LieutenantIV
Experienced
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2014
- Messages
- 187
- Reaction score
- 239
So lately, I've seen an influx of provocative posts regarding users who 'tryhard mod'; that is, players who appear to assume the moderator role without having the rank or any associated powers accompanied with the rank itself. This act, which has been around for years yet is only being popularized now, has made itself be regarded as a problem by many community members. Some may view it as
annoying; others may see it as a method to tryhard staff; others may assume ulterior motives. Whatever the case, I feel there is incorrect jurisdiction regarding mod tryharding, and perhaps just something as simple as misclassification of the term and its derivities.
Throughout my time here at MCGamer (and various other networks), I've seen many different 'minimods', and the majority of them aren't alike to each other. Some may choose to only enforce rules upon their own terms and personal leisure; others, perhaps, may simply review every possible angle to determine if any particular user breached the rules, and then enforce it from that point upon their own will. Whatever the case, we've all seen everything. After all, minimodding isn't uncommon nowadays, and most of the majority is familiarized with it. However, I personally feel there is some misclassification with the term, and I also feel a lot of unnecessary hate has been thrown around to unwitting individuals. While the entire topic is subject to personal ideas and opinions, the matter of the fact is that there is a clear definition to the term and it should not be disregarded.
What is minimodding?
As aforementioned, it is when a user assumes the role of a staff member without earning the rank or having any associations with the powers that come with such a rank. The idea of minimodding was born when someone (or perhaps, a lot of someones) decided that these users were being especially helpful because they wanted to have the moderator rank. As such, the term 'minimodding' was adopted.
What can and cannot be classified as minimodding is especially subject to personal views, insight, and ideas, but what I believe to be minimodding may be an idea that can be adopted and shared by most people as a common interest. As lots of flame has arisen lately regarding the term, it is obviously an issue that should be addressed sooner than not.
(Subjectively), minimodding is not helping other users. It's completely normal to have a will and a want to help others, yet not want the rank! Obviously, you're going to, more or less, have typing mannerisms that resemble that of a moderator's. It can't be helped. If someone wants to help in a normal, passive manner, then it isn't your place to discourage friendly behaviour such as that.
That being said, what is minimodding?
(In my earnest opinion), minimodding is deliberately setting oneself up in a position to voluntarily assist many users (at a time) across the network, especially; going out of one's way to ensure that the network is being run specially, going about it in a moderator-style fashion, speaking from the eyes of a moderator, impersonating a moderator, delegating and ordering players around based on any perceived infractions that player may of committed, or a combination of any of the above ideas or any others that could be considered as minimodding.
To avoid public confusion and outcries of defense, I'll briefly expand on all the points that, I believe, are minimodding:
-"Going out of one's way to ensure that the network is being run specially"
This is specially subjective, though I feel it may be more one-sided than not. If any user is cycling through hubs on their native region and others (EU, CA, etctetera), then that is something I'd consider minimodding, as it is well out of their responsibilities and isn't something that needs to be adopted unless personally adviced and recommended by a member of staff.
-"Going about it in a moderator-style fashion"
Allow me to reiterate, because I smell smoke already: this is not referring to the way that they deal with rulebreakers. This is, however, referring to how they respond to them. For example,
"Please watch your language, {player}."
As opposed to,
"You will be banned for that, {player}."
There is a clear distinction between the two. Both are just as common as the other. However, one is clearly exceeding the expected response beyond a shadow of a doubt.
-"Speaking from the eyes of a moderator"
This is the same idea as above, basically. It just expands on the latter reply.
-"Impersonating a moderator"
This doesn't necessarily just relate to someone saying "I'm ChadTheDJ, and I will ban you all!" It, more so, has to do with instilling the belief into the playerbase that the user has the regular role and normal powers of a moderator.
-"Delegating and ordering players around (...)"
The above refers to attempting to forcibly evict or control a player or a playerbase via verbal domination. It could be perceived as...:
"I saw you hacking, leave or I will ban you!"
And the examples can continue in a similar fashion.
Basically, attempting to control a player and assume authority over them is the idea that is attempting to be recognized.
Should minimodding be discouraged, punishable, or frowned upon?
Depends.
No.
Yes (subjectively).
In some cases, I believe minimodding would need to be discouraged. Based on the discretion of the staff member, some forms of minimodding could easily be perceived as abuse (in the form of unnecessary threats and manipulation). However, if a user wants to idle in the hub for ten hours a day watching for any players to ask questions or infringe the rules, then that should be a personal choice and not a forced and regulated law of god.
In no cases, though, should it be punishable, with the exceptions of the few examples (of abuse and manipulation) I provided above. It's just a user wanting to help, albeit in an extreme and unorthodox method.
