A lot of newcomers to the forum have restrictive preconceptions of how moderators ought to act and assume that that is the way moderators ought to act on RMRK. This is not the case. However, granting that there is some merit in knowing what to expect from your moderators, this post is intended to lay out in writing the tacitly understood moderation policy that has been followed on RMRK ever since I've been a member. For those of you who have been here a long time, there is probably nothing in this that you don't know and you can cease reading
immediately, if you so desire. If there is something in here that you do not feel is reflective of the role moderators have played or should play on RMRK, then please feel free to post your comments.
General Moderation Policy
As a general principle, our moderators take care of the organization of RMRK, primarily through the tasks of moving topics into appropriate boards and locking or otherwise curtailing activities that are prohibited on the forum. These activities include but are not limited to flaming, trolling, reprehensible conduct, and other activities that disrupt the normal state of affairs. Note, however, that these concepts generally cover only the more severe incarnations of these offences, and intention is taken under consideration. It is not enough that it walks and talks like a duck; it generally has to be a really BIG or otherwise obvious duck. This power varies with the area of the forum; in which board the offense occurs matters in determining the suitable response (more on this below). The discretion of the moderators in deciding whether a moderating action is called for is absolute. Note the plural; if you feel that a moderator has abused his or her power, report it and it will be reviewed by other moderators and potentially reversed. There is no official or accumulative warning system on RMRK; the only form of punishment for transgressing these rules is a ban of varying lengths.
Despite this task, it is important to note that moderators are not intended to be role models. Moderators are, before all else, members of RMRK with unique personalities, and are neither given immunity from the above-stated rules nor are required to act in particular ways. Except where they are exercising their privileges in enforcing the rules, they are not subject to any special behavioural regulations or exceptions. I.e. a valid reason for protesting against a moderator might be if they have inappropriately moved your topic to another area of the forum with less stringent rules in order that they may make fun of you or the topic. An invalid reason would be that they made a comment that hurt your feelings. (NB: rep doesn't matter to anyone and so rep abuse isn't considered an abuse of power.)
As has been briefly mentioned before, the rules vary in strictness and enforceability depending on where the behaviour is occurring. RMRK can be separated into three areas:
RPG Maker & Creativity Forums
The ostensible goal of any RM community is to promote and encourage the abilities and projects of RM users, and to this effect it is here where the rules are most strict. Insults that directly target the character of another person, or comments about a creative undertaking that are intended more for the purpose of offending the creator than providing useful feedback are NOT permitted. More generally, malice of any kind is NOT permitted (I.E. Don't be a dick for no reason). Please note that a special distinction is being made here between a malicious comment and a constructive or responsive comment. A poster is free to state his opinion on the creative work, even a highly negative opinion, so long as the intention in making the comment is not to severely insult the creator. There is an assumption against malice, so if the comment can be said to provide useful feedback, then it will generally stand. Further, the poster has no responsibility to “cushion” his response in order to preserve the feelings of the creator. Frankness of response is a highly valued tool for creative improvement on RMRK.
Please note that the correct response to any comment you feel is malicious is to report it, even when the comment is made by another moderator. Provocation is not a justification for retaliating in an inflammatory manner.
Community Forums
This has a fairly standard set of rules, though as per the general policy it will only be enforced in the more severe incarnations. Don’t flame; don’t troll; don’t post pornography; don’t dramawhore. More frankly, don’t be a jackass and don’t be a baby. Obviously, the latter is not enforced by moderation, but you will not be protected when other people respond with disdain as they always do.
The Sewers
[M]embers shouldn't take everything too seriously in The Sewers or its subforums. This seems to cause a bit of drama every now and then, as someone tends to come along and not know how to properly act.
Warning: To those who are offended
easily by cruel words, obscene pictures, and/or physical/mental assault, do not enter the Sewers. Whining is allowed, but nobody will give a damn and most will proceed to flame you. The Sewers are not subject to moderation, and as such you are not entitled to have a moderator come to your defence, and some moderators may even flame you themselves. For those of you who do not understand why such a place exists, here is a short breakdown:
Etymology
Assuming there is nothing particularly wrong with your pipes, after you flush the toilet the refuse that you have deposited there will enter a large underground conduit which will then carry off the waste water. This is called a sewer. This being an RPG Maker forum, you are likely aware of this structure and you probably have your unfortunate heroes trekking through one at some point of the game, leading up to an epic battle against the Giant Slime Sludge that is impervious to physical attack but thank God they recruited Pyra the Fire Mage or else their party would be toast.
The Sewers on the forum exist for the very same reason. Many posts and threads are the textual equivalent to fecal matter and therefore must be deposited somewhere so that they do not interfere with the rest of the forum. Eventually, members with particularly active bowels decided to take up residence there and so they remain, building small kingdoms and defending their territory against intrusion. Since we’ve returned to the metaphor, the moderators are the city guards and the city guards, defenders of the city though they may be, do not interfere with the business of those poor folks plagued with diarrhoea, unless they start shitting in the streets.
Topics in the Sewers range from incredibly funny to incredibly stupid, with very little in between. Enter at your own risk.
Discord
Light Style