My confusion comes from the following two posts:
The One Stop Rules Shop says (emphasis added):
Appeals
For forum problems, you should start on the forums, preferably in the same thread where the original ruling was handed down. Asking for a second opinion is permitted. An exception to this is a forumban - that must be made via Getting Help to avoid breaking forumban. If two or more mods have already ruled on that case, or the thread is locked, that's it for the forums. Your next stage is a Getting Help request, or Final Appeal.
For game problems, Getting Help is your first choice. You may ask for a review of moderation decisions. If there are also forum issues, include links to the theads. For deletions, be certain to include another nation name or an email address where you may be reached. Game rulings are logged by the system, so we know who made the original ruling and will pass it to a different Game Mod for the appeal.
Final Appeals
If you feel that the first appeal was unjust, you may post a final appeal via the Getting Help page. Please note in your request that this is a final appeal. The appeal will be logged where all mods can see it, and will be judged by a panel of no less than three mods, excluding the original ruling mod and including at least one Senior Game Mod. The presence of a Senior is to ensure the panel is sufficiently experienced, not to provide a higher authority: the panel's decision will be reached by consensus, with no individual having greater influence than another.
Frivolous appeals may result in warnings to your nation. Most forum warnings and minor forumbans are likely to be considered frivolous. Final appeals may take several days, so be patient.
Admins, including Max Barry, are not moderators: they are not involved in rulings, including appeals. If you bypass this process and go directly to admin, they will almost certainly toss it back at the mods, or simply ignore it. Admins will only be involved in cases involving changes to the game framework, or serious claims of moderator abuse; e.g. that would require a moderator to be stood down. In this case, admins will be alerted by mods.
Please remember to remain polite and courteous at all times. This makes the appeal easier on everybody, including you.
A recent Senior Moderator ruling said (in part, emphasis in original):
Before I get into the details of this audit and what it means, I want to remind our players that the Moderation forum is not the place to file appeals. Appeals are to be filed via GHR, in part to prevent this exact spectacle from occurring. This and this should be GHRs, and this is completely unnecessary. Typically whatever punishment/warning/whatever we hand down is between us and the offender, and is not the concern of a third party. If you'd like to commiserate or discuss a friend's warning, please do it in TG or offsite. Since the proper appeals process was not carried out, I am auditing myself rather than calling in another mod to handle this.
....
I am confused on several grounds (and have one comment):
1. I fully understand the Senior Moderator's comments about third parties. Although I disagree with this policy, I believe I understand this is forum policy. I do take the rebuke seriously.
2. Unless a forumban is involved, the OSRS seems clear that the first request for second opinions should be made in the original Moderation thread, not in GHRs as the Senior Moderator suggests. Could someone please explain what is the "proper process" for a request of a second opinion on a Moderation ruling in an unlocked thread?
3. The OSRS itself is a bit confusing and the Senior Moderator's comments muddy the waters further as to the proper process. Is a request for second opinion the same as a first appeal? Does one get a second opinion, a first appeal, and a final appeal? Or does one get a first appeal and a final appeal and that is it?
Thank you for any light that can be shed on this and any time taken doing so.
