LonePirate wrote: »

We definitely need a subscribers only forum where we can voice concerns that apparently will result in bans if submitted on the free for all forums where we all have to march in lock step with smiling faces.

Opinions, comments, concerns, experiences, and issues of non-subscribers are just as valid as those of subscribers. Segregating between the two groups is blatantly discriminatory IMO.

I was actually pretty impressed with how the forums were moderated before, but I'm glad that the mods are wanting to pay even closer attention to what gets said here. There have definitely been posts that weren't exactly AGAINST the rules at the time, but were clearly intended to be inflammatory and rude. Said posts made more polite people hesitant about participating on the forums, fearing they'd be attacked just for having an opinion.

If you can't speak/type without resorting to rudeness, you're not actually adding anything constructive to the conversation. And if "But that's just how I talk, it's mah styyyyyllllleeeeeee, you should just deal with it!!" is your defense, that's all too often just another way of saying "I wanna get away with being as rude as I want. How dare you call me out for being a jerk!" Try being polite. Try being sarcastic without being rude. Try cracking jokes that don't involve insulting entire groups of real people, or even just one real person. It makes your stress levels plummet, and you don't waste your valuable free time fighting with strangers on the Internet!

It's not illegal to be rude (unfortunately), but if you think you'll just DIE if you don't get to be a total jerk online, there are plenty of places on the Internet that will accommodate inflammatory writing. However, there's no law that says this forum has to be one of them. The blunt truth is, this forum isn't the U.S. government, we have no right to free speech here, and yes, the admins are allowed to dictate and enforce the rules in the manner of their choosing. I prefer forums where people act like adults, so I won't be missing the trolls and flamers.

(To be clear, it's rude and insulting intent I have problems with. I don't have any problems with people engaging in constructive criticism of the game or the forum. And I actually wouldn't mind if we were allowed to swear here, seeing as it's the forum of a game intended for mature players.)

And welcome to all the new people who are looking for a safe place to discuss and have fun!

Soulshine wrote: »

I would like to ask respectfully that moderators please consider making it clear why they are removing posts from the forums so as to avoid future similar issues, please.

This morning there was a thread in general discussion which was not only closed but deleted from the forums altogether without so much as a single word from the moderators. I was in the thread when it happened. That I had read up to that point, the thread was friendly and no arguing was going on or anything that seemed out of line with ToS. It was closed while I was still reading in it. This seems inapprorpiate, especially if the expectation is for people using the forums to be aware of what is not ok to post on the forums and what is. If you informed whoever posted in the thread as to the reason for the closure, that is not helpful to the rest of us reading in it who do not understand what the problem was.

I just had that happen too.

I don't mind topics getting deleted without an explanation.
Those that are really deserve it. Yesterday the one I was reading got deleted and rightfully so.
Props to the Moderators, you are finally doing your job.

Kuro1n wrote: »

Bloodfang wrote: »

I don't mind topics getting deleted without an explanation.
Those that are really deserve it. Yesterday the one I was reading got deleted and rightfully so.
Props to the Moderators, you are finally doing your job.

I think in some cases they are over-moderating. I got a warning or something for trying to help some users out regarding the forums brightness.

How do you know that you actually got a *warning* or how many warnings you have? I've seen people refer to this- I've received PMs from mods before about different threads and activities... but they weren't phrased as warnings, I didn't think.

Kuro1n wrote: »

wraith808 wrote: »

Kuro1n wrote: »

Bloodfang wrote: »

I don't mind topics getting deleted without an explanation.
Those that are really deserve it. Yesterday the one I was reading got deleted and rightfully so.
Props to the Moderators, you are finally doing your job.

I think in some cases they are over-moderating. I got a warning or something for trying to help some users out regarding the forums brightness.

How do you know that you actually got a *warning* or how many warnings you have? I've seen people refer to this- I've received PMs from mods before about different threads and activities... but they weren't phrased as warnings, I didn't think.

Well I was told it wasn't a warning afterwards but the first message very much looked like a warning. In either case I think they need to be a bit more lenient when it comes to moderating as long as the point of the posts are to be helpful or constructive. :x

I've never seen a post that's genuinely helpful or constructive get moderated.

I have seen irrelevant or trolling posts get moderated. And in some cases, a post that links to an unknown third-party app will get moderated for the safety of anyone in the thread (could be a virus, etc.).

I have posted on these forums a few times, nothing major, but I have been in a couple "HEATED" conversations with a few people.

As to what it takes to get a thread deleted or closed.... WoW! there must be some major stuff happening.

Keron wrote: »

Please envision your community and start to moderate:

• Excessive discussion necromancy
• Excessive negativity from players who seem to have stopped playing a while ago and now come back here just to troll and flame, now that access is not anymore tied to an active subscription
• Reurgitation of every single stupid idea that had finaly DIAF'd
• Rampant unwillingness to at least rudimentarily search for a topic before creating the umpteenth repetition of the selfsame discussion.

