Against the rules to post about moderation?

[Dimwit Donald (very high IQ)]

Okay, I'm gonna be extra careful here, because, apparently, you can get banned from steam if you so much as note that there is "moderation" going on on the forums. So, not long ago I got banned from a game hub. The reason was "Steam rules prohibit posting about moderation". What I did was to explain in a post that 2 of my previous posts got deleted. That was the reason. I checked the guidelines and all I found was a rule that says not to "openly argue with a moderator", which I never did. I just explained what happened, not adressed or argued with anyone. After that I got angry and posted what had happened some time later, which resulted in a perma-ban. Again, I didn't argue, just explained what happened.

Has anyone been banned for this reason, too? Can moderators just make up rules as they please? I already reported one of the bans, but, even though I got banned for violating a rule that doesn't seem to exist, they just back each other, saying it was justified.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Game hub moderators can enforce the rules as they see fit, in line with the game devs rules for the hub.

Issues with a game hub moderator, contact the game dev.

[crunchyfrog]

Yup, game hub moderators are provided by those that own the game, not Valve.

However, yes you aren't allowed to discuss the circumstances about a ban or moderation. It DOES say this in the rules somewhere. Mods ALWAYS tell people this, and frankly when you get an infraction, it tells you EXACTLY what you should do - if you have a dispute you're to take it up with the moderator who sent you the message.

So, follow that and you'll be peachy.

You are free to ask about moderation and things in general. Just individual cases are not allowed for one very simple reason - it can serve no purpose other than to encourage flame wars. It CANNOT be solved on here, so that's why.

[J4MESOX4D]

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

Has anyone been banned for this reason, too? Can moderators just make up rules as they please? I already reported one of the bans, but, even though I got banned for violating a rule that doesn't seem to exist, they just back each other, saying it was justified.

To prevent mod abuse, you can raise the any hub issues with the developer and then further to Steam Support. As said, each board usually has its own rules outlined as provided by the developers or publishers but in the instance where a mod may be operating with their personal feels, you do have protections in place.

[Spawn of Totoro]

General Rules

Do not do any of the following:
Openly argue with a moderator

That is likely the rule they are referring to as discussing moderation tends to be about that. Most such threads/posts lead to nothing but arguing as well.

For the most part, to contest a ban/warning, you reply to the message and if that gets no reply, you can submit a support ticket through the link provided in the message.

For hub moderator issued ban/warning, the second step is to contact the game's developers as they are in charge of their moderators.

[Dimwit Donald (very high IQ)]

The hub in question doesn't have any special rules. There's a pinned thread that declares that they will perma-ban 1st offenders, just because. In my opinion that's abuse and should not be tolerated by steam. To treat paying customers like that isn't right. I also responded to the ban message. I told them to quote that rule for me, but they just ignore it. Noting that 2 posts were deleted from a discussion (only because I bypassed the word-filter for a four letter word for excrement...) is not "openly arguing with a moderator". You can't ban someone for that. Deleting someone's posts and threatening them not to tell anyone - that's just cyberbullying. Some moderators are just trolls with a license to ban.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

The hub in question doesn't have any special rules. There's a pinned thread that declares that they will perma-ban 1st offenders, just because. In my opinion that's abuse and should not be tolerated by steam. To treat paying customers like that isn't right.

They can do that if they choose to.

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

...(only because I bypassed the word-filter for a four letter word for excrement...) is not "openly arguing with a moderator". You can't ban someone for that.

Sure you can. Don't bypass the filter. You basically blew your 1 shot by doing so.

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

Deleting someone's posts and threatening them not to tell anyone - that's just cyberbullying. Some moderators are just trolls with a license to ban.

"Threatening?" You'll need to explain that.

[Satoru]

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=4045-USHJ-3810

Its pretty simple

See the rules

Stop breaking them

"Problem" solved

[Dimwit Donald (very high IQ)]

I read that guideline page a hundred times, there's no rule that says "don't talk about moderation".

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

"Threatening?" You'll need to explain that.

"Threatening" as in "Yeah, I deleted most of your posts, but if you dare mentioning it, I'm gonna ban you as well!" (which, ofc, I didn't know the first time)

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

The hub in question doesn't have any special rules. There's a pinned thread that declares that they will perma-ban 1st offenders, just because. In my opinion that's abuse and should not be tolerated by steam. To treat paying customers like that isn't right. I also responded to the ban message. I told them to quote that rule for me, but they just ignore it. Noting that 2 posts were deleted from a discussion (only because I bypassed the word-filter for a four letter word for excrement...) is not "openly arguing with a moderator". You can't ban someone for that. Deleting someone's posts and threatening them not to tell anyone - that's just cyberbullying. Some moderators are just trolls with a license to ban.

It is, actually. You are going around and complaining about the moderator's actions, despite it being with in the rules. The post seems to have been correctly removed. It can easily be seen as arguing against those actions.

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

"Threatening?" You'll need to explain that.

"Threatening" as in "Yeah, I deleted most of your posts, but if you dare mentioning it, I'm gonna ban you as well!" (which, ofc, I didn't know the first time)

I have yet to see anything like a threat as well. So far, only warnings.

