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--- Blogs, Forums, Chats (*confused*) (http://www.gatchamania.net/threadid.php?threadid=1896)
Posted by Rory on 23-05-2008 at 21:56:
Blogs, Forums, Chats (*confused*)
Sorry for bothering everyone with this. I don't know if this actually qualifies as a rant, but I must admit to being very confused and rather hurt.
I'm sure some of you have your own blogs and obviously you've chatted with people not just in this forum, but other chatrooms as well.
You see, I'm writing a blog for Animax in Asia and India, mainly about anime, stuff of interest to the fandom. Or at least I think are of interest, since I only base it on the various fora that I'm a member of. As a reader of blogs, I sometimes comment on items that I find interesting in the blogs of certain friends. Other times, I don't.
But, in the Animax blog, the members of the website have been using it as a chatroom. Instead of posting questions or making requests about future topics for the blog or even giving suggestions on how to improve the channel itself, the members have been abusing the comments box as a chatroom. There was one particular blog wherein four chatters alone flooded the comments section with chat and spam, that it ran to 100 pages or 1,000 messages.
Frankly, I've been ignoring what they've been doing. I've also been ignoring the way these fans have been pushing the website with their constant changing of Profiles, Nicks, Avatars, and violating actual copyright rules on the site. I've also ignored the way these fans have been taunting the moderators to ban them. Let's face it. THEY KNOW THEY'RE DOING WRONG AND YET THEY JUSTIFY THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SCOLDED/SUSPENDED/BANNED FOR IT BECAUSE THEY ARE MEMBERS. As they say, THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.
But, I had to draw the line already when these chatters actually started quarreling in the blog. There were exchanges of "I HATE YOU!" and so many other bad stuff. I'm a moderator of a community myself and, in times like these, I had to do something. I already reported it to the Webmaster, but she would not do anything and even asked me to wait for the site revamp. But...even if the site is revamped, it would be useless if nothing is done about the behaviors of these fans.
Needless to say, I decided to address the problem of the blog and the website once and for all. I explained that the glitches iin the site are also due in part to their abuse of the functions. One member said that newbies should be forgiven for Netiquette lapses because they didn't know the rules in the Animax site. The problem is the rules are there and they are the same in all the forums that I've been to. Don't flame. Respect the moderators. Do your chatting in the proper places. It's not that they don't know the rules; they love breaking them. While some have apologized for what they've been doing, there were many stubborn people who insist that it's the site and Animax that's at fault for NOT GIVING THEM WHAT THEY WANT. Heck, someone in the India version of the site even accused me of being RACIST. To think that many copyright violations that were specifically prohibited by Animax were committed by the Indian fans.
Frankly, I don't know what to make of this anymore. I'm also very sick and tired of having to deal with these obnoxious fans. I've already tried quitting writing the blog, but Animax did not want to let me go. After the way I had scolded their members, I'm already expecting that they would let me go. Besides, Animax doesn't even pay me for articles I do for their blog site. It's just not worth the grief and all the aggravation that I had to go through with these fans.
Seriously, I would just like to ask anyone here who has had a blog or those who are managing communities and fora. Did I do wrong for trying to put these members back in line? Is it really that difficult to act like a decent human being and not act like a brat on the Internet? If faced with a problem like this, what would you do? I want to quit, but I know I would really feel so bad about doing it because I was actually given the greenlight to interview key people in the Japanese animation industry. I wanted to do these for the fans, so that they could learn something. But given how these anime fans are misbehaving, I really don't think it's worth doing anything for them anymore. Lord knows I've done a LOT for them in terms of getting their programs aired, fighting for events that they like, etc.
What do you guys think? 
Posted by Madilayn on 23-05-2008 at 22:36:
Rory, I understand what you're going through and am the moderator of a couple of forums myself.
When they join, they should read the terms of use, and if they don't then that is their own lookout.
Perhaps you should post a blog entry on this topic, explaining clearly the rules and what you will and will not tolerate. You should also explain how their changing of nicks, etc., pushes the system and causes glitches.
Then , you must make it clear that from now on, anybody who volates will be banned.
With blogs, though, you can't stop people using the comments almost as a chat room. But as long as the comments are about the blog topic, let them go. Once it degerates into personal messages, post a comment in the thread as a reply asking them to take it offline to another venue.
