Moderation Changes
Posted by Admin-Mat on 12 Sep 2016, 11:24 pm
Our moderation tactics have been changed in response to player feedback. Many of you have come to us with concerns about bullying and attacks in the forums, and our new infraction system is our solution to that problem. From this point forward, moderators will be issuing infractions for behavior that violates our Site Rules, and an accumulation of infraction points will result in impartial site bans.
We need your help here more than ever in reporting behavior that is inconsistent with our rules. We want the game to be fun and relaxing to play, and if you witness any behavior that bullies or attacks another player on the forums, we encourage you to report it. In the past we had a very lenient system of flags and warnings, but our new system will ensure that rule-breaking behavior is swiftly and fairly punished.
Prior behavior has been expunged from every player's record (with the exception of existing bans). If you had a warning or a flag on your account, you are starting clean with a fresh record.
In addition, our rules have been updated with the following changes:
- We no longer forbid discussion of alcohol or drugs on Furvilla. However, players may not encourage or discuss the illegal or underage use of these substances in their discussions. They may also not solicit any drugs or alcohol on Furvilla. We have decided to relax this rule because Furvilla is not a children's website, it is a website that caters to a general furry audience without the sexual content common on furry websites.
- Players are now permitted to have off-topic discussions in the chatrooms.
- Clarifications have been made regarding off-site trade right now during beta, and after beta.
- We do not allow players to post threads stating they want to harm themselves or commit suicide.
- Players may not beg or severely lowball others.
- Players may not be vulgar, overly aggressive or abusive toward staff members in their communications.
In addition, we wanted to share some information about our future plans: we are in the process of implementing two major features, the plush collection feature and the indoor decoration feature. The majority of our focus will be toward these two features as they will both be major sinks for items and currency in the economy. In addition, one of our programmers is working on mini-games, per the suggestion of many players.
We would also like to announce that our official opening date is scheduled for December 1, 2016!
Have a nice day!
Also @arts-waifu, I can kind of see people using the block button without malicious interaction to protect themselves. The use of the block button is not just for the purpose of ending previous malicious interactions, but can also be used to avoid future negative engagements, or to create a healthy safe-space. This safe-space isn't meant to be permanent, but simply as a means to reduce stress and anxiety while that person seeks treatment for whatever issues they may have.
I do agree, however, that there are some that may use the block button a little...excessively to say the least. This is their right to do so and until staff says otherwise, they are free to it. The main point to keep in mind is that some people use the block button maturely, but there will always be people who abuse a right. I could site real-world examples, but that settles in to an entire political discussion that's entirely appropriate.
It's nice to see staff take into consideration the interests and suggestions of the userbase into account, and implement the important ones. I've been on multiple sites where the suggestion forums is where ideas go to die. It's also nice to see that you guys can get this site out of beta in less than 6 months! This is wonderful and I'm really excited for it!
I am curious if there is a way to check if you have gained these points for the actions listed. Is it listed anywhere?
@Pippi
I don't quite follow your logic, but that aside. Blocking without malicious interaction isn't mature because that's not what the feature was designed for. It's meant to stop a user from harassing you, not to try and control stuff you don't like or don't want to see.
But hey, agree to disagree. Like I said, unpopular opinion but certainly not one exclusive to myself.
@arts-waifu I have as much right to be on the internet that I am PAYING for as anyone else. And if I don't want to deal with people, I'll use the block button that is provided to me. How is blocking not mature? I could just fuel the fire and antagonize people instead, is that how you would handle things?
@Pippi
You're willingly putting yourself on the World Wide Web with people from all across the globe. If you're not prepared to maturely tolerate stuff you "don't want to see" then maybe you shouldn't be putting yourself in that environment in the first place. Speaking as an admin AND a moderator from past forums, yes, there is such a thing as abusing the block feature and I'm neither the first nor the last person on this site to say it.
@arts-waifu nah, I don't think you should be forced to have to see what people write if you don't want to. There's no such thing as abusing the block feature.
@Pippi
Not really. The party getting blocked shouldn't be receiving an infraction unless they're going out of their way to harass a user after they've been asked to stop, or circumventing a block feature that's been used to stop harassment and malicious contact.
If you're not harassing someone, and they block you for simply existing without you ever even speaking to them, that's technically mis-use of the feature and should be considered on the same level as misusing the report feature, wherein you get a warning for feature abuse.
Highly unpopular opinion, I know. //shrugs
@arts-waifu We get infractions if we're blocked?
Indoor decoration feature?
I'm exited for this! =D