[Suggestion] Moderation Abilities on a Thread you Own?

[michaelsteele3]

We all know that feeling when you make a thread, and some genius comes along and throws things off-topic or posts something useless.

I suggest that when you're the owner of a thread, you can control it better and have access to features such as:

*Deleting somebody's posts

*Blocking somebody from posting on that thread, or "blacklisting"

So how do you all like this idea?

[Norpo]

The trolling potential is enormous, and I think the report button works already for this.

Example:

Poster A starts a new thread, for a suggestion, say, to add a new part to the game. It's obviously not a very well-thought out suggestion, "hyperdrive part that takes u anywere", and little other detail.

Poster B doesn't like the suggestion, but asks for more detail so he/she can change their opinion.

Poster A doesn't handle criticism very well at all, so removes poster B's post.

Cue anarchy when Poster B finds out. Naturally, he/she'll be pretty dang mad that poster A removed their valid opionion, and may take their rage out on the thread. (If we were luckier, they'd use the PM function..) In the end, it could work out to being more work for the moderators.Besides, that's what the report button is for. You can bring posts to the attention to moderators, and in the end they'll use their own discresion, preventing posts like "Erm, this part would be overpowered, it could just take you anywhere. I don't think it would fit in with the rest of the game" from being removed for reason "omg this person is stupid and meen"

I like how the KSP forums were built upon the philosophy of "Resolve arguments with your words, not downvotes." I've never really seen starting a thread as owning a thread per say, more so like starting a conversation. If you say something ridiculous, then you have to actually defend your position, not click a downvote button. And on the topic of "blacklisting" certain users, the forums have an ignore function. All posts by that user just basically say "This person posted here, but you ignored him." If one user consistently ticks you off, then consider using that.

-my two cents

Edited April 21, 2015 by Norpo
added something

[Yukon0009]

Moderators moderate, not us.

Sorry if I offended you.

[Robotengineer]

Moderators moderate, not us.

Sorry if I offended you.

This. While it is a nuisance when a thread gets derailed, its better to report it to the moderators than take matters into our own hands.

[Dodgey]

It's the Internet, no matter how good the community this would be abused in its first hour.

[r4pt0r]

So when I make a suggestion thread titled "Squad please dont ever add a dv counter to the game", something I genuinely do not want, I can delete all disagreeing posts and blacklist them from posting in my thread too?

Yeah I support this idea.

[Endersmens]

well, to remove the trolling aspect, they could limit thread moderation abilities to those with x amount of reputation. Also, they could make it so that the OP has to have a valid reason for deleting, or a real moderator could "undo" the action.

I feel like this feature should at least be a function in the rocket builders thread, since a company thread is more official per say, I feel like the CEO should have control over what posts are on his company. (this could've saved the old Zokesia Skunkworks)

Also, instead of permanently blocking a poster, they could make it so that a post from that user has to be moderator approved before posting. That way legitimate posts and users could not be totally blocked for no good reason. (mods could also "undo" the post checking if they feel it is unnecessary)

[michaelsteele3]

Perhaps this shouldn't be added to certain subforums? Such as Suggestions & Development? That way it can't be abused.

Otherwise, trolling with it just messes up your own thread, and I don't think that's what you want to do when you start a thread.

[Columbia]

It would be great if you could actually delete your own thread - many an incident occured when I accidentally posted without being finished, or in the wrong category.

Although maybe not deleting posts, but blacklisting-well, I guess that's okay.

[michaelsteele3]

It would be great if you could actually delete your own thread - many an incident occured when I accidentally posted without being finished, or in the wrong category.

Although maybe not deleting posts, but blacklisting-well, I guess that's okay.

Maybe deleting somebody's posts doesn't affect their post count? And once somebody deletes a post, moderators somehow get notified or it gets put into a certain group?

[r4pt0r]

this can already be done with the report button. if a moderator sees something and doesnt delete it, then its ok. giving people the ability to delete posts that disagree with them would eliminate the purpose of a forum.

[michaelsteele3]

@r4pt0r

Okay, perhaps you can remove the ability to do delete posts, but what about blacklisting users who break the rules? Or just troll in general? (It only takes place on that thread, and not your other threads)

[r4pt0r]

Lets say I start a thread, and I blacklist regex. regex is a great poster who always has well reasoned critisizm, or support for things. Him and I dont see eye to eye on an issue so I just blacklist him from my thread.

