Guidelines and moderation

Understand that I am not asking anyone to leave this place, I thank everyone who is here and contributes to an awesome display of creativity.

However, when you have the idea that things are 'out of control' here lately, understand that there are two parties involved. We don't take pleasure from pulling our ranks, but in some cases we don't get a choice.

I simply want to stress that the guidelines are, and will be enforced. If you can't accept these guidelines than that's fine, just don't assume that getting others on your side and raising hell about it will make it all go away.

...I always miss the fun... sniff....

I see lot of thing have happened lately here. Well I guess some people can be a bit less tactful about their life in general.

So who was kicked out?

Me! I have been kicked out. Please send me food parcels and money.

*sends andy food parcels and money*

I had no clue it was all going like this. So I'm a bit like WOW, what have I missed? o_O

It's not really one specific case, nor have members been suspended due to major GFX crimes.

I did feel I had to address the fact that some members use the controversy around the submission moderation as an excuse to respond to moderators with contempt.

I posted this item to stress that I am 100% behind the moderators and that when people go against their decisions, I have no choice but to use some of my super powers.

You can disgree with a call, you can try to change our mind, or point to guidelines and demonstrate we're making the wrong decision, but patience runs out when moderation requests are ignored or when the member in question feels the guidelines don't apply to him/her.

I just wanted to say that I strongly disagree with lastest decisions. Sorry.

Crime and Punishment, GFX style


Attention members of GFX, you’re part of a socialistic art community, some of you are already aware of this fact, and choose to ignore it, some of you are oblivious to it, some of you could have an inkling but you’re so busy having your egos stroked, you’re not willing to accept it. This isn’t a political community, nor the boyscouts, you would think that there would be a little leeway when it came to the parameters set for how one must speak or act.

I was cypherx and once this name is taken from me, I’ll probably leave it be, or perhaps not, as I’m an avid believer in freedom of speech. I wasn’t banned because of my gross misconduct in Saywhat, you would think that would be the case, but it wasn’t.

The basics of the slight drama that unfolded were that I was in saywhat with Artoonator and Juro, looking at Arne’s most recent piece of artwork, and telling Juro, slightly in jest, slightly as mockery, that Arne doesn’t need his giant [tacky] award. Juro has it in his very very overly-inflated head (for reasons I have yet to understand as he can’t validate an ego with a single driplet of thought or from what I’ve seen in his gallery, skill) that every artist on this site strives to get the acclaimed “Juro award”. I have it in my head otherwise.

Anyhow, back to the so named drama that led up to my dismissal. I’ll tell it like it was, keep it brief as I can as I too am a fan of brevity, and let’s face it, half (I’m giving myself a dramatized amount of credit there) of the readers who’ll read this before it’s taken down don’t give a rats ass to why it was I was banned to begin with.

Basically, Juro threatened Arne, saying he would take down the trophy, over something that I said. And I went to comment on Arne’s work, and I saw no trophy so I said “looks like Juro took down the award after all”. Or something to that effect as I’ll have to paraphrase everything. Juro edited my comment and then noted me telling me I’m not to address him in any members gallery as it’s for the artwork, and not for prattle. I put a “blatant censorship” sort of bit in there, and he noted me again. This time threatening to ban me. I let him know in no uncertain terms that I don’t respect him, as he’s a numbskull, and if he’s going to ban me, he might as well do it as opposed to sending me idle threats all of the time (mind you this isn’t the first time Juro has threatened to sick Martin on me).

So basically, it boils down to my getting banned because I hurt Juro’s highly sensitive ego. Marin backed it up because even though he knows Juro is a nit, he doesn’t want to cause any more complaints within the ranks of the mods, who’re already highly annoyed with my antics & apparently aren’t appreciated enough for their dedication to the site.

That’s all bullcrap of course. Artists are constantly breaking thru censorship barriers, I find this small and insignificant incident to be no different. Juro, you want people to respect you, stop screaming “lookie me, lookie me, I’m a mod and I’ve just given your art my approval, it must be good, I’m so controversial and on the forefront of what other artists should strive to be!!”. Martin, just because the mods are willing to work for you for free, doesn’t mean you should bow down to their every whim, especially when you know for a fact, despite what you might say, that the punishment did not indeed fit the crime. Get a backbone.

I was never one of those people who’re like “he’s a mod, lets get em!!”
I found Codehead to be refreshing in that he wasn’t as boisterous as Juro, and his cronies. This wasn’t a rebel without a cause sort of deal, it was them (juro to be exact) picking at me because they felt they needed to break me. I had toyed with the notion of not saying anything at all on my behalf as that’s EXACTLY what they expected to happen, but the idea of just letting something set pretty doesn’t exactly stew well with me.

I think all you people who can just sit there and allow GFX to continue on as it is (believe it or not you do have a choice of art comms), weeding thru anyone who might respond differently, are far too complacent for your own good, and perhaps you shouldn’t call yourselves “artists”, but attention whores (more so than me). If all you’re hoping for is to come here, drop off your art and get an “awesome” now and again, why the hell are you painting to begin with? There’s so many other ways to get pats on the head and a happy sappy smile and love from people. I’ll be ok, I didn’t agree with the voting system here anyhow, I will miss the idle prattle with some of the artists though *wipes single tear out of crusty eyes* ta ~Me

And I'm glad not everyone has blinders on to the world here, so it wasn't a blanket statement... I do realize some are aware and opposed to it

Amen sister!

jen,
couldnt agree more at this point!

amen

Have a bad day? Go see here:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/30276/video/R/CFD_1002/

^omfg that's like so funny dude....

I know this is just one side of the story, but it's pretty rediculous. I would have thought the only reasons to be kicked out would be blatant and gross disregard for the guidelines of the community. I find it a bit odd that "Thou shalt not wrong thy moderators" a rule, but then again, I'm sure an unreasonable amount of fighting would have had to ensue to warrant a banning. (But, in that case, aren't they both wrong??)

Usually I just read what people have to say, but I felt rather obligated to put in my two cents here, if for no other reason than that this whole thing makes me uneasy and unhappy.

What about this? And don't forget to read about the comments:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/179978/video/R/CFD_1002/

yea, wtf is going on here folks? Can we not disagree with each other and still coexist? Do I understand this correctly? If we disagree or disrespect a mod we are destined for banishment? Well, LOL, I'm certainly guilty of that crime....

This is an effin ART COMMUNITY!?! So some people are sarcastic and possibly "mean" to others. BOOOO HOOOOOO....cry me a river. I feel sorry for some of you and how you deal with the world outside of this environment...

(To nobody in particular) You say I'm not professional or you're dissappointed in me? Who are you to judge me dude? Other than the crap I post on here, you don't know a damn thing about me...

I was ready to delete all of my work last night when I heard about this. I consider Jen my friend and had enjoyed working on our WIP together.... I am sad that she is gone and I think the banning of her account is wrong.

I'd like to finish what she and I started, but who knows how long I will last now.....

You know this isnt the first time that a certain moderator has caused some level of controversy. Then again, I'm not one to speak since I've actually dragged some of my own here. I'm a Professional Artist and quite frankly some of the idiotic-ness that I've encountered here is incredibly unfathomable in my years of experience.

I've been making fun of this whole award system for a while now - I can't believe people are actually getting away with this nonsense. I even made my own batch to parodize this whole award business and I only award them after consulting the artist in question.

Do you realize that each and every one of the 'poopie' awards that I've given away have been given in consent, and in reality theyre actual protests towards this entire concept. We're all making fun of it and no one up there seems to get it?

Who on earth has the right to start awarding these obnoxious, poorly drafted monstrosities anyway?

Do you see what this has caused.

I for one, am not posting on this forum in the near future. It s a wonderful place with some amazing talent. I've met a lot of my friends in the artistic community here, but quite frankly I cant bare to see this anymore. I cant go watching us tear each other apart over this moronic, substandard, and immature level of conduct by some people.

sorry guys...but i agree

lol, that an ambiguous retort if I've ever seen one

and thats pretty much it from me on the matter.

was referring to andreea's comment...(lol i guess my statement was ambiguous) sigh

I've publicly gone head-to-head with Juro on MANY occasions and was never banned. He was basically my arch-nemesis for about 2 years. That being said, I'll have to assume there is much more to this situation than meets the eye...

