Bungie.net Community
This topic has moved here: Subject: Warning/Ban Messages
  • Subject: Warning/Ban Messages
Subject: Warning/Ban Messages
  •  | 
  • Fabled Mythic Member
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Off topic.Here's a warning message that a member recieved recently.

The warning message is really failing to be effective as a warning, as it doesn't say whether the thread itself or a post within the thread was what deserved the warning. It also doesn't give any reasoning to help understand how the post/thread was off topic or any advice as to where the post/thread would be on topic.

I'm just using this as an example to ask moderators to please include as much information as possible in warning and ban messages.

I've always believed that warnings should be more about education than punishment. Bans are punishment, but should still educate the user as to how they broke the rules and maybe how to avoid it next time.

If the warning/ban message is vague, then the warnee/banee isn't going to learn.

That's my opinion. Please discuss.

[Edited on 07.12.2011 6:43 AM PDT]

  • 07.12.2011 6:36 AM PDT

Why exactly was a new thread needed about two words?

  • 07.12.2011 6:38 AM PDT

Now selling HHDDVVDDBVDs. HD DVDs, but with better marketing.

I agree with you to some extent. I've been warned enough to know that these messages tend to have very little information. Usually when I message the moderator who warned/banned me, I get a little better explanation.

If they don't get back to me, I get the same feeling you do (annoyed confusion).

EDIT: Guy above me^^, it used to be a full message from a Moderator. He removed it; well, he removed the unimportant parts.

[Edited on 07.12.2011 6:41 AM PDT]

  • 07.12.2011 6:39 AM PDT

In a time long past, the armies of the dark came again to the lands of men. Their leaders became known as the fallen lords, and their terrible sorcery was without equal in the west.
In 30 years they reduced the civilized nations into carrion and ash. Until the free city of Madrigal alone defined them. An army gathered there, and a desperate battle was joined against the fallen
Heros were born in the fire and bloodshed of the wars which followed and their names and deeds will never be forgotten


Posted by: CMURDER1992
Why exactly was a new thread needed about two words?


It is not whats there, it is whats not there.

Saying "off topic" for a warning doesn't do much other than a vague reason to lock someone's thread.

[Edited on 07.12.2011 6:40 AM PDT]

  • 07.12.2011 6:39 AM PDT

Posted by: Big Black Bear
What are we supposed to be discussing here?


"Nothing in the 'Verse can stop me."

Needs more "this is why you were off-topic".

  • 07.12.2011 6:42 AM PDT


Posted by: spartain ken 15

Posted by: CMURDER1992
Why exactly was a new thread needed about two words?


It is not whats there, it is whats not there.

Saying "off topic" for a warning doesn't do much other than a vague reason to lock someone's thread.


I am not talking about that, I am talking about why he just couldn't post this in the thread you started talking about this warning/ban anyways?

I do agree however that two words for a warning may not be enough. I'm sure they have their reasons though.

  • 07.12.2011 6:43 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Mythic Member
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

This is a completely separate issue that is irrelevant to Sparain Ken's thread, that's why.

  • 07.12.2011 6:44 AM PDT

Now selling HHDDVVDDBVDs. HD DVDs, but with better marketing.

I wonder if this moderator was in the middle of a long list of warnings which he/she was handing out. In an attempt to keep the forums clean, perhaps he/she sacrificed clarity for brevity. IMO if you get a warning/ban like this, PM the moderator listed in the message and ask politely for an explanation.

  • 07.12.2011 6:49 AM PDT


Posted by: Skibur
This is a completely separate issue that is irrelevant to Sparain Ken's thread, that's why.


If you say so, anyways relating to the topic of being "off topic." While I think they could include a lot more in the warnings. I would think you could ask a forum ninja/moderator a more exact reason for the warning. I see your point though that off topic is potentially a wide range of reasons.

  • 07.12.2011 6:50 AM PDT

In a time long past, the armies of the dark came again to the lands of men. Their leaders became known as the fallen lords, and their terrible sorcery was without equal in the west.
In 30 years they reduced the civilized nations into carrion and ash. Until the free city of Madrigal alone defined them. An army gathered there, and a desperate battle was joined against the fallen
Heros were born in the fire and bloodshed of the wars which followed and their names and deeds will never be forgotten


Posted by: CMURDER1992
I am not talking about that, I am talking about why he just couldn't post this in the thread you started talking about this warning/ban anyways?

I do agree however that two words for a warning may not be enough. I'm sure they have their reasons though.


I don't know how I was off topic per say.

I bought one of Bungie's old games and I wanted to show everyone.

