Hello. Here's just a little opinion piece, with a small lathering of news and information.

Everyone's noticed how the 'forums have deteriorated' and how people's attitudes are turning others away from here, or from gaming. Basically, this is just a short piece on how to counter some of that, so hopefully we can all benefit as we're all drinking from the same pool (meningococcal).

The first item on my list to address is that in 'real life', 11.5% of people are assholes (fact). Nice people generally aren't quite as noticed or remembered. In this community, the number is actually probably quite similar. However, change the latter aspect to 'in this community that actively post on the forums' and it bumps up to about 60%.

While I don't intend to lecture people, like I'm their parents or something (it's actually exactly what I intend to do) – people do need to be informed of what's up.

I'd like to cite Crows thread; there's many a handy-hint inside. However, I'd like to elaborate on some.

Really, do think before you make a new thread or post. To repeat some of Crow's thread; first ask yourself (pretend that you are a reasonable, mature person who is over the age of 16, at the very least) these questions:

"

Now that that's out of the way, before you post – further pretend you're NOT an asshole (for most, this won't be an issue because as I said, most people aren't assholes). Read over your post again, and confirm that there is a lack of 'being an asshole for no apparent reason'or at best, that it is completely abolished in the post. Then check to see if your post has any meaning, or point. See if it conveys an idea or opinion properly and appropriately. If you can tick off those boxes and you've asked those questions and the post still seems useful; go for it.

Of course, this shouldn't be considered for everything – we get rid of post counts for sections where there are, and probably should be a large amount of 'useless' posts, i.e. GG, well done, I'm a rat etc. in results and scrims threads.

Basically what I'm asking of the community is to just consider what they say and how they say it. Don't use the forums with the attitude "It's just the internet, not real life – so I can act how I want". Try to convey at least some of your own, legitimate personality – rather than just giving someone shit because there aren't any repercussions in real life, at least in most circumstances. If your real personality is that you're an asshole – hey, that's fine – you'll just be silenced regardless.

Attempt not to just bring people down because you're better than them, or they haven't achieved this or that – or nothing. You're a ******** if you do that. Sure, there are legitimate instances where it's necessary; rvials, etc. Just remember those few questions above though; does the general public care about the issue I have with "X" team, or "Y" person. We don't want to read about it. PM it, then he'll report you, then you'll report him and we'll ban both of you.

Now, let's move onto match chats. These are the little 'chats' between teams on their match details pages. We're going to start banning the shit out of people who start shit and are abusive in these. For instance, engaging the other team in conversation with the opening line "CGo rands" – makes you a moron. This all comes in line with our 'sportsmanship' rules, which we genuinely do not enforce enough. This is reflected in the increase in '****s' in around this 'ere place.

Parenting over, just attempt to act nicer towards one another. Or to put it more 'bluntly' "Don't be complete ****s to complete strangers using anonymity as your backbone." It's a hard thing to ask of most people, but if even a quarter or a twelfth of those who read this start to act a little bit better, it's a good thing.

We'll be bumping up the 'first time offences' in all forum bans, and re-working how we use ban histories. Falcano will address this soon in his own lil' thread. It'll further involve match bans on account of forum conduct. Usually, we do this when people go absolutely mental, do bad shit non-stop etc. While that'll still remain, we'll be introducing match bans much quicker in the process. An example, I guess, would be going into a team's results thread and saying 'You guys are ******* scrubby noob shit ****s' – or something to that effect. No ban history? Don't care. CG/forums in general are a privilege, not a right.

No doubt we'll receive the complaints about "Mods taking the fun out of CG" – those people generally (not all of course) who believe as such, are usually the people posting useless or abusive shit – and they are in fact, assholes. Moderation has been pretty lax the past year or so, mostly due to the fact that being an asshole has become accepted, embraced and has flooded the world.

I'd rather see 20 threads a day, all of notable worth – than 200 threads a day, where 10% are worthy.

The main reason you're on here is to share your hobby with everyone else; and everyone else has the same hobby as you. If your hobby is belittling and insulting people, fall down a ravine.

We're also going to try and fix up some of how the forums are organised, mayhap merge/delete some sections and get some sections to never appear in the recent posts/threads and whatnot. Will see what needs doing later.

Myself personally, I have the intentions to get back into gear, regarding CG. I've remained in a behind-the-scenes role for a while now whilst I've progressively had less and less time on my hands. I intend to be more 'public' so to speak.

All that being said, the community generally is great. The bad instances are just a lot easier to see and remember, than the good.

I'm not sure what kind of responses I expect below. Hopefully no more moaning about the community 'going downhill' as I'm pretty sure I covered that in my large moan. I'd rather a smile and nod, then don't post at all – but hey, suit yourself. I realise the above is somewhat unstructured (as mentioned at the beginning, it would be) and that it slightly conflicts with my desire to see people post not as such - but oh well, I've got to abuse my powers at some stage. While I could've added a lot more above, time has caught up with me yet again.

Too much talk of assholes, going to go cream-up some éclairs.


Regards,

Twilife

More forum mods imo.

Well ranted Twiffle.

More mature forum mods. Too many abusive trolling Mods mixed in with people that don't know what there doing.

Every section now regarded as formal. Minimum bans 1 month Global's.

BL trolls.

For sure... Enforce it.... I barely read half the posts any more because 9 out of 10 are ******ed.

I believe once Falcano returns from his 3-4 week holiday the forums will once again be addressed. It's a bit hard to sort CG related crap out when you're on holidays + you only have your iphone.

Thank god, hopefully this is the beginning of the end to most of the crap that goes on in the forums.
Maybe more moderators to enforce this should be considered?

oh god.
im not the worst person for trolling/abusing on this website though i have had a few bans.
but i really have to clean up how i talk to people etc.
thanks twilife.

YAY... bout ******* time... bring on the bans for the trolling little bastards posting bullshit... and bring on the threads that are actually worth reading.... wasnt even 12 months ago that you could sit for hours reading and reading threads people had put up because they were interesting.... now it's just ****ed.

Good job guys, means more work for you admins and mods, but yeah in making the community better thats what you guys are there for right

And yeah I agree another mod or 2 would be a pretty good idea

Very good read, a lot of points that I would of liked to get out to the community. Definitely would not of been able to get the message out as clear as you because of things that people look at such as, rep,post count,how long you have been around etc..

Honestly, if people made threads and actually thought about what you said at the start of your post, then there would be so much more interesting things to read on this site and everything would be a hell of a lot better, so props to you!

mods should be 18+, admins are giving out mods to ppl that do nothing, refs awarded to ppl that barely do it and PUG admins to rands who stuff around in pugs need to be thought better on whos given certain positions, will make this community way better,

Well said Twilife.

Its a few that ruin it for the rest as you stated.

Hopefully being stricter will make trolls think twice about posting rubbish.

Great work

im sick of people that talk shit on the forums

praise the lord.

This thread was a good read!


^This will definitely fix up the major trolling issues on the Forums; their attitude reflects that they have nothing to loose if they been an asshole on the forums. I think PUG Ban's would also make a good combination..

Shall be good to see the new banning guidelines implemented.