URGENT! Chat Op needed in Chat!

[canadianbbw4u]

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Posts edited by Miriel: Edited posts in this thread to make sure no recognition is given to the banned chatter and so that his various chat handles are no longer visible in this thread.


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As requested, this thread is now a sticky. The thread can be used to ALERT Chat Ops of an immediate problem in Chat.

If there is an URGENT need for an Op in Chat, post in this thread.

Examples: to report trolls; abusive chatters; etc.

Please do not use this thread to report personal conflicts.

Miriel
Chat Op

,

[Miriel]

Just a reminder: When a someone is disrupting chat you can use the ignore feature.


:D

[Webmaster]

We do what we can enforcing the rules and banning people who have violated the rules. In severe cases we report them to their ISPs who then may or may not take action.




.

[Miriel]

_

We wish we could banish the offender from chat for good.


We do what we can using the options we have available.



_

[Weeze]

I'm bumping this, because we need Halp, desperatly...

[canadianbbw4u]

please... help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Miriel]

If a Chat Op isn't around please use the Ignore Feature.


Ignoring Users
In the case that you should need to ignore someone, you can ignore multiple people by typing their handles in separated by commas.




Left click Options.
Type in the chat handle you wish to ignore.
Click Set.

[mossystate]

thanks........

[Weeze]

We've got a yahoo!

[Miriel]

We've got a yahoo!

It appears that a woofielover was silenced for the night by one of the ops.


:goodbye:




:wubu: chat filters :wubu:

[Weeze]

He was a smart one, though! He figured out how to get around the filter, the tricky little bugger.

[CleverBomb]

I have a suggestion:

Make a sticky thread for use as a way to signal Chat Ops, who would all be subscribed to it and thereby get email notification of troll reports.

Posts on the thread should then only be made to page an Op, or by an Op reporting that a report has been addressed. (Comments thanking the Ops should go into a separate thread :) )

The troll's chat handle should be included in the requesting post, along with a citation of the specific TOS violated. This information can be edited by the responding Op in accordance with current policy. It might even be desirable to delete the requesting post entirely -- but I'll leave that up to the Mod Squad. In any case, the Chat Op should reply to the thread when they're done dealing with the report, so the email notification will let the other Ops know that it's been taken care of.

It might be desirable to include in the sticky's Original Post a copy of the Chat TOS for reference.

If the board software allows, consider either a minimum post-count or rep threshold before someone can post to the thread, to preclude abusive false-alarms.

Abuse of this process should lead to temporary or permanent banning from both the boards and the chat.

I'll follow this up with a sample of what I think the "sticky" should look like here in a bit.

-Rusty

[CleverBomb]

Note: this is only a suggestion.
It has not been implemented.
I welcome any and all suggestions and criticism of this concept.
Mods: please feel free to split this and my preceding post off the current thread if desirable.

-Rusty

-------Suggested Sticky Post:--------
READ THIS COMPLETELY BEFORE POSTING TO THIS THREAD!
This thread is only for requesting a Chat Op's intervention in Dimensions Chat.
Do not post to this thread for any other reason. (If you want to thank the Mod Squad for a job well done, feel free to start a new thread to do so!)
Abuse of this process will result in your being banned from both chat and the boards.

To report a chat troll or other violation of the Dimensions Chat Code of Conduct, post a reply to this thread with the following information:
1. Offending chat handle.
2. The specific Chat Rule being violated (click here for the Chat Code of Conduct (http://chat.dimensionsmagazine.com/html/conduct.html), and here for the Chat Rules Reminder (http://www.dimensionsmagazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25873) post).
3. The specific chat room where the violation is occurring.

Please do not quote this post in your reply.
--------end suggested sticky post---------

Chat Ops should reply to reports (after resolving them) with something like this:

[ ] Borderline violation, chatter counseled and permitted to remain in chat
[ ] Valid report with extenuating circumstances, chatter counseled and permitted to remain in chat
[ ] Valid report, chatter ejected from chat
[ ] Valid report, chatter banned from chat
[ ] No violation of Code of Conduct noted. No action taken.
[ ] No violation of Code of Conduct noted. Malicious report. Action taken against reporting individual.

[Weeze]

I was thinking of this last night, but wasn't too sure how to articulate myself.
Great job Rusty!

[Miriel]

Thank you for the suggestions. They will be considered and discussed among Chat Ops and the Webmaster of Dimensions.



I can think of two areas where there would be possible issues.

1. Abuse of the suggested new sticky thread as proposed.

In the past we have had problems with suspended chatters, former chatters, and banned chatters using this Chit Chat Forum (and other Forums at Dimensions) to retaliate against specifically named chatters and Chat Ops. Even though what was posted in those retaliation posts was blatantly FALSE and without merit what the disgruntled chatters posted ended up being read by many on the Forums who don't even participate in Chat (and therefore whom don't always know who the problematic or banned chatters actually are). Hence, the reputations and character of specifically named chatters (who were not causing problems) or of specifically named Chat Ops ended up being tarnished. Those that do not know the true character of either the disgruntled (and possibly already banned!) chatter posting in retaliation - or of the specifically named chatter - only possess the FALSE information that was posted. What is read isn't always forgotten even if it was false information.

