Problem in the forums.

[fern244 1]

I think members of Simtropolis should be treated the same way as everybody else. I know when some people see the person who has a post and they have a low numbers of posts they will say " Ahh, this guy is new here, i wont treat him with respect ". I think people of simtropolis should be treated with respect even if they have a low number of posts.

[Voar Tok 4]

Um, not that I disagree with you, but what happened this time?

[Mikeaut1 261]

Hi, Fern!

Thank you for taking the time to write this. On Simtropolis, the staff makes it required through the rules that everyone be treated with respect. Many people abide by this rule, and that's a good thing. But then we get people who have egos, and they assume power and importance over the "newer" individuals of this society, and ultimately they will get spoken to in a private setting by a staff member.

What exactly prompted you to start this thread? Are there any instances out in the forums right now that you can identify as an example to your point? The staff wants to be on top of social things out in the forums, and we all try our very best to moderate the site appropriately.

This is also a reminder to people... the "Report To Moderator" option is not there just for show! We urge people to utilize that feature in order to keep the staff informed. Not all the staff members can be online all at once, so this feature will come in handy to the next available staff member to come online.

Another reminder, if you feel like you're being mistreated, please take it up with a staff member. We are willing to help you out, and we frown upon instances where people are rude to one another.

Again, Fern, if there are any examples of places where you see this out in the forums, contact me (or any other staff member) personally.

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

From personal experience, I try to respect everybody no matter if they have 1 post or 10,000 posts... some of our best members are lurkers and some of our top posters can cause trouble.

As stated above, PM a moderator or report a post if you feel you or someone is being treated unfairly.

[fern244 1]

Hey guys, im fine. Its not me getting pushed around, i just want to make a point in front of the commuity. Im not excatly talking about bullying, im more talking about being treated less then other people do. Its hard to explain. Example, if a person with 200+ posts will just feel differently replying to the post and not put a good,specific answer. If some of you understand im glad.

[TheQuiltedLlama 34]

I, for one, would treat a person with only a few posts differently from one with thousands.

I would treat one person with 3 thoughtful, mature and informative posts with far more respect than one with 1,000 unless, generic and badly written posts.

So remember; Its not the size of your post count that matters, its what you do with it.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The important thing is to have a good friendly relationship with everyone here.  With new members who are asking for assistance, I frequently go to great lengths to make sure they get what they need.

In many cases, with experienced users, a hint is all that is needed.  I don't make detailed explanations to someone who comes on and says he has 2GB of plugins and is having a problem with one of them.  My attitude in that case is to help them diagnose their own problem, usually by pointing them off the the Plugin Mania topic.

People who have technical troubles with operating systems I will try to help them get assistance from their O/S support site.  Of course, if I have an answer for them, i will give it.

N_O_Body, Moderator

SimCity 4 General Discussion

Bugs & Technical Issues.

[Elaclairee 0]

It really has nothing to do with the number, but of the attitude. If you're new, you will more than likely stand out, not be able to meet the expected norms of the forum. This comes with time. I can back this up because, well... me. To avoid, erm... my reputation, I started this new account a while back. I did everything I could to not act like the old me, don't get all buddy-buddy with people. I experienced not a single problem from post 1. I acted with an air of composure and respect of others, and was thus respected in return.

So really, people aren't treated as a "lesser" because of some silly post number, its how they act, which is completely within their power to change. If you want to do an experiment, I suggest eliminating the post count. Watch how the way people are treated doesn't change. As a new member you can chose to be a lurker for a bit and figure out how things work, or you can burst right in and make your first post "lolz, wts da nam yo ".

Mh, I rest my case.

[fern244 1]

Thanks for youre opinions. I know its not happening much but i think everyone would love it if it stops completley.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

With 193,000 egos out there, it is hard to predict when the next incident may occur.

[Elaclairee 0]

It is also hard to coax those ego's into a communist rule. It isn't just here, its every single forum, blog, and chat room on the internet. Even in very small close-knit forums, it can't be stopped. Its just a fact that we have to deal with. Like there are idiots and prejudice people in real life, so will they be online.

[Jazzmaster 716]

Well, unfortunately, yes, some people on here have over one thousand posts, but have earned some degree of "jerk-like" status. I my self joined several months ago, but didn't start posting 'till I learned the true "art" of posting. Sometime last summer, I remember someone starting a fresh new CJ after his/her previous ones weren't so great and what happened???...

Members flamed the HELL outta this user and they packed up and left. THAT is what we all mustn't do.

-Yoshiisland

[DOXXP29 5]

I lurked here for years before actually opening an account. When I did, it was still a little while before I posted. My first posts were about questions that I hadn't seen addressed before and couldn't find an answer elsewhere. Lo and behold, when I finally posted with single digit post counts, I found the members who responded to be very helpful, intelligent and considerate. Since this was my experience, I try to behave the same way towards others who post and are new to ST. 

On several occasions, I have responded to a post and noticed in some later responses that something I said might have offended someone or rubbed them the wrong way. In those cases, instead of flaming or throwing my ego out there and defending how "right" I was, I sent those persons a PM with an apology and an explaination of what I meant. In EVERY case, I got a response from the "offended" party that was intelligent and non-combative and we ended up shaking hands and saying "no harm done". (Well, now that I think of it, there WAS one jerk...) It's not hard to do and I think most of us realise that sometimes we say things that can be interpreted in a way other than we intended or we may react and say something and send it off before we've had a chance to calm down. But I also think that most of us are big enough to say "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that." and do show respect to anyone we may have offended.

I try to conduct myself here (and on any forum on any site) like I do in public face to face. Just as I may meet someone I've never seen before and we strike up a conversation, I'm always seeing new faces (or avitars) here and I try to treat them the same way as I would treat someone new that I met on the street. Personality comes across better than an ego. I'd prefer to converse with and know who you are rather than who you THINK you are. Keeping it real seems to work well for me and for most of those who I know.

I'm glad you haven't had any bad experiences, Fern. Hopefully, you never will. But if that unfortunate incident would ever rear its ugly face, remember what those above have said: get in touch with a staff member and the issue should be quickly resolved.

Peace, happiness and harmony may be a utopian concept and difficult to obtain with 100,000+ members, but if we all try, we may be able to come close.

[Elaclairee 0]

I think the most that can be asked out of anyone on this site, is that they try. When a new post-happy member comes along who fails to take the suggested steps before posting, it gives no other member the right to belittle them. Politely help with whatever they need, and if need-be point out their errors and suggest in understandable terms how to correct them. Sure, you may say "just another *****, who needs them", but thats wrong. Every member is important. Older members disappear all the time, without an influx of new ones ST would quickly die.

Who knows... the one or two newcomers that get chased off may have very well been the next great thing, someone with the skill to really add to the community. Heck, that one person leaving after a few posts could have become, say... a pather, something we truly need.

Just keep the possibilities open.

[Mikeaut1 261]

Originally posted by Elaclairee: Who knows... the one or two newcomers that get chased off may have very well been the next great thing, someone with the skill to really add to the community. Heck, that one person leaving after a few posts could have become, say... a pather, something we truly need."quote>

That's a great point Elaclairee. We never want to scare anyone off, and unfortunately there have been instances in the past where that has happened. Every member is important, despite their knowledge of the game and the site.

And it's up to the members of the forums to cooperate and welcome people amicably into the community. A lot of people already do, and that's a good thing.