Handling Popular but Troublesome Members

How do you go about handling a situation where a highly-respected, popular and active member breaks a rule? Maybe it's only one rule they broke, but a serious one - would you treat them (in terms of punitive action) any differently than you would a regular member?
Do they get extra chances and warnings?

 

This is kind of a sticky situation. If at all possible, I would see if the user is willing to acknowledge publicly that they shouldn't have done what they did.

 

I would just have a word with them in private. Some people are just too good to piss off. Call me a bad admin, I guess.

 

That is about how I feel...although I wouldn't continue allowing this bad behavior despite being a popular member.

 

No. Everyone gets treated the same.

Quietly handling things in the background via PMs. If out of control then there are ways to quiet them, at least on the forum. They will take it to other forums though.

 

There is no such thing.

People who flaunt their status tend to create a lot of resentment in the memberbase, especially if they hold the title of 'most active' - sometimes that activity is used to harass and choke off members they disapprove of. A person like this can easily be responsible for the death of your forum if not taken care of.

 

All members are treated equally, regardless of their social status within the community. Let's say one of the more popular members decides to bash another member - after doing so, he contacts me privately in an attempt to explain why he did so. Regardless of the reason, he'll be dealt with accordingly.

 

I deal with all my members the same, no one gets any different threatment.

 

I would tend to think the same way, but it's much easier said than done. :o

 

The first thing I would do especially if they were relatively new to the forum is to send a PM asking 'how are you doing?' 'Everything ok?'

It is quite possible they have no idea they are doing anything wrong. For instance I really have no idea if I'm doing something that bugs the people running AA for instance, it would be nice to have some type of communication as opposed to an infraction.


Some people on forums are simply not aware that they are a problem.

 

"The Badministrator"


I'll usually talk with them in private. I may be a little more biased with members like this.

 

I handle them the same as any other member.

I just let them slide a bit more as they are dedicated members.

 

This is true. Often they don't bother to read the rules or get to know the community before posting.

 

I treat all mine the same - even mods. That way no one can say anyone else got special treatment, one rule for all :

 

Some of the most active members on a forum are it's worst members. There is such a thing as too active. Heck..I see it here on these forums. IMHO if you don't have anything intelligent to add to a thread you just shouldn't post.

The whole "me too" or "I agree" posts are BS.

As for how to handle a popular troublesome member...you straight out ban them. Make it temp ban if you want but you can't allow a troublesome member on your forum. Despite the moniker of being "popular" the "troublesome" part can be a serious problem. You need to keep a tight lid on trouble. Never show weakness either. The problem will just get worse if you do.

 

i treat everyone the same cause ive been on forums where the admins let the older members get away with everything to the point where they walk all over the admin and get away with what they want.

if you start giving special treatment to the older members, you risk them feeling they are above the staff and they can get away with what they like.