40 replies to this topic

[Marked]

Hey everyone,

Today is a pretty disappointing day. This is the first time I am making an announcement for negative purposes.

For a while now I have noticed a huge amount of spam, sadly from active members. Topics are being completely ruined. Members posting random things, going off-topic completely in a new direction, and general short useless posts. It's really disappointing to see.

We're going to crack down on this and it is going to stop. I considered closing the forum, but I think it will not take too long until certain members get the picture. Either you stop, or you will not be able to post here.

As a reminder, here is how spamming is defined in the rules:

Spoiler

(5.0) SPAMMING

(5.1) WHAT IS SPAMMING
On RMXP Unlimited; there are 2 types of spam. The first one is when a member or a group of members creates a lot of new topics/replies with the sole purpose of disrupting the normal order of things.

The second type is when a member or a group of member post un-valuable and usually short or ridiculously long post in a topic, without helping the subject at all, with the purpose of disrupting the normal order of things, or to add to their post count.

When the majority of one’s posts are very short, un-valuable and un-necessary, that person is called a spammer.

SPAM is also seen as “Stupid, Pointless, and Annoying Message” – Which is a good description of what is spam. Be sure to read the “Special Circumstances” point for more information about Spam on RMXP Unlimited.

(5.2) CONSEQUENCES OF SPAMMING
Spamming with the purpose of adding to your post count will result in a level 2 infraction. Spamming again will increase your escalation level, but we will also reset your post count to zero, so spamming is useless to add to your post count.

Spamming with the purpose of disrupting the normal order of things, like posting too many new replies/topics one after the other, will result in an infraction level 3.

(5.3) SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR SPAMMING
A certain degree of “Spam” is part of RMXP Unlimited’s culture; these degrees of spam are the small topic drift and funny comments posted mainly in the Pub area. Some area of the forum doesn’t tolerate this kind of “fun” and “accepted spam”; those sections are the somewhat serious sections, like the RMXP section (Scripts, Tutorials, Etc). When you get used to RMXP Unlimited, you will get used to making the difference between the two.

I am going to introduce new policy as of today. If a member spams, as defined above, you will receive a warning via the warning system. You will be notified of your warn and the post you're being warned for, and therefore you may appeal to me. If you are warned 3 times, your posting will be disabled. This shall only be done for posts after the post date of this topic.

If you're a spammer by nature, follow these guidelines:
-post more than one line unless unnecessary
-your post should always relate to the topic currently discussed
-use proper english (this is also a core rule)
-dont post pointless, unhelpful, negative posts
-dont flame - your opinion isnt above any other members

If you think the staff are breaking these rules, please do use the report button or PM me directly. You will find it bottom-left of each post. I urge everyone to use this if they see an infringement.


This is really disappointing, really gutted I had to make this topic . I honestly don't think anyone will reach 3 warnings and I'm sure everyone will get the message from this topic. If you're confused about any part of this topic or the new warning policy, feel free to post below.

[madanchi]

aww a shame to see this, kind of sad I'm pretty sure this will get the message accross, I admit I only said "hi" in one topic O.o I soon repreved (spelling?) myself ^^

[Joey]

...Didn't know that much was going on...all I can remember is that one post that....Eco made. >_>

[Noob Saibot]

Joey, on 06 August 2010 - 03:30 PM, said:

...Didn't know that much was going on...all I can remember is that one post that....Eco made. >_>

No there have been a few around here where members and some staff decided to involve themselves in such acts of spam.

Opinion

One must remember that the rudest thing is using your OPINION to attain your point in an argument or a general more logical situation on a community such as this, voicing your opinion about something. This is not to say you shouldn't or can't, but remember such things as...

Quote

1) IMO....lame idea
2) Clearly you did not read my post...
3)

...are clear signs of spam and the above doesn't cover the many other forms of spam.

NUMBER 1

This follows into that old saying, "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all," category. If you think something that someone created: sprite, script, project idea, etc you have no reason or cause to tell them that they suck or its a shitty idea. You need to explain politely why you think what it is you think. So if you read a topic for a game project and think its a shitty idea, complete dog $h!t. Before you go posting that you need to REREAD or EVALUATE what it is you want to say with out coming off as an a$$ hole. So for example:

Guy23 said:

I am making a game and it will have Earth Worm Jim characters and Dragon Quest characters. I don't have much of a story now, but I need some sprites. Anyone know where to get some?

Jack53 said:

tommy less23 said:

Do you have a brain? Crappy idea.

