How strict to be?

How strict should you be on your forum? If you are too strict (not crazy but enforcing every single rule violation, not giving second-chances, etc.) then members accuse you of Gestapo tactics.

If you are too lenient, then members claim that your forum isn't enjoyable because it's like a madhouse.

Finding that perfect balance isn't easy... so how do you maintain a board without being too lenient or too strict?

 

Running a forum is like dealing with children. There is no right or wrong answer.

 

I tend to imply I won't care until I strike hard. It's a sneak attack-based system.

 

You just have to try to get an idea of what the members think; post plenty of polls, discussion threads, etc. And be sure to ask the moderators, as they may be closer to the regular members than you are.

 

I agree. And what is a good solution to a grumpy kid? Tickling!

Distract the situation and make people laugh. Usually helps a bit.



When somone puts up something that is not good I just ask "what did you mean?" or "how do you think others will react to what you just said?" I don't that is too strict.

 

It depends on the situation at hand. For this, I'll be using two (different) scenarios, both of which include my friend Bob.

Scenario # 1: Bob is a well-known, active member of a discussion forum based around the topic of classic car care. One day, a fellow member decides to post a comment (regarding Bob) that is not only insulting, but downright uncalled for. In the process of doing so, this member has broken a few of the more important forum rules:

• Insulting another member (which is not tolerated).
• Making an elevated personal matter (against another member - Bob) public.

Because he has broken these rules, administrative action is warranted - however, Bob, being the forgiving individual that he is, decides to be the "bigger man" by making an attempt to resolve this via a private form of communication. Doing so proves to be effective, and because of this, Bob requests that any action taken against the other member be revoked and/or dropped. The other member then admits to making a rather hasty decision, and apologizes. All is well.

Scenario # 2: As mentioned above, Bob is an active member of a classic car care discussion forum. One day, Bob decides to post a few pictures of his newly purchased "baby", excited and eager to receive responses from his fellow members. Unfortunately, the first member to respond to his thread is a notoriously hostile individual, who decides to post a response containing a variety of cuss words and false accusations.

Before taking any drastic action, Bob decides to work this out privately - or, make an attempt to. Shortly after sending a message to this "problem member", he receives a response back... one that is immature and insulting. Because of this, administrative action is taken and the member is dealt with.

 

Depending on the kind of forums you run one should be either very strict to not strict at all.

On an anime site you have to be fairly strict. We have to beware of the pedo's and the Ecchiness that might arise. We get a lot of raids and such. So like for raids we insta-ban and such...

 

i dont have a swear filter turned on at all...and my members know not to abuse it...Im a very active admin in my forums...so they know things will get shut down quick.

Its like this...I'm giving them an inch....as long as they dont take a mile we're fine...if they start taking bigger steps towards that mile...the hammer of justice falls. ;-)

 

I am not so strict other than when it comes to insulting staff, insulting members and spamming advertisements. The balance is damn hard to find!

 

i let the members have fun and its very relaxed, but im not afraid to ban members who are breaking the rules.

if you are too laid back and let members get away with too much, the trolls will take advantage of it, and the trolling would put off the members.
if you are too strict, members wont want to come cause theyd be afraid of breaking a rule and being banned.

 

Set forth a set of rules and make sure the members follow them. If you have certain steps you'd like to follow through, make the members aware of them. For example: First offense, warning, second offense, official warning, third offense, infraction worth <x> points; etc.