I'm not to say what's right and wrong here because I'm really nobody, I've only been active a month and a half... But Dean and Abbas hit the spot. This is controversial and silly at the same time. On this topic I saw nothing ban-worthy. Nothing here but silent words, friends, not even excessive violence/nudity.

I've got to agree with Brandon here. I suspect that a big piece of this story is missing. I'll be waiting until I see both sides before I draw any conclusions.

well as I know the mods keep all convos they send and all responses, I give permission for them to post exactly what was said to me, and my exact response. The only added ingredient that I didn't say was that there was already a brief history with Juro, as I've told him in the past I find him to be daft, but that's nothing new, and it wasn't needed for my already lengthy rant.

And Brandon, as much as I KNOW you believe yourself to be the center of the world, it's possibly you just didn't know how to flip their switches as easily as me. I can step on toes with a smile and make it short and to the point. Perhaps all your writing was overlooked and they missed whatever point you might have been trying to convey.

I think that it's reasonable to ban someone who is being rude or disrespectful, but NOT for having a diferent opinion, and you can't just censor everything that you don't like, and start to threaten people cuz they say things you disagree with, thats just abusing your power.

Jen, actually knowing how NOT to flip CERTAIN people's switches while still making your point might be something you'd want to look into. Then again, you seem to be doing smashingly

Awaiting Glenn's side of the story...
*sits patiently on the upper right corner of your screen*

Oh and here is something you might want to do sometime
http://img351.imageshack.us/img351/1299/mainphpg2viewcorero8.jpg

hahha what the hell is that, Wallace? Fecal eateries.

Brandon, I figured with your boast you were trying to flip switches, I suppose I misjudged you on that count.

I wouldn't expect for Glenn's responce quickly because he is online since some hours, and he is more busy with moderating some topics.

I call it sheating

haha good one vince! (thumbsup)

id give it a poopie but uhm i think it'd be overkill.

Funny, but I have never seen any art community that has to deal with such problems that much as GFX.
I left here last year because of this reason and I thought about leaving now again but in the end that wouldn't change anything so I might probably try to stay and tell you this:

Since 2003, this is the time I know this place, I have seen so many many maaany discussions mainly always containing the same topic - why do some get more attention than others?
And because of that people are blaming each other.
This is as redicioulous as we know that awards are given out everywhere in your life, and some reasons can be enough for people to give some artists more attention than others.
Some artists may post a lot of nice comments to get it, or others just trust in their "skills" to get what they want.

But this certainly is a witchhunt art was not made for.

In the end everyone can decide for himself how he wants to handle it.
I personally wouldn't go around and do anything for an award for which I feel I am not skilled enough - I know that some people are doing this.

They might have a reason and the reason for many people is that they want attention, which in some way is what art is all about, but merily you shouldn't forget that what always stands behind great art is the IDEA not the fame.

PS: I think a way to solve trouble maybe is to get rid of the Juro awards.
It is a nice idea for sure, but it seems to stir up much trouble between people because some might feel treated unfair, like some think Juro only posts them for people he likes.

So easiest way is indeed: leave it to the elite award everyone is longing for anyways und you just have the usual trouble GFX always had to deal with left

Good post Seline... Even though, there will always be the good ol' issues with the voting system
Interesting thread, btw. Nice to get things out into the open.

I'm agree with bakatron and gadaboutx. Even if a webpage isn't a democracy (is a tyranny of a administrator, and the moderators are them dictators XD) is a thing of common sense, you can't bann users only 'cause you don't like what he or she says or said...

I was a moderator in a forum, and there was an strict code of behavior to which we all moderators had to obey. We couldn't edit the messages of the users without consulting first the involved ones, we couldn't banear a user without putting under a mayor consultation with other moderators and the administrator. There a lot of simple rules to to avoid the abuse of the moderator's faculties, and they're all was public rules too, so the transparency was the first thing at all.