King of Forums said:

Hello Guy23. Even though you don't give story idea. I can't see this working to be a game people will enjoy. I mean yes FF and Earth Worm Jim have there own fans, but I don't think mixing them is a good idea. If you can make a topic in the projects forum so we can get a better idea of what it is you are attempting or wanting to make I and others will further help you see if this can work. I'm not saying it can't, after all many people thought Kingdom Hearts was going to be a bad idea.

Jack53--- Gave his opinion in the form of a smiley face, thus it lacks information and details that the poster might have needed.
tommy lee23--- is just being rude and if Guy23 is a new member this will make him rethink about joining the forum if members are like this.
King of Forums--- did not tell him his idea was bad. He gave him his thought, but he kept it polite and to the point.

NUMBER 2

This is a hard one, as it could be taken as spam or general information a person may need to know. But remember we as PEOPLE perceive things in different ways. So the member may take it as you being an a$$ instead of just voicing your opinion. Perhaps he should have said, "Members Name, I already posted that link, your a little slow."

NUMBER 3

Do I need to explain this one? It should be known that smileys when used by themselves are spam and nothing more. Regardless if they can convey what you where thinking at the time.

We all have an opinion and it's best to think before you completely speak.

v/r
Kage Kazumi

[Chief]

"your posting will be disabled"

now if this is indefinitely, that's a bit overkill. as bad and annoying as spam is, having a fascist community inst any better. restraints are good, but the punishment needs its limits as well.

[Kiriashi]

madanchi, on 06 August 2010 - 03:28 PM, said:

aww a shame to see this, kind of sad I'm pretty sure this will get the message accross, I admit I only said "hi" in one topic O.o I soon repreved (spelling?) myself ^^

Yeah, but you corrected it after I PMed you, right?

Kage Kazumi, on 06 August 2010 - 04:37 PM, said:

No there have been a few around here where members and some staff decided to involve themselves in such acts of spam.

Opinion

One must remember that the rudest thing is using your OPINION to attain your point in an argument or a general more logical situation on a community such as this, voicing your opinion about something. This is not to say you shouldn't or can't, but remember such things as...



...are clear signs of spam and the above doesn't cover the many other forms of spam.

NUMBER 1

This follows into that old saying, "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all," category. If you think something that someone created: sprite, script, project idea, etc you have no reason or cause to tell them that they suck or its a shitty idea. You need to explain politely why you think what it is you think. So if you read a topic for a game project and think its a shitty idea, complete dog $h!t. Before you go posting that you need to REREAD or EVALUATE what it is you want to say with out coming off as an a$$ hole. So for example:





Jack53--- Gave his opinion in the form of a smiley face, thus it lacks information and details that the poster might have needed.
tommy lee23--- is just being rude and if Guy23 is a new member this will make him rethink about joining the forum if members are like this.
King of Forums--- did not tell him his idea was bad. He gave him his thought, but he kept it polite and to the point.

NUMBER 2

This is a hard one, as it could be taken as spam or general information a person may need to know. But remember we as PEOPLE perceive things in different ways. So the member may take it as you being an a$$ instead of just voicing your opinion. Perhaps he should have said, "Members Name, I already posted that link, your a little slow."

NUMBER 3

Do I need to explain this one? It should be known that smileys when used by themselves are spam and nothing more. Regardless if they can convey what you where thinking at the time.

We all have an opinion and it's best to think before you completely speak.

v/r
Kage Kazumi

This is a post that everyone should remember as we clean the forums up. The biggest thing that irks me is when people use one word posts or emoticons. I spam myself quite often, but you won't see me doing it with one word or emote.

Also Kage, with your second notion, it's hard to tell someone they don't have the right to give their opinion, so I think that instead of enforcing that, we should make sure that everyone knows to be kind to other members in general.

Thanks for being one of the few members on these forums who don't spam. I wish I could say the same about myself.

Chief, on 06 August 2010 - 05:32 PM, said:

"your posting will be disabled"

now if this is indefinitely, that's a bit overkill. as bad and annoying as spam is, having a fascist community inst any better. restraints are good, but the punishment needs its limits as well.

I highly doubt that it is an indefinite infraction. Warnings only last for a while, so the punishments should be similar.




@Everyone: I feel responsible for this. It was my intention to make, or keep, this website as friendly as it could possibly be. And in doing so I made myself the member that everyone would know has the zany light spammer. But it I let myself get out of control I suppose. I became more than a light spammer.