There are thousands (both registered and unregistered) who read the Dimensions Forums, and in comparison only a very small ratio actually and actively participate in chat enough to know everyone there. My estimate would be something like 4000-5000:200-300. That is a generous estimate on the side of active chat participants. Add to that that only the two Chat Ops who moderate just the Chit Chat Forum are the only Mods who have knowledge of who has been banned from Chat or of who has been causing problems in Chat. The Forums/Boards and Chat are run independently of each other even though the Webmaster has given chatters a forum to discuss Chat issues. Someone who is banned from Chat isn't banned from the Boards/Forums (unless they eventually also cause problems and the Mods ban them from the Boards/Forums also). Chat Ops or Forum Mods can't be expected to be on duty 24/7 to deal with those that cause trouble or post false information in an attempt of retaliation. Giving those who cause problems another venue in which to openly name a specific chatter and then post an allegation in the open Chit Chat Forum would be giving them an opportunity to potentially abuse the intended purpose of the thread.

There is also the issue of a chatter using a different Forum name and banned chatters having a different board name. Then the issue of someone who has been banned from either chat or from both chat and the boards creating a new identity on the boards and then posting retaliation type posts. Yes it has happened a few times, and we don't always figure out who it is right away.



2. Chat Ops posting and revealing how chatters are dealt with.

Posting such information would be a violation on the part of Chat Ops. How we handle problems/issues is between the Chat Ops involved and the chatter in question. Not meaning that things are done in secret, but that even a chatter causing problems is entitled to a degree of some privacy. Chat Ops have rules and guidelines they are supposed to follow also. I am sure that those who may potentially end up getting temporarily suspended from chat (or those that have in the past) or those who receive a time-out wouldn't appreciate an open and permanent record of their behavior and resulting disciplinary measures posted in the Chit Chat Forum for all to read.



We already have some measures in place to either request a Chat Ops assistance or to report problems/issues in a private or anonymous manner.

1. This existing thread. (I can make it a sticky)
2. Private messaging Chat Ops via the Boards or Forums.
3. Asking for or requesting the assistance of a Chat Op in open chat.
4. Sending a memo in chat to a Chat Op.
5. Sending an e-mail to dimensionschatops@yahoo.com

The identity of the chatter who contacts Chat Ops is kept confidential.



Also, there is the option of using the IGNORE feature in Chat.
Instructions are in a previous post.

[CleverBomb]

Starting a new thread so I don't generate notifications on the other thread...
Quoting Miriel's response to me from over there:

Thank you for the suggestions. They will be considered and discussed among Chat Ops and the Webmaster of Dimensions.



I can think of two areas where there would be possible issues.

1. Abuse of the suggested new sticky thread as proposed.

In the past we have had problems with suspended chatters, former chatters, and banned chatters using this Chit Chat Forum (and other Forums at Dimensions) to retaliate against specifically named chatters and Chat Ops. Even though what was posted in those retaliation posts was blatantly FALSE and without merit what the disgruntled chatters posted ended up being read by many on the Forums who don't even participate in Chat (and therefore whom don't always know who the problematic or banned chatters actually are). Hence, the reputations and character of specifically named chatters (who were not causing problems) or of specifically named Chat Ops ended up being tarnished. Those that do not know the true character of either the disgruntled (and possibly already banned!) chatter posting in retaliation - or of the specifically named chatter - only possess the FALSE information that was posted. What is read isn't always forgotten even if it was false information.

There are thousands (both registered and unregistered) who read the Dimensions Forums, and in comparison only a very small ratio actually and actively participate in chat enough to know everyone there. My estimate would be something like 4000-5000:200-300. That is a generous estimate on the side of active chat participants. Add to that that only the two Chat Ops who moderate just the Chit Chat Forum are the only Mods who have knowledge of who has been banned from Chat or of who has been causing problems in Chat. The Forums/Boards and Chat are run independently of each other even though the Webmaster has given chatters a forum to discuss Chat issues. Someone who is banned from Chat isn't banned from the Boards/Forums (unless they eventually also cause problems and the Mods ban them from the Boards/Forums also). Chat Ops or Forum Mods can't be expected to be on duty 24/7 to deal with those that cause trouble or post false information in an attempt of retaliation. Giving those who cause problems another venue in which to openly name a specific chatter and then post an allegation in the open Chit Chat Forum would be giving them an opportunity to potentially abuse the intended purpose of the thread.

