Members that do not respect admins decisions

On my forum I have a “heated debates” section where members can have healthy debates about more heated topics. I run a rabbit forum and there are plenty of them. However I have a few members from a competitor’s forum that come on just to post in the area of the forum. They only post when wanting to ague. I have been getting more and more annoyed about it because not only are they using the forum just to stir trouble, they are upsetting my members and i have worked hard to keep my forum friendly. So I set a post count limit where anyone under 500 posts (at 500 posts is when they are full members) and they sent me PMs stating this was unfair, that the forum is too controlled and I took such actions because I want people to agree with me. So I then started a poll asking members what they think as I do not want to seem unfair. However I am fed up of my decision not being respected by these people and they never contribute, but only to make trouble. What can I do about these members?

They are from a competing forum and only come to you forum to have a go in the debate section?

It seems to me that they are justing trying to be disruptive and stir up trouble.

Ban them, as simple as that. No discussion, no explanation, ban and forget them.

Hmmm... I wouldn't be quite so quick with the banhammer. Before you do that and potentially bring up some really hostile relations between yourself and your competitors, I'd recommend the honest approach. After all, these are potential new members if you can mould their behaviour so they fit in with your community.

Be up front with them and tell them that you did it because you were worried that new members were coming in and being disruptive, upsetting your community. You implemented the 500-post rule so that you and your users could get to know members before they enter a potentially fractious atmosphere.

And don't make the mistake of assuming that because it's your board, you're always in the right. The internet is littered with empty and dead boards whose admins thought that was the right way to approach a problem. Don't be afraid to compromise - tell them that as long as they aren't too disruptive, you'll remove the postlimit for a while, but if the problems continue, you'll put it back up. Consider lowering the postcount limit - 500 is an awful lot of posts (depending on your forum's activity, it could take several months to reach that), perhaps lower it to 150 for a while.

All in all, my general advice is to not be so defensive and hostile to something that's different to what you're used to - sure, the ban is always there as a last resort, but that's exactly what it should be - a last resort for when you have bent over backwards to accommodate them, tried to negotiate and compromise with them and they're still being difficult. THEN you can ban them.

I have told them that I want them to get involved more as they do have some great experience. However they are from rescues and they are not happy that I allow breeders on my forum. There are so many nasty animal welfare forums out there that are so mean to new people when mistakes are made. I have succeeded on gaining a friendly forum for the average pet keeper but these extremists from another forum keep coming to “give their opinion” which is fine but they never do anything else but lecture.

Here is a link to my poll on the matter: http://www.goldenbunnies.org.uk/showthread.php?t=13345

My forum is really growing now and I just want to get some things in order. I feel as if I am losing grip. I don't want to ban them, i want them to join in but they wont. I have been put off banning them because it will make me look one sided but them am i slipping and falling into their trap.

Then be clear with them - say they are welcome to post their opinions on any matter they choose, but those opinions should be polite, non-threatening and also respect the opinions of others. That sort of thing should be in your basic forum rules, and as such you'll have something to point them to - explain to them that you do want them to become a part of your community, but that if they want to do that, they have to follow your rules, and not harassing other members is one of them. For effect, link them to posts where they have broken the rules. Don't be afraid to tell them that if they have a problem with following your community rules, then they are welcome to find another forum to post on.

Also, you should ensure this is done in private. Either PM them, or set up a forum that only you, your staff and the members in question can access and discuss it in there.

I have many many times. Our mods are always telling them to keep things friendly and our rules do clearly state this. But they either ignore it or twist things by putting in hidden message such as "anyone that doesn’t do this and such and such shouldn’t have a pet" even though this is an insult to the majority of our members. But they haven't done anything where i can ban them and what if i do anything i am looked at as unfair. I am forever asking them to take certain matter to PM...again...ignored.

then perhaps it's time to start getting tough.

I'd suggest having a head-to-head with them in private - keep it polite, but explain that enough is enough and that either they start following the rules like the rest of the community or they start looking for somewhere else to cause trouble.
If they persist, issue infractions/warnings/whatever your system is when they step out of line. Link them to occasions when they've stepped out of line despite being asked by staff not to - link both posts, the one where the staff member told them not to do something, and then the post where they did it.
It's not ideal, but that's why the system is there - unfortunately it's the price you pay for having a successful board - you will get problem users from time to time.

There is a time and a place for a ban, and if you've tried everything else, then maybe this is that time and place - just make sure that you're happy you've done everything you possibly can to give them a fair chance. As long as you and your community are happy you've tried everything, it doesn't matter what the idiotic few that cause trouble think.

fashy said:

I have many many times. Our mods are always telling them to keep things friendly and our rules do clearly state this. But they either ignore it or twist things by putting in hidden message such as "anyone that doesn’t do this and such and such shouldn’t have a pet" even though this is an insult to the majority of our members. But they haven't done anything where i can ban them and what if i do anything i am looked at as unfair. I am forever asking them to take certain matter to PM...again...ignored.

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Ok so they are not following the rules regarding keeping debates friendly etc? They've been warned to stop? They are causing upset and disruption on your forum?

That sounds like 3 strikes to me... Ban them!

Your well justified in banning them. They are troublemakers and ignoring your rules.

Thank you for all of your help guys. It’s really hard running a forum. I have just been feeling so venerable and that i am loosing grip. All I am trying to do is make it a nice place for everyone but I am always being told i am being unfair with these people.

One of the members that ONLY posted in the area of the forum I have now restricted has this in her profile:

Bio: I've not posted enough to have a say in heated debates
Location: My own little world
Interests: Animal welfare, not starting fights, just care deeply!
Occupation: Having my say on a forum where my views are respected! Bye!!

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Why do they do this? I have made my forum very open for both breeder and rescue and now they seem to be fighting over it. How should i handle it? One of them “tells” us to move her posts back if we have moved them to the correct area. I am getting to the point where i am getting scared of taking action because their comments reflect bad on me to people that may join. But at the same time they haven’t actually broken the forum rules for a ban. They are just disrespecting me because my opinion doesn’t match theirs and they are frightened people will listen to me (not that what i say is wrong mind.).

One way you could tackle the heated debate thing might be by only allowing a certain group into it - it might be a better way to deal with trouble members than setting a post count requirement. Then if they break the rules, they get bumped out of that group instead. If they then turn to trolling and harassment...well you know.

Simply remove their accounts and any posts they might have had on the forums. Problem sorted. My users are allowed 'freedom of speech' to a certain level. However, i do not accept trolls and problem stirrers.

I think your getting some good advice in this thread. I've got two suggestions for you. One is to make sure that your rules include a statement like this:

'These rules represent the general standard of conduct on our website. The Administrators and Senior Moderators have a responsibility to all our users to maintain a healthy atmosphere and anyone disrupting things will be coached to behave or if that fails invite to find another forum to post in. This is true whether a violation of the rules has occurred.

Cooperating with the staff is a rule."

Second, I'd be using the infraction system to push them into a lower user group that doesn't have access to the forums in question. Give yourself and your mods the power to give someone an infraction if they get in trouble. Set it up so enough infractions results in a temp ban and if these steps aren't enough to change the behavior of the troublemakers just ban them all and let God sort it out.

Plus, using the infraction system makes it feel a little bit better. These users have all been warned and are really just causing problems.

Infractions, now that's something i really like with vBulletin, but luckily haven't been forced to use, yet.

Banning is a great and quick way to get rid of problem starters which these inviduals are. Just ban them plain and simple.

You have got to step up to the plate and be the authority figure sometimes, and this is one of those occasions. Do what you've got to do to keep your forum running the way *you* want it to be run. If they want to have a forum where their word is law and whatever they say goes, tell them there's nothing to stop them starting their own forum - if their attitudes are like you described, I can't see many people flocking to it, can you?

I know it feels like a difficult situation, but one of the downsides to being an admin is that you can't always be the good guy to everyone. Sometimes you have to do things that are going to make you unpopular with a section of your community, and that's something you need to deal with.
So stick to your guns, stand by the rules and be the authority figure. You've got nothing to be scared of - if your members don't like these problem users much (which it sounds like they don't), then you'll have their full support!

Don't worry about your forum getting a bad rep - word of mouth isn't always as powerful a tool as you think. Chances are if those members are unpopular on your forum, they're not making many friends on other forums either, and conversely won't be listened to much, if at all.

fashy said:

Thank you for all of your help guys. It’s really hard running a forum. I have just been feeling so venerable and that i am loosing grip. All I am trying to do is make it a nice place for everyone but I am always being told i am being unfair with these people.

One of the members that ONLY posted in the area of the forum I have now restricted has this in her profile:



Why do they do this? I have made my forum very open for both breeder and rescue and now they seem to be fighting over it. How should i handle it? One of them “tells” us to move her posts back if we have moved them to the correct area. I am getting to the point where i am getting scared of taking action because their comments reflect bad on me to people that may join. But at the same time they haven’t actually broken the forum rules for a ban. They are just disrespecting me because my opinion doesn’t match theirs and they are frightened people will listen to me (not that what i say is wrong mind.).

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fashy said:

One of the members that ONLY posted in the area of the forum I have now restricted has this in her profile:

Bio: I've not posted enough to have a say in heated debates
Location: My own little world
Interests: Animal welfare, not starting fights, just care deeply!
Occupation: Having my say on a forum where my views are respected! Bye!!

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Why do they do this?

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They're trying to be snarky in a clever way. If she was one of the trouble makers, I would delete that comment from her profile and put her on a final warning of cut the crap or go somewhere else.

I have made my forum very open for both breeder and rescue and now they seem to be fighting over it. How should i handle it? One of them “tells” us to move her posts back if we have moved them to the correct area. I am getting to the point where i am getting scared of taking action because their comments reflect bad on me to people that may join.

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As Target practice said you need to stand up to these people and take control of your forum back.

I run a pretty fair and laid back community and most of the time if members don't agree with something, I look into working it out so both parties are satisfied BUT when it comes right down to the bone, I pay the hosting bills and maintain the forum, I MAKE THE FINAL SAY!