Suggestion: Re-Train moderators on the rules of the forums.

[P R O P H Y L A X I S]

I just wish moderation was fair and consistent. Thats all.



If you want some context, someone has been stalking and harassing me for almost 2 years now. Theyve broken quite literally almost every rule outside of threatening violence.

Heres the rules they have broken:

- Insults or harassment

- Trolling or baiting arguments

- Discrimination

- Bypassing word or content filters

- Public accusations towards others

- Stalking

Kind of a bummer I have to deal with this because steam mods refuse to help me or moderate people breaking the rules. Reminds me of the 2 tiered justice system in the USA where, if you are rich enough or well connected enough you are 'above the law'.

Honestly I wonder if my stalker works for valve or has a steam moderator friend.

[Mr. Smiles]

This thread reeks of irony.

[AROCK!!!]

Originalmente postado por Tronne:

Originalmente postado por Thermal Lance:

Ladies and gentlemen! I just found a loophole!

yes go and share it with the rest of your group, heck have a celebration about it

If memory serves, I do believe he has mentioned several times he is a moderator, somewhere.

His behavior here, not to mention that of several of the former V-mods is a perfect example of unqualified people given positions of authority.

[AROCK!!!]

Originalmente postado por mldb88:

Originalmente postado por Everyone is Invited:

i believe the major issue steam has is when users show them that the ineffectiveness of bad moderation leads to more disclosure of steams gimmicks.

great example is steam doesn't like what a customer says so they ban them for unprofessional reasons, which leads the customer to rebuke steam when they return, and often leads to further comments which steam doesn't like.

Then then try to ban the customer again which eventually for most people steam wins, however a few are far more resourceful and refuse to let steam win, ultimately creating more discontent declarations about steam and its practices.

Moderation can't really stop them and since they are ineffective at doing so it creates even more hostility. sorta like a child that won't listen that they are grounded an continues to just do what they like, with steam being the parent demanding a grown adult takes a time out.

you can see the problem, steam overstepping its authority over its customers, giving people who are considerably less sociable to rule over customers. creating a divide between the platform and the customer.

it ends bad for steam and not for the customer in most cases. cause people simply don't care steam isn't going around saying "this customer is trash don't sell to this person" however the customer is going around telling others "don't buy from steam, steam is trash"

its a paradox that all started because of improper moderation that should of never happened in the first place. so who is really to blame? short answer is Steam's improper moderation.

its not the customers fault when they are improperly attacked. Steam employee's have clearly found a loop hole to harass customers, trying to belittle them and make them look foolish within the community, however is any of it really working?

I don't think it really is an steam is just wasting its own time trying to marginalize the damage it caused upon itself.

I'll ask again, any proof to back up those claims? The ones getting slapped consistently seem to be the ones consistently going off on some anti-moderation or anti-steam crusade, usually stemming from some justified ban in the past... or not getting a free Steam Deck just for feeling entitled to one...

I have had at least 10 bans revered, and there are plenty of others here that have had numerous bans reversed.

Given that, it really shows that there is a problem. I can see a ban being reversed here and there, but as I said, I've had at least 10 reversed, and it was one right after another.


I was in a thread once about STEAM remaining competitive in an increasingly competitive market.

One poster commented that Epic, GoG and consoles were no threat to STEAM, so I replied with accurate, demonstrable points to the contrary.

In less than 30 minutes my post was deleted and I was given a 3 day ban for...get this....being, off topic.


The company Valve employs to moderate the forums does not respond to reports that fast, period, and one really has to question why something like that would get reported in the first place.


I have a friend that works at Valve, and I can guarantee you that there are Valve employees here, moderating based on their biases, and I can also tell you that no one at Valve cares about it.


Also consider that several of the regulars are ex V-mods. Do you really think none of them cultivated relationships with Valve personnel, friends they can call on to deal with something that triggers them?


Now, you can believe me, or not, I really don't care what some random, anonymous forum person thinks.

[Mad Scientist]

Originalmente postado por 46.54% (BIG OOF):

Uh. I just told you they break like 6 different rules.

Didnt I?