There is also the issue of a chatter using a different Forum name and banned chatters having a different board name. Then the issue of someone who has been banned from either chat or from both chat and the boards creating a new identity on the boards and then posting retaliation type posts. Yes it has happened a few times, and we don't always figure out who it is right away.



2. Chat Ops posting and revealing how chatters are dealt with.

Posting such information would be a violation on the part of Chat Ops. How we handle problems/issues is between the Chat Ops involved and the chatter in question. Not meaning that things are done in secret, but that even a chatter causing problems is entitled to a degree of some privacy. Chat Ops have rules and guidelines they are supposed to follow also. I am sure that those who may potentially end up getting temporarily suspended from chat (or those that have in the past) or those who receive a time-out wouldn't appreciate an open and permanent record of their behavior and resulting disciplinary measures posted in the Chit Chat Forum for all to read.



We already have some measures in place to either request a Chat Ops assistance or to report problems/issues in a private or anonymous manner.

1. This existing thread. (I can make it a sticky)
2. Private messaging Chat Ops via the Boards or Forums.
3. Asking for or requesting the assistance of a Chat Op in open chat.
4. Sending a memo in chat to a Chat Op.
5. Sending an e-mail to dimensionschatops@yahoo.com

The identity of the chatter who contacts Chat Ops is kept confidential.



Also, there is the option of using the IGNORE feature in Chat.
Instructions are in a previous post.

Good points -- I assumed that a Banhammmer would be sufficient deterrent to abuse, and concede it may not be.

Agreed, there's a window of visibility between posting the notification and a Mod editing it down, which does leave an opening for malicious users to spread false allegations. That may be an insurmountable problem.

I was not necessarily suggesting that one leave the abusive chat handle in place after dealing with the incident. What I was suggesting was leaving some kind of log of what happened, as a cautionary tale or crime blotter. (Something like: Tuesday night, 1 person ejected for "repeated unsolicited PMs"; 1 person banned for "hate speech"; 1 person banned for a malicious report of someone "impersonating opposite gender", etc.)

But that gets back to the previous issue: anyone who had seen the initial report would know who had been reported, even if the name was deleted. The point of having the responding Op post the resolution to the report would be to ensure some balance to the allegations. That is, if someone was reported for something, and the Op found it to be baseless or even malicious, a statement to that effect (quoting the original report) would be helpful as a counter.

Another issue is that you can always see who made the allegation unless the post is deleted in its entirety. For users that want to keep their chat activities separate from their board activities (there are legitimate reasons why one might), this could be an issue.

Still another is that a report with a chat handle included establishes (ok, it's a rebuttable presumption, but hard to rebut) that the user with the chat handle indicated was actually in the chat, even if the allegations are baseless. Since there's no linkage between chat and board aliases, this alone presents serious potential for abuse.

Having an email address to contact Chat Ops (wasn't aware you folks had one -- that's greatly appreciated!) is probably a better solution.

Simply posting a reply to that thread that does not identify the offender, would solve the false-allegation problems but not the reporting-individual anonymity issue. It also requires the Chat Op to determine on their own what the problem is (but that can be accomplished via either board PMs or Chat PMs).

-Rusty

[Miriel]

As requested, this thread is now a sticky. The thread can be used to ALERT Chat Ops of an immediate problem in Chat.

If there is an URGENT need for an Op in Chat, post in this thread.

Examples: to report trolls; abusive chatters; etc.

Please do not use this thread to report personal conflicts.

Miriel
Chat Op

[BigBeautifulMe]

Nazi guy is back.

[Weeze]

Forget me.

[CastingPearls]

Excuse me but there's a lunatic in BBW chat right now....help?

[CleverBomb]

Excuse me but there's a lunatic in BBW chat right now....help?
Bump, it's the usual twit (based on "writing" style, and I use that term loosely).
Not using the exploit mentioned previously though.

-Rusty

[thirtiesgirl]

What's the pvt chat room name?

[Webmaster]

Excuse me but there's a lunatic in BBW chat right now....help?

I nuked all of the dude's new handles and, as always, informed his ISP of the abuse. Frankly, I could also report him to the FBI, which might actually have an interest.

[BigBeautifulMe]

I nuked all of the dude's new handles and, as always, informed his ISP of the abuse. Frankly, I could also report him to the FBI, which might actually have an interest.

Do it, Chief. Maybe he'd finally learn something.

[CastingPearls]

Nasty troll named Peace in the BHM chat right now. Help.

[Paquito]

Nasty troll named Peace in the BHM chat right now. Help.

Seconded, thirded, whatever. He's trifling, on both the BHM/FFA chat and the BBW/FA chat.

[CastingPearls]

Same troll back as Love777 bragging 'Peace is back'. *sigh*

[Paquito]

love777 is peace, under a different name.

"love777- peace is back...banned..but not forever lol...man, you people must like being alone in your rural towns in yoru trailor homes lol"