To moderate in that forum, wasn't a permanent job. If an administrator had too many complaints on the behavior of one of them, he was out of the moderator 's team. They must be an aid, non a cause of problems.

Is hard to moderate in a good way.

I think, in this trouble, if Juro was a common User, this wouldn't happened at all .

This will sound very obvious, but moderators shall moderate. Taking sides and giving “prizes” is not moderation.
Now, if the big fish here let that happened, that’s another story.

Well, that's the point!!! if a person fels hurted for his or her comments, them is a USERS thing...

Not moderator thing!!!!

Is common sense!! a fight between users doesn't causes a bann!

Well, no, that's not the point D.
This is a user v/s moderator issue... and a fight between users can perfectly cause a ban.
My point is, if you are a moderator, you don't take part in fights; you moderate them to the happiest ending.
Now, if you are a moderator, position given by a higher power, you should never put yourself in a position were you can loose your neutrality, and most important, putting the name of GFX in doubt.

feel free to do what you want by  lolita

Isn't it ironique that people can fight ina community about such things while OTHERS have to fear - will they have something to eat tomorrow? Will they have a home? A place to sleep? Some closes to wear?

How unimportant it all seems compared to a stupid witchhunt about minor reasons..

I'm agree with you TOLEDO, that's the most important thing.

You can't have a personal fight with a user and then bann him only 'cause you're a moderator and can do it.

In a user's fight, the first thing is to moderate (that's the word) the discussion... try to calm down both parts and even if the users hate each other, to finish the fight.

The bann tool, is only for extreme cases...

Now, if i have a moderator thats banns users 'cause he or she didn't likes what another user says, and starts a fight, and instead of calm down the thing, uses his or her faculties and bann unilaterally the other person... then, maybe he or she will be happier being a simple user.

it would save a lot of comments like these ones XD

I suppose each side has its strong points , I'm not taking any sides , but this is a all too common fight in art communities , because artsits are meant to oppose each other light magnets.

Who knows , this place has far less issues , problems , wank , and overall bad taste than deviant art , and I respect that.

I think this site is the most helpful and friendly I've seen, thats why this makes me really sad

Its a shame to think one could be banned just for speaking an opinion. Of course I don't know the whole story and I certainly hope everything can work out for the best. But this does make me sad. I don't know much about the Juro award, (I never got one ) but what I think, is that it could be percieved to be something special akin to "winning" something (such as an elite nomination, etc) and maybe those who do not recieve a special award feel left out. Maybe those who don't receive a special award feel like they are not popular enough. I don't know, I never cared about getting any special awards here, only to share artwork and ideas, to learn new techniques and maybe even offer some helpful suggestions to others. I suppose, in my humble opinion, a moderator should be unbiased. Never-the-less I am hoping things will work out for everyone.

/hugs
Erin

summersong said: Its a shame to think one could be banned just for speaking an opinion.


You don't honestly believe she was nuked from the site because of this right?
If so you are wrong, I will not go into details here what went on. It was many things over a long period of time.
All I can say is wait for  Martin to sign back on.
Two sides to every story

I don't know honestly, but I hope not That's all I meant, was that it would be sad if that was the case.

I think I was pretty honest about what happened, so I would be very interested in seeing the "side" that Martin would post. I think it would be better if he just posted what was said to me, and what I said to counter it, and give people credit enough to decipher what happened themselves.

That's my vote, and it won't happen because they'll say something akin to "we feel no need to explain ourselves in this matter as it has already been decided, just know that whatever events lead up to it did give us reason to go about it the way we did ~ Your loving and caring art overlords"

but hey, I could always use a dose of humility. Prove me wrong.

this has very less to do with Juro's annoying awards, and more about his character as a moderator.

"I think it would be better if he just posted what was said to me, and what I said to counter it, and give people credit enough to decipher what happened themselves."

I agree with you on that fully.
Let the words speak for themselves.

Oh and this is something for 'breast' lovers:
http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/3790/mainphpg2viewcoreel7.jpg

Folks, something like 86 people died today 'cause an earthquake caused a tsunami in Indonesia. The Middle-East is exploding like it's the 4th of July. The average lifespan of most of Africa is around 27 years of age due to AIDS.

Let's cool down and get some perspective. Kiss and make up?

I couldn't agree more addicted2macs, but you know...when you live your life with your ass glued to a computer chair the drama of online communities really starts to seem important...

I really don't think the mods should kiss anybody

I'm wondering if, when Cypherx really stepped over the line as kittykat says nobody here knows about that o_O

This drama is better than any soap opera on TV or even the real life... dah

OMG!

no way is this better than Emmerdale! They had a show house blow up the other day! A full sized small house! Beat that!

Imagine if you just woke up in the shower this instant and discovered that the internet hadnt even been invented never mind this thread in GFX! Wow I could invent it again, only thing is I still don't even know how to put links in the say what! So it would be the most ironic of predicaments...I have the idea for a world wide web and havent got the foggiest what the hell I should do!

Hmnnn, yes, how to address that, Addicted.

Well I won't do it and try to sound "nice", as we've already established that's not my method, but to suggest that anyone is trifle because they're paying attention to this (mind you, you're not neglecting your posts, kumquat), is absurd. People die every day, people fall in love, etc etc. To suggest that this doesn't matter because it doesn't hold that sort of magnitude or because it's just written text & means nothing seems ridiculous, especially coming from someone who seems to have the Internet plugged into themselves as much as anyone else here.

I say that if something does matter to someone, doesn't matter if it's life, death, the little things that make us happy, sad, etc. Then let it matter to them, and stop trying to put them down because you're so high and mighty and above it all.

Just because I didn't have someone I know die today, doesn't make my little drama any less important than anyone else's in the world, what matters is it's important to me, and the same goes for anyone else. I shouldn't doubt the validity of my feelings because I'm not being shot at.

Jen I have an idea why don't you go paint! keep your self busy and stop digging your self into a bigger hole
you have brought down the whole entire site today and that pisses me off.

Bigger hole? How exactly could I dig myself into a bigger hole than having my main account banned? And by “brought down” do you mean I've sunken the spirits of the entire site, and I've singlehandedly ruined everyone's day? Or do you perhaps mean that too much attention was focused on this as opposed to whatever it is you have going on.

And I don't think that by me expressing my opinion & side of things I've done anything wrong. People can always choose to ignore it, or not, but I guess that's why you're upset, isn't it? *grin*

I'm not arguing the validity of your dispute, I'm just saying that sometimes a little perspective is in order.

I'm a member of a couple online communities--'cause I'm an admitted geek--and this type of thing pops up all the time. It's a shit storm for a day or two, and then it blows over.

Of course it's important to you. Obviously it's important to a lot of people. But, this, too, shall pass. And tomorrow morning, we'll all wake up in our comfy beds, maybe go to jobs, maybe go to school, fire up our fancy computers and tablets, and keep doing what we're doing.

It's all a bit silly, isn't it?

im upset cause you are dragging everyone into this. this is your problem not theirs. Go express your self in a painting, stop your ranting its boring.
enough is enough all ready.

Well I think that suggesting anyone's mind is being taken away from what's really important was where I faulted you, as it goes without saying that travesties are ongoing and this is small. Remember those same tragic events will be forgotten tomorrow, so know that I'm well aware that people here won't care about this, or even remember it or me next week.

Doesn't mean I'm going to shut my trap about it for the moment though

Pam, I didn't "drag" anyone into this. If they responded it was their choice, you can ask any of them, as I never twisted anyone's arm, nor asked anyone to respond.

PS- I dig how you claim that it's so boring, but you can't stop yourself from hitting that refresh button, can you?

ill remember you

Ok, that's it...I'm unpublishing all my work and "leaving" if I have to read any more of this plebeian claptrap! Then I'm going to find out where Martin lives and I'm going to PICKET in front of his house! After that I'm going to find out where Glenn lives and I'm going to take a DUMP on his lawn. That'll TEACH him!! Then I'll probably cut myself and paint a mural with my OWN BLOOD!!!

do the mural after the mid day sun has gone Brandon, as you will find doing it at the hottest time of the day, will dry your blood quicker than you can blend your reds. I find early morning or early evening is best, still good amount of natural daylight and it is always at a nice position in the sky.

