discuss Time for a new rule and to enforce it diligently

[equity78]

With all the stuff that's taken place this week, with nonsense everywhere, the forum needs to think about some new rules, implement them and uphold them.

Many years ago before @Paul Buonopane put in such a great spam protection system in place, many more spam accounts got in of the blatant variety.

They were like "Need money best payday loans" and then an unintelligible paragraph. Back then as a mod I and others would tell people not to reply, either by posting "SPAM" or some snarky remark, that only bumped the thread and gave it more attention.

The same thing needs to be put in place today, Member 1 spams, or posts stuff in the wrong place, REPORT it, it's on the mods to take care of it on a timely basis, many here believe they are the self police of this forum and there is more than one faction and some factions greatly dislike other factions.

The fact of the matter here, is no one is the police department of this website except for the mods @Mod Team Bravo @Mod Team Alfa @Mod Team Echo @Mod Team Foxtrot @Paul Buonopane

So when someone posts something wrong, report it, those that self police should then also receive infractions, since some love to do it so much if they don't alter their behavior they will accrue enough infraction points to be suspended.

This means mod coverage needs to cover the 24 hour day. But this nonsense spills over everywhere, and don't kid yourself it spills offline where people start getting together to discuss their own solutions to certain member behavior.

 

[MarkedMarket]

Maybe it's an idea to restrict all company representatives (registrars, registries, etc.) from certain parts of the forum, in the same way that non-VIP members are restricted from the VIP area. Just as an experiment.

In that way normal users or moderators don't have to put in as much time/energy in reporting/correcting any "misbehaviour".

 

[Furquan]

Maybe it's an idea to restrict all company representatives (registrars, registries, etc.) from certain parts of the forum, in the same way that non-VIP members are restricted from the VIP area. Just as an experiment.

In that way normal users or moderators don't have to put in as much time/energy in reporting/correcting any "misbehaviour".

I don't know about others but I am myself a domainer so restricting me on some parts of forums not going to justify.

Apart from my company badge, I got the following badge from Namepros

1. Top Contributor
2. VIP Member
3. Established Member

Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer.

 

[MarkedMarket]

I don't know about others but I am myself a domainer so restricting me on some parts of forums not going to justify.

Apart from my company badge, I got the following badge from Namepros

1. Top Contributor
2. VIP Member
3. Established Member

Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer.

I am aware that Epik has successfully targeted the domainer community and domainers are of course interesting because they often have large domain portfolios, so a registrar can quickly pump up the amount of domains they have under control (and increase their market value as such). You can try to target 20000 companies with each 1 domain, or you simply add 4 domainers with each 5000 domains as your customers.

This forum, the largest and most influential domaining forum, is used as a sales vehicle for them and infuential, smart and talented persons on this forum are recruited, with the following sentence in their job description:

In the true spirit of meritocracy, compensation growth and performance bonuses are tied to impact.

(Source: https://www.namepros.com/threads/hi...ct-managers-and-executive-leadership.1162639/)

So that implies that these individuals are incentivized to make an "impact", e.g. promote Epik as much as possible and make sure that as many domainers are converted to their platform.

It's great for Epik that they found a niche and that they have been so successful over the past year, but I don't think that should come at the expense of the quality and user-friendliness of this forum. If all registrars would have 20+ very active representatives that start posting in every single thread about their great service offerings, this forum would be one big sales pitch. That's why I suggested the above-mentioned restriction.

I also think that the amount of representatives per company should be restricted to a maximum of 3. And that domainers part of a registrar should ideally choose between either being active on this forum as a domainer or as a representative, but not both. I do appreciate the transparency, and even though you state in every post that "Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer", it's hard not to be biased looking at your post below from 2 days ago where you seem to suggest otherwise:

They should encourage their employee to come here and help customers like Epik.com do. Why just employees? Their CEO also welcome here like Rob Monster

For the Poll,

Yes, I voted 'Epik' as my registrar. All of us have Epik in the badge just - us after poll competed. But at least we are very transparent and don't hide our affiliation with our company.

There may be some domain registrar employees hiding in a shadow I encourage them to get the badge.

*The opinion expressed above are my own.

 

[JB Lions]

With all the stuff that's taken place this week, with nonsense everywhere, the forum needs to think about some new rules, implement them and uphold them.

Many years ago before @Paul Buonopane put in such a great spam protection system in place, many more spam accounts got in of the blatant variety.

They were like "Need money best payday loans" and then an unintelligible paragraph. Back then as a mod I and others would tell people not to reply, either by posting "SPAM" or some snarky remark, that only bumped the thread and gave it more attention.

The same thing needs to be put in place today, Member 1 spams, or posts stuff in the wrong place, REPORT it, it's on the mods to take care of it on a timely basis, many here believe they are the self police of this forum and there is more than one faction and some factions greatly dislike other factions.

The fact of the matter here, is no one is the police department of this website except for the mods @Mod Team Bravo @Mod Team Alfa @Mod Team Echo @Mod Team Foxtrot @Paul Buonopane

So when someone posts something wrong, report it, those that self police should then also receive infractions, since some love to do it so much if they don't alter their behavior they will accrue enough infraction points to be suspended.

This means mod coverage needs to cover the 24 hour day. But this nonsense spills over everywhere, and don't kid yourself it spills offline where people start getting together to discuss their own solutions to certain member behavior.

Not really following your post but I did have only 3 hours sleep, so I could be reading things wrong. You want to infract people that report stuff? Or that post in those threads?

The affiliate marketing forum I used to mod, a forum that NP used to do joint domain auctions with, had no spam issue. The most recent spam here lasted a whole day. I was always curious what powers the mods had here. Can all mods delete and move threads? Can they ban people or is that just the admin? With the forum I was at, the admin trusted all the mods and mods could delete, move, and ban obvious spammers etc. Didn't have to ask the owner/admin. Have no idea how it works here. Obviously, there needs to be more mods. Or people can take a step up and get more serious about it. I'm not aware of any other forum on the internet that would let people that have been banned 6 times, still post.

 

[equity78]

Not really following your post but I did have only 3 hours sleep, so I could be reading things wrong. You want to infract people that report stuff? Or that post in those threads?

The affiliate marketing forum I used to mod, a forum that NP used to do joint domain auctions with, had no spam issue. The most recent spam here lasted a whole day. I was always curious what powers the mods had here. Can all mods delete and move threads? Can they ban people or is that just the admin? With the forum I was at, the admin trusted all the mods and mods could delete, move, and ban obvious spammers etc. Didn't have to ask the owner/admin. Have no idea how it works here. Obviously, there needs to be more mods. Or people can take a step up and get more serious about it. I'm not aware of any other forum on the internet that would let people that have been banned 6 times, still post.

Yeah you might need more sleep, I did not say to infract people who report.

So let's try an experiment,

In Ron Jackson's weekly sales post, I come in and say Hey I covered that you should check out TLDInvestors.com with this link and that link, (something I have never done) I have spammed, wrong, should have post deleted. You should report it, you should not be replying to me, and giving me your opinion, you or anyone else here not a mod is the police here, then someone who likes me comes in and blasts you, then Frank-Germany is in defending you, now we got a lot of posts, that OH BY THE WAY Are HELPING THE SPAMMER THEY SO DESPISE.

I am saying infractions eventually come when instead of reporting posts and waiting for the mods to remove, people just keep amplifying the spammer and bring in a bunch of off topic posts. Obviously not immediately, but if you can't stop like some say Rob can't stop, you eventually get infracted too.

 

[JB Lions]

Maybe you need sleep as well because you left this part out:

"Or that post in those threads?"

That stuff doesn't happen if spam gets handled more quickly, or NP stops giving people endless chances to do the same things over and over again.

 

[equity78]

Maybe you need sleep as well because you left this part out:

"Or that post in those threads?"

That stuff doesn't happen if spam gets handled more quickly, or NP stops giving people endless chances to do the same things over and over again.

No I didn't leave it out that was the very nature of the example you posting in the thread where I spammed Ron Jackson (hypothetically) exactly what I was talking about if you keep posting in those thread like you are the forum police when you are not you eventually get infracted. Who cares why that stuff happens, you don't have the right to be the forum police. And 3 hours sleep is every night for me.

 

[JB Lions]

No I didn't leave it out that was the very nature of the example you posting in the thread where I spammed Ron Jackson (hypothetically) exactly what I was talking about if you keep posting in those thread like you are the forum police when you are not you eventually get infracted. Who cares why that stuff happens, you don't have the right to be the forum police.

Well, actually NP has asked for help. It's actually nice to see there are still some people left that care. Good communities police themselves. The simple solution is what I suggested above. More mods, handle it. Less babying people.

 

[equity78]

Well, actually NP has asked for help. It's actually nice to see there are still some people left that care. Good communities police themselves. The simple solution is what I suggested above. More mods, handle it. Less babying people.

They didn't ask for that help it's actually more work, because all the spam and off topic posts get deleted. They asked for help on how this could work in the future.

Some people care? Well I know I have done more for this place than 99% of membership. And some of those that care only turn up in Epik threads (not directed at you) The care does not extend to other off topic, rantings that don't belong here.

 

[JB Lions]

They didn't ask for that help it's actually more work, because all the spam and off topic posts get deleted. They asked for help on how this could work in the future.

Some people care? Well I know I have done more for this place than 99% of membership. And some of those that care only turn up in Epik threads (not directed at you) The care does not extend to other off topic, rantings that don't belong here.

That more work is really NP's own fault. Again, we have a person that has been banned 6 times. They come back and do the same thing, that got them banned, over and over again. You handle that and be done with it. 6 times is ridiculous.

 

[equity78]

That more work is really NP's own fault. Again, we have a person that has been banned 6 times. They come back and do the same thing, that got them banned, over and over again. You handle that and be done with it.

Agreed, there have been people suspended here that actually cost people money or a domain and were eventually allowed back. I never agreed with the well it's better to let them back because they will come back in another way or maybe do something else.

My point JB was no one is doing work, work would be if you or I could collapse a post so that it's not deleted completely but unseen, it's not work that anti Rob posts then pro Rob posts, then someone adsense bombs someone who they don't like on the other side a website in their sig line as retaliation and then someone else comes back and brings religion into it trying to take a shot at Rob which offends several other people who follow that religion.

 

[JB Lions]

Right, but again, none of this stuff happens if it's handled correctly in the first place. Follow the rules and for those that don't, handle it. People are making it a lot more complicated than it needs to be.

Take the most recent example. That promotion was reported. There were mods online. It should have been handled. Then it would have been done. We have all this extra stuff because it stayed there for a day.

 

[equity78]

Right, but again, none of this stuff happens if it's handled correctly in the first place. Follow the rules and for those that don't, handle it. People are making it a lot more complicated than it needs to be.

Take the most recent example. That promotion was reported. There were mods online. It should have been handled. Then it would have been done. We have all this extra stuff because it stayed there for a day.

I agree, but we know people are going to spam or post something nuts, I think it needs to get reported and then it goes away. For anyone who hates Rob Monster spamming, You all have helped him immeasurably because those threads get amplified, and I can tell you I have had people say to me, I didn't care for Rob Monster but what I see Namepros allowing their members to do to him, I am opening an account.

So all the spam haters have done is help Rob Monster. These back and forth threads have driven engagement.

To you added part, agree completely, this forum had no problems like this when @RJ could not get anyone to advertise and ran the place at a loss, the place now has several advertisers and you got to spend some money to have some mods on 24/7

 

[Bravo Mod Team]

Hello,

A lot of fair points.

We do have a rule about the topic of this thread:

• Rule 1.5. Do not post anything suggestive, inquisitive, or critical of NamePros (e.g., policy, staff, or moderator activity: infractions, content approval, edited/deleted posts, etc.) except in the designated Help Desk area (e.g., in the private support or public feedback sections)

However, the feedback is beneficial sometimes to members who need to hear it. Other times, it only causes problems, as has been discussed in this thread. In all cases, we try to clean that up when it's brought to our attention if it's feasible to do so.

The next big project we're working on is relating to how to turn over more control to the community and make members more accountable for their actions, where accountability is heavily influenced by community members' opinions.

Here's a thread on that:

• https://www.namepros.com/threads/help-namepros-decide-on-community-driven-moderation.904576/

The thread is old because it's been in the plans for a long time, but we're actively thinking about it and working on it now. It will likely also include community nominations and/or automated promotions that grant certain members moderator-like permissions to help with moderating the forums.

