Up for grabs we have one of the finest selection of an excellent yearly crop!
1. First we have Arcadic for his memerific rants about Cowards and Scumbags:
You Crazy for that one Arcadic
2. Sene has had a solid performance in CI. Not citing his innumerous complaints about how the staff is harassed by the userbase, but we can quote here a post where he points out that staff leaks compromise transparency (likely because they uncover plots to preemptively ban members of the site) and ask people on the receiving end of "troubling leaks" to sort it out with the staff (possibly like FaheyUSMC did, prompting a thread discussing his ban). The second post accurately pinpoints all the problems of the site to just Originally posted by Arcadic on MTGS 
It was an unverified post off of these boards. The gutter was already aware of the potential sale when N_S was banned, because he was leaked details of the sale by an unknown coward. N_S proceeded to do what he always loved to do, undermine the staff and leak the information to his gutter pals. Some other scum of the earth leaked the most recent news to them, and the bannings were once again thrown out as the gutter leaders decided that undermining the staff was way more important than the community they always say they care about.
The only reason this got leaked is because of two
staff members, one possibly former, decided that 50 users well being and communtiy was far more important to them than the community and the site they volunteered to protect and serve and maintain. Unfortunately, this is the internet, where cowards and scumbags have infinite tools to flow information and be kept secret.
You can attempt to blame the administration all you want, it is their fault and their fault alone for acting in ways that they were told was not acceptable when it happened with N_S. They all knew full well the information they had was not for them to leak, and when they over-reacted to the leak from yesterday, instead of handling it like mature adults that they claim to be, they threw tantrums.
Originally posted by Arcadic on MTGS
Why should a banned member who attacked the forum and its custodians be someone i can't speak my mind about? Someone who's friends were allowed to have inapropriate avatars in silent protest. You're effectively saying that as long as
a mod isn't speaking their mind, they are doing there job. Your forcing a divide between mod and community that isn't there and shouldn't exist.
It doesn't matter if i apologize, i will still have an infraction. It doesn't matter if other users talk about Gays being immoral. They will get the same infraction but it will still be their opinion. Saying i can't have an opinion about something that has effected me and this site isn't justifyable. I apologized to those who thought i was flaming them. I will not apologize for "flaming" people who would do anything they could to see this site burn for their own sake. If you think that's immoral, i encourage you to ask someone who's trust has be violated in the same manner to forgive them.
You want me to apologize to people who'd rather spit in my face. I won't. If you think my volunteer unpaid position requires for me to have a public opinion that is within the rules while receiving abuse and mistrust
from every angle, i suggest you put yourself in my shoes. Shoes that have had to read every single flame on the mods for months now.
But ignore that as well. Lets look at the site and its history. A history of protecting those who want to help the magic community see new cards. A group of people WOTC is probably as angry as i am over leaks. A group that i have sworn as a RM mod to protect and who's identity i won't reveal. Sources that have since the begining built MTGS from the ground up and made it the place to be for unofficial spoilers, a point that was just proven a week ago. Those people and our RM community puts the trust in the moderators to keep their secrets. Why in the world would someone trust the staff now, when it is apparent there are those who'd rather leak something for personal gain than care about the wellbeing of this website. There was once one thing you could always count on a moderator to do, and that was keep a secret. That trust was broken by 1 or 2 selfish people. So
blame me for being angry, but i have every right to be angry at broken trust. Because without it, this site doesn't exist in the capacity it does today. I may have never came here, nor would have a lot of people. If i wasn't a mod, i'd be just as angry at the people who leaked such information, because they have potentially damaged the one reason.
I am taking my infraction for speaking my mind. I don't care if i broke the COC to do so, because i could not stand idlly by any longer and let people flame the mods for the "terrible handling" of this situation. Because its not anyone's fault but the 2-3 people who are and should be banned from this site. I know i'm not above the rules. Don't pretend like i think i am. And calling this a PR stunt? Please, don't insult my inteligence any more. A PR stunt would be me rolling into this thread all apologetic and sympethtic to people I find morally bankrupt. I'd rather jump out of a moving car than pretend for a second
i feel anything but ire for those involved in the leaks.
Guys, be careful. It is inappropriate to hang around in MTGS with Khaddafi avatars.
Stay safe guys, these are some mean streets you're walking on.
- Scumbag
Scumbag and a series of misunderstandings.
You Crazy for that one Sene
Originally posted by Sene on MTGS
Hi, it's me again! Last time I posted something like this, I was an admin expressing my concerns about a hostile community creating staff burnout, and that I was on the verge of resigning myself. I ended up resigning, as most of you probably know, for reasons not at all unrelated. Now I again feel the need to post another somewhat similar thread on the subject, though as a regular user this time around. Also, I feel I should mention that I wrote this on my own, and without the staff's input or consent. So if you dislike or disagree with what I say here, please aim your discontent at me, and not the staff.
Once upon a time, it was decided that this community should give users the power to air their grievances with things around the site, and get heard, not
silenced for their opinions. When they feel they've been treated incorrectly by moderators, they may complain publicly. This is pretty great in theory, and actually somewhat rare among internet communities - I haven't seen any forum where the users are allowed to speak their mind about this sort of stuff to the extent that they are here. But recently, things have gone too far.
