Moderator rulings

[Leistung]

Is there generally any thought given to past moderator decisions when a decision is made, or are the rules basically applied as if a ruling had never been made before (even if the case is similar or identical)? I suppose my overall question is this -- can moderators arbitrarily reverse past decisions when similar circumstances apply? Do the NS forums operate on a policy of stare decisis?

[Kryozerkia]

Most rulings take into account the rules, the post in question, the posts that may have led to it, if it wasn't an OP and the poster's history. If they are unknown to moderation, as in, they have no prior offences, they will be let off with a fair warning. A more severe action will warrant a more severe response. Stare decisis is not commonly practiced here. We would follow more of a 'civil code' system. Common offences, however, will often get the response. Specific or unusual won't; those tend to get custom-tailored responses.

Oh and since you seem to like the principal of stare decisis, I gather you also know that because it's an equitable common law principle, it does not remain static; it can change over time to reflect the nature of the rules.

[Leistung]

One cannot change the ruling on a near-identical incident a week later if the rules have not changed since then under common law. However, since we use a more arbitrary system for determining punishments and wrongdoing, I guess we can. Just wondering.

[Midlauthia]

So why were Franberry, and others banned last week for using a user's name but Nessika was not banned this week for using a user's name?

[Reploid Productions]

Because they were posting a user's entire IRL name without permission. Identifying information that could, in certain circumstances, result in harassment or other such actions against the player in real life.

In this instance, calling someone "Jared" is hardly identifying information. "Jared" is a common enough name, and no one in this case posted his full IRL name without permission. A simple shortening of his username is not identifying information.

That is the difference.

[Midlauthia]

My bad, it was Yootopia
viewtopic.php?p=2857#p2857

[Reploid Productions]

And the poster he's talking about never confirmed whether or not Yoo's guess was his actual name. (I should hope not, but common sense seems to be lacking on the Net sometimes.) Jar had plenty of time prior to finally landing in hot water with the mods to have told Yoo not to use that spacing/capitalization of his nation's name; he never did, opting instead to keep on about being called "Jared." So we're assuming that Yoo's variation on the spacing/capitalization of Jar's username was not in fact his real name.

If Jar's player wants to notify a mod privately or via the Getting Help page as to whether or not it's his full real name being tossed around, he's welcome to do so.

[Scolopendra]

Let's look at it this way:

Anything a user reveals about themselves in their username is fair game.

"Lastnametonia" has just revealed to the world that his last name is "Lastname." If other people pick up on that, there's only one person Mr. Lastname can blame that on, but if other people start calling him Firstname Lastname, then that's not kosher as Mr. Lastname has not offered up that information.

"FirstnameLastnametonia" has just revealed to the word his entire name. If people call him Firstname, Lastname, Firstname Lastname, some diminutive form of Firstname, etc. he's only himself to blame for having no idea how to maintain operational security on the Internet. He's blatantly advertised it and therefore it's patently absurd to try for the mods-as-weapons tactic of suddenly deciding that people can't call him the name he's already revealed. Should someone start posting his address, on the other hand, that would be a problem.

"FirstnameLastnameMailingaddresstonia" is too stupid or naive to use the Internet.

Seeing how this is turning into a "gee let's talk about JaredCohen-ia some more" thread, are we done here, or shall I enforce my previous closing of JaredCohen-ia topics?

[Midlauthia]

Let's look at it this way:

Anything a user reveals about themselves in their username is fair game.

"Lastnametonia" has just revealed to the world that his last name is "Lastname." If other people pick up on that, there's only one person Mr. Lastname can blame that on, but if other people start calling him Firstname Lastname, then that's not kosher as Mr. Lastname has not offered up that information.

"FirstnameLastnametonia" has just revealed to the word his entire name. If people call him Firstname, Lastname, Firstname Lastname, some diminutive form of Firstname, etc. he's only himself to blame for having no idea how to maintain operational security on the Internet. He's blatantly advertised it and therefore it's patently absurd to try for the mods-as-weapons tactic of suddenly deciding that people can't call him the name he's already revealed. Should someone start posting his address, on the other hand, that would be a problem.

"FirstnameLastnameMailingaddresstonia" is too stupid or naive to use the Internet.

Seeing how this is turning into a "gee let's talk about JaredCohen-ia some more" thread, are we done here, or shall I enforce my previous closing of JaredCohen-ia topics?

So even if Lastnametonia posts the name of his president Firstname Lastnametonia that's alright? I'd call that advertising.

[Somewhereistonia]

So even if Lastnametonia posts the name of his president Firstname Lastnametonia that's alright? I'd call that advertising.

If you used your own name as a character in an RP, this would almost certainly be a name used in that RP by other people (assuming the RP gets anywhere). People are unlikely to know that the president has the same name as the posters, but I'd say if you post your name around a public forum, then its ok for other people to post it in that same forum.

[Scolopendra]

So even if Lastnametonia posts the name of his president Firstname Lastnametonia that's alright? I'd call that advertising.

If you used your own name as a character in an RP, this would almost certainly be a name used in that RP by other people (assuming the RP gets anywhere). People are unlikely to know that the president has the same name as the posters, but I'd say if you post your name around a public forum, then its ok for other people to post it in that same forum.

Indeed. This isn't rocket science (and I should know), most people are capable of making the distinction between some sort of fictional character (and thus possibly a completely random name) and an actual person. When it comes to several people who happen to know that the actual person's name is the same as the fictional character and then use that fact to harass the actual person, well, that's not quite kosher, is it?

Mid, you have no interest in "fairness." You want your own little petty group to get away with its bullying by playing rules lawyer. Sorry, pal, but it isn't going to fly here, especially seeing how I've been dealing with your ilk for about six years now and it's always the same sad tired old thing.

Hopefully you have something new to bring to this discussion so it won't simply complete the same boring circle. Otherwise, you may now go off to your offsites and gripe about how bad and unjust the mods (especially that damned bastard Scolopendra) are, with my blessing.

[Hryvatia]

You want your own little petty group to get away with its bullying

In the hope of refraining from causing further escalation, I'm going to ignore this comment.

[Kryozerkia]

To prevent "further" escalation, I'll just lock the topic. I'm sure once other mods see this, they will offer up their two cents. For now, a lock will have to suffice.