Its not just disagreements.

For example, hes put so many clown awards on my post I had like 40,000 steam credits lol.

The issue is when people want to just say others are violating the rules when initially provoking others then claim replies or debunking or steam awards are "harassment" or other self declared violations.

Best to be squeaky clean when making accusations of others, for example, if one was found to be provoking others initially then claimed replies makes them a victim, it would be disingenuous.

As for awards;
Free steam points are free steam points.

[mldb88]

Originalmente postado por I block trolls, idiots & liars:

Originalmente postado por mldb88:

I'll ask again, any proof to back up those claims? The ones getting slapped consistently seem to be the ones consistently going off on some anti-moderation or anti-steam crusade, usually stemming from some justified ban in the past... or not getting a free Steam Deck just for feeling entitled to one...

I have had at least 10 bans revered, and there are plenty of others here that have had numerous bans reversed.

Given that, it really shows that there is a problem. I can see a ban being reversed here and there, but as I said, I've had at least 10 reversed, and it was one right after another.


I was in a thread once about STEAM remaining competitive in an increasingly competitive market.

One poster commented that Epic, GoG and consoles were no threat to STEAM, so I replied with accurate, demonstrable points to the contrary.

In less than 30 minutes my post was deleted and I was given a 3 day ban for...get this....being, off topic.


The company Valve employs to moderate the forums does not respond to reports that fast, period, and one really has to question why something like that would get reported in the first place.


I have a friend that works at Valve, and I can guarantee you that there are Valve employees here, moderating based on their biases, and I can also tell you that no one at Valve cares about it.


Also consider that several of the regulars are ex V-mods. Do you really think none of them cultivated relationships with Valve personnel, friends they can call on to deal with something that triggers them?


Now, you can believe me, or not, I really don't care what some random, anonymous forum person thinks.

Just because the boards are called “Off Topic”doesn’t mean the rules don’t apply and you can derail threads as you please. Also as stated before bans being reversed because support deemed it excessive (see they just want you to stop bothering them with tickets and undermine moderation by just lifting the ban because it’s easier) isn’t the same as a ban that was applied incorrectly.

[Doctor Zalgo]

Originalmente postado por I block trolls, idiots & liars:

Originalmente postado por mldb88:

I'll ask again, any proof to back up those claims? The ones getting slapped consistently seem to be the ones consistently going off on some anti-moderation or anti-steam crusade, usually stemming from some justified ban in the past... or not getting a free Steam Deck just for feeling entitled to one...

I have had at least 10 bans revered, and there are plenty of others here that have had numerous bans reversed.

Given that, it really shows that there is a problem. I can see a ban being reversed here and there, but as I said, I've had at least 10 reversed, and it was one right after another.


I was in a thread once about STEAM remaining competitive in an increasingly competitive market.

One poster commented that Epic, GoG and consoles were no threat to STEAM, so I replied with accurate, demonstrable points to the contrary.

In less than 30 minutes my post was deleted and I was given a 3 day ban for...get this....being, off topic.


The company Valve employs to moderate the forums does not respond to reports that fast, period, and one really has to question why something like that would get reported in the first place.


I have a friend that works at Valve, and I can guarantee you that there are Valve employees here, moderating based on their biases, and I can also tell you that no one at Valve cares about it.


Also consider that several of the regulars are ex V-mods. Do you really think none of them cultivated relationships with Valve personnel, friends they can call on to deal with something that triggers them?


Now, you can believe me, or not, I really don't care what some random, anonymous forum person thinks.

Think about the actual setup of the company and staff doing the valve moderation gig. Put yourself in the role of Jim Capitalism. How would you get as much moderation done as possible at the absolute bargain basement price, given its a job only a few thousand people will actually have any opinion on.

At best, it's going to be like a call centre job. They'll have a quota of tickets to moderate per hour or they get fired. Or maybe, if Jim can wrangle the legalities, staff actually paid per ticket closed (so time spent understanding context or subtext is time they don't get paid at all).

This is also (probably) the reason why they lock old posts that have been necroed so quickly. They're constantly searching for qualifying threads because they are quick closes that pad their stats.