Heaven help, that is the second rant in as many days...

I think it is fairly obvious that we all have to exersize a little tolerance. There are many new players here, aside from ones coming back. It is normal to see the forums rehash some old issues for a time. Yes it would be nice if more people used a search before posting, but since there is nothing you can do to make them do this, you just have to suck it up and be patient. It will calm down.

Ysne58 wrote: »

Why is this topic no longer stickied?

Too much work for too few?

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

MornaBaine wrote: »

If one has a complaint about some aspect of the game or company policy is one still allowed to bring that to the forums? Or must all dissatisfaction now be handled privately via customer service?

You are certainly allowed to voice any disagreements or complaints, but it must be done in a constructive manner. For example, just saying "this game sucks" doesn't help anyone or foster any sort of discussion, but letting us know what you're unhappy about, what's broken, what you'd prefer to see, etc. is perfectly fine.

Suppose we could start with the increasing frequency of performance decreases across the board.

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hello everyone,

One of the goals of the official ESO forums is to provide a safe, welcoming place for our players and developers to read and talk about the game. We want to foster healthy and constructive discussions, debates and feedback, and with The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited quickly approaching, welcome new and returning players.

Effective immediately, we will be enforcing stricter moderation of the existing rules on our forums, and will be much less tolerant of any type of behavior that hurts everyone’s experience. We will not tolerate trolling, demands, abusive or insulting language toward our community members, developers, company, or ESO itself. Once you receive a warning for any moderation action, you will be suspended for 72 hours on your next offense. Any violation after your suspension will result in a permanent ban from our forums (note that this will not affect your in-game status).

We’d love for everyone to take another look at How to be an ESO Community Hero to really embrace the type of behavior we’d like to see. We also want to encourage you to continue using the Report button for any posts or threads that may require a moderator’s attention. We recognize this may require some adjustments in the way you communicate and interact with each other, but with your help, it will make for a healthier and more constructive community. If there’s any doubt about what you’re about to post, please double check the rules.

Thanks for your continued support and understanding!

[snip]

I legit want to know, and this isnt a bash by any means, but rule enforcement has wayyyyy to much room for abuse by your mods. There is no oversight, no one to contact in event of being unfairly targeted.

At the end of the day I guarantee you the following:

- Quality of posting will decrease.
- Exploits and bugs will not be reported to the devs (both because the in game system is incompetent, and because most of the game breaking exploits fixed in the past were because of forum communication/intervention)
- You will foster an environment where open constructive concerns will be withheld out of fear of moderation. Your game gets a lot of deserved negative publicity and response, and you know a lot of that has a good reason. This hasnt exactly been a smooth year Gina. We have done what we can to address these issues so they can be fixed, but in a heavy handed environment this doesnt seem likely.
- Moderators on a power trip will be unchecked and even the smallest infractions will further destroy the community. By my count over 20 people were banned in the last month on "name and shame" while trying to get an exploit fixed.

Maybe this decision should be rethought, instead of trying to quiet the rabble, be more inward focused on the cause of the rabble.

Legit concerns Gina, not a troll post by any means. Im dead serious

[Moderator note: This topic title has been edited due to our community rules on Discussing Disciplinary Actions]

It's really disturbing that if you go down the list of people who disagree with this post in one way or another, a lot of them are banned. People with 5 stars, 1000's of comments on these forums and time invested in this community. This seems like a rash and scary thing to implement. I thought forums were about sharing varied voices despite differences. Obviously if someone is being overtly abusive and swearing at someone, that's ban worthy. But to ban people for insulting ESO itself? How does that foster an open and cooperative community? How are people meant to feel comfortable to approach the company with constructive data if they're afraid they're going to lose their right to access the highly informative forums? Just seems like a slippery slope to all out censorship. And with the game going B2P and console players coming on board it looks like an attempt to put a shiny pretty surface on things for them moreso than for us. We have been here for almost a year playing this game. Some of us have put months of the last year (I'm at 100+ days on my main) into this game. Do we not deserve to be frustrated sometimes and express that to you guys without fear of being silenced? It's just disheartening. Especially when the moderation beforehand was on point. I had experienced a few times when people were abusive and they were dealt with. But the people who are still here through all of it truly love this game despite its flaws. It makes me sad that you feel the need to do this to the community.

maryriv wrote: »

...

That's not true either. I've seen some quite informative and at the same time quite detrimental threads that were framed in a constructive manner that are open even to this day.


[Moderator Note: Removed moderated quote]

Hey is it possible to remove the 'Z' next to the threads you have moderated. There have been so many times I've gone sifting through a thread kinda expecting a cool comment by ZOS, only to realise my last five minutes concludes with a "please watch your language" post. Thanks ^^ -Zlater