Thread: How to approach issues on the server -

Reading a post today in the admin abuse forums just set me off and I had to come and post this.

I hope it is not viewed as a useless post. I am no great orator, so I'm sure this could all be said much better than I have done. Most people here, this will mean nothing to them, but for some of the newer folks, I hope it helps. Don't be the asshat on the forums, trust me, you don't want to do that!

I am not and never have been an admin. This is not a list of server rules. It is a guide from one player to another on how to responsibly, and maturely, deal with issues that might arise on the server.
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This is mainly for new players or regulars who don't participate here on the forums very often. It is all
common sense.

I have seen players that I respected on the server, violate server rules, then arrive here on the forums, throwing temper tantrums and insulting the players and the admins that make this server a haven for teamplayers. The only reason for this post is to hopefully make some of these people aware just what they are stepping in to before they post something that gets them a permanent vacation.

- I recommend not posting in the heat of the moment. Take a deep breath, then consider what actions YOU might have taken that resulted in the current predicament. I have never once seen a 2142 admin take unjustified action against a player. An admin would not investigate you without sufficient evidence that a violation of server rules is taking place. If it is a mistake, level headed discussion will clear it up. It gets old seeing people say 'Gee, I have NO idea, I didn't do anything!', then 17 admins post right up after with chat logs, screenshots, and multiple witness statements.

- Ignorance of the rules is no excuse at all. Try telling a cop that you didn't know it was against the law.
Read all the stickies in all the main forums. There is alot to absorb and some of it is spread around. Take the time to understand the lay of the land around here. It will go along way to making your stay here more enjoyable.

- Do not post insults, rants, and baseless allegations for which you have no proof. I hate to see players that I really enjoyed playing with on the server get a month long or longer kick off the server because they could not control their anger. Coming to this forum, to plead your case, by insulting the very people you are appealing to, is moronic. Nuff said.

- This community functions much as the real world does. If your the kind of person who would tell your boss to fuck off after explaining to him that the successful business he has built from scratch is actually a piece of shit, then skip all this you deserve your ban and you prove it by posting such nonsense.

- Many issues can be documented via screenshots, and if you can provide one to back up your claims, all the better. Become familiar with the controls, or consider a program such as Xfire, which can take and manage your screenshot collection.

- If you are in a squad that you don't like, or you are having personal issues with a member of that squad, for gods sake please just leave the squad quietly instead of brewing things into an argument. Even our youngest players should know that this will solve nothing and simply make things personal.

- Lastly, I can't speak from experience on this, but I am certain that admins themselves are held to a higher standard than players are, for good reason. They are watched just as carefully, and have the additional burden of having to answer for every action they undertake, and document it too. Just read the banned forums sometime, these guys are working hard, and don't get a free pass on anything.

- It is all about how you approach the issue. Posting in format, keeping a level head and an open mind, and being HONEST are the only ways to handle things here. Anything less is a waste of time and im sure is viewed as such. If the issue or beef you have is valid, it is only in your best interest to approach it in an adult manner and to act accordingly.


I am very frustrated watching people that KNOW better, find ways to get themselves kicked off the server. I get shocked sometimes when I see the names that show up in the banned forum. I was there myself once. It wasn't fun, I had to learn the hard way. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth could have been avoided if I would have taken the time to LEARN.

It has been brought to my attention that while I was working on that wall of text, Texan had posted something much along the same lines, that is better written, and sticked even. I missed that.

Thanks for posting it Texan. If nothing in my post is useful, please delete it moderators.

Redeye

Heck no! Let it stand. Good job Red!

Wow! Nice post Red very awesome!

Originally Posted by ...bigdog...

actually, red....something like this belongs as a sticky in the admin abuse forum.

which is where it now is.

Let it be known....redeye was NOT an admin when he wrote this. He is a community member, just like most of the banned and abuse-alleging characters in these forums. He's trying to HELP you get out of the hole. So listen.

Roger that Bigdog. I was hoping this would be seen by people that post before they take the time to navigate around and read the stickies. I have a serious feeling that most never bother.

I could have just put a link to that sticky there, now that you have given me the idea.

I will edit my post to reflect that I am not/never have been an admin to avoid any confusion. I should have been more clear on that point, and realized that people that don't play with me on the server daily might interpret this to mean that I was. Fixing it now.

I would suggest that this be stickied in every server forum as a link back to this thread. I agree with Red that many people who come into the forums for the first time, even though they may be regulars on the server(s) go straight to the forum for that server and post issues in the wrong place regarding bans or admin abuse. I would be happy to do it on the PR/BF2 forum and then let it be stickied if it is agreed to.

Great post Red.

Good post Redeye.

One thing I would like to add is if you do end up in the banned forum make sure that you explain the event that occurred in a concise but in-depth detail. When i ended up there it was for being suspected for wall-hacking in CS:S. I explained how I knew where enemies where and my reasons for shooting where I did. The admins do know whats going on in your head when they ban you you have to make it clear what you were thinking about at the moment in question which will help them reach a reasonable decision.

Also don't put yourself up by saying I'm CAL this or that. To the admins this doesn't hold water. Putting yourself in that spot really discourages you from the community and makes you look like an ass. Acting like just another person in the comminty will go along ways to helping out the communication part of the banning process.

I'm not an admin but these are some observations I have made over the time I have been here. Anyways good day folks and have fun.