Certainly its not impossible that the moderation company is actually running a home for wayward steam forum addicts and they get hours a day to ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and cultivate meaningful lists of friends and enemies but its less likely than the alternative.

[mldb88]

Originalmente postado por Doctor Zalgo:

Originalmente postado por I block trolls, idiots & liars:

I have had at least 10 bans revered, and there are plenty of others here that have had numerous bans reversed.

Given that, it really shows that there is a problem. I can see a ban being reversed here and there, but as I said, I've had at least 10 reversed, and it was one right after another.


I was in a thread once about STEAM remaining competitive in an increasingly competitive market.

One poster commented that Epic, GoG and consoles were no threat to STEAM, so I replied with accurate, demonstrable points to the contrary.

In less than 30 minutes my post was deleted and I was given a 3 day ban for...get this....being, off topic.


The company Valve employs to moderate the forums does not respond to reports that fast, period, and one really has to question why something like that would get reported in the first place.


I have a friend that works at Valve, and I can guarantee you that there are Valve employees here, moderating based on their biases, and I can also tell you that no one at Valve cares about it.


Also consider that several of the regulars are ex V-mods. Do you really think none of them cultivated relationships with Valve personnel, friends they can call on to deal with something that triggers them?


Now, you can believe me, or not, I really don't care what some random, anonymous forum person thinks.

Think about the actual setup of the company and staff doing the valve moderation gig. Put yourself in the role of Jim Capitalism. How would you get as much moderation done as possible at the absolute bargain basement price, given its a job only a few thousand people will actually have any opinion on.

At best, it's going to be like a call centre job. They'll have a quota of tickets to moderate per hour or they get fired. Or maybe, if Jim can wrangle the legalities, staff actually paid per ticket closed (so time spent understanding context or subtext is time they don't get paid at all).

This is also (probably) the reason why they lock old posts that have been necroed so quickly. They're constantly searching for qualifying threads because they are quick closes that pad their stats.

Certainly its not impossible that the moderation company is actually running a home for wayward steam forum addicts and they get hours a day to ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and cultivate meaningful lists of friends and enemies but its less likely than the alternative.

I wouldn't even say per hour. Having worked a caseload based job before (auto liability claims) we were mostly tracked on turnaround time moreso than number of tickets closed (for an auto claim the average turnaround from submission to settlement and closure of the claim was 8 days). I figure it's probably a combination of remaining tickets on their caseload (to ensure they're actually working their active backlog) as well as turnaround time for individual tickets.

There isn't some grand conspiracy where they're only moderating certain posts or targetting certain people. If your posting habits consist of being inflammatory, playing the man and not the ball, relying on bad faith tactics that can be seen as baiting such as strawmanning, shifting goal posts, no true scottmsman, etc, and generally being a nuisance, there's a higher density of posts that are getting reported for likely breaking the rules, netting you more bans than others. The fact that most users don't have this problem, and the ones that do have a consistent history of generally causing problems and being distruptive, in the case of repeat offenders complaining about being targetted and harrassed by moderation it's likely not a moderation issue but more indicative of moderation actually doing it's damn job for once.

[William Shakesman]

Originalmente postado por Anoi Hidalgo:

Originalmente postado por mldb88:

Just because the boards are called “Off Topic”doesn’t mean the rules don’t apply and you can derail threads as you please. Also as stated before bans being reversed because support deemed it excessive (see they just want you to stop bothering them with tickets and undermine moderation by just lifting the ban because it’s easier) isn’t the same as a ban that was applied incorrectly.

lol you can be banned from Offtopic for being offtopic even though you were the OP of the thread and the original post was your only comment. The mods dont care about the rules, they just reapond to reports and if they happen to want to bane someone for arbitrary reasons? well tough luck to the user

You also don't get bans reversed just by spamming them with tickets. That has been tested and confirmed.

If a ban was reversed, it was reviewed and found incorrect by the people with the authority to do so. Full stop.

[Sir Seanicus, Esq.]

