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This topic has moved here: Subject: The Chronicles of a Forum-copper.
  • Subject: The Chronicles of a Forum-copper.
Subject: The Chronicles of a Forum-copper.

Strange evolution how people have come to believe
That we are it's greatest achievement
We're barely, we're just a collection of cells
Overrating themselves

Did you know that the noun "cop" (first attested meaning "policeman" in 1859) is short for "copper" (first attested meaning "policeman" in 1846). "Copper" in this sense is unlikely to derive from the copper buttons or shields worn by early policemen. Rather, dictionaries derive it from "to cop" (first attested meaning "to grab" in 1704 and meaning "to arrest" in 1844). "To cop" may come Dutch word kapen (to steal); or it may come from Old French dialect (caper - "to take"), or from the from the Latin word "capere".

[Edited on 12/15/2006]

  • 12.15.2006 9:37 AM PDT

Posted by: twinkiemaker
Did you know that the noun "cop" (first attested meaning "policeman" in 1859) is short for "copper" (first attested meaning "policeman" in 1846). "Copper" in this sense is unlikely to derive from the copper buttons or shields worn by early policemen. Rather, dictionaries derive it from "to cop" (first attested meaning "to grab" in 1704 and meaning "to arrest" in 1844). "To cop" may come Dutch word kapen (to steal); or it may come from Old French dialect (caper - "to take"), or from the from the Latin word "capere".


The only thing trying to be grabbed or stolen in most cases is power/popularity. Thanks for the information, Human Dictionary.

  • 12.15.2006 9:42 AM PDT

Strange evolution how people have come to believe
That we are it's greatest achievement
We're barely, we're just a collection of cells
Overrating themselves

Posted by: Banshee Barron
Thanks for the information, Human Dictionary.


You're welcome.

  • 12.15.2006 9:56 AM PDT
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"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."

Posted by: ICEMAN ASSASS1N
Yeah I remember that day. 'Twas Mabian whose example I followed though.


Bah humbug! (Say hello to Mother Assassin for me.)

I remember my story like I remember most things: very carefully. It's come to my realization some time ago that the process of becoming a Forum Cop/Helpful Member/"Enter name here" is an evolutionary one. Nobody wakes up one day and is the perfect person. I've tried doing that...and it's actually painful. Hence, I've tried to shy away from simply grouping people who are poor at helping as bad people. I'd open up some sort of academy, but I'm not certified to teach that particular course, and there probably exists no person who serve as a suitable substitute for experience.

I'm so glad I'm a philospher. And a Platonist above that. That way I can say "A good deed is a reward in and of itself" and believe it. And no, you guys can't hear my story. It's mine.

Also, when are we voting on whether a Forum Cop is a good or bad thing?

  • 12.15.2006 10:01 AM PDT
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Location: Outlaws' Summit.

Posted by: Mabian
Posted by: ICEMAN ASSASS1N
Yeah I remember that day. 'Twas Mabian whose example I followed though.


Bah humbug! (Say hello to Mother Assassin for me.)

I remember my story like I remember most things: very carefully. It's come to my realization some time ago that the process of becoming a Forum Cop/Helpful Member/"Enter name here" is an evolutionary one. Nobody wakes up one day and is the perfect person. I've tried doing that...and it's actually painful. Hence, I've tried to shy away from simply grouping people who are poor at helping as bad people. I'd open up some sort of academy, but I'm not certified to teach that particular course, and there probably exists no person who serve as a suitable substitute for experience.

I'm so glad I'm a philospher. And a Platonist above that. That way I can say "A good deed is a reward in and of itself" and believe it. And no, you guys can't hear my story. It's mine.


Well, for the record, you're probably the best model poster on this site. A lot of people can learn from you, Mabian (and I mean that.)

But not just you, everyone here who contributes in some way, shape, or form, is a good member. And that's what this site thrives on- people who come together for the good of the community. And we all do it in our own way, which is what makes us unique. [/sappy post]

:-)

Also, when are we voting on whether a Forum Cop is a good or bad thing?

