EDIT: Please note these Forum Rules.Moderators, you're not doing your jobs. Plain and simple. Whether it's lazyness or a lack of dedication to the forums, I can't really tell. Some of you are decent people, some of you don't know what the hell you're talking about, and some of you just find humor in arguments that are wholly irrelevant and detrimental to the forums. Wake up and do your jobs, instead of expecting members to do them for you.
One of these constant flame wars between Solaris and JimmyJames has spilled over into multiple areas of the forums, and really needs to end. The way I see it, Jimmy didn't start this fight, but he's not helping matters any. I'm going to recommend that strong actions be taken in this matter. If either member is banned, I will leave, and I encourage others to as well. Refalm, you're not imposing your own rules on your moderators, and that can only lead to anarchy and you know it. The least we can do is leave and let the board fall to the point where you'll step in to start kicking ass and taking names. This kind of thing has to stop, and both members need to be censured (not perma-banned). Solaris, stop starting fights with Jimmy; Jimmy, stop flaming Solaris when (or even before) he argues with you.
I understand fully that what's done is done, all that matters is what we make of tomorrow. However, I can't get past the fact that a number of the moderators are clearly not doing their jobs, something that SHOULDN'T require a signed, notarized document from five members requesting the removal of a particular flame / troll / sexual slander in order for it to actually happen. I've gone over their heads before because they don't bother to ever LOOK at the forums for these kinds of problems before they happen. Even then, they tell me how "fun" and "entertaining" trolls are to the forum. If you're entertained by stupid behavior that's against the rules, that in and of itself speaks volumes about YOU.
Back to the issue at hand: so many of these blatent trolls and flames have been handled so poorly, by people that don't want to "step in and ruin the fun (God forbid)," that a real air of "script kiddyness" has been lent to this board. Imagine how we must look to the outside world: "They want to talk about Microsoft alternatives, but God forbid they should be serious. They can't even micromanage themselves, more or less the policies of major corporations." I can practically guarantee that we're a laughingstock right now in a number of technical circles because of unmitigated behavior like this. This whole problem is killing our bottom line, and if we were a business, a number of the mods would have their asses canned by now (assuming middle management could keep up).
tl;dr : Solaris and JimmyJames = troll + flamer; please censure both. Any mods found to be in support of this ongoing fight should be summarily dismissed. The mods need to do their jobs, or be summarily dismissed. Refalm, it's been real, but start kicking these guys asses when they don't enforce the rules. They're worse than corrupt cops. Your forum is being damaged because of their blatent inaction, and could very easily be a force to reckoned with IF they started doing their jobs. The easiest way to enforce their compliance is by enforcing your rules yourself.
EDIT: Consider this a declaration of civil disobedience. If this post is altered or disappears for any reason whatsoever, and/or I am banned for my involvement in this, I will do everything in my power (and a few things beyond it) to return and repost it. Please lock this topic if you see it.[ July 09, 2004: Message edited by: Midnight Candidate ]
