Forum Rules and Guidelines -- Why?

Inspector-Gadget · #1 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 08:12 PM

OKAY - so why Forum Rules and Guidelines?

I hate to throw a stink bomb into the Mutual Admiration Society parade, but someone needs to do just that. I will be the bomb thrower and play Devil's Advocate today.

Did something happen to trigger a stampede to the Rules and Guidelines Generating Machine?

What's next? A focus group exercise in writing a "Jeepz Mission Statement"?

Is it possible that you guys are fixing what ain't broke?

Perhaps, this exercise in R&G suffers by way of comparison. Tug did not need formalized rules and guidelines. Tug needed only his "steel fist in a velvet glove" gentlemanly southern way. I marveled at the way Tug could ever so gently persuade and guide the occasional miscreant.

I cannot help but wonder if all these rules and guidelines are any kind of solution to an ill-defined problem. I am also beginning to wonder if Jeepz Dot Com needs a few more Tugs.

Just seems that this R&G exercise amounts to an overblown, overcomplicated solution to an occasional and minor problem. Rules and Guidelines that cannot (or will not) be fairly and consistently enforced become the stuff of mockery.

For example, unless one is blind, one sees that the sig pic limitations -- another source of seemingly unending indecision -- are inconsistently enforced.

We are all guests here. This board is private property. Our entry is entirely at the discretion of the board owner. There is no First Amendment protection; we do not here enjoy any guarantees of entry or freedom of speech in expressing our opinions.

If someone acts up, correct him or her. If required, correct again. Third strike -- lower the boom: banish that person from Jeepz with concurrent exile to a ricer forum. That will teach em. It is the humane thing to do.

I would gently suggest that it is time that the mod squad quit wasting time creatively sidestepping real and/or imagined problems and become straightforward, code of the west, six-gun toten cowboy mods of action.

One guy's opinion.

Harsh only when required, but always decisive, Gadget

prariepunk · #2 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 08:43 PM

If this is about the "Death of Hunter S. Thompson" post, I am truely sorry. I did not mean for it to get this out of hand. I did not know that people would resopnd in such a manner. If it was because of this post I'm sorry, but if it wasn't, oops, sorry, never mind

freido · #3 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 08:46 PM

i dont care about all that technical stuff.the only main rule i follow is be curtiuos and no curse words because kids might read this stuff. dont know how to post pics,except for in readers rides. i saw the post on how to.i need a post on how to do the how to.half the time i cant find the letter q on the keyboard. i guess the rules keep the smart people at bay. i just like talking to fellow jeepers and wheelers who got patience for a rookie wheeler like me. i;ll tell you 1 thing,im definitely not scared when im out there.peeeeace

mud4feet · #4 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 09:14 PM

After reading Gadget's post, I have to agree. I gave kudos in the R&G post to the creator(s) of this site and mentioned that the noobs need to know the heretofore "unwritten" rules. However, I believe I was wrong. I was not long ago a "noob" myself and I seemed to have adapted to the tenets of the board, unwritten as they were. I agree with Gadget about fixing something that aint broke. Who_Cares had a problem (assuming that's what brought this on), but this board doesn't. I have read nothing lately that would be grounds to bolt the forum, delete all posts, delete a website, and hightail it without so much as a "goodbye - been good to know ya". You just don't do that to friends, even if they are only on a website. Having a "Rules and Guidelines" tends to make this board drift more toward set ups of the hundreds of other Jeep forums out there - and I don't think that's what has drawn us all here.

My 2 cents............we miss ya' Tug,

mud

88Wrangles · #5 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 11:11 PM

I definatly agree.

That is all I have to say.

_(OIIIIO)_Jeeper · #6 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 11:23 PM

As Mud said, when I was new, I too adapted to the Post rather quickly. I had a sig pic that was too large and after receiving a very nice PM about it, I down sized it to comply...problem solved.

I think that the R&G was a good idea for what it is intended for. It was very well thought out and VERY well written. It is a good idea to have it posted up so ALL can read it and the "noobs" can quickly grasp what is appropriate and some of "us" old timers can refresh if the need arises.

I stated in another post that "everyone was wearing their egos on their sleeves" (or something like that). I hate to see EVERYONE walking on egg shells in fear of offending someone. There is a difference (I think) in "offending someone" and "being offencive". I can "offend someone" just by stating an opinion that I like TJ's over YJ's and that is something that really can't be Moderated. We are all adults on here...well most of us (probably just offended someone) and if you can not take criticizm* or handle another persons point of view, then I'm sorry, an INTERNET FORUM is probably NOT the place for you.

Cursing, porno, flaming, etc. is "being offencive and that is what the R&G has set forth to try to control I do believe. I do KUDO the MODS for their effort in this.

When you have almost 5000 people, all with different backgrounds, point of views and such trying to have a relationship/friendship with each other with only a hand full of MODS it will at times "heat up". That is life...kinda like marriage.....there is friction.....if the friction gets hotter than YOU can handle...get out...divorce.....or deal with it.

Whether Who_Cares or ANYONE (not picking on WC) leaves quitely or with the drama of a daytime soap, the way I look at it is that person for whatever reason could not handle the "heat".....hate to see anyone go but....THEIR CHOICE.

If a MOD thinks I am being "offencive" here.....do as you see fit. BUT I will still be here(unless Terry boots me!)

PrariePunk------don't sweat it...You did nothing wrong!

