Peanut Gallery Commentary on the Staff Log of Bannings and such like.

[John V]

Are the staff gray-outs a late April Fool's joke or a glitch in the system?

[robvalue]

They are on strike. Check out the last few pages of this thread for more info.

[LastPoet]

Are the staff gray-outs a late April Fool's joke or a glitch in the system?

It's strike. We are tired of all the bitching and moaning we get from users, just because we are doing what we are supposed to do. Warn a theist = biased staff. Warn an atheist= biased staff.

What we demand is very simple: that the community we serve, at least have the decency to make reasonable criticism to offer to our actions. Not just smear our work because of a warning or a thread lock. Or at least ask us the reason of our action, instead of jumping to conclusions.

[Exian]

There's been a lot of bummage around here as of late, so waking up to JennyA and whateverist being back is some really exciting good news!! So glad to have you guys back.

[John V]

Are the staff gray-outs a late April Fool's joke or a glitch in the system?

It's strike.

It's apparently bullshit, as you're still able to post.

We are tired of all the bitching and moaning we get from users, just because we are doing what we are supposed to do. Warn a theist = biased staff. Warn an atheist= biased staff.

What we demand is very simple: that the community we serve, at least have the decency to make reasonable criticism to offer to our actions. Not just smear our work because of a warning or a thread lock.

But who decides what's reasonable criticism and what's a smear? Oh yeah, the staff. 

[LastPoet]

When someone is going for decent criticism, they use a proper thread on this same subforum with a reasonable argument. Certainly not what's been happening.

Perhaps its time for a change. It can be the case for me. Strike means I am not doing anything regarding staff duties ATM. The best way I could find was to use a striked out group. Also it would be funny to have mods display as banned as a symbol.

None of my fellow strikees were forced into it, but the idea did turn viral amongst my colleages. It turns out that we the staff are human, capable of feeling and bound to error. What is asked is: can people please ask before making assumptions? Please?

[Cyberman]

Yes, we can still post. That's because we're not banned. The grey-out in this instance is just the chosen method of indicating our protest.

What we have elected to do, on a purely opt-in basis, is to suspend our moderation duties for the most part.

[John V]

Yes, we can still post. That's because we're not banned. The grey-out in this instance is just the chosen method of indicating our protest.

What we have elected to do, on a purely opt-in basis, is to suspend our moderation duties for the most part.

Oh noes!  hock:  We'll have human sacrifice...dogs and cats living together...mass hysteria!

Or not.

[Cyberman]

Well, we'll see what happens when we're swimming in a cesspool of spam.

[Tonus]

What we demand is very simple: that the community we serve, at least have the decency to make reasonable criticism to offer to our actions. Not just smear our work because of a warning or a thread lock. Or at least ask us the reason of our action, instead of jumping to conclusions.

But the community is not a monolith.  And the people most likely to get action taken against them are usually going to be the types who gripe and complain the most.  The community as a whole won't be able to enter into any sort of agreement with the staff (aside from the Rules), which means that those of us who play nice (the majority IMO) are at the mercy of those who realize that it's easy to rock the boat with only mild repercussions.

Because your system is pretty good --requiring staff discussion and votes before action is taken-- I think the better approach is to display confidence in the system and shrug off criticism.  Otherwise you'll be fighting constant battles with internet lawyers.  And you are under no obligation to do that.  You have a system that works.  Use it and don't worry about the people who will complain.  There will always be people who complain.