Because of this, I'll be trying my absolute hardest to fix what has happened because of me and other members on this site who let things get way overboard. This site needs to be back to the way it was.

Another thing, please do not take it personally if I or another staff member PMs/warns you about spamming. It is for the good of the entire forum. It's not that the staff is going to be harsh on you, we want to make things right here.

Sincerly sorry,

[indent]~Kiriashi[/indent]


On a side note, I will only be posting as a moderator from now on. Or in other words, I'll be gone as a member until this site is declared clean.

[Noob Saibot]

Kiriashi, on 06 August 2010 - 07:04 PM, said:

Also Kage, with your second notion, it's hard to tell someone they don't have the right to give their opinion, so I think that instead of enforcing that, we should make sure that everyone knows to be kind to other members in general.

I never said that, I just said to be cautious on how you write it. You have a right to your opinion, but not the right to act like an a$$. Words don't just convey what someone thinks they can convey what that persons emotions may be as well.

[Kiriashi]

Oh I wasn't saying you said that. It's just that "Number 2" might make some people think their opinion is censored. You are totally right in saying that they (all members) should be cautious how they write their opinion.

Didn't mean to put words in your mouth.

[Noob Saibot]

Kiriashi, on 06 August 2010 - 07:14 PM, said:

It's just that "Number 2" might make some people think their opinion is censored.

I doubt it...

Quote

This is a stupid idea!

Did the person voice their opinion? Yes, but the words they used to convey their opinion are rude and the use of the "!" puts emphasis on the sentence, thus telling us in our mind: yelling, shouting, etc. Not to mention if the above where posted in a Project Topic or Resource (or what ever) it lacks information to the poster of "why they think it's stupid."

Quote

This is kind of a stupid idea. I mean the script really doesn't do anything of use except open a window in RMXP. I don't see a point for it.

Still using the word stupid, one could read this and see and feel the difference between the two sentences. We know he's not shouting because of the lack of the "!" and the poster gives a decent amount of information on why they think it is a stupid idea.

There was nothing censored, just rewritten to be more appropriate.

[Kiriashi]

I said "might" make them think that.

By opinion's censored, I meant that some people may believe that they aren't allowed to post their opinion the way they formulated it; instead, how the forum rules allows it to be.

[Noob Saibot]

Kiriashi, on 06 August 2010 - 07:31 PM, said:

I said "might" make them think that.

By opinion's censored, I meant that some people may believe that they aren't allowed to post their opinion the way they formulated it; instead, how the forum rules allows it to be.

That makes no sense in any case because how you write it, is not censored. Telling someone in rules to be respectful and polite has everything to do with how I word a sentence (i.e. This is a lame idea).

[Kiriashi]

Nevermind, I guess you just don't get what I'm saying. : /

I was agreeing with you..

[Marked]

Kage Kazumi, on 06 August 2010 - 04:37 PM, said:

...are clear signs of spam and the above doesn't cover the many other forms of spam.

I think I covered those examples in my list. I did use that topic and it did instigate this one.

Chief, on 06 August 2010 - 05:32 PM, said:

"your posting will be disabled"

now if this is indefinitely, that's a bit overkill. as bad and annoying as spam is, having a fascist community inst any better. restraints are good, but the punishment needs its limits as well.

Yes you're right Chief. It will not be permanent, we're not that kind of forum. We've barely ever needed use the warning system. I'll make things fair.

Kiriashi, on 06 August 2010 - 07:04 PM, said:

On a side note, I will only be posting as a moderator from now on. Or in other words, I'll be gone as a member until this site is declared clean.

I'm not sure that is necessary. But remember, this is part of our rules:

Marked, on 06 August 2010 - 12:40 PM, said:

(5.3) SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR SPAMMING
A certain degree of “Spam” is part of RMXP Unlimited’s culture; these degrees of spam are the small topic drift and funny comments posted mainly in the Pub area. Some area of the forum doesn’t tolerate this kind of “fun” and “accepted spam”; those sections are the somewhat serious sections, like the RMXP section (Scripts, Tutorials, Etc). When you get used to RMXP Unlimited, you will get used to making the difference between the two.

[Noob Saibot]

Marked, on 07 August 2010 - 12:00 AM, said:

I think I covered those examples in my list. I did use that topic and it did instigate this one.

Yes, but nice idea for the lazy people who hate links.

[ProjectTrinity]

Understood! I'll be a better member from now on. How about being a more active member for now on, PT? Eh?! EH?! *Nudge nudge*

[RATED-RKOFRANKLIN]

Sadly I am still seeing people spam. Everyone please stop it.