This will not be something simple like total likes; it will be based on almost every piece of historical information attached to accounts and difficult to abuse.

We are not sure if this will also help solve the rule 1.5 violations when every member is able to express their desired outcome without replying to the thread. However, it may be helpful if there's a moderator discussion aspect to each thread where those discussions could reside, similar to how wiki's have an "Article" page and a "Talk" page.

It's a lot to think about, and we're appreciative of helpful feedback on these topics.

 

[ResoluteDomains]

I will say this, Rob has helped opened my eyes in many, many ways and here is another way: I have been a Namepros member since 2006, 2011 with this current account, and I have never realized until just now how large, expansive, this forum is, and how underutilized its is - by me. Wow. I need to look around more, seriously.

How did this revelation come to light? I got an idea based on this particular thread, and the issues surrounding all of the other threads that have lead @equity78 to create this thread.

Correct me if this already exists, explicitly, but I havent been able to locate it:
My idea is to perhaps create sub-forums for each registrar for them to feel free to promote, discuss ideas and new products, bug reports, address issues surrounding their company, take polls, etc ** without the fear that those who do not appreciate / like / agree with that particular registrar ** would come in and pounce on the registrar's sub-forum with their own disagreements. Constructive criticism of ideas is certainly welcome but the posts that I have seen are not constructive - they're angry, mob-like, spear-chucking type of posts.

I will agree that the mob pounces on the over promotion and violation of rules, as it is stated in the current system, but what if it were permitted in a area where every registrar is given permission to promote?

I will be the first to admit that I dont know how to run a forum. I dont know what it takes to create sub-forums, the rules, the moderating -- its got to be a massive undertaking and I very much appreciate everyone who is involved to allow me to participate here for free. So maybe this is an even more massive task - I do not know.

What I am saying is if an areas is partitioned off for registrar and their employees to speak freely about their company and their products (no cross registrar bashing), their services, ideas, etc then maybe it can accomplish three things:

1) cease the promotion posts that go in the wrong places
2) stop the animosity posts that are thrown back at the promotion posts which, while the intent is to express discontent it really only muddies up the threads for those who want to read those threads.
3) it would keep a lot of heads cooler

I could be 100% wrong, i dont know. I just thought I would throw it out there for consideration as the OP was kind enough to ask for ideas. I think of it as building my kids a play room for them to go off and do, within the general rules of my house, whatever they'd like without disturbing the rest of the people in the house as a whole.

I dont know where the new sub-forms should go but maybe the structure could be added to:
https://www.namepros.com/categories/discussion.7/

as
"Registrars" and under that you'd have sub-forums for each registrar.

Under each Registrar it would be further subdivided into sub-topics(?) which would be identical for each registrar, such as:
General Discussion
Current Promotions
Bugs and Issues
Polls
Suggestion and Ideas

etc

So that is my 2-cents to add here. I dont want to see the promoting go away, from ANY registrar is what I am saying. I think its good - if its permitted and given a section to be allowed to promote in.

What I dislike is the almost constant negative banter that seems to follow and pounce on the promotion AND RIGHT NOW that is because it is violating the rules. People arent just clicking report and reporting the violation, they're adding at times very angry posts which leads to more angry replies and it snowballs. When the violating posts are removed, the angry banter remains visible.

So why now allow each registrar to participate if they want to?

I can tell you that those registrars for which I have no interest in participating in I would stay away from. I would hope that others would do the same. If people dont like Rob/Epik then they should not be in that particular new sub-forum. The rest of the discussion on domains should continue to not allow any promotion or linking to the new promotional sections.

Alas, as I mentioned above, I really know next to nothing about running forums so if this idea is insane then, well, so be it. I would totally understand!

My hope that this should keep the noise down and the signal higher.

 

[biggie]

Good communities police themselves.

@JB Lions that in a nutshell.... is the ideal situation.

however, it takes a certain level of maturity from it's members to achieve that,
while at same time, a low tolerance of level of spam and solicitations outside of designated areas, must be enforced.

once the "culture and expectations" of and from the community are established, then mod interventin should be minimal.

engagement should always be encouraged,
but the terms of such should adhere to the TOS of the site.... ideally



imo...