When flame wars start, again, post a comment in that thread asking to cease and desist and if they continue they will be banned.
And then do it.
Unfortunately, being a moderator is like being a combination policeman, teacher and parent. Is hard, but you need to keep control.
Hope this helps!
__________________
"When I'm old, I don't want them to say of me, "She's so charming." I want them to say, "Be careful, I think she's armed." -G. Stoddart
Posted by Rory on 23-05-2008 at 22:53:
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Thank a lot, Madilayn! Actually, I did everything that you suggested. But these kids are just utterly pigheaded. I don't know how they managed to survive in other forums with the way they misbehave.
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That's just it. The comments weren't about the blog topic. One chatter actually started it by saying "Let's use the blog to chat". Three more people joined her and it deteriorated from there. The Moderators have tried to get them to move, but they even taunted the mods, daring them to ban them, which they could not do because the Webmaster of Animax alone holds that function. I addressed it with one blog, but they continued to do it. I did it again in the blog yesterday, but using more stronger terms and going direct to the point. But they continue to justify the wrong that they're doing. And as I said, one Indian accused me of being RACIST.
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Sadly, if you were to be a moderator in the Animax site and forum, you'd have hypertension. These kids are just intolerable. Oh...I forgot to mention that these same kids are also members of The Amazing Race Asia Forum. They practically drove one contestant of the Race to the point of severe depression and suicide with their flames. I should know. I was the one who helped their company find a psychiatrist for the lady. These fans...they are just terrible!
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Believe me! The very simple fact that you have CONFIRMED to me to that I actually did right when you enumerated your suggestions (which I had all done) was a huge relief to me.
In any case, I already sent a letter to Animax about my desire to quit being their Blogger. I said I'm leaving the decision up to them. But if they want me to stay, my only stipulation is that they remove the comments box. That's a reasonable enough request, I think, especially since their fans are sooo rude and unruly.
AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH, MADILAYN! That's why I LOVE the Gatchamania forum above all the other forums I'm in. The people here are the BEST!
Posted by amyltrer on 24-05-2008 at 12:53:
Rory, sh$t like this eventually happens on every site, especially when the members are kids (at heart or mind). I know it's very annoying and you feel like drawing a cyber blaster and 
them all.
Think them as mindless kids who's bickering just aren't worthing your time and patience. If you promote equality some nasty troll would naturally call you a racist because s/he knew it will get you this way. From what you've said I understand some of them just like to insult others. This kind of users requires really mean moderators. Do whatever your mod status allows. Delete accounts. Temporaily ban the niff starters! If you can't do it permanently.
You can threaten them that the site will close if they don't stop. Or just ignore them!
Now I suppose there must be some good mannered ones among the naughty crowd. Turn those on you side. The mod alone can stand up a thousands flamers but turn the normal members against the trolls. Make those personna non gratta .If everybody is against them they will either shut up or leave the boards. Is better that way.
__________________
It is the tiny spark of humanity that adds blaze to a villain
Posted by Rory on 24-05-2008 at 20:59:
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Actually, I wasn't promoting equality, but good behavior for everyone. The Indian person in question overreacted because he was so nasty when he was demanding that Animax do his suggested promotions, which are really not feasible at all. Worse, he even made his suggestions in the most appalling grammar I've ever read, which made me correct him because I was reading things wrong in his message for the fact it was so incomprehensible. I told him to express himself properly and he got mad at me saying that who am I to judge him. He was working. But later on, he admitted that he was still in school and knew nothing about promotions.
In any case, part of the fault lies with Animax for ignoring these twerps. That's why things escalated to this point. BUT...as I told them in my "I quit" letter, I leave the decision up to them. If they want me to quit, they should pay me for the work I did on the blog. If they want me to stay, they should get rid of the Comments box. Let's face it. Those brats are abusing the function anyway. Besides, I've long been neglecting my fiction writing because of the blog. It's about time I did my own thing, don't you think?
Thanks so much, Amy! It really meant a lot to know that I actually did the right thing.
Posted by gatchgirl on 25-05-2008 at 04:24:
I for one, know nothing about a roll as a moderator Rory, but I hope your situation gets better!
__________________
" No gratitude needs to be voiced, your mind speaks to us!"
Racer by day, Feather Thrower all the time!
