Bungie.net Community
This topic has moved here: Subject: "Playing Forum Cop" --The Art of Contributing
  • Subject: "Playing Forum Cop" --The Art of Contributing
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • of 2
Subject: "Playing Forum Cop" --The Art of Contributing
  •  | 
  • Fabled Mythic Member
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

I'm sure you've heard of something called a "Forum Cop." Someone who tells people if they fracture rules, and helps them with questions relating to bnet. These "Forum Cops" are commonly found in The Septagon, and in Chapter Founders as well. People encounter them everyday. But what are they? How are they helping? Isn't this technically against the rules? How can I contribute by playing Forum Cop? Well, these are the questions I endeavor to answer for you.

Everywhere on Bungie.net, rules are broken. It's a fact. It's always going to happen. That's the way life is. But there is a group of people trying to change this, regardless of what odd's they are up against. Some people refer to these people as "Moderator Wannabes." But, we'll simply refer to them as Forum Cops.

Forum Cops do a few things to help the community. I'll start by telling you about the most common occurence. Off-topic posting. People post in the wrong forum everyday. Some, because they're new. Others, because they misunderstand the rules. I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons, but these aren't important. The thing I'm getting at, is Forum Cops try to correct this. Every day, Forum Cops can be seen helping people to know what forum they should have posted their thread in. In many cases, this is found to be rude. Almost as if the Forum Cop thinks he/she is better than the person they are attempting to help. Their aid isn't always heeded. They often encounter Flames(insults) for what they are trying to do, but the still do it.

The second thing they do, is answer questions. Everyone has questions. At least half of the threads made on Bungie.net are questions. Be they opinions, cries for help, or just curiosities. They are asked. Forum Cops attempt to answer these questions. If someone has any question regarding Bungie.net, you can bet a Forum Cop will show up to help. If someone has a question regarding people's opinion on a matter, a Forum Cop will probably give their two cents. If someone just doesn't understand something, or needs help with something, a Forum cop will try to answer it.

The last thing is contribution. This is what I'm trying to get at with this statement. A real Forum Cop will contribute. This is what I mean by answering questions, and helping people with misconceptions regarding the Rules. They try to make the community better for all. A real Forum Cop is just trying to help and contribute to the community. The point of a forum is discussion, right? Well, forum cops are the kinds of people who try to generate positive, productive discussion. Your typical Forum Cop rarely makes posts merely saying things like "I dunno." or "You're dumb!" These are unbecoming of someone trying to contribute. Real Forum Cops also try to be kind and understanding in all their posts. When they point out a broken rule, it isn't to rub it in someone's face, it's to help them and the community understand the rules, so they won't be broken in the future. This is what playing Forum Cop is all about.

But isn't this against the rules? Well, if you read them, yes. Technically, it is. However, this is sort of a rule that doesn't apply to you until a moderator says it does. Take myself as an example. I used to be the typical Forum Cop. Pointing out rule fractures and off-topic posting left and right. I did it well, I did it often. But one day, I made one simple mistake of pointing someone to the wrong forum. A Master Moderator decided my chance for playing Forum Cop was up. The rule now applies to me. If I go around telling people when they fracture rules, I get banned. The end. Understand?

So, how do I play Forum Cop, and not get banned? Well, this isn't a difficult task. Mainly, it's your goal. Your goal should not be to simply correct people, but to help them understand if they did something wrong, what it was, and how they can go about fixing it. That is the ultimate goal of a Forum Cop. To contribute(theres that word again). They do this by helping. You have to be nice about it though. If you just tell someone they broke a rule, that may come across as rude. In the end, that isn't good for anybody. However, you can easily help people by kindly helping them understand what they did wrong, and what to do in the future.

Here is an example of proper Forum Policing. You are in New Mombasa. Someone makes a thread advertising their awesome new chapter. They urgently want people to join. What do you do? This is the wrong forum. The best way to help and contribute is to say something along these lines: "Hey dude. I don't mean to be rude or anything, but you have the wrong forum. This belongs in The Classifieds." That is a helpful post. You just guided a member along the path to becoming a good contributor to Bungie.net. You may also wish to tell someone of a mistake via PM. This is much more personal. It makes it seem less like you're trying to publicly mock them. PM's are a very useful tool. Use them.

At any rate. A Forum Cop contributes. Don't try to flame someone who helps you understand the rules. When trying to help someone understand the rules, be nice about it. Don't be rude, for that gets you nowhere. Be kind, be courteous, and always always contribute.

  • 11.28.2005 9:34 PM PDT

Gamertag: Sarge 117

Well written, Kilroy. If anything, Bungie.net could use more people that fit your description! However, "Forum Cop" almost seems like such a... harsh/derogatory term. "Positive members of the community" or something to that extent sounds much better. Either way, such people are the ones who help make Bungie.net a better place, and I applaud them all.

