Analogy time...

[Barlim]

I know I'm new here and not an admin, but after a bunch of us (MaShadow you have much, much patience) had to deal with some players on the dustbowl server who refused to accept the rules, I thought up a short, perfect argument to invalidate anything someone could say to argue that the rules are unjust and that they have a right to debate them.

If you go to a club, they have rules. If you don't abide by those rules, they kick you out. Everyone knows that this is how they work. A club is a private place that is open to the public for the public's enjoyment, and the only difference between a a club and a game server is that the public doesn't typically have to pay to play on a server. If a player feel the need to argue this then, well, they're crazy, or just trying as hard as they can to be a nuisance.

I just thought that since every now and then there seems to be an argument about this on the servers, this simple explanation would be able to put that to rest. I also just needed to vent %-6

 

[blackhawksniper]

"But I can swear since this game is rated M for mature!

The game is rated Mature so you ACT it."

Thats what I say.

 

[Glitch]

I was there... it was pretty hard to watch. I tried my best to keep the peace on my team before MaShadow showed up, but they wouldn't even listen to admin. :-(

I think the two above analogies are pretty cool, but you always get the hardheads who think they're -so- smart. Enter, the ban button. :-D

 

[OfficerFriendly]

The bottom line answer is that this is a private server and if you do not like our rules then there are plenty of other servers for you to play on otherwise respect our rules while you are here.

 

[The Red Comet]

That's a pretty good analogy there. There isn't too much sense in dealing with jerks, though. Usually if they deliberately break the rules, they aren't doing it inadvertently, they're just purposely trying to disrupt the server.

 

[Monkeybits]

My analogy I've used is a bit stricter, since many people do think they can break the rules a club. If you walk into another person's house, you abide by their rules or you leave. Since their rules work for their family, you have no right to ask them to change them when you're just visiting.

It's especially unreasonable for people to insist they have the right to swear. You don't have to press your talk button, and you don't have to type profanity into the chat box. Can't control yourself off mic? I don't care. Just don't hit the talk button until you're done cussing, then come up with something more creative and entertaining that enriches, rather than distracts from, the game.

 

[Troth]

The home analogy is one that I can really relate to. I might borrow that one on occasion.

 

[Purple.Huskies]

Yeah, the home analogy is what I use. You don't go other people's house and insult the hosts.

 

[Moose]

Though I don't condone the use of foul language on our servers, the act of typing foul language is so much more deliberate than saying something. Something can accidentally slip when you're talking, but with typing...you have to OPEN the chat box, then TYPE OUT each...individual....word...then send it out. That right there proves the deliberation of the person doing it.
I also agree with the home analogy and will enjoy implementing it.

 

[Lafinass]

All of this assumes that you're willing to engage in an argument of principle with people. If the conversation continues beyond my primary response of 'It is the rule of the server.' the individual or individuals receive kicks or bans depending on the tone of their statements. There are lots of people perfectly happy to play on our servers and respect our rules.

Edit: Remember folks, our role as admin on these servers is not to argue the rules or explain their purpose. We are there to play the game, just the same as they are. Members shouldn't have to take an inordinate amount of their time performing their admin duties. Gag, kick, or ban, but don't dispute. And you =(e)= folk, don't take any grief either- pull up steam friends, xFire, or vent and get an admin into the game.

 

[Monkeybits]

Great point, Lafin. Most of the bans I've seen haven't been for an actual behavior, but failure to comply with an instruction or arguing and getting abusive with an admin after the behavior.

We know not everyone's going to read the rules page, so an initial warning is pretty common. I love it that the majority of the situations I've encountered involve someone happy to be more polite so everyone can go back to playing. We've got great people on great servers.

One advantage to having this in forum is that if someone comes to contest a ban, we can simply refer them to the forum so they can read all about being polite in someone else's house. Want to help make the rules? Come be part of the family. When you see how great this community is, though, chances are you're going to agree with the rules rather than try to change them.