I thought it was neat, you know something so old made by them.

But I guess liking Bungie is off topic spam that deserves a warning.

I am disappointed getting a warning and thread lock for that, locking the thread was bad enough. :(

I am SO DISAPPOINTED with Bungie.net right now.

  • 07.12.2011 6:51 AM PDT

Posted by: Big Black Bear
What are we supposed to be discussing here?


"Nothing in the 'Verse can stop me."

Posted by: spartain ken 15
I don't know how I was off topic per say.

I bought one of Bungie's old games and I wanted to show everyone.

I thought it was neat, you know something so old made by them.

But I guess liking Bungie is off topic spam that deserves a warning.

I am disappointed getting a warning and thread lock for that, locking the thread was bad enough. :(

I am SO DISAPPOINTED with Bungie.net right now.

You can't be serious.

  • 07.12.2011 6:53 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Mythic Member
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Well using what's left of my moderator brain, the shrivelled single brain cell ;) I believe that your thread should have been posted in The Universe Forum maybe?

Anyway, it's so much more effort for people to PM the mod and then for the mod to PM back and then it may go back and forth a few times. If the mod explains the warning/ban well the first time then it should save everyone a headache.

  • 07.12.2011 6:53 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Yonder the darkest bridge,
a misty light appears
as an amber gleam glistens post storm,
the methane shine shifts the emotional decor

Warnings are meant to prevent further incidents. If it fails to communicate such, then something should be done about it.

  • 07.12.2011 6:54 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Well, here we are. I guess that it was destined to come to this.

Posted by: spartain ken 15

Posted by: CMURDER1992
Why exactly was a new thread needed about two words?


It is not whats there, it is whats not there.

Saying "off topic" for a warning doesn't do much other than a vague reason to lock someone's thread.

Actually, it is recommended that we're to directly quote from the forum rules.

In order to make that easier (for an old man) I use a clipboard manager and it inserts the pre-cut text blurb into the ban/warning.

So, someone who I felt was posting in the incorrect forum would get the following from me.

When creating new threads, please be sure to post in the correct forum. Do not post off-topic in any forum or thread.

Which is a long winded version of "off-topic". While a new member might be confused by the two word version, I would imagine that a member with a couple of thousand replies and a few hundred OP's under their belt would understand either the two word explanation or the 23 word one.

Between the pre-inserted "you have been warned banned...." and the post URL, there isn't a ton of room for detailed explanation. I used to have long winded explanations, and then found out that my attempts to educate and inform were being cut off mid ramble.

So, we have to be short and sweet. If the message in unclear, confusing, or doesn't provide sufficient information for the member "to learn from", the banned/warned member has all of the information they need to start up a PM conversation with the specific moderator asking for specifics and to discuss details.

Going to the forums with it is going to be far less effective and IMO just creates another "look at my ban/warn, isn't this ridiculous?" thread.

  • 07.12.2011 6:54 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Mythic Member

“Strange,” mused the Director, as they turned away, “strange to think that even in Our Ford’s day most games were played without more apparatus than a ball or two and a few sticks and perhaps a bit of netting. imagine the folly of allowing people to play elaborate games which do nothing whatever to increase consumption.”

The Black Chapter!

Context would apply (how busy the moderator is, how obvious the offence is, and whether the user is a longer-standing member who should know what they're doing by now) but in principle I'd agree that "off-topic" is, by itself, a bit weak.

  • 07.12.2011 6:54 AM PDT

Does anyone even read these?

Posted by: spartain ken 15

Posted by: CMURDER1992
I am not talking about that, I am talking about why he just couldn't post this in the thread you started talking about this warning/ban anyways?

I do agree however that two words for a warning may not be enough. I'm sure they have their reasons though.


I don't know how I was off topic per say.

I bought one of Bungie's old games and I wanted to show everyone.

I thought it was neat, you know something so old made by them.

But I guess liking Bungie is off topic spam that deserves a warning.

I am disappointed getting a warning and thread lock for that, locking the thread was bad enough. :(

I am SO DISAPPOINTED with Bungie.net right now.
This forum is for discussion of bungie.net and community stuff, not Bungie's games. However I do agree that a warning for something like this isn't needed and possibly some more clarity to where that thread should go.

But for such an active poster like yourself spartain, maybe you should know this.

[Edited on 07.12.2011 6:56 AM PDT]

  • 07.12.2011 6:55 AM PDT


Posted by: spartain ken 15

Posted by: CMURDER1992
I am not talking about that, I am talking about why he just couldn't post this in the thread you started talking about this warning/ban anyways?