  • 11.28.2005 9:53 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Also nice to know: The mods, well, yoozel at least tend to appreciate it if you play the forum cop. And we all should. being that is just helping out. Just don't overdo it and think you're better.

  • 11.28.2005 9:57 PM PDT

PMs are probably better for some posts (such as adverts) since it avoids bumping said post. It'll probably also reduce the flames, since it's less likely that the member will see you as trying to humiliate them.

I helped members, and told them when they were off-topic, long before I was a moderator. It's not something we don't want you to do - you just have to be absolutely sure that you are advising a member accurately.

  • 11.28.2005 10:13 PM PDT

Violence is not the answer, its just the solution.

to help the community is a good thing!

  • 11.28.2005 10:53 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Everyone! Become a Contributing member of society today, and get free coupons! Great posts, but people might see your attempts at educating them as an insult and will start rampaging, which in the end might lead to their ban. But I do agree, help where help is needed, and try shutting people down when so is possible.

  • 11.28.2005 11:36 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Mythic Member
  • gamertag: Mabian
  • user homepage:

"Whatever exists, whatever in creation exists without my knowledge exists without my consent. These anonymous creatures may seem little or nothing in the world. Yet the smallest crumb can devour us. Any smallest thing beneath yon rock out of men's knowing. Only nature can enslave man and only when the existence of each last entity is routed out and made to stand naked before him will he be properly suzerain of the earth."

I've been playing Forum Cop for a while, but had begun to do so less and less as time went on for many different reasons. I do get a good feeling out of the knowledge that I am helping the Bungie.net community. Perhaps I shall take it up again. Plus, I now have better ways of pointing out rule fractures to members.

Good work Kilroy!

  • 11.28.2005 11:37 PM PDT

MY LOVE FOR YOU IS LIKE A TRUCK...
Posted by: Langley
--on another note, I think MLG Chewhatever is an idiot.

Posted by: Achronos
There is a reason I am user ID 1 and my account creation date is before this site came online.

I agree, and Kilroy and Mabian and I have met in several other posts talking about the same thing. I've been called a "wannabe moderator" a few times, and made a post about what the big deal of it was previously, I'm pretty sure in the Septagon. I agree, politely, and I do mean politely, telling people that they are posting something in the wrong forum can help them out. Of course I don't expect every person to be an expert on forum posting the first time they do, I mean we all had our first post at some time right? I completely agree with the leading by example aspiration of people such as Kilroy and Mabian have suggested and I wish more people would take it upon themselves to see it that way too. I like Bungie.net, and if you saw my other post, that is what I was really trying to get across. I think that us positive members should try to make this community a better place. Now lets all sit around the camp-fire and sing Kumbayaa. LOL. Sincerely, ~B.B.

  • 11.29.2005 12:06 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

ive been a forum cop for quite a while too, and you forgot one thing, forum cops also contact the mods ASAP for serious rule infrections. coincidently,i have set up a group designed for something like this. you all might want to pay it a visit. third sig in link if you are intrested.

  • 11.29.2005 12:45 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

i try to be a forum cop, but i dont really need to try u know?
it comes naturally, and i try my best without going beserk from all the ppl attacking my personal motives for helping

  • 11.29.2005 1:32 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Mythic Member

5/5 Stars - Kritz.net

Well writen post. I agree that we could use some more forum cops, but I think as Goweb kind of said, that it should be a mostly PM thing. Because said master forum ninja wouldn't of threatened you if you did it less publicly.

Wait.. I think what I said was bad. Ah well.

>> Kritz

  • 11.29.2005 1:33 AM PDT

I'm not that active, but never dead.

Karma system anyone?

The only thing that's that's bad is that to be a "Forum Cop" you actually have to have read and understand the rules. Many times I have seen someone correct someone when they were actually in the right.

Don't let this happen to you. Read the rules.

  • 11.29.2005 2:56 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

i know what u mean.
heh, if i read the rules anymore they'll be tatooed to the innards of my eyelids

  • 11.29.2005 3:25 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

I played the forum cop for a short while before I become mod. In fact, I was never NOT a forum cop.

Oh, and the only time I contacted a mod about something was when some two people were flaming me for telling someone to go to the right forum. I told Yoozel to lock it and he totally told them off. XD

Actually, one of those guys PMed me a few days ago... Heh.
-TGP-

  • 11.29.2005 3:54 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Read about the Forgotten Spartan I Program
Butane: To protect the world from devastation!
sir_brilliant: To unite all people within our nation!
Rainman89: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
sir_brilliant: To extend out reach to the stars above!
SpaceGhostFlyer: Jessie!
Butane: James!
sir_brilliant: Team Rocket blasting off at the speed of light
Butane: Surrender now or prepare to fight
sir_brilliant: Meowth, that's right!

i usually alert the mod I know is on duty, but if I can't find one(Looking for recently locked threads) then i just PM Dmbfan. I also try and tell people when they are in the wrong forum, and i ocasionaly go after the flamers, but usually let the mods handle those ones.