One would think that when staff makes a mistake, at least the learning process will make them better equipped to make fewer mistakes in the future. I don't think that is the case on MtG Salvation. Why? Because when staff makes a mistake, they are hounded in Community Issued. They are attacked over and over, called corrupt, called liars, whatever you want. References to Subterranean Spirit and/or the exodus from MtG News are quick to surface. Now, usually when there is an outrage in CI, it is usually rooted in a legit problem. This is because staff makes mistakes, always
have and always will. It's a hard job, folks. But when they make these mistakes, try to find it in you to forgive them, or at the very least, not become outright mean. When staff is attacked relentlessly over a mistake, what's going to happen is burnout. Burnout leads to staff apathy and resignations (as we've seen plenty of during the past few months, more than any other time in the site's history, by a considerable amount), and consequently, more mistakes.
We'll all enjoy the site a lot more if we stop getting mad about insignificant issues on an internet forum. Give the people in charge the opportunity to explain their side of the story, don't go straight for the throat, and try to see things from all sides. In general, just try to be a little more friendly. It's amazing how much that helps(and this obviously applies to mods too)
nAlso important to remember is that while CI drama is a considerable strain on staff time and resources, most of the site doesn't know and doesn't care. Most users post about Magic: the Gathering in Magic: the Gathering forums, happily unaware of disputes and animosity, and that's how it should be. But a problem is that staff's attention is skewed towards the 3% in CI (random number), while more time should probably be spent on the rest of the site - improving the front page, improving Magic-related content in their respective subforums, etc. That's stuff that actually matters more than what's going on in this forum here, and another reason to give the staff a break.
Anyway, in the GRRRR thread we have a saying; "WWYD", which means "What Would Yomako Do". Yomako is a former mod who dispelled all kinds of grim atmospheres by just posting adorable posts with lots of http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=432699
9. We have Harkius which comments on MTGS members supporting state-sponsored terrorrismOriginally posted by Harkius on MTGS10. And last but not least we have the lapdog's take on the bannings. A true display of integrity.FYI: In displaying these pictures, you could be taken to be supporting state-sponsored terrorism.
The more you know!
Harkiuslapdogs take on the banningsOriginally posted by ExpiredRascals on MTGSSorry guys for my somewhat abrupt absence. My internet is out until Monday, and the forums really don't like me tethering. Anyways, without further ado:
After virtually non-stop discussion, we have finished our review of this most recent incident and have reached a conclusion on what actions should be taken to fix what was a rushed set of decisions.
The following decisions are representative of a
clear majority of the opinions given during the staff discussion.
To provide context to the results of our review, our initial response to this incident was as follows:
Clock King was banned for giving use of his gimmick account to a banned member.
Kpaca was suspended for knowingly and intentionally leaked material known to be off limits, and re-posting it when it was initially deleted. This resulted in a ban due to his probationary status.
Kijin and Kaitscralt (aka Madding) were Banned for taking the same action.
After reviewing our actions during this incident, we have concluded:
Clock King
Clock King was determined to have lent one of his gimmick accounts to the banned user (N_S) for a period of roughly one month.
Despite coinciding with it, we believe his actions were independent of this incident.
Our decision is that Clock King will remain banned. His lending of his gimmick constituted a severe breach of our
ban/suspension evasion rules. Contributing to this was his full knowledge and intent in assisting ( N_S ) and his telegraphed desire to distance himself from the site.
kpaca
Kpaca posted twice about Curse in the Gutter Compromise thread. It has been determined that Kpaca likely acted in anger when an as-yet unknown person told him a rumor that the Gutter was to be closed.
We believe these responses constituted direct violations of a standing moderator request. That he proceeded to repost it immediately after he determined an admin had deleted his post makes it more clear.
We do understand that users may occasionally act in anger, but we have never allowed that to excuse them from the ramifications of their actions.
As such, we have decided to issue a suspension to kpaca for disobeying a moderator request. As he is on probation, this suspension will result in his ban from the site.
Kijin
Kijin started two threads
on the subject of Curse in the public areas of the site. In these threads he went into near exhaustive detail of all the information that was available to him.
We believe this also constituted a direct violation of a moderator request.
It was determined that it is likely Kijin, when notified of kpaca's ban, also acted in anger. It is not believed that he intended harm to come to the site or its users.
As such we have decided a suspension was appropriate for Kijin for disobeying a moderator request. Since he is also on probation, this suspension will result in his ban from the site.
Kaitscralt (aka Madding)
In much the same vein as Kijin, Kaitscralt started two threads with what we believe to be similar motive and intent. The contents of his threads were not nearly as exhaustive as Kijin's, but they did contain a significant amount of information between them. He also made two spam posts in unrelated threads in the Rumour Mill
We
believe his actions also constituted direct violations of a moderator request.
As such, we have decided to issue a suspension to Kaitscralt for disobeying a moderator request. This will be his second suspension, so it will end in 2 weeks time from the point that he was banned.
In addition the the above, a third person was also responsible for similar behavior to Kaitscralt and Kijin.
i_am_a_badman
i_am_a_badman started three threads whose content were less comprehensive than Kaitscralt's, but we believe they still contained enough information to be considered direct violations of the moderator request.
As such, we have decided to issue a suspension to i_am_a_badman for disobeying a moderator request. This will be his first suspension, so it will last for one week.
No other action or remedy was determined appropriate.
Each of the affected is free to appeal their suspension/ban on merits now. Some already have, and we are evaluating those independent
of this review. Additionally, per our ban appeal policy, those who were banned also will each have the opportunity to appeal for leniency in one year's time.