Posted by Rory on 25-05-2008 at 21:30:
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It looks like things are quieting down. But I already sent a letter to Animax indicating that I would prefer to quit being their blogger if they don't control their members. If they can't control them, I told them to remove the comments function. I'm so sick and tired of these kids!
Posted by CricketBeautiful on 26-05-2008 at 15:44:
Some blog sites have a setting where you have to approve each comment before it gets posted. That can cut both ways -- you need to approve things fast, and allow things that don't agree with you, or you risk being accused of only putting up comments you like, but it will move the abuse to another site.
It's like parenting, constant vigilance. If you let one get away with a bit, the next will try, and the slippery slope begins, and when you do crack down, you get told "but you let him do it, and he's worse than me, and I didn't know and,..."
I've been on both sides. The longer you make allowances, the harder it is for both sides, and the bystanders.
__________________
Between stimulus and response there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom.
- Viktor E. Frankl
Posted by Rory on 26-05-2008 at 23:49:
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Sadly, the Animax site doesn't have that option. It's the webmaster who only has the function to delete. Not even the Moderators are able to delete comments. The Webmaster proposed to me before that she could remove the comments section, but I declined, saying that it was the only way for them to find friends. But these troublesome members ended up abusing it.
Posted by Metaliant on 01-06-2008 at 11:01:
I don't know if this has been said Rory, but I have found that Blogs, chatrooms and even the Yahoo groups have people who just join but don't do anything else and just forget about the groups. Now I don't mean lurkers who are too shy about posting and just read.
Also, there are the spammers who post stuff that don't deal with anything remotely with whatever the groups, blogs, chatrooms, etc are about and then there's those people like you said at the beginning that just post "I hate you." stuff, which I have experienced myself in another forum.
I find it just annoying and glad that I am with a group of like minded people (mad people) who are so friendly and hellpful when a member of this group is in trouble and give advice and comfort.
__________________
Eagle in Residence
Tempory Frisker
Posted by Rory on 04-06-2008 at 21:29:
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Waaah, Metaliant! Been so busy these days, I can't believe I missed answering your reply. Well, the kids at the blog are behaving now. I deliberately went on strike and did not post the blog. It'll probably be close to two weeks that I did not write anything. People are apologizing all over the place.
But I have to agree with you. I would much rather be here in Gatchamania.net than anywhere else.
Posted by Metaliant on 04-06-2008 at 22:46:
Don't worry about not replying straight away as sometimes I disappear couple of weeks or something like that as I am either busy or just too busy playing on my PS3 but I always come back here where the madness never ends.
__________________
Eagle in Residence
Tempory Frisker
Posted by Transmute Jun on 04-06-2008 at 22:51:
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Only because we are mad for you, Met!
__________________
Posted by Rory on 04-06-2008 at 22:52:
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Sadly, it's work that always keeps me busy, and on and off illness. Darn! I overworked myself again yesterday. Now I have a high fever. *groan* That's why I'm checking out stuff here. It's therapeutic.
Posted by gatchgirl on 05-06-2008 at 00:34:
Great company always is therapeutic Rory!
__________________
" No gratitude needs to be voiced, your mind speaks to us!"
Racer by day, Feather Thrower all the time!
Posted by Metaliant on 05-06-2008 at 07:51:
I never knew that madness is a cure for a fever or a cold.
__________________
Eagle in Residence
Tempory Frisker
Posted by gatchgirl on 05-06-2008 at 12:24:
It takes your mind off of anything... the madness here that is!
__________________
" No gratitude needs to be voiced, your mind speaks to us!"
Racer by day, Feather Thrower all the time!
Posted by amyltrer on 05-06-2008 at 17:04:
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Met, wasn't your previous siggie " Is better to be mad than sane " sort of thing?
__________________
It is the tiny spark of humanity that adds blaze to a villain
Posted by Metaliant on 05-06-2008 at 18:21:
Yes it was and I still stand by it, but what I didn't know was the madness could cure flu or similar illness.
__________________
Eagle in Residence
Tempory Frisker
Posted by amyltrer on 05-06-2008 at 18:47:
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I tell you it can't! It's 25 Celsius here and I'm maaaad, sneezing and my nose is still red like Rupert's. I hope I'll have better luck with aspirin!
__________________
It is the tiny spark of humanity that adds blaze to a villain
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