I do agree however that two words for a warning may not be enough. I'm sure they have their reasons though.


I don't know how I was off topic per say.

I bought one of Bungie's old games and I wanted to show everyone.

I thought it was neat, you know something so old made by them.

But I guess liking Bungie is off topic spam that deserves a warning.

I am disappointed getting a warning and thread lock for that, locking the thread was bad enough. :(

I am SO DISAPPOINTED with Bungie.net right now.


I would think it would belong in the Bungie Universe forum if I had a guess. Like I said, off topic could be a lot of things but it would probably be for posting in the wrong forum.

  • 07.12.2011 6:55 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Well, here we are. I guess that it was destined to come to this.

Posted by: spartain ken 15
I don't know how I was off topic per say.

I bought one of Bungie's old games and I wanted to show everyone.

I thought it was neat, you know something so old made by them.

But I guess liking Bungie is off topic spam that deserves a warning.

I am disappointed getting a warning and thread lock for that, locking the thread was bad enough. :(

I am SO DISAPPOINTED with Bungie.net right now.

Ahem.

You've been working on your irony, haven't you?

  • 07.12.2011 6:56 AM PDT

Have an addicition? Join Gamers Anon



Posted by: urk
Then there are the people who poop in the mash potatoes. Those people get launched out on their asses.

When the warning is sent, it is sent with a link that not only links the the thread, but to the post. That way the member can copy the link and review the material.

This is why ban histories are not for public consumption. Because they get posted, people pick them apart, and start talking about all kinds of stuff they don't know about.

If a thread is blatantly off topic, and the user has been here long enough to know better, as far as I go, that is what they get. If they want to elaborate, then they can PM me.

  • 07.12.2011 6:56 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Mythic Member
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

@ Recon: In the case of Ken's warning, wouldn't "Thread off-topic for Community Forum. Discuss classic Bungie games in the Universe forum" have been much more informative and helpful? (assuming that was the reason for the warning)

You're saying that a few extra words of explanation is too hard/unnecessary in the warn/ban message, and then saying that a PM is fine. I reckon PMs would be much more troublesome.

[Edited on 07.12.2011 6:59 AM PDT]

  • 07.12.2011 6:57 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Well, here we are. I guess that it was destined to come to this.

Posted by: Skibur
@ Recon: In the case of Ken's warning, wouldn't "Thread off-topic for Community Forum. Discuss classic Bungie games in the Universe forum" have been much more informative and helpful? (assuming that was the reason for the warning)

Of course such a long statement conveys more information and meaning than two words. But is two words sufficient?

If I had answered your question above with a single word "yes", would it have contained as much information as this entire post? No, but it would have gotten the point across once the reader used their gray matter.

  • 07.12.2011 6:59 AM PDT

Have an addicition? Join Gamers Anon



Posted by: urk
Then there are the people who poop in the mash potatoes. Those people get launched out on their asses.


Posted by: Skibur
@ Recon: In the case of Ken's warning, wouldn't "Thread off-topic for Community Forum. Discuss classic Bungie games in the Universe forum" have been much more informative and helpful? (assuming that was the reason for the warning)


I will answer for Recon.

Ya, it probably would have been, and if it's that big of an issue, I will definitely make more of an effort personally to convey these messages.

  • 07.12.2011 6:59 AM PDT

●▬▬▬▬๑۩۩๑▬▬▬▬▬●
Shadow's (Internet) Myths
●▬▬▬▬๑۩۩๑▬▬▬▬▬●
Steam Username: xxxZealot (Add me <3)
¤´¨)
¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·`Shadow Legacy

It's funny because I didn't get a warning when I was banned. I posted off topic and got randomly banned. Pretty random since I have been on Bungie.net for two years and never been banned or warned prior to this. I lost my rank and everything. It sucked.

I would of appreciated a warning first.

EDIT: And it wasn't really very off-topic. Well, it was. But I didn't know I couldn't reply first in a thread. I've seen thousands of other people do it and get unbanned and as soon as I attempt to do it I get banned for a week.

[Edited on 07.12.2011 7:02 AM PDT]

  • 07.12.2011 7:00 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Mythic Member
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Because I asked a clear question that only required a yes or no answer...

If I had said "How do you think being short and vague helps the user learn from the warning" and you said "Yes" I'd be like "!?!?"

[Edited on 07.12.2011 7:00 AM PDT]

  • 07.12.2011 7:00 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Next up: Messages that just don't make sense.

You know who you are.

  • 07.12.2011 7:01 AM PDT