Banning for admitting to downloading copyrighted material really needs to stop. Like I said no other forum does that, not even forums herded by copyright nazi's with iron fists so why should those in charge of moderating this forum feel the need to do this? It's became nothing more than a perpetual witch hunt, it's excessive and it makes new members feel uncomfortable as well as long time members of the forum.
Handing out a verbal warning via PM, then actual warnings for further offenses is the most appropriate way of handling this. If after receiving a few warnings for the same offense and a member continues to violate the rules, then a temp ban should be sought first and a permanent ban for any offenses thereafter. Nintendo isn't going to rush in, bust down the walls and shut down the site and project just because some members admit to downloading their games illegally. However I'd expect that users who admit to downloading illegally sacrifice support and have their threads closed once they are found to be in possession of illegally obtained copyrighted material.
I think more care should be given in the future as to who is chosen as moderation staff, and not choose those who are careless, reckless and don't have appropriate experience with moderation of communities. Quite a few staff here are not what would be considered moderator material and lack the ability to make calm, rational and appropriate decisions.
It's called moderation for a reason folks, have some common sense, decency and try to make more rational decisions when moderating the forum.
I'm sorry I had to say this, but it needed to be said. Some of the actions of moderators here are raising some very important concerns not only amongst myself, but other veterans in the emulation scene as well.
i agree with you xtreme! i'm on pcsx2 forums and never seen anyone with the banned sign after saying they pirate games. (i don't support it, but give the guys some mercy, some o' them still don't know that's illegal :/)
anyway, i think you are most fitting to be a moderator tho, seeing how experienced you are and stuff.
the only place i've been a moderator on was a mecha site i don't remember, and i was an admin at my own forum, which died...due to free hosting being a pain in the a$$
Quote:Some o' them still don't know that's illegal
Exactly which is why I believe this should be approached with a bit more leniency. Some countries have little to no enforcement regarding copyright infringement and some of the "offenders" are not even aware what they are doing is illegal, some of them believe they are able to download as long as they own a copy of the game they've downloaded.
While this is not an excuse for not reading the rules, I don't think it should be a something that requires a immediate perma-ban.
Is it really that hard to close a thread and state piracy isn't supported, without immediately resorting to banning anyone?
totally agree on what you say Xtreme
, but the fact that there exists some rules the mods have to adhere to it
I agree with what Xtreme is saying but I see no reason for the thread to remain open myself when it's a done deal and rules are rules and that's all there is to it.
(05-06-2010, 06:13 AM)Xtreme2damax Wrote: [ -> ]It's called moderation for a reason folks, have some common sense, decency and try to make more rational decisions when moderating the forum.
Many of the mods here are young kids that are not capable of some of the qualities you've mentioned.
As far as banning admitted game pirates, I support that idea. One of the main reasons I support the banning of any and all pirates is to protect this emulator. By this site and its developers and its staff (which has made a direct copy of a gaming console that is current generation hardware and is still being used today) banning game pirates shows that we do have some respect for Nintendo and the game developers by not wanting any game stealing of any kind involved with this project whatsoever. I think if they allowed game pirates more chances to talk about how they stole a game and then we support and give advice on how to get that stolen game working, this site and project could be in danger of being closed down and everyone here would be left in the dark about what is going on with Dolphin as Dolphin would then become developed in private from that point on. Don't waste your time supporting game thieves who do not care about you or this project, or Nintendo, for that matter.
we wouldn't help the pirate fix his stolen game. we would just warn him instead of ban him immediately, because as i said some o' them still don't know that this is piracy. we would talk to the dude thru pm explaining this is all stealing, and tell him he's breaking the law. that way he'd understand...
(05-09-2010, 05:01 AM)[SS] Starscream Wrote: [ -> ] (05-06-2010, 06:13 AM)Xtreme2damax Wrote: [ -> ]It's called moderation for a reason folks, have some common sense, decency and try to make more rational decisions when moderating the forum.
Many of the mods here are young kids that are not capable of some of the qualities you've mentioned.
As far as banning admitted game pirates, I support that idea. One of the main reasons I support the banning of any and all pirates is to protect this emulator.
That's just a sham and cover, banning alleged or admitted pirates isn't protecting this community and project any more than leaving them unbanned, giving them a verbal warning (first time offense) and closing their threads. Ngemu, Pcsx2 and other emulation projects/communities use this approach without any problems or legal threats whatsoever.
At any given moment corporations could shut these projects and sites down regardless of whether or not anyone is pirating or doing anything illegal, corporations never play fair and always get what they want in the end if they desire it.
Is that how your forum tackles things xtreme?
We don't need people here who are not smart enough to figure out that they should not be downloading games, or at the very least, should understand that if you did download a game, you probably should be keeping your mouth shut about it seeing how you didn't pay for that game. These are also the sorts of people who come here and do not read any rules, ask stupid questions and generally clog-up this forum (and any other forum) with useless crap-filled threads and post. Everyone was new to Dolphin and emulators once, but some people read the rules, search the forum, and try to find out as much information as they can before posting a question and generally know that downloading and stealing other peoples hard work is not a good idea. Seeing how this site directly represents Dolphin to the world, I think it's a better idea to just cut-lose of these idiotic leeches who are only interested in getting something for free and putting in no effort at all on their part and expect other people to just hand them whatever they're looking for on a silver platter. Remember what you said about common sense and decency? Well this all goes along with that.