[Heeby-Jeeby]

So he threatened to ban you and yet you did whatever it was you did. Then he banned you. Was it "wrong" to ban you? I don't know. Maybe. But you knew he would ban you and you essentially picked a fight knowing you would lose.

Why not just let it go? Maybe the mod was a jerk but this happens in real life, too. You pick a fight where you have zero chance of winning, guess what happens? You lose.

[Crazy Tiger]

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

You can't ban someone for that.

Yes, they can. They can ban you for anything.

What you seem to not understand is that it's not you who decides how rules are applied, how things go or when something can or cannot be done, that's up to the moderating staff.

Now if it was a general dickish move to ban someone, then Support might overturn it. But if you circumvent a filter, which you admit, you are breaking the rules. Then if you also argue about moderation, instead of letting it go, you're digging a hole. And you didn't just dig it, you apparently jumped in it.

[Dimwit Donald (very high IQ)]

How would you feel, if you posted constructively on-topic and then, for a petty reason and without even a notice, a moderator comes in and deletes half the thread, so we don't have to read that naughty, naughty excrement word. He didn't even care to remove the bypasses, just deleted everything. Odds are you might note something like "Oh, my posts got deleted. Thanks very much" --> BAAAN, "don't talk about moderation. I just invented that rule, because fu!"
This is harassment.

You will often see all kinds of profane language, users flaming each other etc. What moderators see unfit is completely arbitrary and they don't treat everyone the same.

[nullable]

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

How would you feel, if you posted constructively on-topic and then, for a petty reason and without even a notice, a moderator comes in and deletes half the thread, so we don't have to read that naughty, naughty excrement word.

It doesn't matter how you feel about it. Most of us have a good idea how to stay out of trouble. No one likes being punished, but one reaps what one sows...

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

He didn't even care to remove the bypasses, just deleted everything.

Your expectation moderators should clean up your crummy posts is an invention that has nothing to do with reality.

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

Odds are you might note something like "Oh, my posts got deleted. Thanks very much" --> BAAAN, "don't talk about moderation. I just invented that rule, because fu!"
This is harassment.

No it's not.

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

You will often see all kinds of profane language, users flaming each other etc. What moderators see unfit is completely arbitrary and they don't treat everyone the same.

Well other people breaking the rules isn't a pass to do the same.

I mean reading your post you seem to feel you can argue your way out of consequences or around issues, and that you can armchair lawyer yourself to exoneration, and what you have yet to realize is you're not the only paying customers, the publishers are too. Steam isn't going to enable mouthy retail customers to run amok on the forums the publisher controls. And the publishers aren't going to agree to that either.

We see these posts quite frequently where someone ignored or flaunted the rules, then claim abuse, harassment, bullying, unfairness. People demand specific rules be coughed up and an explanation they find satisfying. Claim other people do the same thing and if they didn't get banned that means no one can. They throw a gallon of spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. But you're not going to convince anyone that your anti-social behavior needs to be protected and is an important part of any forum.

[Dimwit Donald (very high IQ)]

Originally posted by Brockenstein:

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

How would you feel, if you posted constructively on-topic and then, for a petty reason and without even a notice, a moderator comes in and deletes half the thread, so we don't have to read that naughty, naughty excrement word.

It doesn't matter how you feel about it. Most of us have a good idea how to stay out of trouble. No one likes being punished, but one reaps what one sows...

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

He didn't even care to remove the bypasses, just deleted everything.

Your expectation moderators should clean up your crummy posts is an invention that has nothing to do with reality.

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

Odds are you might note something like "Oh, my posts got deleted. Thanks very much" --> BAAAN, "don't talk about moderation. I just invented that rule, because fu!"
This is harassment.

No it's not.

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

You will often see all kinds of profane language, users flaming each other etc. What moderators see unfit is completely arbitrary and they don't treat everyone the same.

Well other people breaking the rules isn't a pass to do the same.

I mean reading your post you seem to feel you can argue your way out of consequences or around issues, and that you can armchair lawyer yourself to exoneration, and what you have yet to realize is you're not the only paying customers, the publishers are too. Steam isn't going to enable mouthy retail customers to run amok on the forums the publisher controls. And the publishers aren't going to agree to that either.

We see these posts quite frequently where someone ignored or flaunted the rules, then claim abuse, harassment, bullying, unfairness. People demand specific rules be coughed up and an explanation they find satisfying. Claim other people do the same thing and if they didn't get banned that means no one can. They throw a gallon of spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. But you're not going to convince anyone that your anti-social behavior needs to be protected and is an important part of any forum.

If I was a moderator, I'd throw you a cookie now. But seriously, your provokations are just a trolling attempt and I'm not gonna fall for it. You have no idea what you're even talking about. "Anti-social" lmao

[Edifier]

Originally posted by Supreme Goat Lover:

BAAAN, "don't talk about moderation. I just invented that rule, because fu!"
This is harassment.

The rule has been quoted already and it's in the rule list.

General Rules

Do not do any of the following:
Openly argue with a moderator

That bolded part. In case you missed it.