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Post by Musogato on Mar 15, 2008 3:23:13 GMT -5
In late 2006 the "smite" button was hidden from this forum due to abuse and its basic passive-aggressive method of dealing with people one dislikes. It has come to the staff's attention that despite it being hidden away for this long length of time, it is still not only being used, but abused. So we would like to make it official once and for all:
SMITING IS NOT ALLOWED.
The staff is watching and anyone caught smiting will not only have their own karma points taken down and returned to those who were smited, but will also gain a warning bar. Repeat offenders will be banned for 3 days, and if it continues they will be permanently banned.
In addition, creating alt accounts to give yourself or other members more karma points is also not allowed. Not only will you receive a warning bar & temp ban for using alt accounts, (not to mention that those alt accounts will be deleted), but you will also lose a significant amount of your karma points.
The staff understands that everyone won't always get along, but if you have a problem with another member, try *talking* to them -- understand where they're coming from and explain you're side of it; perhaps a compromise can be made or a simple "agree to disagree." If you two can't and it's becoming a problem, bring it to the staff and we'll see what we can do to help. But smiting is shallow and is not going to help the problem get better at all.
Thank you.
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Post by spirityue on Mar 15, 2008 4:29:34 GMT -5
Hi Musogato We've never formaly met, but I just wanted to say that I, for one, applaud your decision as far as the new karma rules. I've witnessed countless times people being smited, and I haven't even been here that long. I'd give someone karma for liking what they posted or for just being a good friend to me, then, when I'd come back, I noticed that their karma levels were a lot lower then when I had logged out for that particular day. I fully agree that the smiting is very childish, like you said, why can't people be just a bit more mature and try to work through their problems? I sincerely hope that by the staff watching for the people that are doing it, that this one issue will finally be rectified at least to some degree.
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Post by Musogato on Mar 15, 2008 4:40:30 GMT -5
Hi Spirityue, nice to meet you! And thanks! The policy should have been made back when the smite was first removed, but we figured it being hidden was message enough. Guess not. ^^;; But yeah, now that we're aware of it, the smiting should stop. I don't know if it will help urge people talk their problems out, but here's hoping that it does.
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Post by aangxchild on Mar 15, 2008 8:07:17 GMT -5
Haha I remember when that was removed like 5,000 years ago =] Nice post. Very informative
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Post by watergirl on Mar 15, 2008 10:37:24 GMT -5
What is smiting?
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Post by ShizukaSakoi on Mar 15, 2008 11:01:02 GMT -5
It's a button like Exalt, but instead of giving karma, i think it takes away karma. This is a great new policy musogato^^ its always terrible when poeple try to find ways around the forum rules so they can still be evil.
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historyman12
Fugitive Iroh
IS IT JULY 14TH YET?
Posts: 4,822
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Post by historyman12 on Mar 15, 2008 11:31:11 GMT -5
Right then. I created an alt. account like...a year ago, but I can't delete it now because I can't log on to it. So, delete it if you wish.
Oh, and, this comes as no surprise.
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Post by username on Mar 15, 2008 12:15:34 GMT -5
Karma is just a number! lololololololol
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uverworldluv
Casual Zuko
That's what you get when you let your heart win. ♥
Posts: 914
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Post by uverworldluv on Mar 15, 2008 12:42:05 GMT -5
Oh...I had been wondering where that smite button was. I had read about it in an informational post, but i had never actually seen one. Thanks for clearing that up! =]
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Post by night on Mar 15, 2008 13:31:56 GMT -5
Just a question, but why is karma taken so seriously? Quite, honestly, it is only a number that reflects your popularity or whatnot, and it should not be the end of the world if, heaven forbid you lose some! I understand when you have quite a high number of karma, like myself, it does become rather important because you have worked hard to earn it all, but seriously it is just a number. I don't see why the rules have to be changed merely because some people have smited others.
I clearly remember the old rules for this forum were something along the lines of "karma is just a number, if you exalt or smite someone, that is your own decision". If we have a clear reason for smiting someone, then why should it not be allowed?
Also, when I log on at school via proxy, the smite button is not hidden. If it is not hidden to some, then why should it be banned?
Again, I clarify, karma is just a number.
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budinsky
Katara
SPARKY SPARKY BOOM MAN!!!
Posts: 86
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Post by budinsky on Mar 15, 2008 14:08:38 GMT -5
Hey guys. Im fairly new to this forums and I like it here. People are nice, got some karms points lol.... and its great talking to people who understand what an avatar is lol... I think these rules are very good. Smiting should be done by forum mods or admins, not other players because some people abuse. In my point of view, night is right. Karma is only a number and should not be taken seriously. It only shows how popular you are i the forums. But then again, if we had a use for it, then it would make more people make meaningful posts, not disrespect each other, and be more active. In my friends forums, he has this system, called something like ipb battle or something where you can "battle" other players online. meaning that you get like "weapons" (in this case, it could be bending moves or technique's) and gain levels, hp points, and experience by battling others. everyone started off as a lvl 1 and then you were given weapons according to your level in strength when you attack a player on forums, you use up strencgh points according to what weapon you use. if you had 50 strength and u used a weapon that uses 25 to 35 strength, then you lose that much strength points 9not levels) then you buy healing items to repair your strength level and you can attack again. if you win, then you gain karma according to the opponents level (for each level you are lower than him you get 1 karma) and you get exp if you gain a level, then the computer automatically selects 2 numbers between 1 and 10. one number to increase your strength and one to increase your hp. it was a pritty fun forums and i loved to play it. if we introduce soemthing like that, karma will mean a lot mroe and people wont abuse hopefully
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Post by spirityue on Mar 15, 2008 14:48:07 GMT -5
Yes, you guys are right about karma being just a number and it not really being important unless you're worried about your popularity on the board, but, I also feel that if someone decides to give someone else karma for agreeing with something they posted or if it gave them a giggle or whatever, then someone else shouldn't be allowed to just take it away because they didn't care for something someone has said or done. That type of behaviour honestly belongs in kindergarden, if you ask me. If you have a problem with something that someone has said or done, then simply be grown up enough to go straight to source and try working something out that way, if you don't wish to do that, then simply "walk away" and let the matter drop, instead of having the childish attitude such as "well so and so ticked me off so I'm gonna smite them". Please...spare me the melodrama
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Post by night on Mar 15, 2008 14:53:04 GMT -5
Yes, but in some situations, smiting does the job rather nicely, especially if PMing does not work.
Also, smiting could also be taken as a sign that people are not agreeing with your policies or whatnot, like a warning to change whatever approach you have been taking.
People have their own reasons for smiting and exalting. Its only stupid when people either exalt or karma for the heck of it, for not reason whatsoever. That is when it leads to abuse.
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LiveInThaskyE
The Avatars
The Honorary Zutarian
Black God
Posts: 12,182
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Post by LiveInThaskyE on Mar 15, 2008 15:13:28 GMT -5
Also, smiting could also be taken as a sign that people are not agreeing with your policies or whatnot, like a warning to change whatever approach you have been taking. Not everyone wants to be a people pleaser, they would just rather say what they want when they want to. @muso: Hmm, this new karma policy seems to have come from me, I've been losing points and I had no idea what or why it was happening. It's stopped for awhile, and hopefully after this announcement it will never happen again.
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Post by Blind Bandit on Mar 15, 2008 15:16:49 GMT -5
Sky the staff didn't condone smiting after the button was removed but we are now just putting a rule out there on the forum. So there would be less confusion on where the staff stands. No one is reasonable for this its just something we finally got around to doing.
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