Help - forum is in war!

Have there been a war on your forum?
Half of the community is on one side, another half is on another side.

For example, one influential member of your forum (named Y) hates member X. Whatever X writes, Y comes and starts provoking him, sometimes in a very subtle way. X replies, then Y replies back and the war begins. Half of the members of the forum are sympathetic with X and try to protect him. Another half of the forum are the friends of Mr.Y. Whatever Y says, they approve it in their posts. Discussion goes on and on. It becomes more violent and less subtle. The real war begins.

You can't ban Mr.Y, because if you do that, half of your forum will go away with him. You can''t ban Mr. X, because he is innocent.

What would you do in such situation?
What is correct solution to this problem?

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I've had similar drama a few times, but it usually dies down on it's own after a few days, and most such members return pretty quickly anyway. Just do what you think is right and it won't be that much of a catastrophe.

 

Fixed.

 

Right. Is this the proper solution, despite of the political situation on my forum?

 

I'd ban the Troll, Mr Y. And then you need to inform those that are Y's followers that he's costing you in moderation time, time that should be spent on decent members not trolling.

 

Yes, at the end of the day, this is YOUR site. You're the boss, not him. I think maybe they are flocking to him as he appears to be the true leader...everybody likes a leader.

Just stamp your authority down, but reassure all of your members first.

 

Agreed. As the owner, it's YOUR standards that matter.

 

ban the people who started it. tell the other members involved if they continue the argument they will also be banned.

one forum i am on had to close cause the members all began to take sides in an argument between two admin, now we are two seperate forums who hate eachother

 

Absolutely. I would of have no fear of people leaving (aka his followers), because if they didn't and kept acting the way they did I'd eventually just ban them too.

 

Thank you all!

I am trying to resolve the situation. I warned Mr.Y that if he does just one wrong step, he will be banned. And I don't care for his followers. Goodbye to all of them.

 

Maybe not a perma ban, but, you could always put him in a 3-7 day time out.

 

Sure. The problem is - the more warnings he gets, the crazier he becomes.
It is more and more difficult to control him. I don't know in which state of mind will he be after the temporary ban.

 

Ban Mr. Y.

I was in pretty much the exact same situation, thinking that my own 'Mr. Y' would take half the forum with her if she left. I got rid of her.

You know what my regret now is?

Not getting rid of her two years earlier.

People like Mr. Y tarnish your community's reputation. They drive away new members and push out old ones. They taint your community's very atmosphere with their presence, which also subtly drives away members.

Basically, since getting rid of my own 'Mr. Y' problem, my community has exploded in size, friendliness, and activity.

Oh, they tried to make their own site.

Twice.

They get about ten posts a month between the three of the forums now. It was originally a lot more popular, of course, but, just be patient.

Let them start their rival forum.

Enforce your friendlier atmosphere. Welcome the rivals. Differences of opinion are a good thing.

You have an established community. All current connections are on your community. You have a head start in terms of getting search engine results. You have more administration experience.

You simply have more relevant resources at your disposal. By virtue of running the community. It took Elliquiy years to catch up to RPoL and we still haven't truly passed them.

So er. Yeah.

Ban Mr. Y.

 

if they do make their own forum to rival yours, most forums created by members who were banned or left another site after falling out with admin usually fail. members who are not on the original forum wont see the point in a hate site for another forum, cause they have no reason to hate it, yet members will join your forum. forums made by all the trolls your forum doesnt want, usually are full of nastiness and negativity and your forum will always be friendlier.

 

Yep.

Infract or warn him (whatever your forum uses), telling him to stop trolling the innocent member.

If he continues, continue issuing them until he gets warranted a ban.

Speaking from experience here.

 

The guy (actually, he was a moderator) got banned. :yes:

After pleading him for some time, I realized - there is no use. He did not want to change. I banned him, and I am so happy and relieved now.

The bad thing is that I lost 2 moderators, who took his side. Never mind. I will find new moderators.

 

You are absolutely right. Such people just spoil the atmosphere on the forum. They put the community on fire. This is horrible! The sooner the better - yes, next time that will be my motto.

Oh, yes. This happens to me each time I ban someone. They go away and make their own forum. They dedicate their lives to hating and criticizing us. Very familiar to me. I think this will happen this time, too.

 

True. I have had this situation twice. The first forum died off. I don't know about another one.

 

Y appears to be stalking X and if that is so,banning him and telling the others that stalking a member and harassing/baiting are deserving a suspension or banning,depending on what is happening.

 

Maybe it's time for a little shake down of your mods anyway. Use this as a lesson towards the other mods. I'm sure there are plenty of other members that would not mind jumping at the chance to mod your site.

Let us know when you find the rival site Then make sure to put a word filter in place for it :rofl: