Suggestions on improving atmosphere

[Verbal32]

So we've had some issues in a few recent games where people have clearly let their emotions get the better of them and it has spilled outside of games to some pretty nasty stuff.

 

There are many ways to solve for this, but one I thought of was a "mafia usergroup" where I can remove people that need a "time out" from posting on this board.  I could potentially reinstate the mod council and have them vote on whether people need a time out - essentially becoming my assistant board mods and helping make those decisions.

 

Or I could be a tyrant and do it myself (I'm joking).

 

Thoughts?  Suggestions?  Leave it alone?  Do it!?

[Andrej]

Verbal32 for Czar.

[Hallia]

I am not opposed to it, but one thing that I notice is that we don't really have much of an issue once someone is (formally) asked to take a step back and chill.  There is only one instance I can think of where someone was asked to stop posting by a non-admin and continued, but that was in a sign-up. 

 

I am all for finding a way to make mafia more enjoyable for everyone, I just don't know if that way would be the most effective.  It is typically an in the moment thing, and actual removal seems to be very few and far between.

[Calder]

It might not be the worst idea to have a few people, whose opinions you trust/respect, be involved in discussing issues that either occur in game or spill out.

 

@Verbal - you prob could maintain all the actual power, but use the group to attain a diverse view of the issue and make it more likely that the view of all parties in an issue are fairly represented.

 

This would also lighten your load of having to be the bad guy in these instances.

[Verbal32]

It might not be the worst idea to have a few people, whose opinions you trust/respect, be involved in discussing issues that either occur in game or spill out.

 

@Verbal - you prob could maintain all the actual power, but use the group to attain a diverse view of the issue and make it more likely that the view of all parties in an issue are fairly represented.

 

This would also lighten your load of having to be the bad guy in these instances.

 

1.  Totally agree, and good thought.

 

2.  I have 0 problem being the bad guy, hehe.

[Verbal32]

I am not opposed to it, but one thing that I notice is that we don't really have much of an issue once someone is (formally) asked to take a step back and chill.  There is only one instance I can think of where someone was asked to stop posting by a non-admin and continued, but that was in a sign-up. 

 

I am all for finding a way to make mafia more enjoyable for everyone, I just don't know if that way would be the most effective.  It is typically an in the moment thing, and actual removal seems to be very few and far between.

 

Yeah, my thought was more about the "timeout" aspect of it.  Some incidents are severe enough to warrant a slightly longer timeout than just a MK or to stop posting.  I'm going to avoid using a very real example, but some incidents need more drastic action.  If they break DM site rules, I can enforce as an Admin and just ban.....but if they break mafia rules in a way that really looks bad, but still stay within site rules, this idea would allow me to still operate and enforce "punishment".

 

Dunno, just a thought.  Keep the ideas/comments coming!  I won't be mad if you say my idea sucks.

 

 

 

 

 

*cue Nyn*  ;-)

[Calder]

 

It might not be the worst idea to have a few people, whose opinions you trust/respect, be involved in discussing issues that either occur in game or spill out.

@Verbal - you prob could maintain all the actual power, but use the group to attain a diverse view of the issue and make it more likely that the view of all parties in an issue are fairly represented.

This would also lighten your load of having to be the bad guy in these instances.

 

 

1.  Totally agree, and good thought.

 

2.  I have 0 problem being the bad guy, hehe.

I dont doubt your resolve. I just think someone is less likely to react super emotionally to your judgement if they know some people will have weighed in also that respect their interests.

[Hallia]

 

I am not opposed to it, but one thing that I notice is that we don't really have much of an issue once someone is (formally) asked to take a step back and chill.  There is only one instance I can think of where someone was asked to stop posting by a non-admin and continued, but that was in a sign-up. 

 

I am all for finding a way to make mafia more enjoyable for everyone, I just don't know if that way would be the most effective.  It is typically an in the moment thing, and actual removal seems to be very few and far between.

 

Yeah, my thought was more about the "timeout" aspect of it.  Some incidents are severe enough to warrant a slightly longer timeout than just a MK or to stop posting.  I'm going to avoid using a very real example, but some incidents need more drastic action.  If they break DM site rules, I can enforce as an Admin and just ban.....but if they break mafia rules in a way that really looks bad, but still stay within site rules, this idea would allow me to still operate and enforce "punishment".

 

I see what you mean, thanks for clarifying!  I don't think it's a bad idea then; that's not a bad idea.  Calder's input is also great!

[Hallia]

Mediation might also help sometimes; I know that occasionally two people have trouble getting what they are trying to say across to the other person because their defenses are already up.  If someone worked with them (provided they were willing) it might go far as well!

[Calder]

 

 

I am not opposed to it, but one thing that I notice is that we don't really have much of an issue once someone is (formally) asked to take a step back and chill.  There is only one instance I can think of where someone was asked to stop posting by a non-admin and continued, but that was in a sign-up. 

 

I am all for finding a way to make mafia more enjoyable for everyone, I just don't know if that way would be the most effective.  It is typically an in the moment thing, and actual removal seems to be very few and far between.

 

 

Yeah, my thought was more about the "timeout" aspect of it.  Some incidents are severe enough to warrant a slightly longer timeout than just a MK or to stop posting.  I'm going to avoid using a very real example, but some incidents need more drastic action.  If they break DM site rules, I can enforce as an Admin and just ban.....but if they break mafia rules in a way that really looks bad, but still stay within site rules, this idea would allow me to still operate and enforce "punishment".

