User Infraction System: How to award it to a member?

[MrSS]

User Infraction System: How to award it to a member?

Forum moderators will surely love discussion about giving infraction points to member. Not because Mods loves to give infraction points, but because every Moderators have their own preferences and tolerance before giving it to a member. I'm hoping, this way we can learn, share and discuss each ones way in awarding infraction point(s) to a member.

Based on vBulletin Manual, User Infractions defined as:

The User Infraction system is designed to automate the management of misbehaving users.

Infractions carry a point total that is awarded to users. When a user reaches pre-determined point levels, the user is given infraction groups. Infraction groups are set up to restrict the permissions of users.

The system can also be configured to institute automatic bans based on points or number of infractions received.

Source: https://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/user_infractions

Among all members, Moderators (Super Mods, Global Mods and Admins) know how sophisticated, serious and powerful this system is (except to quick ban, but I will not discuss it). The forum rules & standards and etiquette of Moderator makes the difference how this system is being used and implemented.

On top of each infraction point(s) and warning point(s) given, for me, stating the clear reason why they receive it is a must. Through this, members will stop complaining and asking WHY's. Unfortunately, not all member are reading the PM they received when an infraction point / warning point is issued to them. Some of them get mad and immediately create a thread in Support Forum / Users Feedback to tell their rant and said how biased and unfair the Moderators.

What to think in giving infraction point?

First is bear in mind the first reference is the almighty rules. By acting based on the rules, it'll give you more solid ground to stand on and making your action right.

Investigate why a member violated the rule. This suggestion requires some more explanation. Some Moderators consider different factors before awarding a infraction to a member, such factors might be date of registration, post count, contribution to forum and what initiated them to commit a violation. By doing so, a Mod can extract the real cause of the violation and will respond when all evidences were gathered.

Check the history of that member to know if that member have committed violation before or received an infraction before. If none, the discretion is up to the Moderator in charge.

If you are not sure how to handle it, tap other Mod to help you out. I also highly suggest to create a thread in Moderators head quarters to discuss the said violation, esp. those violations seems like neutral. Moderating requires patience and good sense of judgement. Some decision are better made by experienced Mods. Heeding their advise is a good practice of subordination.

Do not take everything so seriously. Learn to set aside your personal grudges to that member if he committed a violation. Emotions will affect your judgement so as your decision. You might said wrong leading to stain your reputation as a Moderator. Think for the best interest of the forum you are moderating, not to avenge and make the violator life a living hell. Remember, Moderators are evaluated, any abuse of authority or power tripping might revoke your Moderator status.

I'm running out of idea ... Feel free to add some more.

Is their any alternative to give infraction system?
Definitely there is. Some moderators used to send a PM (private message) to that violator instead of awarding infraction point. For me this one works better than infraction point. I will be scared receiving a private message from a Moderator and remind me for my violation, and I will feel thankful because that Mod take PM as alternative to infraction point. Members love lite talk compare to red mark in their account.

Sad story I experienced and experiencing ...
I feel bad when a Moderator keeps on giving infraction point for every violation he see. For me this looks like power tripping and injustice. Though I know I got nothing to do with it, we have our different beliefs and practices, I respected that.

I'd said (too) much. Thank you for reading! Hoping for some inputs!

Regards,
MrSS

[snakeair]

There are times when a PM might resolve a forum issue rather then going the other measure of using the warning/infraction system. It's up to the moderator depending on what the issue was.

I'm not really going to comment to much on this thread.

Cricket might give me another infraction.

All forums have a suggestions/feedback or some sort of section to ask questions for the admin or mod's to reply to. People need to use that chance to ask questions about the forum rules in certain categories to be sure they do things right.

Joining the forum and first post clearly violates the forum rules doesn't make the moderators happy as they know from the get go that the member had no intention of reading the rules. Makes it a little more easy to issue a real warning if it happens with the next couple of posts.

If people would follow the forums rules from the start and bite there tongue sometimes and not reply to certain posts, they wouldn't run into problems with that forums moderators which could lead to a infraction for themself as well. The report post feature is there to notify the moderators to investigate or to remove spam. Don't reply to the spammer because that wouldn't make a moderator happy.