Celeste
Moderation & Game Corruption
2007-06-16 12:16 PM PDT
Explanation Start
Corruption!
- Yes it's awful, no one likes it! It needs to die. What is this Corruption?
Well it could be staff members, it could be players/members. Either way they set an unbalance and a lack of morality where-ever they go, whether it be through hacking or favoritism, clearly it is an unwanted thing in any server.
Rules and Staff
- Staff members that go out and break the very rules they are advocating are hypocrites and should be removed from any moderation position.
These staff members can go from anywhere to giving special treatment to themselves, to others and even harassing other members for their different opinions... or even sexual harassment.
Friend to Staff 'Personal' Relations.
- This type of corruption is often very easy to spot and can cause a-lot of problems especially if someone brings that information publicly. This could actually lead to a banishment or the staff member losing their position(s).
Other types of corruption are most commonly seen in staff members of a server or servers... Generally where players/members get away with just about everything simply because they are friends or friends of friends with the staff member that is administering punishment.
Whether it be hacking, bug exploitation, harassment, discrimination, and or other players receiving special benefits. Clearly, this method of moderation favoritism needs to be put to an end ( on any server that has it ), as it has caused a lot of injustice.
The type of injustices that can follow are also unfair removal of posts, threads, unwanted threats by staff members and even the extreme ban. All for what? Simply for voicing out to the community about what was really going on?
Staff Administering Punishment
- Any staff member that uses their granted moderation abilities or even development abilities to punish players beyond what is necessary for the basics can be considered corrupt.
For example: Using abilities to publicly humiliate other members/players who have violated the rules, or are simply just disliked by the staff member.
Using abilities to lag/crash someone else's system who have violated the rules, or are simply just disliked by the staff member abusing their powers.
Either way, sticking to the basic punishments is perfectly fine. Creating "unique" punishments can only be deemed corrupt through the eyes of the community and even the law.
Staff Indulgence
- Other forms of corruption are when the moderator doesn't necessarily abuse her/his powers. But uses them appropriately and then boasts how the player was in the wrong.
For Example: "This thread fails" or something along the lines.
If the moderator crosses the line further such as insulting the person breaking the rules, then that moderator too should be punished.
Another thing to note that when dealing with this type of corruption, there should never be exceptions. A moderator must be consistent to their job and not place their personal feelings or make personal attacks, above what they were hired to do.
A moderator that boasts their powers can be seen as a modtroll: Someone who must feel superior to someone else and rub it in their face(s)
Biased Favoritism
- Many types of this favoritism can come into play. For example if moderating was needed and the member is female and there is an identical situation with a male member. The staff member may treat the female differently even though the situation's were identical.
Sometimes even race, nationality, orientation and religion will come into play. Generally when you come across this type of favoritism, when races are involved... you can see a bit of racism as well.
Any staff member that would degrade another player based on their location, race, religion or orientation without looking at individual merit... is a corrupt staff member.
Rigging Events
Staff to Friends and Events
- Often on many servers you will see special events, where prizes are generally involved. Well some staff members, ( the ones usually in charge of the occasion ) would contact a player and give them tips or hints as how to win an event. This is called Rigging. Generally done through alternative communication such as *IM's or *VOIP programs.
Relationship to Staff
- This is also a high yielding problem, where an unqualified person would be hired simply because they are the girlfriend or boyfriend of an already existing staff member.
It can also continue to a worsening situation where the unqualified would begin to abuse their powers, granting special treatments as said above under "Friend to Staff 'Personal' Relations."
If the girlfriend or boyfriend are not an employee but are still receiving benefits from their counterpart... then this is still favoritism. Yes, favoritism. The only exception would be is if the treatment did not involve the server they were moderating.
Staff to Members and Favors
- Many staff members have tried to bribe members into staying quiet, by using methods seen above. These bribes generally involve a-lot of disgraceful methods.
Other times, the members are trying to bribe the staff out of punishment, or into special treatment. Whether it be acting nice, pretending to be a friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, giving money, or even sexual favors... Both acts are undesirable for a professional Moderator.
Real Life Corruption
- Whether it be real life or on a game, this corruption is in-fact pretty similar and can be spotted just the same. The only thing that is sadder... is that online corruption can be more difficult to get rid of.
Explanation Finish
- In ending there are people that try to put this type of corruption to an end. There are also those that try to pin corruption on others. Even the very ones trying to stop it. Always have an open mind when facing a corrupted situation, one side could be lying while the other completely true. If your luck runs out, both sides could be corrupted!
In ending any moderator that will succumb to bribing is a moderator unqualified for her or his position.
*IM = Instant Message
*VOIP = Voice Over Internet Protocol
~Mewi~
Celeste (mewi)
2007-06-16 1:55 PM PDT
Thanks Jones! I added Biased Favoritism to the list because well that's just a needed one =) Hope you enjoyed the reading ^___^ Feel free to show it to any of your moderators if you feel they are doing any of that stuff! *Gives you a cookie*
Nice blog entry!