(I am aware of an RFC on pretty much the exact same thing)
The issue with the current warnings system is that its not really effective, especially in comparison to other boards. First of all, is the fact every warning counts as the same at first glance - this is not good. any automation (banning, moving groups) doesnt exist. Its efficiency is poor, to deal with an issue can be at times tedious, you issue the warning writing the exact offence (no choices), if the user needs banning you then go and ban them, and then you go to split the post or delete it, or even edit it.
Heres my proposed features for an updated infractions system:
Outcomes/ Objectives:
Allow existing infractions models used by forum admins to remain usable (
Not force much on the admins (links with above)
Make the warning issue process easier/shorter (less clicks)
Give users and admins a better overview of what a user is like
Distinguish between infractions and warnings
Deal with infractions of different severity (aka, points)
More consistent moderation
Features (must/should in one)
Infractions - List all possible things to issue infraction points (or warnings - more or that later) for, each with actions (eg, ban - see below), points (see below) and a message (see below)
Infraction POINTS: The concept of one crime is more serious than another still exists in the online world - Ie, spam post can be one infraction point whereas porn/abuse could be 5 points.
Ban on X Infraction points (get to 10, give a 1 hour ban, get to 20 give
Ban for individual infractions (ie, post porn give 5 infraction points IN ADDITION to a 24 hour ban, cumulative if a ban threshold (see above point) is reached)
Ability to issue an infraction WITHOUT any points or bans (AKA a warning)
Inline post editting/delete on post warning page (makes sense since most warnings are issued for rule breaking posts, why the extra 5 clicks (confirmation pages, refreshes, edits, etc) to coninue editting - simple, mark a box to delete the post, or edit it (remove any offending parts)
Issue a custom infraction (custon message + points)
Remove infraction points - convert infraction into a warning.
Single expiry date of all infraction points
Would be nice to have:
Dealing with quoted offending posts - apply changes to all quotes (remove what i removed) (but not really possible with current system - if we logged quotes [ie, how many times have you been quoted, where] this would easily be possible)
Shouldnt:
Link with rules, infractions are separate to rules - dont force admins to add every infraction into a rule and vice versa
Be overly complicated (whilst more is good, less is better [somehow] - no one million options)
Possibly (very) bad practice - but not necesarily have it to degrade gratefully on absense of javascript
An Analgoy:
Imagine we’re the driving agency, and our users are driving licenses.
In short:
Moderator clicks “issue infraction” on post window, next page - from a drop down list of infractions (or similar). Ability to add a custom message to the infraction. Ability to not issue any points (aka a warning),. Buttons to (soft) delete the post, or to make ammendments to it.
What are your views on this? What are your ideas on how it can be done?