Sparky-Watts · #7 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 11:26 PM

Having frequented my share of internet "message boards" and having served as a host in one of the most popular, longest lived, and most often visited chat room online, I have to disagree. It's not that we need it now, not that we needed it in the past, but God knows there'll come a day when we'll need it. I've seen it happen other places like this, and it will happen here, given time. Most of the users on this site are great, self-moderating, helpful, and consistent. One day there will be one that comes along and starts a flame war, posts sinful photos, and generally incites a riot among others. Then he'll be joined by others like him. When a moderator asks them to tone it down, they'll get all huffy with the moderator and cite the fact that there are no rules, so how can they be in trouble for breaking them. Yeah, it'll happen. This is just prophelactically suppressing that situation. Why the huff about rules, anyway? If you're not breaking them, if they're not putting a crimp in your style, then you wouldn't even know they exist, right? We can keep on self-moderating just the way we always have, and the R&G will never be brought up. When that cancerous side of humanity comes in with their off-color remarks and inciteful flames, a mod can mod them by showing them the guideline that they are breaking. Example:

Miscreant: "Mingez is a Surrey driving @##%&$#!"

Mod: "Miscreant, you can't use that language in here."

Miscreant: "Says who?"

Mod: "Says me."

Miscreant: "You're just picking on me because I'm new."

Mod: "No, I'm not. I'm trying to keep order here."

Miscreant: "I didn't know it was against the rules, ya big @#$#%! I can't find any rules here, so how can you get after me for breaking them?"

Mod: "Good point. I'm sorry, please continue..."

AFTER R&G

Miscreant: "Mingez is a Surrey driving @##%&$#!"

Mod: "Miscreant, please adhere to the R&G passage concerning respect of other members, profanity, and flaming. This is a family-oriented site, and we want to keep it that way."

Miscreant: "Oh, I'm sorry. I read the R&G but just lost my head. Thank you for reminding me."

Mod: "You're welcome. What kind of Jeep do you drive......"

Sure, that's sappy and overstated, but you get the point. If the R&G aren't there, the mods really have nothing to cite to keep it even. I say we need them, and should keep them. Hopefully, they'll never be used, but if the need arises at least they are there. It's like putting a winch on your Jeep. You're not stuck now, so why put a winch on it? You obviously don't need it right now, so why is it there? Wait till you're stuck, then go buy a winch and install it, that makes more sense. Like waiting until the need arises to formulate the R&G. We obviously don't need them now, so why have them? Simple to see from my point of view.

Thanks for the discussion, Gadget. I always enjoy reading what you have to say, even the one or two times I didn't agree with you. You still give me pause for thought and make me look at things from another point of view, much as many others on this site do. I can keep reading and posting and never again even think about the guidelines that have been written, because of the community we have now. But who knows what kind of human debris will wash ashore on our little island tomorrow?

_(OIIIIO)_Jeeper · #8 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88Wrangles

I definatly agree.

That is all I have to say.

You agree with Gadget...or ...you agree with the R&G like in your other post..... :wink:

Quote:

I like the checkbox idea for when you sign up for the site.

I don't think that would be too much at all. Lots of sites and other places have things like that.

EDIT: Just Kidding 88! Trying to live'n up da joint!

Sparky-Watts · #9 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _(OIIIIO)_Jeeper

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88Wrangles

I definatly agree.

That is all I have to say.

You agree with Gadget...or ...you agree with the R&G like in your other post..... :wink:

Quote:

I like the checkbox idea for when you sign up for the site.

I don't think that would be too much at all. Lots of sites and other places have things like that.

Yes!

_(OIIIIO)_Jeeper · #10 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 11:47 PM

Can you see better from the top of that fence Sparky? HAHAHAHAHAHA

mingez · #11 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 11:49 PM

I rarely do Gadget, but I'll have to disagree with the criticizim.

The Rules and Guidlines aren't aimed at existing members, but rather to give newbies insight about what it's like on this forum. We have some who come to the board, and expect it to be like EVERY other 4x4 forum. It's not.

I try and look at it from the new person's perspective: I would want "fair notice" of what the culture is like here. How can we expect a new guy that comes in here and posts a nude picture of a porn star to know that's not what we are about? We can't.

The truth is, not everyone has the same standards of morality and ethics. To me personally, I see nothing wrong with the occasional bare arse (we all know I'm very liberal on this issue) But, I don't browse through Jeepz with my kids, because I don't have one. If the guy does post a nude pic, and a mod doesn't see the post, then now we have drama.

Secondly, not everyone knows forum ettiquette. Spamming, for sale posts in EVERY forum might seem alright to a person new to message boards. The guidlines may save him the trouble of getting grief for such an act.
How would such a person know it's not good form to post a link to a free copy of Photoshop? The R&G post gives him fore warning.

It's not meant to "straighten out" anyone. When I first joined the forum, I wish I had such a set of guidlines, because lord knows I posted a "for sale" in Gen Chat, cursed a bit, and got flamed for it. I was used to ohter sites like "Jeepin'" and "Pirate," and didn't know any better. Such a document would have saved me some grief. And hopefully, may keep some newbies from running off in the future.

I'm sorry you feel we aren't living up to the standards set by the legendary Tug, but I/we felt it was only fair to newcomers to post such a thing, and are doing the best we can. We've also received many positive PM's about the guidlines stating what a great idea it is, and how it's long overdue. But you know how the saying goes: "You can't please everybody!"

_(OIIIIO)_Jeeper · #12 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mingez

I rarely do Gadget, but I'll have to disagree with the criticizim.

The Rules and Guidlines aren't aimed ........<short version>...........what a great idea it is, and how it's long overdue. But you know how the saying goes: "You can't please everybody!"

BRAVO! My good Man! BRAVO!

"shoot"...you always say it better than me Mingez........

Bounty__Hunter · #13 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 11:55 PM

Quote: