PathfinderAP
SOC-12
Sing it Bro, that is so true
There's a new sheriff in town...
- Thread starter Andrew Boulton
- Start date
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
AHEM
Now that I have your attention, please stop with the moderator attacks. I didn't want to reply to it when it first came up (hoping, vainly I suppose, that it would die quietly if ignored) but it stops. NOW!
It doesn't matter that it's mods on other boards you're slagging so the rules don't apply because I still think it's low. I do care that the insinuation is it applies here as well because I think you're wrong and it IS against the rules. So it stops or infractions will be applied, even retroactively. And there will be no warnings in the future, this is the warning. Clear? Good.
The final word on it (and I do mean FINAL) is my prerogative to reply to the moderator attacks and insinuations.
It's been my experience that moderators are no different than average or better posters on boards. And much better than the worse. I have rarely (and a single example escapes me, I say rarely only because I won't deny the possibility) seen bad moderation.
And I have been moderated a couple times that I recall, both justified. On one board I, along with several other regulars, were given a one week ban to think about our transgression (the rule was "no politics", another poster started a thread with politics, and several of us told them they couldn't do that, we were banned for participating). Now some thought the mod, who had a rep with some malcontents as being an ogre, was out of line and complained. I didn't. In fact I PM'ed the mod to apologize, and admit he was right. That shocked and impressed him to no end. The simple fact was he was right, and well within rights, and I knew the policy and still let my temper flash and got mixed up in it. The ban was just (I believe my exact opening words to him were "It's a fair cop.") and lenient imo.
What I have seen repeatedly are accusations of poor moderation, usually by board members who have been moderated because they feel picked on, entitled, and never ever in the wrong. They typically imagine (and some go as far as to volunteer or insist) they would make better moderators.
I'm not accusing any of you of such. It's just an observation, the flip side of your own.
We're done now on the topic of bad moderators on any forum, so back to the fun posts, ok?
Now that I have your attention, please stop with the moderator attacks. I didn't want to reply to it when it first came up (hoping, vainly I suppose, that it would die quietly if ignored) but it stops. NOW!
It doesn't matter that it's mods on other boards you're slagging so the rules don't apply because I still think it's low. I do care that the insinuation is it applies here as well because I think you're wrong and it IS against the rules. So it stops or infractions will be applied, even retroactively. And there will be no warnings in the future, this is the warning. Clear? Good.
The final word on it (and I do mean FINAL) is my prerogative to reply to the moderator attacks and insinuations.
It's been my experience that moderators are no different than average or better posters on boards. And much better than the worse. I have rarely (and a single example escapes me, I say rarely only because I won't deny the possibility) seen bad moderation.
And I have been moderated a couple times that I recall, both justified. On one board I, along with several other regulars, were given a one week ban to think about our transgression (the rule was "no politics", another poster started a thread with politics, and several of us told them they couldn't do that, we were banned for participating). Now some thought the mod, who had a rep with some malcontents as being an ogre, was out of line and complained. I didn't. In fact I PM'ed the mod to apologize, and admit he was right. That shocked and impressed him to no end. The simple fact was he was right, and well within rights, and I knew the policy and still let my temper flash and got mixed up in it. The ban was just (I believe my exact opening words to him were "It's a fair cop.") and lenient imo.
What I have seen repeatedly are accusations of poor moderation, usually by board members who have been moderated because they feel picked on, entitled, and never ever in the wrong. They typically imagine (and some go as far as to volunteer or insist) they would make better moderators.
I'm not accusing any of you of such. It's just an observation, the flip side of your own.
We're done now on the topic of bad moderators on any forum, so back to the fun posts, ok?
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far-trader
SOC-14 10K
To be clear, this is not one I see as a problem, I totally get that this one is parody and all in fun...
...riiight? :devil:
RandyT0001
SOC-13
Yep.
I did mention (in the quote box) that I would be whinning about this for a week or two and yesterday was yer one week's anniversery as a mod so I had to do something for it.
There will not be a two week celebration, sorry!
LOL. I would love to have a car rear window sticker with "I support the" followed by an MoJ badge. Might be able to meet some Traveller fans that way and get out of a ticket if you meet the rare combination of police officer + Traveller fan. Some non-gamer police officers might even believe its some real police force somewhere. Be funny to get out of a ticket because the police officer saw your pro-MoJ badge.
Icosahedron
SOC-14 1K
Sturn, I'm deeply shocked that you, of all people, would think that a police officer might eschew his duty on the basis of a mere window sticker. I'm sure that would never happen in reality! 
BlackBat242
SOC-14 1K
Back in 1984, when I was in the USMC, a California Highway Patrolman knocked my speeding ticket down from "75 in a 55" to "65 in a 55" after he saw the wetsuit in my back seat... and we conversed about my SCUBA lessons, and the dives he had made.
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
Heh, I'm sure I've told the story, maybe not here, but I got out of a parking ticket because the officer and I chatted about a common interest in cars. He'd been walking around mine for a couple minutes before I showed up wondering how to write the ticket since he wasn't sure what make and model it was I'd debadged it (we don't need no stinking badges) and it had him stumped. He asked, pad in hand pen at the ready, what it was. I told him and we talked cars for a couple minutes before he flipped the pad closed and said have a nice day and went onto the next expired meter.
I'd debadged it (we don't need no stinking badges) and it had him stumped. He asked, pad in hand pen at the ready, what it was. I told him and we talked cars for a couple minutes before he flipped the pad closed and said have a nice day and went onto the next expired meter.There is a wonderful law in most (all?) US states called "discretion" that makes all of this lawful, even if not fair and professional.
Discretion allows an individual officer to NOT enforce a certain law. Of course you couldn't use discretion to not charge your friendly neighbor who just murdered his wife. It's intention is for things where the officer believes an exception should be made. - "You were running from that guy with the baseball bat when you crossed the street without a crosswalk..sorry due to there not being any discretion I still have to right you up for jaywalking". If forced to write tickets by the letter of the law every time, each little law would soon expand into a book due to the need for all of the exceptions that weren't foreseen.
Discretion of course also gets used, lawfully if not rightfully, by officers who just don't want to give a ticket to someone because they thought the person turned out to be a nice fellow after all.
So, since we have a new sheriff here, please allow him to use discretion in his punishments. Don't jump all over him if it seems he isn't dealing out punishments fairly, he may have a good reason. He's the new sheriff and it's his discretion to use or not use those powers.
Discretion allows an individual officer to NOT enforce a certain law. Of course you couldn't use discretion to not charge your friendly neighbor who just murdered his wife. It's intention is for things where the officer believes an exception should be made. - "You were running from that guy with the baseball bat when you crossed the street without a crosswalk..sorry due to there not being any discretion I still have to right you up for jaywalking". If forced to write tickets by the letter of the law every time, each little law would soon expand into a book due to the need for all of the exceptions that weren't foreseen.
Discretion of course also gets used, lawfully if not rightfully, by officers who just don't want to give a ticket to someone because they thought the person turned out to be a nice fellow after all.
So, since we have a new sheriff here, please allow him to use discretion in his punishments. Don't jump all over him if it seems he isn't dealing out punishments fairly, he may have a good reason. He's the new sheriff and it's his discretion to use or not use those powers.
Not all states. In fact, several former Alaska State Troopers are Former because they got caught not writing tickets they should have written. (Yes, in a sting...)
In fact, a number of recent Alaska laws specifically prohibit officers from opting not to charge.
The Domestic Violence statutes, for example... once the officers have reason to believe a DV Assault has occurred, even without battery, they MUST arrest one or both parties.
Likewise, assault on a pregnant woman is a must arrest offense; the woman can not even waive prosecution, as the officer charges on behalf of the unborn child, not the mother. (The prosecutor can refuse to prosecute, but that's pretty rare up here. Pleading out is common, tho'.)
Police discretion is being reduced a lot. Prosecutorial discretion... that's another matter. Prosecutors do have explicit discretion... but often, police don't.
In fact, a number of recent Alaska laws specifically prohibit officers from opting not to charge.
The Domestic Violence statutes, for example... once the officers have reason to believe a DV Assault has occurred, even without battery, they MUST arrest one or both parties.
Likewise, assault on a pregnant woman is a must arrest offense; the woman can not even waive prosecution, as the officer charges on behalf of the unborn child, not the mother. (The prosecutor can refuse to prosecute, but that's pretty rare up here. Pleading out is common, tho'.)
Police discretion is being reduced a lot. Prosecutorial discretion... that's another matter. Prosecutors do have explicit discretion... but often, police don't.
Sometimes local policies and procedures are in place. Such as a certain department says you must arrest if you have probable cause in crimes X, Y, and Z. They aren't breaking law if they don't charge, only breaking departmental policy which gets you fired, not charged with a crime yourself. State discretion laws are still in effect.
Yes there are exceptions, domestic violence like you said being the most recognizable. I think all states now have 'must arrest' laws for DV cases if you have probable cause. Even if the victim doesn't want to press charges, the reason for the exception.
Yes there are exceptions, domestic violence like you said being the most recognizable. I think all states now have 'must arrest' laws for DV cases if you have probable cause. Even if the victim doesn't want to press charges, the reason for the exception.
Icosahedron
SOC-14 1K
Sheesh! Give me discretion any day.
Anyway...
A copper pulled me over once just to ask me about my car. Of course, I came over all of a cold sweat, like you do when you see a flashing light in your mirror - whether you can recall doing anythig wrong or not...
When I discovered what he wanted, we chatted for a while about the classics and then I said something breezy like "I'm glad it was nothing serious, my heart skipped a beat when I saw you in the mirror."
Instantly, the guy changed. He demanded to see my licence, ownership papers, etc, etc, and I was there for another ten minutes while he looked round the vehicle and filled out his forms.
There was nothing amiss, but that's the thanks I got for answering his queries and having a chat. I resolved never again to engage in conversation with a traffic cop. All they get these days is a straight "yes, no, maybe".
It's because of what you said. You just told a possibly veteran traffic cop that you were very worried about police contact. So, you went from Good Guy he was chatting with to a potential Bad Guy that he needs to check out. He may have started thinking to himself, "why did his heart skip a beat?" Was it just natural "oh no a cop" or was it "oh no he might find out about my warrant or the crack pipe in my pocket". So he went back to cop-mode to make sure it wasn't the later.
He shouldn't have done this at all in my opinion. Very unprofessional, in fact it's technically a civil rights infringement IF he didn't also have another legitimate reason to pull you over such as speeding, not using a turn signal, etc. I'm speaking from a US laws point of veiw though, things might be different elsewhere.
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PathfinderAP
SOC-12
This was in no way an attack, (and especially not at the mods here, unless you know something I don't know
) But simply a statement of fact based on many ex/members experience of such sites as rpg.net, trust me there are many who think the same
How can discussing the mods of other sites be wrong?
(As the mods of this site were neither mentioned or implied, and complaining about other site doe not seem to be against the rules)
I also don't consider the many and valid complaints aimed at such sites to be "low", let it be a warning to those who don't know, those that have not seen it first hand,
members rely on the fairness and ethical behaviour of the mods that SHOULD be policing such sites, but when they become corrupted and pervert the power they where given for personal agendas, when they abuse their position, When they abuse the members, its wrong, wrong to the degree that if they had been members they would have been banned many times over
(which although rare, has happen more than a few time over at rpg.net, proves the point) Thats just one reason such sites have a bad name amongst roleplayers, I know more gamers who have never visted those sites due to their bad rep, than those that have,
The long term downside to such mods is the lose of the most creative and intelligent members of such sites, nobody sane wants to be there anymore,
and so the interesting posts get get fewer and fewer, well untill you get what you see over at sites like rpg.net now (go check it out)
Now, if this post gets me banned, then go ahead
this needed to be said,
But if you do ban, you really are no better than those sites after all,
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
It comes under the category of "trashing other forums". Please don't do it. A passing reference, fine, but the post went beyond that.
The above is not appropriate, and pushes your post into "arguing with mods over the rules" territory.
The point where you have crossed the line is the point where you either threaten or attempt to coerce the mods. And that's an attempt at coercion. Don't do it again.
Icosahedron
SOC-14 1K
LOL. Well yeah, I know it's what I said, and I realise why he did it, but it wasn't very friendly and it just goes to reinforce my pavlovian response to traffic cops. They got no sense of humour, and let's face it anybody who drives a car is "very worried about police contact."
If he shouldn't have done it, it just goes to support the conditioned response that whenever you see that flashing light, you're in trouble for something, even if you don't know what it is, yet, so of course your heart's gonna skip a beat.
The only time drivers and cops tend to come into contact is when the driver's done something 'wrong', and with the plethora of petty rules and regulations involving traffic these days, breaking the law in some minor way is virtually an occupational hazard of driving.
...and then there's the self-doubt - did I remember to renew my insurance? When did I last check my tyres? When is my road tax due? Will my electrics obey Murphy's Law and choose this moment to fail? Has something already failed? By the time the average driver is winding his window down and squeaking "Good day, officer", he's already a gibbering wreck, no matter how much of a 'Good Guy' he is!
I used to like policemen before I learnt to drive.
Am I right guys? - Guys? - Guys??
Times like this you find out who your mates are...
LOL. ...*snip* ...
I used to like policemen before I learnt to drive.
Am I right guys? - Guys? - Guys??
Times like this you find out who your mates are...
Were you driving one of these? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVkJbvv3pHg
Striker stats anyone?
I've been in law enforcement in some form since 1991, made countless traffic stops, have taught many officers how to do traffic stops.....and got very nervous recently when I was pulled over for speeding by another agency in my personal vehicle.
I was surprised how nervous I suddenly got, so yes I completely understand this. A good cop hopefully can tell the difference between normal "am I getting a ticket" nervousness and "am I going to jail for the naked midget in the trunk" nervousness.Did I get a ticket? No. BUT, I'm one of those few cops that DOES NOT reveal his badge if pulled over. Believe it or not, I stand by my oft repeated statement to subordinate officers that if I did the crime, I deserve the ticket. I got lucky because I happened to be wearing my Stop Stick "Hit of the Month" shirt and the deputy noticed.
PS: Sorry for my part in hijacking this thread. It did have 'sheriff' in the title though and I didn't start the off-topic just jumped on it!
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far-trader
SOC-14 10K
As it's sorta a "me" thread...
No sweat at all Sturn This kind of drift I don't mind in the least.
...PS: Sorry for my part in hijacking this thread. It did have 'sheriff' in the title though and I didn't start the off-topic just jumped on it!
No sweat at all Sturn
This kind of drift I don't mind in the least.