Originalmente postado por William Shakesman:

Originalmente postado por Anoi Hidalgo:

lol you can be banned from Offtopic for being offtopic even though you were the OP of the thread and the original post was your only comment. The mods dont care about the rules, they just reapond to reports and if they happen to want to bane someone for arbitrary reasons? well tough luck to the user

You also don't get bans reversed just by spamming them with tickets. That has been tested and confirmed.

If a ban was reversed, it was reviewed and found incorrect by the people with the authority to do so. Full stop.

That's funny...because I've been banned before and when the first ticket said the ban was applied correctly, I made a new ticket and they then suddenly said the ban was incorrect and will be removed.

Maybe those idiots shouldn't have authority to begin with if they can't even enforce their own ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ rules and ban people improperly. Then again, the mods are bots so they'll just redownload a new one...

[William Shakesman]

Originalmente postado por Sir Seanicus, Esq.:

Originalmente postado por William Shakesman:

You also don't get bans reversed just by spamming them with tickets. That has been tested and confirmed.

If a ban was reversed, it was reviewed and found incorrect by the people with the authority to do so. Full stop.

That's funny...because I've been banned before and when the first ticket said the ban was applied correctly, I made a new ticket and they then suddenly said the ban was incorrect and will be removed.

Maybe those idiots shouldn't have authority to begin with if they can't even enforce their own ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ rules and ban people improperly. Then again, the mods are bots so they'll just redownload a new one...

I stand corrected. This is I think the first I have heard of that approach working as opposed to multiple people for whom that approach failed. Must be something that only is applicable in these edge case bans where one reviewer disagrees with it but another might feel it is correct.

[76561199559798421]

random number generation of bot accounts, most likely a 20/80 split I have had similar things happen in the past. I have to agree though it is mostly bot support replies users receive and most of the time they make zero sense and are just reply spam stating the obvious or worse, stating the complete ignorance of moderation and support.

which really you have to start wondering what sorta of nonsense is really running this place

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originalmente postado por William Shakesman:

Originalmente postado por Sir Seanicus, Esq.:

That's funny...because I've been banned before and when the first ticket said the ban was applied correctly, I made a new ticket and they then suddenly said the ban was incorrect and will be removed.

Maybe those idiots shouldn't have authority to begin with if they can't even enforce their own ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ rules and ban people improperly. Then again, the mods are bots so they'll just redownload a new one...

I stand corrected. This is I think the first I have heard of that approach working as opposed to multiple people for whom that approach failed.

No it isn't.

[Brian9824]

Originalmente postado por I block trolls, idiots & liars:

I have a friend that works at Valve, and I can guarantee you that there are Valve employees here, moderating based on their biases, and I can also tell you that no one at Valve cares about it.

I have an uncle who works for Valve and I can guarantee your wrong. I'm not allowed to speak in more details about it because he can get in trouble but you couldn't be more wrong on how it works.

[HulaGirl86]

Originalmente postado por 46.54% (BIG OOF):

I just wish moderation was fair and consistent. Thats all.



If you want some context, someone has been stalking and harassing me for almost 2 years now. Theyve broken quite literally almost every rule outside of threatening violence.

Heres the rules they have broken:

- Insults or harassment

- Trolling or baiting arguments

- Discrimination

- Bypassing word or content filters

- Public accusations towards others

- Stalking

Kind of a bummer I have to deal with this because steam mods refuse to help me or moderate people breaking the rules. Reminds me of the 2 tiered justice system in the USA where, if you are rich enough or well connected enough you are 'above the law'.

Honestly I wonder if my stalker works for valve or has a steam moderator friend.

Lol I actually had a mod openly admit that a mod was personally flagging my profile because they didn't like me.
Nothing will be done.
The mods are idiots.
They will allow scams to run wild while retroactively enforcing rules on decade old posts that were within TOS when posted.

Even when something is within TOS, they will target and grind their axe to wield any kind of power so they fell like they are important and matter because they are deeply insecure in their day to day lives.

They are a waste of money to steam and I have no clue why they have jobs.

[Tito Shivan]

Originalmente postado por 76561199559798421:

random number generation of bot accounts

Please, go on.