[Kiriashi]

If you see spam, please report it.

[Marked]

RATED-RKOFRANKLIN, on 09 August 2010 - 09:01 AM, said:

Sadly I am still seeing people spam. Everyone please stop it.

Yeah I haven't been able to get on much over the past few days. Just report it Franklin and we'll sort it out.

[Noob Saibot]

Perhaps it would be good to just remove the Spam forum. Allow it in one area and people will over time spread it to other areas.

[Kiriashi]

NO!


That forum is the key to removing spam elsewhere.

As long as we keep all the spam there, we'll be fine.

[Noob Saibot]

Kiriashi, on 13 August 2010 - 05:21 AM, said:

NO!


That forum is the key to removing spam elsewhere.

As long as we keep all the spam there, we'll be fine.

No it is not. The key is STAFF doing their job and a such a forum would not be needed. You allow it in one area and people will post it in other areas. This has been proven many times on this community alone.

[Marked]

You have a point Kage Kazumi. The issue is quite a complicated one I think. I think that some members chicken out about whether their topic is worth posting in the Cafe or not, so they just end up posting in the Spam forum. A lot topics in their are decent topics that should be in the cafe, but they just don't do it. For that reason I think it would definitely more harmful than beneficial to remove it. Even though what you said is probably true.

It's been some time since I made this topic. I think the spam has died down but I haven't been able to get on too much.

[Noob Saibot]

Marked, on 13 August 2010 - 05:30 AM, said:

You have a point Kage Kazumi. The issue is quite a complicated one I think. I think that some members chicken out about whether their topic is worth posting in the Cafe or not, so they just end up posting in the Spam forum. A lot topics in their are decent topics that should be in the cafe, but they just don't do it. For that reason I think it would definitely more harmful than beneficial to remove it. Even though what you said is probably true.

It's been some time since I made this topic. I think the spam has died down but I haven't been able to get on too much.

Then if what you say is true then this would once again fit the bill of staff doing whgat they should and moving topics to the correct forum if posted in the wrong one. This would include the spam forum.

[rgangsta]

But wait. If we remove the Spam forum, how will we express ourselves? If we want to post something that doesn't fit or isn't important enough to be in the other forums, there should be a place to put it. The staff should do their job but I think the job will be a lot harder if no one has a place to put their spam. The spam would just be put into regular topics and staff members will have to review topics to make sure there isn't any spam.

[Knuckles]

Marked, on 13 August 2010 - 05:30 AM, said:

I think that some members chicken out about whether their topic is worth posting in the Cafe or not, so they just end up posting in the Spam forum.

I'd say if a member is too perplexed to chip in a normal discussion, then maybe they shouldn't be posting a topic at all. Spam forums serve nothing more than a retreat for the community to go out to lunch and get away with it. The trash needs to be taken out.

[Kiriashi]

Kage, are you saying that the staff don't do their job? We're trying to prune out spam all we can.

The spam-o-rama forum is something that a lot of members like to use; removing it would be a mistake.

[madanchi]

basically if the spam forum was removed the spam would filter out into other forums

and I think the staff are doing pretty good jobs BUT I dont think Kage was saying that the staff aren't. I think he was saying that if the spam forum was removed then the staff should be able to control any spam posted

[RATED-RKOFRANKLIN]

Marked, on 09 August 2010 - 10:10 AM, said:

Yeah I haven't been able to get on much over the past few days. Just report it Franklin and we'll sort it out.

I have seen so much spam that I cannot report it all. I don't want to send all of the staff members tons of PMs.

[Lizzie S]

Although I seldom use it, I must disagree. The spam area should remain. Consider it a mental retreat from sanity and a way to openly express it. If you take a break from the dull, drab existence we serve with your friends, who can you take it with? Yes, it needs to be stopped in other forums, but this doesn't mean routing it completely.

[Marked]

RATED-RKOFRANKLIN, on 22 August 2010 - 04:03 AM, said:

I have seen so much spam that I cannot report it all. I don't want to send all of the staff members tons of PMs.

I mean use the report system. That way all global mods including admins can read the reports.

As for the spam forum, interesting discussion, but it was never in threat of being removed. It is open for discussion whether topics should be moved to the Cafe or the rules should be more strict due to the heavy misuse of it (as in, not spam). However I think everyone has a great disregard for where any topics are posted due to the main method of accessing topics. When you use the recent posts hook, you don't check the breadcrumbs do you? This is something that often happens with the mods too I think.