation.)

[Music-chan]

Man, I love Chicago.  I'm actually kind of jealous of my cousin who moved there.  I've had nothing but good memories from my time spent there over the years.

[Yuthirin]

Chicago is GREAT! I live here. There. Ish.

[Brian]

Humanity, you have disappointed me once more:

http://www.haruhisuzumiya.net/haruhiforum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=49&start=150#p174943

Man, that's just so depressing....

[Brian]

Welp.  It appears their moderators are incompetent, and I cannot get myself banned without openly flaming.  I give up.

[Yuthirin]

* Yuthirin pats Brian.

[Empyrean]

I like how they interpret you saying that a fic is "awful drek/character bashing" as being somehow the same as saying that it is "good but not perfect." In my mind, "awful drek" denotes something that is less than good, not just less than perfect.

[Brian]

Well, actually he pulled that line from my review on tvtropes (which was, in fact, condescending as all hell).

Anyway, SOStmos finally PMed me, but not as a good moderator.  She asked if I'd be happier somewhere else.  Friendly, but lacking in required firmness to be a mod.  I gave her some constructive criticism:

Spoiler: ShowHide

SOStmohs,

Look--  I dislike you as an author (and I dislike some of your opinions on respect/writing), but I have nothing against you as a person, SOStmohs.  Actually, being entirely honest, you're rather likable, despite what I think of that story your boyfriend posted, and I feel bad about some of this.  Actually a lot of it.

I hope you take this well, so I'm going to try and give you (and the moderator staff) some constructive criticism.  While it's obviously not this site, I'm a moderator of a fanfiction community myself (several, actually; I admin the FFML, I'm a global mod for the Soulriders, and I was the owner/operator of the Refuge before we lost our server).  I genuinely mean this to be helpful, and I hope it is -- and that I don't come across as arrogant and condescending (both of which I can be -- my apologies for that).


To the point:

Your community is suffering at least a little bit, and it really is in part because of Hedgey.  As a moderator, I recognize that you probably got the position because you're friendly to everyone.  Not quite a popularity contest, but you're likable, the administrators saw you got along, and then they gave you the position.  That's my guess, at any rate.

And that's fine.  But at the same time, when people in the community are disruptive (as I am acting, and Hedgey frequently legitimately is), you need to step up to the plate and set the 'nice girl' disposition aside.  Be tough!  Be strong!  You have powers, and with those powers come responsibility.  You should have (as a moderator) told me I was being out of line and had to behave; I admit I wasn't gentle about it, but I was trying to goad you into doing that.

Be firm, but fair.

I feel a little bad about how much of a jerk I was pretending to be, but it still didn't get you to stand up for your community and defend the rules.

You have a post that says what the forum rules are.  And one of those is that we must respect one-another in the community (Hedgey and I both broke this today, and she frequently does it to people she knows anyway), and another one is that we must respect the moderators (I broke this one).  I'll apologize to you; I didn't mean insult, even though I was trying to prod you into action.

But my actions should be unacceptable.  At the same time, Hedgey's are significantly worse -- neither of them should be tolerated.  Instead of politely suggesting that I might enjoy another community more, I suggest you demonstrate your role and your ability to back it.  Don't just bow to me (or a bully like Hedgey) when we're openly making trouble and starting flamewars--  Have the courage to step in and say, "This behavior is not appropriate."

It is your right, but also your responsibility to do this.  For example, Bey-something or another posted a reply attacking me (well, retaliating against me and defending Hedgey, his/her friend).  While that's commendable, it's also off-topic.  This is a good opportunity to step in and show your moderator strength; I'll even cooperate, since I don't wish to be disruptive in the long term.

You should post something along the lines of, "This has gotten out of hand.  Masamichi, you're out of line.  You get [whatever punishment].  Hedgey, while you meant well, that wasn't constructive, either--  Same to you, Bey-(whatever).  People who won't follow the rules will be reprimanded, and that goes for everyone.  Let's drop that issue and get back on topic (which means no sniping -- from anyone)."

I presume I should be either permbanned (which I'm fine with) or temp-banned (I've made myself unwelcome enough I don't think I'll be posting much anyway).

But this also means that if you go back to the incident where you (the moderators) apologized for Hedgey's behavior, you should have moderated her properly.  Instead, you just apologized for her, letting her run roughshod over the rules -- just like you're allowing me to right now.  I'm sure I'm not the only person Hedgey's poisoned against your community.  Reclaim your strength and demonstrate that the rules are being enforced.

I'm willing to comply and play the role of the Red Oni, as I think this community can be a great place -- but you have to help make it that way!  And that means reigning people in with they misbehave.  If someone had moderated Hedgey in the thread I where she picked a fight with me even though I repeatedly asked her not to, we wouldn't be here -- her behavior there broke the forum rules, but was permitted by you (the mod staff in general, not you specifically).  You can't let things like that slide, even if she is a friend!

It's not good when multiple moderators (and other users) PM me and say, "Sorry she's such a problem."  You know she's a problem.  Do something about it -- and I don't mean ban her, I mean moderate her; make her follow the same rules everyone is supposed to (including me).  I recognize by her post-count and the number of friends she has that she can be a productive and valuable member of your community.  I'm not trying to get you to get rid of her; the best solution is clearly for me to leave.  But that doesn't mean letting her do whatever she wants.  Retain her, but make her follow the rules and be a completely productive member of the forums, not an occasionally productive member.  (Incidentally, you should probably remark to her on the forums that she shouldn't step in and moderate; you have an actual moderator staff for that.)

Beyond that, I did have one suggestion for the rules in general, and that is that one of them says (paraphrasing here), "If a user and a moderator have a problem, that moderator and user will work it out."  Just to avoid potential conflicts of interest, I strongly suggest that it be revised to, "If a moderator and user have a problem, another moderator or admin will step in to mediate."  While you guys typically seem easy-going enough, the first rule (the one you have) suggests a conflict of interests, while my recommendation shows that you are willing to be impartial and responsible.

Yes, ideally everyone will be reasonable enough that you shouldn't need an impartial mediator, and things can be worked out peacably, but I think you can protect yourselves from potential criticism on that front.  Perhaps overly cautious on my part, but you can never be too sure.


Beyond that, as I've mentioned before, I've probably made myself unwelcome (Red Oni syndrome), and don't intend to come back.  I truly have asked for a ban, and it is entirely within reason for you to give it.  I do hope your community succeeds, and if you want moderator advice (assuming this isn't too arrogant), you can reach me via e-mail at durandall@gmail.com for any questions or discussions you might have; I can only see PMs on this website when I log in, and if I do that, I'll be tempted to keep trolling for moderator action (think of it as trying to toughen you up, not an act of pure malice).  It is for the best that I don't ... but I don't mind continuing this discussion with your moderator staff in e-mail if you wish to do so.


Best of luck to you all.

-Regards,
Brian R.

Edit:  Well, I got her to delete the thread, which I guess is a step.  Mildly disappointing, but better than nothing at all.
Edit2: I guess CCing the admin in that got him to permban me, but I'm disappointed they did it invisibly.  Sweeping the problem under the rug, still.

[Iron Dragoon]

So.

Was supposed to go to a training class this weekend. Here's what happened.
-Paid $250 for hotel rooms.
-Drive five hours.
-Get charged $7 a night for parking by hotel.
-Received two chocolate chip & pecan cookies from hotel.
-Eat dinner at a local BBQ place.
-Return to hotel room, start watching "O' Brother, Where Are Thou?"
-Receive email from master instructor for training class.
-Training class *canceled.*
-'Storms' start rolling in (reason training was canceled).
-Decide to leave same night so as not to get caught
-Hotel refuses to cancel reservation and does not refund the second night, which we didn't stay for.
-Drive another 5 hours.
-Arrive home at 2 AM.
-Wake up, check weather forecast. Clear skies in city training class was supposed to be in.

Yeppers. Spent $250, Gas, and 10 hours for some BBQ and cookies.

Fucking amazing.

[Music-chan]

Man, I would have stayed in the hotel the entire time if they weren't going to refund me for it.  Treat it like a mini vacation.

[Brian]

At least you're not working both days of your weekend?

Edit: FFFffffffffff

Someone took ten harddrives from my desk.  I can't do my tests. -_-