What oversight stops me from blacklisting him, as opposed to blacklisting 'kerbtroll2000' who just keeps shouting about how squad is evil? If a poster is actually trolling, then the report button fulfills the same duty as any blacklist or delete button.

[michaelsteele3]

I see you as a regex, and I respect that

Perhaps you can't blacklist somebody until they post to the thread? Like you can't just go to their profile and there's a button that says "LULZ BLAKLISTZ" The button has to be on their post.

I was thinking that this feature could give the moderators a little break, if they need one.

I mean, what normally happens if you break a rule during a game? You might get kicked out.

If it had to be anything, perhaps this should only be added to the Space Lounge? Post count there isn't affected, and the forum games can easily be moderated by those who started the thread and know the rules well better than anyone else there. Plus, Mods and Admins can focus on the important subforums.

[r4pt0r]

now after reading through http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/115655-What-Are-Things-You-ve-Heard-That-Made-You-Facepalm I might see why you started this thread.

There are occasions upon which I've seen moderators step in to keep threads like the 'faceplam' thread in line. A forum user who REALLY liked the movie 'Frozen' comes to mind. If someone is breaking your threads rules then the best you can do is ask them to stop or report it.

I just think giving one person alot of power can only lead to the eventual decline and death of the republic, followed inevitable assassination by your fellow senators. err, I mean, unrest on the forums

[michaelsteele3]

now after reading through http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/115655-What-Are-Things-You-ve-Heard-That-Made-You-Facepalm I might see why you started this thread.

There are occasions upon which I've seen moderators step in to keep threads like the 'faceplam' thread in line. A forum user who REALLY liked the movie 'Frozen' comes to mind. If someone is breaking your threads rules then the best you can do is ask them to stop or report it.

I just think giving one person alot of power can only lead to the eventual decline and death of the republic, followed inevitable assassination by your fellow senators. err, I mean, unrest on the forums

Dang, you caught me lol.

But I remember the thread "What is the stupidest space-related thing you have heard?" The last 5-8 pages were off topic completely, and it got shut down.

[Columbia]

Dang, you caught me lol.

But I remember the thread "What is the stupidest space-related thing you have heard?" The last 5-8 pages were off topic completely, and it got shut down.

Yep.. That thread was starting to fill with religious and political arguments.

I was pretty surprised seeing it.. And it went a bit over the top.

[Red Iron Crown]

There's a bit of a misconception going on in this thread, allow me to correct it: You don't own threads that you start. Threads belong to the community as a whole, and as such no single user should have special powers over individual threads, even if they are the OP. We do grant two courtesies to OPs of threads: We will usually lock a thread if the OP requests, and we will usually delete a thread with no replies if the OP asks. Note that these are courtesies and not guaranteed rights.

Giving users special privileges as OPs of threads would lead to new thread spam, shameless thread bumping, trolling and hard feelings. It is simply unmanageable.

[worir4]

There's a bit of a misconception going on in this thread, allow me to correct it: You don't own threads that you start. Threads belong to the community as a whole, and as such no single user should have special powers over individual threads, even if they are the OP. .

Forum socialism, i like it!

[Fel]

Perhaps you can't blacklist somebody until they post to the thread? Like you can't just go to their profile and there's a button that says "LULZ BLAKLISTZ" The button has to be on their post.

Moderators have extremely difficult jobs. If you block someone from a thread, and the ban doesn't expire after a short time limit, then the person will just complain to a moderator that your ban is unjust; the moderator now is placed in a horrible position. Moderators are unlikely to overturn another moderator's bans because it undermines authority (and some other psychological stuff)... word just spreads "If x bans you, just get y to overturn it." If a ban is clear abuse of authority, the moderator will be punished and the ban may be overturned; but...

Now they have to decide not only if a thread-ban was "justified" but if it was REALLY justified;

Forum socialism, i like it!

This is completely off topic. Should we ban worir4 for it? IF worir4 was thread-banned for it, would it be tedious enough of a ban for a moderator to overturn?

I mean, what normally happens if you break a rule during a game? You might get kicked out.

Nothing, I'm friends with the host and we're both spawn killing the newbies like the pro's we are.

Of course we hold democratic votes when we kick people who complain about our tactics... it's just that the votes are weighted so we always get our way.

[Vanamonde]

1. This has the potential for abuse, though people acting upon personal animosities.

2. Let the moderators take the heat for doing something unpopular, so that people aren't yelling at you about it.

[michaelsteele3]

Alright, I see this won't be added. Thanks for the feedback!