Speaking for myself, this site is for Diplomacy. The games run great, we (mods) do a good job of keeping them clean of cheating, and there have been some great tournaments in the past few months. The forum is not the main focus of the site and is superfluous (again, IMO) and attracts those users with strong opinions. Its like an online review - nobody posts if they're satisfied with the site or the forum, only if they hate it or are absolutely in love with it. It also has a tendency to go through phases where some users feel compelled to test limits and act indignant when limits are crossed. Much like the Bohemian Crusher, its only a trend and it will pass eventually.

@ Krellin:

"I have never seen a Kestas post on this topic"

Yes you have. The comments Kestas made about being opposed to threads / links intending to shock or offend were made in this thread, which you also participated in:

threadID=1061463

Jamie - Oh...I still can't tell you what kestas said....you're making the assumption that people memorize everything anyone says...I don't. I do now recall that thread and that I made what, I must say, was a very modest and logical proposal, which got around this nebulous "common sense" nonsense and applied a legal parameter to the discussion...but I have no idea what kestas said.

I don't read every post, some I just skim, some I half-read and then fart at, etc.

Krellin, you would be able to tell what Kestas said if you clicked on the link I just provided, and read the posts in that thread by the user "kestasjk".

Kamie - I did click the link. I saw a post by kestas. I didn't read it. Honestly, I just don't care, because contrary to whatever opinion you may hold of me, for as vomituous as I am on the threads I actually don't post porn links and do other shit with the intention of pushing limits and getting silenced. My participation in these discussion is purely for my personal amusement, not because I think what I say will matter to the power-hungry powers-that-be...so...yeah...

"Yes you have. The comments Kestas made about being opposed to threads / links intending to shock or offend were made in this thread, which you also participated in:"

I just looked at that thread then - Kestas said don't post pornography. I am pretty sure he was NOT talking about youtube.

The phrases we keep hearing are "shock and offend" and "common sense" - some people are shocked way too easily. And if not posting links to certain videos on YoutTube is common sense - you have a different definition of common sense than I do.

When did Kestas decide that he wants this site to become ultra-conservative? He is from Perth, Western Australia, not the Bible Belt of the USA (no offence to people from the Bible Belt). I don't believe Miley Cyrus was what he had in mind when he said "shock and offend".

kestas didn't decide nothin'. This is a wanton powergrab by jmo. Pretty soon you'll see the mods that disagree with him "resigning."

Dude, you need to use the correct name. It's His Royal Fucking Highhorse JackassMOron.

Or RFHJMO for short.

JackassMOd is the easier shorthand.

I think the new policies are going to make unnecessary work for the mods. Plus the structure of the forum does not really lend itself to this sort of moderation: users can't edit posts, and mods can't delete posts. All the mods can do is lock threads and penalize users.

This site has always been sparing in the amount of resources it requires to run. This is a good thing, as its existence depends on the good will of Kestas who does not make any money from the site. If we keep adding new rules, and new mod responsibilities, ultimately it is going to mean more work for Kestas (especially if users are constantly appealing decisions). Kestas might be fine with that for now, but what if he ends up deciding "you know what, its all too much work, too much grief" - good bye webdip.

This is a really simply site with one main goal - play diplomacy. The forum is a nice add-on if people want to chat. It doesn't need moderation other than conversations that affect games (talking about ongoing games, cheating accusations). Once in a while spammers need to be removed - that's about it.

I think this site will have a longer life-expectancy if it stays super-lean like it has been in the past. We don't want it to become overly dependent on a bureaucracy, when it is capably of surviving without it.

spyman, this is the wrong place for that, it really doesn't matter if I agree with you or not. Email Kestas with those views, he doesn't read the forum much but will read your email. All policies are his, not the mod teams.

On the contrary, this is absolutely the right place for any sort of well thought out commentary on the issue. And I'll say it again, nobody is buying your feeble attempt to pass the buck for your heavyhanded nonsense on to kestas. kestas doesn't give a rat's ass about draugnar posting titty videos or me fucking with the fundies.

I know it for a fact, we go bowling together on Saturdays. Just last weekend as he was tying up his shoes he had a sip of beer and said, "You know, YJ old boy, I'm really getting sick of this shit."

I know, kestas, I know. Me too.

Calmer than you are.

haha big +1 there 2WL

Why does all the controversy seem to be focused around one Mod? Doesn't that raise anybodies eyebrows? Just sayin'...

that's SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR to you, boy.

Senior? Oh...well then he'll probably die off soon when some necessary medical procedure is denied, and we will be all saved from his dementia...