I see what you mean, thanks for clarifying!  I don't think it's a bad idea then; that's not a bad idea.  Calder's input is also great!

[Andrej]

The fact we're talking about having a disciplinary council is kind of sad in itself.

 

IMO the mod of the game should be the first line of defense in this sort of thing and if they feel over their head they can go higher. We as a community need to make it apparent that the tantrums and meltdowns are neither appreciated or (shouldn't be) tolerated. I totally get that the games can get intense and emotional responses are inherent in all of us but at the end of the day it's a game based on lying and murdering to win. Once the dust settles we should all be able to laugh about it and not take things so personally.

 

I do agree that if this is the solution that having a small group of people to discuss and weigh in on the situation at hand is the best method since each instance is case by case. Hallia's idea of mediation is good as well. I doubt more than a taking to will ever really be needed save for repeated offenders and then the "timeout" thing could be implemented.

 

Really it's more about being a grown up and controlling your actions/words.

[Pralaya]

Mafia Anonymous

[Pralaya]

Get those who are getting too emotional, put them in a QT and let them vent it all out together.

[Andrej]

That's more of a post game thing imo. The mod intervening and telling the players to cool it in private is the best way to handle it in game without compromising the game's integrity.

 

People just need to remember that some are going to disagree with you or are going to make false/wrong accusations for whether their motive might be in doing so and to not take it personally. It's the name of the game.

[alannalynn]

I think council/mediate it only if it can't be handled by the mod or goes outside the game.

 

Other than that, we should just be self aware and not play with people we can't get along with.

[Hallia]

Nyn makes some fair points. At what point does something go beyond?

[John Snow]

Nyn makes some fair points. At what point does something go beyond?

 

When it spills outside of games or breaks the ToS. I'm of the school of thought that all's fair in love and mafia. 

 

I think a council could easily turn into, "well, it's not against the rules, but I don't like that play so let's put them in timeout"

[Calder]

Nyn makes some fair points. At what point does something go beyond?

If someone hassles you on another platform outside DM that would still relate if it started here. Like if Cory pisses me off and I text him with a slew of curses. If he hates what I said to him then it should be punishable on here if he pursue$ it. That would be a rare issue I would assume though.

 

The more typical issue for me is if you play with people who have consistently shown they are a tantrum waiting to happen. In a game based on accusations....this becomes an issue. You can only walk on egg shells so long.

[Lenlo]

It might not be the worst idea to have a few people, whose opinions you trust/respect, be involved in discussing issues that either occur in game or spill out.

 

@Verbal - you prob could maintain all the actual power, but use the group to attain a diverse view of the issue and make it more likely that the view of all parties in an issue are fairly represented.

 

This would also lighten your load of having to be the bad guy in these instances.

A secret high council of mafia. I like it. They can get monogrammed bath robes and everything

[Calder]

 

It might not be the worst idea to have a few people, whose opinions you trust/respect, be involved in discussing issues that either occur in game or spill out.

@Verbal - you prob could maintain all the actual power, but use the group to attain a diverse view of the issue and make it more likely that the view of all parties in an issue are fairly represented.

This would also lighten your load of having to be the bad guy in these instances.

 

A secret high council of mafia. I like it. They can get monogrammed bath robes and everything

My vote is for monogrammed thongs. But to each their own.

[Andrej]

The title of the thread says it all.

 

This isn't really a discussion about violating ToS. Obviously that should be handled at a higher level and I don't believe that has ever not been the case.

 

It's also not a discussion about playstyles or the viability of certain strategies. Everyone is welcome to their own opinion and yes, arguments are a part of the game based on its nature.

 

The point of this discussion as I see it is to curb a behavior that has made for bad game states. Game play is game play but personal attacks being unacceptable has always been the standard. Accuse, argue and point fingers to your delight but when your response is to say "screw all of you I hate this forum" that's a different story.

 

Context is everything. What it boils down to is just not being nasty to each other.

[John Snow]

 

It might not be the worst idea to have a few people, whose opinions you trust/respect, be involved in discussing issues that either occur in game or spill out.

 

@Verbal - you prob could maintain all the actual power, but use the group to attain a diverse view of the issue and make it more likely that the view of all parties in an issue are fairly represented.

 

This would also lighten your load of having to be the bad guy in these instances.

A secret high council of mafia. I like it. They can get monogrammed bath robes and everything

 

 

The real mafia game is figuring out who the mafia high council is. There are only 12 models. 

[Lenlo]

 

 

It might not be the worst idea to have a few people, whose opinions you trust/respect, be involved in discussing issues that either occur in game or spill out.

@Verbal - you prob could maintain all the actual power, but use the group to attain a diverse view of the issue and make it more likely that the view of all parties in an issue are fairly represented.

This would also lighten your load of having to be the bad guy in these instances.

A secret high council of mafia. I like it. They can get monogrammed bath robes and everything

My vote is for monogrammed thongs. But to each their own.

 

[Pralaya]

"get bent", "bite me", "screw you" are not personal attacks. But sure.

Hmmm, I was wondering if my wife actually meant those things.

[alannalynn]

I've said before that we need to be more aware of what we're saying and the effect it has. Personally for me, I'm affected easily when there is a negative atmosphere whether it's directed at me or not. Sometimes I think we don't realize how the words we use are interpreted. "Interpretation is by the listener not the speaker"