This topic is a "get to know your community better thread. If you have one of those questions that you don't know where to post but would like answered this is the place. Please direct your questions to Jordan (You can call him "beartrap") or myself.

The way we would like you to format your questions is;

Directed at CM (or moderators): Why did such and such post get closed?

Fire away, remember that Jordan is a very busy man, and isn't as likely to respond as often as myself.

Questions answered will appear below this line.

Q: How does one become a moderator?
A: If we need moderators we will select them from the ranks of well-spoken and mature community members.

Q: What is the most common thing you ban people here for?
A: Making other community members feel unwelcome, written abuse, and general humbugary.

Q: How can I change my user title?
A: Win a contest or become a contributor. Users are not allowed to change their own titles.

Q: My thread was locked, is it lost forever?
A: No, if you have something that will reinvigorate the topic it may be opened by PMing a moderator. No promises though, not all topics need to be reopened.

Q: Why did "such and such" user take so long to be banned?
A: Moderators don't read every post. If you see some sort of naughtiness happening by all means report the post. If it continues to happen, PM a moderator and he will talk to you about it.

Q: I've noticed some changes recently. Are you overhauling the site?
A: We're constantly tweaking different parts of the site (like the newly added video section, woo!) but we're not working on any major site redesign.

Q: What forum tags are allowed on this forum?
A:You can view the allowed tags at http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/markup_help.php .

Why did the ask girls thread get shut down, and why did Kais86 get banned? I am inclined to believe those are interrelated somehow since he tried bringing it back.

How long are the normal bans, and what are the offences that are tied in with them?

jim_doki:
two things.

first, how does one join your ranks?
second, what is the most common thing you ban for?

I'll let Jordan answer the first one.

The most common thing that I ban is the abusive language, and blatant trolling.

Is the cake really a lie? Because I like some cake now and again.

But more seriously, I've always wondered how you personally got the job. Not that I ever expect or want to be a mod myself. I'm just curious.

why do you lock all of my forum games?

is it to avoid quotey towers?

Ultrajoe:
why do you lock all of my forum games?

is it to avoid quotey towers?

What's that about a quote tower?

Seriously though, I'd be curious as to how you become a mod in the first place. Is a selection process where invisible escapist staffers cast their eyes over the forums, picking the pedants?

Hey Joe:

Ultrajoe:
why do you lock all of my forum games?

is it to avoid quotey towers?

What's that about a quote tower?

Seriously though, I'd be curious as to how you become a mod in the first place. Is a selection process where invisible escapist staffers cast their eyes over the forums, picking the pedants?

I can handle this one Mods!

A quote tower is when the repeated quoting of the latest speaker on a topic uses to many words or simply unnecessary

line breaks to generate a large amount of space taken up by quote boxes of all the past posters on a topic, usually occurring in an off-topic discussion or flame war, they can infuriate other users but sometimes can become beloved projects of the local users and can achieve truly epic proportions.

- Ultrajoe

Ultrajoe:

Hey Joe:

Ultrajoe:
why do you lock all of my forum games?

is it to avoid quotey towers?

What's that about a quote tower?

Seriously though, I'd be curious as to how you become a mod in the first place. Is a selection process where invisible escapist staffers cast their eyes over the forums, picking the pedants?

I can handle this one Mods!

A quote tower is when the repeated quoting of the latest speaker on a topic uses to many words or simply unnecessary

line breaks to generate a large amount of space taken up by quote boxes of all the past posters on a topic, usually occurring in an off-topic discussion or flame war, they can infuriate other users but sometimes can become beloved projects of the local users and can achieve truly epic proportions.

- Ultrajoe

Oh...thanks for clearing that up...

Kovash86:
Why did the ask girls thread get shut down, and why did Kais86 get banned? I am inclined to believe those are interrelated somehow since he tried bringing it back.

I closed the thread because it was becoming stale and off track. Since no one paged me to reopen it I figured that no one here really cared that much.