Lets do it next week. We'll do it in traditional Bungie.net polling style, which includes-

* A "yes" option
* A "no" option
* And an option about mothers *grins*

  • 12.15.2006 10:13 AM PDT
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"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."

Posted by: ICEMAN ASSASS1N
But not just you, everyone here who contributes in some way, shape, or form, is a good member. And that's what this site thrives on- people who come together for the good of the community. And we all do it in our own way, which is what makes us unique. [/sappy post]


Sappy? Most certainly. True? Well...some of it's true. Regardless, spoken like a person who believes in The Republic.

And I don't mind that a mom joke be thrown into the poll provided Bob has no hand in its creation. However, it might be a good idea to hold the NMJ clause in reserve just in case...

  • 12.15.2006 10:32 AM PDT
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I like to Rollick

I don't like the reasons why certain people try to forum cop. Moderators should be chosen on the amount of contribution that person gives, not how good he/she can forum cop. Which is weird but since moderating is one of the few rewards that a member can receive it should go to the more deserving. Not to the forum-cop who doesn't contribute anything. I have nothing against forum copping however.

[Edited on 12/15/2006]

  • 12.15.2006 10:40 AM PDT

Sandswept Studios Design Director

Visit us and check out our games at Sandswept.net!

~~Pardon Our Dust.~~

Sounds fun.

When can I start?

  • 12.15.2006 11:02 AM PDT

Forum cops come across as aggresive, arrogant and full of themselves, and kiss-asses who only want to be moderators so that they can use that power to flame people without fear of reproach.


...IMO

  • 12.15.2006 12:42 PM PDT
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When I see wanna be moderators or sucks ups or cat fights on this forum I just kind of laugh it off and walk away (litterally I walk away and find a new place to sit with my laptop).

To me forums are places where you can talk without having to give a damn about saying the right thing or getting people to like you. I can talk about not wearing pants all I want here without having to care if people will like me, whereas at school I'll get sent to the office for that and the teacher will hate me and fail me and I'll flunk out of school and die a homelessman.

What I'm trying to say is just ignore those who forum cop and let them be. If you don't quote them then it's like they never exist.

Note: Never listen to anything I say. I am a terrible mentor.

  • 12.15.2006 1:45 PM PDT

Sandswept Studios Design Director

Visit us and check out our games at Sandswept.net!

~~Pardon Our Dust.~~

Posted by: Evil Fluffy
Note: Never listen to anything I say. I am a terrible mentor.


Ah, good thing I read this line before anything else.
Phew. That'll save me lots of reading!

Forum cops are the kids who 'bring the apple for the teacher every day' on these forums. Whereas people like Evil Fluffy, the guys who get drunk all the time. Are either of them bad?

.. Well, yes, the drunkards are bad. But the kid who brings the apple? No. They just get beat up a lot. In this 'recess' we call the Septagon, you guys are all being the bullies that beat up the kid who brings the apple. Maybe we can all learn to co-exist peacefully. It's kind of sad that you let a person who has produce, and is intensely skilled in the ways of "ass-kissing" get the best of you.

I hope we've all learned a valuable lesson today.

[Edited on 12/15/2006]

  • 12.15.2006 2:28 PM PDT
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Yep, this is going to be a long one.....
Posted by: Achilles1108
Also I try to only bother the mods when it is a bad thread. I mean really bad. These guys are pretty quick on the ball and don't need me to keep bothering them all the time.

That is the thing, why stop something later when it may be stopped now? My point with that, is that the mods do not see everything. The "forum-cops", myself included, are the "eyes" of the moderators, so to speak. If a discussion is getting started and it is fairly heated, you may say something like,"Oh, the mods will most likely see that and lock it.". The problem is, is what if they don't see it? What if the moderator goes offline and you are stuck with nothing to do, except for waiting? My point here, is that the do not see everything, as said above. A minor flaming thread can turn into a disaster at the worst possible time. The moment the moderators go offline.

Posted by: Banshee Barron
What started out as a lame attempt to get a one way ticket to modhood has turned into a kind of game for popularity. It's now fashionable to "help", not because people really care about the community, but because they care about their self-image.

I could not disagree with you more. Both statements, in my opinion, are false allegations. To me, I could care less about the image that I portray to people. A few months ago, as many of you may remember, within my sig I had a few moderator quotes. People sayed I was sucking up to the mods. But in fact, I thought the quotes were funny. Some of the few I have seen. I help people because I believe that is what is right. I believe that flaming and spamming on an internet forum is rather pointless. Let alone a waist of time. I, as many other forum-cops, am not very popular. I could care less if I were. To me, popularity is a game all in its own. Seeing who is better know. You can ask most people who I am, and they will not know. Most of the mods know me fairly well from private messages. The members I have helped come back to me for help if they need it. If I cannot help a certain member, I direct them to post the question again within a few days. My point here, is that, I am not popular. But yet I am a forum-cop. I could careless about the image I portray to others, aslong as I know that I am doing what I believe is right.

Posted by: Mabian
I remember my story like I remember most things: very carefully. It's come to my realization some time ago that the process of becoming a Forum Cop/Helpful Member/"Enter name here" is an evolutionary one. Nobody wakes up one day and is the perfect person.

I cannot agree more. Many members that are trying to help do mess up from time to time, everyone does. It is the way society works. To learn, you must make mistakes.

Posted by: Recon Number 54
If it were a reward (like a promotion at work) it would have benefits and perks for the (so called) "step up". It's not really a step up, more like a step to the side.

I believe I am going to have to direct you to the statement dmb made a few months ago, located in my sig.
Posted by: dmbfan09
Yes we get paid. In pixie dust and moonbeams! Puppies dancing on rainbows! Unicorns jumping with joy!

: )

  • 12.15.2006 3:12 PM PDT

It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. And it is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves the flag, whose coffin is draped in the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag.Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

If people are helping to help then thats fine. if they are doing it for some personal gain then well thats just not the same.

  • 12.15.2006 3:17 PM PDT
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SPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

Hmmm. Either I'm much more naive than the rest of you, or I'm less cynical. I haven't read any posts (forum coppish or otherwise) where I inferred a hidden agenda. I haven't noticed any wannabe mods solely from their posts. I thought people were trying to be helpful to simply be helpful. They're only being helpful to try to impress the ninjas? I didn't think that at all.

Though I guess the OP somewhat proves it. That's unfortunate. But its also not a bad thing either. If people are being helpful only to suck up to he ninjas, and are being respectful, and helpful while doing it, what's wrong with that? If someone is never going to become a ninja, yet acts like a good member, I don't really see any problem. Let everyone continue to act the way they act and believe whatever they want to believe. So long as they try to be good, even if its a charade, it doesn't hurt anything.

Although, if someone whose been acting good for awhile eventually finds out that they will never become a ninja, they might lash out at the rest of the community because they no longer care. But what can be done about that? Nothing really.

Maybe I'm too naive.

[Edited on 12/15/2006]

  • 12.15.2006 3:32 PM PDT

Posted by: WolfmanMaverick
You people have just sent my sides into orbit. A bunch of MLG try hards sucking the dick of some supposed pro half the thread hasn't even heard of. Classic.

Posted by: M3 Roki7
Posted by: Achilles1108
Also I try to only bother the mods when it is a bad thread. I mean really bad. These guys are pretty quick on the ball and don't need me to keep bothering them all the time.

That is the thing, why stop something later when it may be stopped now? My point with that, is that the mods do not see everything. The "forum-cops", myself included, are the "eyes" of the moderators, so to speak. If a discussion is getting started and it is fairly heated, you may say something like,"Oh, the mods will most likely see that and lock it.". The problem is, is what if they don't see it? What if the moderator goes offline and you are stuck with nothing to do, except for waiting? My point here, is that the do not see everything, as said above. A minor flaming thread can turn into a disaster at the worst possible time. The moment the moderators go offline.


You see in my personal experience the mods do see it usually really quick. Especially when it starts to heat up. Now just because it heats up doesn't mean that I need to run off to a mod and tell them about it. It is quite possible that it will calm down in the thread. It does happen. Now you say it can turn into a disaster at the worst possible time. "When the moderators go offline." Well if that happens then nobody can do anything about it. PMing every ninja that is offline will not do me any good at all. Last night I watched as Pezza made short work of numerous threads as I talked to him on MSN. Now I did not have to even point him in the direction of any offending threads because he was on them by himself because he does his job well as do all the ninjas. Quite frankly I would have been a huge bother to him if I pestered him about any little thread with a hint of flaming in it. I am not here to do that. I will notify a ninja if the problem gets out of hand in my opinion. Also I think even though they did accept the duty involved, PMing them about every little infraction or every little flame or every thread in the wrong forum can really drag down their experience here. I want everyone to have fun. Not just the regular members.

I see where you are coming from. I respect your opinion on how to report things but in the end it all comes down to the persons opinion on what can be allowed within the rules. Some things to you might be worthy of notifying a ninja but to me could stand to wait a bit to see if the thread stops being a flame war or gets back on topic. Just my opinion though.

  • 12.15.2006 3:52 PM PDT
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Posted by: Achilles1108
You see in my personal experience the mods do see it usually really quick. Especially when it starts to heat up. Now just because it heats up doesn't mean that I need to run off to a mod and tell them about it. It is quite possible that it will calm down in the thread. It does happen. Now you say it can turn into a disaster at the worst possible time. "When the moderators go offline." Well if that happens then nobody can do anything about it. PMing every ninja that is offline will not do me any good at all. Last night I watched as Pezza made short work of numerous threads as I talked to him on MSN. Now I did not have to even point him in the direction of any offending threads because he was on them by himself because he does his job well as do all the ninjas. Quite frankly I would have been a huge bother to him if I pestered him about any little thread with a hint of flaming in it. I am not here to do that. I will notify a ninja if the problem gets out of hand in my opinion. Also I think even though they did accept the duty involved, PMing them about every little infraction or every little flame or every thread in the wrong forum can really drag down their experience here. I want everyone to have fun. Not just the regular members.

I see where you are coming from. I respect your opinion on how to report things but in the end it all comes down to the persons opinion on what can be allowed within the rules. Some things to you might be worthy of notifying a ninja but to me could stand to wait a bit to see if the thread stops being a flame war or gets back on topic. Just my opinion though.

I completely agree, which is what I was trying to get too. Although, if a mod has been on for a while and has overlooked a few threads, then that is when I usually private message them. Other than that, I wait till something major.

  • 12.15.2006 4:34 PM PDT
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Posted by: Savag3Shadow
I feel left out, I'm the only one not quoted :(

Hi.

I hope that makes you feel better.

  • 12.15.2006 8:18 PM PDT

I meant my original post.

And by the way, I've been here as long as anyone else has, yet what recognition and respect do I get? I post on a regular basis, but no, nothing for me.

  • 12.15.2006 8:28 PM PDT
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Posted by: Savag3Shadow
I meant my original post.

And by the way, I've been here as long as anyone else has, yet what recognition and respect do I get? I post on a regular basis, but no, nothing for me.

It's alright. Even if you don't get quoted or responded to you aren't going unnoticed. I obviously had to have read your post to respond to it, so even if you aren't being replied to you're most likely still being read.

Of course there's those who just go into topics and scroll down until they see white text to piggy back off something the mods say, but that doesn't matter.

  • 12.15.2006 8:34 PM PDT
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Osmosis!

Posted by: Recon Number 54
It means that you aren't really able to play the game anymore.

I know how to fix that...

  • 12.15.2006 10:10 PM PDT

Posted by: Savag3Shadow
And by the way, I've been here as long as anyone else has, yet what recognition and respect do I get? I post on a regular basis, but no, nothing for me.
Do you feel special knowing that you have been here since 3/4/'06? What respect do you want? Do you feel that because you're posting in an 'important' thread, that you truly do deserve some sort of recognition? I really do hope that you were joking.

Anyways, about the Forum Cop thing, here's my take on it.

Most users here will probably think that being a moderator is a fun thing. You get all these fun tools and that sense of power that you come across in a Group that you help administer or moderate, and as an added bonus, you must get all this respect and new 'friends' because you're a moderator on the main forums.

To get all this, some users will go out of their way to befriend some of the moderators, have a nice joke with them at any opportunity they can get. Heck, add them on MSN and play your cards right, they might just get used to you. Then on the main forums you post helpfully everyhere and there, giving people advise and information on some problems they're struggling with. They go to the Septagon and try to get themselves heard, act like the 'perfect knight' (Anyone seen Kingdom of Heaven?) Talk about some community based issues, give ideas to help the website... what every good member could (maybe should) do.

This is all good right? Well, the forums bit? Yeah? Well, it's not for a noble cause, is it? Nah. It's for that chance to become a moderator. It's for that chance to be rewarded and respected.

But what happens to those people who have wasted their time on these boards, those people who have not had the fun that they could have, what happens when they finally come to realise that they will never get that reward they've sought after so oh so long?

They'll become a wee bit nasty, eh? Might lash out a bit, eh? (As mentioned above somewhere)

Sorry for the rambling. What my point is exactly, that it's both good and bad to have forum cops. It's good because they help out, give their input and generally follow the rules. It's bad because it's not for a selfless cause - well, in most cases - they do it so they can get that reward.

I find it horrible how some people lash out at those few good members who do come onto these forums and help out truly because they want to. For being discriminated because they are that one student who gives the teacher the apple.

Why can't we just leave them be?

If you read my entire post, you're a champion.

  • 12.15.2006 10:49 PM PDT
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The Frozen Minority - The most infamous clan borne from the Seventh Column.

I agree with Trigger. Forum cops are good to have around some times, but I pity them. I was never one, every now and then I would point someone in the right direction - but being a mindless, nodding drone, constantly seeking out wrongs to right and nits to pick, that will make you regret your time spent here.

People need to be themselves, contribute to discussions, be better members on a personal level, on a human level. Knowing the forum rules and the Marathon quotes won't make you a good person, posting an insightful piece of knowledge to share will.

I'm not condemning those who report things to Ninja's, in fact, I encourage it, I applaud it it is better that way, rather than to take matters into your own hands. However, don't devote yourself to such a thing, you won't get respect of your fellows and you won't get any enjoyment out of it.
Just post and enjoy yourself, do it within the rules and report those cases which do not. Don't become an inhuman, clinical forum bot.

Be a good person and being a good member is a natural outcome, being a good member won't make you a good person... sooks.

  • 12.15.2006 11:05 PM PDT
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Posted by: Pezza
I agree with Trigger. Forum cops are good to have around some times, but I pity them. I was never one, every now and then I would point someone in the right direction - but being a mindless, nodding drone, constantly seeking out wrongs to right and nits to pick, that will make you regret your time spent here.

People need to be themselves, contribute to discussions, be better members on a personal level, on a human level. Knowing the forum rules and the Marathon quotes won't make you a good person, posting an insightful piece of knowledge to share will.

I'm not condemning those who report things to Ninja's, in fact, I encourage it, I applaud it it is better that way, rather than to take matters into your own hands. However, don't devote yourself to such a thing, you won't get respect of your fellows and you won't get any enjoyment out of it.
Just post and enjoy yourself, do it within the rules and report those cases which do not. Don't become an inhuman, clinical forum bot.

Be a good person and being a good member is a natural outcome, being a good member won't make you a good person... sooks.


That was well put and I wish more people actually did this instead of flaming and all the other crap that happens.

  • 12.15.2006 11:35 PM PDT