  • 11.29.2005 4:41 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

whenever a thread gets way to out of hand, all my PMs go to shishka.
oh yea, they get taken care of

[Edited on 11/29/2005]

  • 11.29.2005 4:59 AM PDT

Posted by: goweb
PMs are probably better for some posts (such as adverts) since it avoids bumping said post. It'll probably also reduce the flames, since it's less likely that the member will see you as trying to humiliate them.

I helped members, and told them when they were off-topic, long before I was a moderator. It's not something we don't want you to do - you just have to be absolutely sure that you are advising a member accurately.


err...don't we want them to stay near the top so that they can be locked? or does it not really matter if they get locked, so long as nobody posts in them and the thread eventually falls into the dark abyss of the bnet black hole of despair, aka past page 5 in a forum?

  • 11.29.2005 7:06 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Elder Mythic Member

Ironic that kilroy was banned for 'playing forum cop' (in shiskas words) for telling someone to post their off-topic stuff in the underground. :)

  • 11.29.2005 7:32 AM PDT

Posted by: sir_brilliant
err...don't we want them to stay near the top so that they can be locked?

No no no no no! Contact the moderators at [email]bnetmods@gmail.com[/email] or PM one of us. You should never reply to a thread that you know should be locked, but I guess that's just my personal opinion. But if you do reply to it for some odd reason, just point out the rule that was broken in the thread. If you think it is worth your time to reply to a thread, then it should definitely be worth your time to contact us to actually do something about it.

  • 11.29.2005 7:49 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

I find that if you are going to be a forum cop and inform people of broken rules, it's best to do it politely, not "0mg!! n00blet! you said n00b! ninjas come and blacl1s7 j00!!" Especially in the cases of when it's simply someone who has posted in the wrong forum. I find it best to actually give them the answer they want, then say something along the lines of "And for future reference, posts to do with... go...". It makes everyone's life just that much easier.

  • 11.29.2005 8:33 AM PDT

err...don't we want them to stay near the top so that they can be locked?
No. It's just as effective to let the thread die.

  • 11.29.2005 8:45 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Posted by: goweb
err...don't we want them to stay near the top so that they can be locked?
No. It's just as effective to let the thread die.


That's difficult to do with an out of place or rule-breaking thread, as usually the person who made it doesn't know the forum rules and general forum ettiquette, so will just repeatedly post such things as "Anyone?" "yo, Noobs! i need an answer now!!!!!!!111!!" to bump their post.

  • 11.29.2005 8:49 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Mythic Member
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Wow. I've got a lot of resposne to this already. Thanks everybody.

And most of you have said what I was trying to get across. I don't know how well I did. My thoughts were sort of scattered.

I've been thinking though. This thing was almost pointless. It'll get read now, educating people about Forum Cops, but then it will go to the back pages to die, and never be read by new members again. Kinda sad....

  • 11.29.2005 8:50 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Posted by: Kilroy
Wow. I've got a lot of resposne to this already. Thanks everybody.

And most of you have said what I was trying to get across. I don't know how well I did. My thoughts were sort of scattered.

I've been thinking though. This thing was almost pointless. It'll get read now, educating people about Forum Cops, but then it will go to the back pages to die, and never be read by new members again. Kinda sad....


I think kilroy may be hinting at a word beginning with S, followed by a t, then an i, then a c, and ends in a y.

I wonder whatever could he mean :D.

  • 11.29.2005 8:58 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Mythic Member
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Posted by: elmicker
Posted by: Kilroy
Wow. I've got a lot of resposne to this already. Thanks everybody.

And most of you have said what I was trying to get across. I don't know how well I did. My thoughts were sort of scattered.

I've been thinking though. This thing was almost pointless. It'll get read now, educating people about Forum Cops, but then it will go to the back pages to die, and never be read by new members again. Kinda sad....


I think kilroy may be hinting at a word beginning with S, followed by a t, then an i, then a c, and ends in a y.

I wonder whatever could he mean :D.


lol. Well, I don't even know what a "sticy" is. lol. Pfft. Me? Get a sticky? Nah. I've been trying every since joining bnet. It hasn't happened. Doubt it will. The best I could ever hope for is maybe getting in a sticky index.

  • 11.29.2005 9:06 AM PDT

  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • of 2