BMT of Champion Rules, Limited Collector's First Edition

Hmm, rules? In an organized format? This seems inappropriate.

BMT's main purpose is to be a chat channel that assists people with getting badges, monsters, and task forces/trials. It allows people to find and join groups for the purpose of obtaining these accomplishments, many of which require a group. However, we should not forget that BMT is also a chat channel. Thus...

RULES

1) Off topic conversation is part of a welcoming chat channel, and it is allowed in BMT. However, off topic conversation is not to hinder the main purpose of the channel. If an off-topic conversation is hindering the main purpose of the channel, the individuals will be asked to stop the conversation merely to allow the main purpose to be fulfilled. If they continue, they can be subject to silencing or kicking. If someone is silenced or kicked, the moderator is expected to give a clear rationale for why that silencing/kicking occurred following it.

For all the interpretation buffs out there, "hinder" is not a word that is set in stone. Instead, it is at the discretion of each individual moderator of the channel. The general consensus is that if the off-topic conversation is not preventing individuals from noticing a BMT-related announcement, then it is acceptable. Keep this in mind when participating in such conversations, as BMT-related announcements will always take precedence. Also keep in mind that in certain extreme circumstances, a moderator may skip the verbal warning and move right to silencing (such as if people are attempting to locate individuals in the channel for a large-scale event or the offender is that of the serial nature).

2) BMT is a family friendly channel...to an extent. It doesn't have to meet the rigorous family friendly standards of Saturday morning cartoons, but try to keep it acceptable for primetime television. A small slip up won't get you booted, but if it becomes a consistent problem or you go on a profanity-laced tirade, expect to get silenced. This goes for extensive innuendos as well.

3) No ads for farming, PLing, or similar antics. Seriously, you're adults. It's not that difficult to figure out what doesn't belong in BMT, and if you push it, expect to hear about it. I'm not interested in playing games about what's on the line, and I can't lay out every single acceptable discussion topic versus every single off-limit topic, so if it seems questionable, I wouldn't recommend doing it. If you do and get mod-slapped, don't try to act all innocent afterward. It's unbecoming.

Honestly, I think that about covers it for general rules. If I missed one, I'll edit this post and add it in later.

Now, for the most important part, let's cover moderation and customer service.

MODERATION

Moderators are folks I've known for an extensive period of time and trust not to destroy the channel. They're also there to rope it in when one of the above rules is being violated blatantly, but honestly, their main role (though it's the less noticeable part) is to recruit/invite for the channel and prepare the MotD (because I do neither of those things).

When it comes to dealing with rule issues, the first step each moderator should be taking (outside of extreme circumstances) is a request that the individual refrain from continuing to violate the rule in question. Sometimes this will be done in public (as some people put it, "anyways..."), and sometimes this will be done in private (Ding! You have tell!). How each moderator puts it, how they do it, and what qualifies as an extreme circumstance is going to be at that moderator's discretion, and their discretion may change dependent on the situation, so try not to get all butthurt because one sends you a nicer tell than another. They may be busy doing other stuff too.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Thank you for calling BMT Customer Service. My name is Ping. How can I help you today?

The reality is that the moderators are enforcing the rules of the channel, and just like those guys on COPS who were obviously breaking the law but insist that they didn't do anything wrong and the cops are just being pricks, people are going to get annoyed/upset/pissed/whiny when they get moderated. Sometimes, it'll be for good reason. Sometimes, it won't be.

That's where I come in.

I'm here to hear your complaints. Send me a tell if you're unhappy with something that happened, if you have a recommendation for a moderator, if you want your voice to be heard (insert cheesy NBC music here). Know that I'm not going to just take your word for it when you call my moderator a jerkface and insist they be fired because they're out to get you, but I will get both sides of the story and try my best to clear the air between the two of you. Sometimes, that results in me assisting the moderator with their interpretation of the rules. Sometimes, that results in me attempting to ask you in a somewhat respectful tone how you thought it wasn't a violation of the rules to curse fourteen times right before you solicited sex from a goat in the channel. I like to think I'm a pretty fair arbiter, and I won't take offense if you flip out and cuss me or my moderators out privately.

Know that my (and by extension, my moderators') goal is to have BMT run smoothly and support all individuals in their goal of obtaining more badges, monsters, and task forces/trials while also serving as a welcoming server channel that allows folks to get to know each other better and have more fun. If you have any suggestions for how I can accomplish this better, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Dont buy the collectors edition.. all it comes with is this..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNElqvNF-iI and this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ_KszIzWbI&NR=1

unless, you want a dancing Pingu..

Thanks for the effort, Ping, but let me just say that it's sad that you had to lay it out like that in the first place.

I guess it goes under the "if common sense were common, more people would have it" category.

Sensible enough rules, Ping. It makes the channel sound like a worthwhile resource despite the limited number of global channels we can join.

So...
i used to be on some other channel over a year ago, but at this point i barely recall what it was. The Oberfuhrermod there silenced me for some flippant response to someone else's joke (i'm guessing, but since he silenced me without saying anything then or afterward it's hard to be sure) and i was silenced for five days until another mod asked me why i was silenced and unsilenced me. At the time i suggested he leave me silenced because i wanted to see how long i would be silenced for making a quip that contained nothing innately offensive. After a few more days of quietly watching der Oberfuhrermod silencing and kicking many others for offenses that seemed minor at worst i decided the channel wasn't enjoyable anymore and quit. (To be fair, there were a number of people who clearly deserved silencing or kicking, just not nearly as many who were.)

When the head of a channel starts meting out punishments that seem arbitrary and excessive when not appearing to be based on favoritism it's time to move on.

Hi everyone,

Please keep the discussion here on topic. Racism, sexism, and discussions of sexual activity are not appropriate for the City of Heroes Forums.

Thank you,
Moderator 13