As for Kais86 he was banned for creating a topic specifically to talk about the thread that was closed in the first place. As I didn't ban him, I don't know the length of the ban, but I do know that if you have a complaint about moderation you should not make a big public display over something small like a thread closure. When in doubt PM your moderators. You don't need to form a lynch-mob; I consider myself pretty reasonable when it comes to compromising with users.

In the end there are a great deal of topics to talk over here. If you really find that you really only want to talk about womens issues. I am sure there's a forum out there right for doing just that. Of course you could always work up the nerve and talk to a woman in real life.

where do i send the beer, hookers and cuban cigar bribes to?

if you had super powers what would they be?

and on a philisophical note, if someone were to troll in the forest and no one was around to read it would they still get banned?

oh monday's are fun :P

Hey Joe:

Ultrajoe:

Hey Joe:

Ultrajoe:
why do you lock all of my forum games?

is it to avoid quotey towers?

What's that about a quote tower?

Seriously though, I'd be curious as to how you become a mod in the first place. Is a selection process where invisible escapist staffers cast their eyes over the forums, picking the pedants?

I can handle this one Mods!

A quote tower is when the repeated quoting of the latest speaker on a topic uses to many words or simply unnecessary

line breaks to generate a large amount of space taken up by quote boxes of all the past posters on a topic, usually occurring in an off-topic discussion or flame war, they can infuriate other users but sometimes can become beloved projects of the local users and can achieve truly epic proportions.

- Ultrajoe

Oh...thanks for clearing that up...

I get it.

CM!

I e-mailed Editor@Escapist... last week about setting up some sort of true Escapist gaming community! Nobody replied! C'mon Jordan! I know you read the Editor e-mail! You can't hide forever!

**Shakes fist**

EDIT: Wilson, I have a theory: The only reason I haven't got banned yet is because my obsession to correctly italicise game names, like BioShock for example. Is this hypothesis true?

Melaisis:

EDIT: Wilson, I have a theory: The only reason I haven't got banned yet is because my obsession to correctly italicise game names, like BioShock for example. Is this hypothesis true?

No, you haven't been banned because you're not a moron. That, and Joe said "leave Melasis alone!"

me:
you're not a moron

This, by the way, is the highest form of praise for anyone I can induce without regurgitating my dinner.

How does one go about changing the name of their post rank?

Anarchemitis:
How does one go about changing the name of their post rank?

One would win a contest or something. There is no way to edit your forum title at this time.

Finally, now there's an incentive. I always wondered about those contests anyways.

you're not a moron

Awwwww!

That, and Joe said "leave Melasis alone!"

Awwwwwwwwwwwww!

The Blancato legacy lives on through me, Joe!

wcb: What are your thoughts on developing an Escapist community project, or at least some sort of dedicated gaming group? I suggested that it could turn into a bit of a feature in the staff e-mail, but I don't think they approved, heh.

Hey folks. New Joe here. Obviously have some big shoes to fill, but I'll do my best.

How does one join the elite ranks of the Red Guard? Well, it's pretty much dependent on the workload of Wilson and myself. If things start to spiral out of control, then we'll chat amongst ourselves, pick out a couple of the more reasonable and articulate fellows among you, and hand them a shiny new Banhammer. We're not quite there yet, though.

Re: the Banhammer. I'm a fan of three-day to one-week bans for light trolling or refusal to adhere to our minimal standards for spelling and grammar. If you've been banned for a year, you probably displayed a persistent tendency toward jackassery. That, or I haven't had my morning cup of coffee yet.

And yes, Melaisis, I've definitely read your email and brought it up with the group. It's a pretty hectic time here at Escapistville with Joe's departure and the arrival of some new folks, but rest assured: We'll be in touch.

~Jordan

I was just wondering
-Why was my Hitler thread locked?
-Why hasn't the march mayhem thing been deleted yet?
-Why does my foot hurt?
-Of course can I have a hug please?
Mostly the first one.

To Wilsonscrazybed, is the bulldog soviet flag in your profile picture a representation of the illusion you have created in order to justify your dubious position as the forum's secret policeman?