I think the mural should be in your own blood and fecal matter, as that always makes more of a "woe is me" statement.

It's funny, when you think about it.

Back when I was a kid, I'd go over and hang out at a friends house for the day. I'd have fun, maybe grab lunch, watch TV--just sit back and enjoy myself. But the minute I started fighting with my friend, or yelling at his mom, I'd get sent home!

The nerve.

Yes, but kids don't have many rights anyhow, often adults tend to ignore their opinions and write them off as not important. Let's deal with all people as children are dealt with. There is no gray area, only the parents will, and that's the right way! Hear hear!

wow! this is going straight to hell...
maybe you are loosing a chance to change some things, for the ones who like this comunity I mean.
I'm surprised by some people here, you should try to make this a better place instead of make fun of it.
For the ones who are worried for the starving children, the freezed homeless and the bombarded civilians... c'mon... I mean... pffff...

TOLEDO Are you saying that I am making fun of starving children? I did that last week!!! pay attention.

...speaking of starving children, I'm pretty hungry...

damn...

I had at least 3 starving children today...and let me tell you, they're nothing but skin and grissle. Hardly enough to fill the stomach. I much prefer a nice fat bureacrat and a flowery merlot.

I prefer grilled gammer/gaffer goiters, troglodytes truffles, stewed spinsters, and roasted rubes, myself. So where are we dining tonight, Dean?

time to go watch Chef Ramsey yell alot.

I like waffles

Just be careful... If you don't roast a rube just right, they can be a bit stringy. The key is the marinade....

ill take you to MacDonalds....because i'm such a classy guy, I'll take you inside...no drive thu.

She makes a good point actually.

Although... since this is privately owned the owners can do what they will.

inside McDonalds?! I've dreamt of going there but thats just for the rich people they always stop me at the door

lol Chef Ramsey! Just call him Gordon, we do!

Dean, you just gave me chills! It's like 'Say Anything' when John Cusack held the boom box above his head. I feel the love!!

Can somebody upload a Peter Gabriel tune, damnit?

YAY for Dean! *sigh*

I think the answer is clear, get rid of certain mods and hire new ambiguous administrators (you can tell the good mods by the fact that you cant remember their names, these are the ones that are doing their job correctly IMO)

I'm suprised that so many of you guys and girls seem to be content with putting this down to "being banned for expressing your opinions" and whatnot. Brandon said it quite well, there is more to it than meets the eye and you shouldn't be judging us so quickly. Sure, someone was banned who was a good artist, but that doesn't mean they acted responsibly or appropriately.

If the site was turning as bad as some of you claim it to be, i wouldn't be here either. Although i am a moderator, it doesn't mean i'm not an artist anymore, and that i don't care what is / is not happening here in terms of guidelines etc. Most of our members are very nice and understanding, when i unpublish works, i give a polite reason and 99% of the time they send me back a message saying that they understand etc etc.

We are not adverse to talking with you if you have a problem with a decision we've made, sometimes we'll tell you you can repost or whatever is the appropriate thing to do in your situation, it's when you start abusing us, or ignoring us completely that we get a little annoyed. Cypherx went WAY past that line.

I "know" (in terms of seeing you around and commenting and speaking to you etc) a lot of you here, and i'm glad to see there are a few people here that realise how silly this kind of inflammation of a situation is. *sigh*

Oh and at  Byonder and  Andy--Jones ...... you guys crack me up I've been reading your posts on this topic and i can't stop laughing

hey I am deadly serious all the time MePhistoZor!

But now this is my advice. Everyone shoud seriously just kiss and make up. No matter how upset anyone has got or hasnt got its not really that important in the end, whatever the arguments!

Group hug!!!! Only I don't do group hugs on account of my englishness but you lot all group hug!