Roleplaying and Attitude

[Buster's Uncle]

Real bullying?  Where they exercise power over other people to their detriment for no purpose other than to demonstrate "I'm in charge"?  I would think that most nerds would be too idea-focused for that sort of thing.

Real bullying.  I have a story I won't tell, because I don't like talking about times I've been abused and humiliated online, and sisko doesn't want me badmouthing other sites.  But I could point you at a forum where, if you're not going to be TOO strict about the definition, that kind of nerdbadge is SOP, without even leaving the English-speaking civ games community.

[Doc Nebula]

Mods have been bullies at nearly every forum I've participated in.  All of them inevitably get sucked into the oldest human social myth of all -- Seniority Is Everything.  Which means, whatever the rules of a particular forum may be, mods enforce them far more harshly on noobs than on those who have been forum members for a long time.   

And, always always always, mods cut far more slack for their friends (online or in real life) than they do for people they don't know.  Which makes things rough on the people they don't know.

[Buster's Uncle]

I take more liberties with members I know and like, actually, depending on how even-tempered I think they are...

[JarlWolf]

And part of the reason mods, even good ones, are harsher on new folks is that they need to imprint an image of authority. Though I do hate it when a moderator neglects their duty by letting their chronies have free reign of breaking rules and doing nothing about it: That's just nepotistic and corrupt.

This forum lacks the huge demand for excessive moderation to begin with, because of the community it attracts. So I don't think we'll have too many issues like that, this forum won't ever grow to massive proportions to the point people become completely unfamiliar with one another, were rather tight knit.

[Doc Nebula]

I strongly disagree with the notion that noobz, more than any others, require a mod to demonstrate an 'imprint of authority'.  However, assuming such is ever necessary, the mod can show that 'imprint of authority' just as easily by enforcing whatever rules a forum may have on any member that may violate them, regardless of that member's seniority in the forum, or their RW personal relationship with the mod.

But mods DON'T.  They never do.  The actual people they actually hang out with always get a pass, because there could very well be real world consequences to them should they try to throw their weight around with folks they're going to be throwing dice around with this weekend.

And seniority... man, seniority drives me crazy.  The concept that "I've been here longer than you and therefore I have more privileges and status than you" is the rot at the heart of every social organization I've ever been impressed into.  And it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.  Inertia = You Must Kiss My Ass! 

Of course, maybe I'd like that better if I could ever manage to accrue any seniority of my own. 

[Yitzi]

But mods DON'T.  They never do.  The actual people they actually hang out with always get a pass, because there could very well be real world consequences to them should they try to throw their weight around with folks they're going to be throwing dice around with this weekend.

Not always.  I know of one case where a mod temporarily banned himself over a complaint.  (Afterward, the ban-ee complained to the higher-ups and the ban was overturned and the mod temporarily banned for abuse of power.)