Question:

Is it true that the Internet is a series of tubes?

Now for a somewhat serious one:

I have the impression that everyone who is a moderator has a really busy life, to the point it almost makes them have an ominous presence. Is that a standard for moderators through out the Internet?

Divinegon:
I have the impression that everyone who is a moderator has a really busy life, to the point it almost makes them have an ominous presence. Is that a standard for moderators through out the Internet?

I can't speak for Wilson, but community management is only one of many responsibilities I have at The Escapist. I might not chime in as much as Joe did way back when, but rest assured that I'm reading (for fun AND profit). I'm not sure about this "ominous presence" you feel we project, but I do know that Joe was swift and brutal with the Banhammer. Just think of me as the Khrushchev to Joe's Stalin, and we'll get along great!

HEre's one:
Why would you voulenteer for a job/task/position that's slightly less regarded then third string alternate chum boy on a rusted fishing boat?

Other then that what's the funniest thing you have ever banned someone for?

Oh yeah, I guess I should ask why I haven't been banned yet. I'm pretty sure I've done some stuff that would piss off a mod is all...

Such as flagrant use of Edward Scissorhands.

can you be banned for being a JUST a moron or does it have to be a racist moron? (i.e. war monger of yabuca)

do you like bacon?
whats your favorite band?
can you ban people for not searching before posting a new topic?

When are we going to have an Escapist Party? Ya'll need to just pick a bar and a date.

Anarchemitis:
Such as flagrant use of Edward Scissorhands.

I'd slap you, but I get the feeling you'd like it.

I liked that movie! It was a satirical compliment!

TomNook:
To Wilsonscrazybed, is the bulldog soviet flag in your profile picture a representation of the illusion you have created in order to justify your dubious position as the forum's secret policeman?

I thought I'd keep with Joe's communist theme. After all my title is "Redguard."

Oh that, and I like bulldogs. I plan on raising one someday, calling him "Lord Essex Winchester III" and making him wear a bowler hat.

00exmachina:
HEre's one:
Why would you voulenteer for a job/task/position that's slightly less regarded then third string alternate chum boy on a rusted fishing boat?

I volunteered because I felt like this was a good community that could use someone with moderation experience to help out. I really don't care what people think about my position.

the monopoly guy:
can you be banned for being a JUST a moron or does it have to be a racist moron? (i.e. war monger of yabuca)

do you like bacon?
whats your favorite band?
can you ban people for not searching before posting a new topic?

I can answer the first. Yes, you can be banned for simply being moronic. For example, (and this is the funniest banning I've ever seen), Anarchemitis replied to a fairly silly thread-with-a-nested-question with a simple "No." He was banned for three days by Joe, whose reasoning was "Don't be a dick." Ahhhh, good times.
However, if your moronic behaviour is clearly tongue-in-cheek, isn't blatantly insulting (remembering that bad writing insults us), or entertains the 'rums, then you'll get by. It's a fine line, though, and one I've fallen off a couple of times.
As for the last one, no, I've seen countless thread repeats and repeated a few myself, but I've never seen anyone banned for it. Perhaps they would be if they were being moronic about it (see above). Oh, and a couple people have been banned if they didn't get the hint.

well I know the thread gets locked but after doing it 3 times they should get banned or somehting like that. and rickrolling, you would think, would be an instant ban but it takes a while I guess (ala swift vengence)

I'm actually glad you guys started this thread. I'm relatively new and didn't know who was a mod and who wasn't, lol.

When a thread gets locked, is it lost forever? Or can it be opened again with the right amount of bribery?

Saskwach:
...Anarchemitis replied to a fairly silly thread-with-a-nested-question with a simple "No." He was banned for three days by Joe, whose reasoning was "Don't be a dick." Ahhhh, good times.

Yeah those were good times. Good times.

...I said GOOD TIMES.
By the way this is all good stuff. Maybe we can pool some money and make a get-together, Mods and all for the First Annual Escape of Escapists. I'll bring the cookies.