However, minimodding in general is something I, and others, frown upon. It isn't your job as a user to hop between networks and catch European or American rulebreakers, especially if you're from Australia! That's a moderator's job, and it shouldn't be taken away from. Naturally, reporting rulebreakers and hackers is an acceptable practice, but doing so in such a fashion that depletes the point of moderating in the first place simply isn't necessary. There aren't limits to helping, but it needs to be recognized when you are working far out of your confines.
TL;DR: Help people, but don't go crazy.
annoying; others may see it as a method to tryhard staff; others may assume ulterior motives. Whatever the case, I feel there is incorrect jurisdiction regarding mod tryharding, and perhaps just something as simple as misclassification of the term and its derivities.
Throughout my time here at MCGamer (and various other networks), I've seen many different 'minimods', and the majority of them aren't alike to each other. Some may choose to only enforce rules upon their own terms and personal leisure; others, perhaps, may simply review every possible angle to determine if any particular user breached the rules, and then enforce it from that point upon their own will. Whatever the case, we've all seen everything. After all, minimodding isn't uncommon nowadays, and most of the majority is familiarized with it. However, I personally feel there is some misclassification with the term, and I also feel a lot of unnecessary hate has been thrown around to unwitting individuals. While the entire topic is subject to personal ideas and opinions, the matter of the fact is that there is a clear definition to the term and it should not be disregarded.
What is minimodding?
As aforementioned, it is when a user assumes the role of a staff member without earning the rank or having any associations with the powers that come with such a rank. The idea of minimodding was born when someone (or perhaps, a lot of someones) decided that these users were being especially helpful because they wanted to have the moderator rank. As such, the term 'minimodding' was adopted.
What can and cannot be classified as minimodding is especially subject to personal views, insight, and ideas, but what I believe to be minimodding may be an idea that can be adopted and shared by most people as a common interest. As lots of flame has arisen lately regarding the term, it is obviously an issue that should be addressed sooner than not.
(Subjectively), minimodding is not helping other users. It's completely normal to have a will and a want to help others, yet not want the rank! Obviously, you're going to, more or less, have typing mannerisms that resemble that of a moderator's. It can't be helped. If someone wants to help in a normal, passive manner, then it isn't your place to discourage friendly behaviour such as that.
That being said, what is minimodding?
(In my earnest opinion), minimodding is deliberately setting oneself up in a position to voluntarily assist many users (at a time) across the network, especially; going out of one's way to ensure that the network is being run specially, going about it in a moderator-style fashion, speaking from the eyes of a moderator, impersonating a moderator, delegating and ordering players around based on any perceived infractions that player may of committed, or a combination of any of the above ideas or any others that could be considered as minimodding.
To avoid public confusion and outcries of defense, I'll briefly expand on all the points that, I believe, are minimodding:
-"Going out of one's way to ensure that the network is being run specially"
This is specially subjective, though I feel it may be more one-sided than not. If any user is cycling through hubs on their native region and others (EU, CA, etctetera), then that is something I'd consider minimodding, as it is well out of their responsibilities and isn't something that needs to be adopted unless personally adviced and recommended by a member of staff.
-"Going about it in a moderator-style fashion"
Allow me to reiterate, because I smell smoke already: this is not referring to the way that they deal with rulebreakers. This is, however, referring to how they respond to them. For example,
"Please watch your language, {player}."
As opposed to,
"You will be banned for that, {player}."
There is a clear distinction between the two. Both are just as common as the other. However, one is clearly exceeding the expected response beyond a shadow of a doubt.
-"Speaking from the eyes of a moderator"
This is the same idea as above, basically. It just expands on the latter reply.
-"Impersonating a moderator"
This doesn't necessarily just relate to someone saying "I'm ChadTheDJ, and I will ban you all!" It, more so, has to do with instilling the belief into the playerbase that the user has the regular role and normal powers of a moderator.
-"Delegating and ordering players around (...)"
The above refers to attempting to forcibly evict or control a player or a playerbase via verbal domination. It could be perceived as...:
"I saw you hacking, leave or I will ban you!"
And the examples can continue in a similar fashion.
Basically, attempting to control a player and assume authority over them is the idea that is attempting to be recognized.
Should minimodding be discouraged, punishable, or frowned upon?
Depends.
No.
Yes (subjectively).
In some cases, I believe minimodding would need to be discouraged. Based on the discretion of the staff member, some forms of minimodding could easily be perceived as abuse (in the form of unnecessary threats and manipulation). However, if a user wants to idle in the hub for ten hours a day watching for any players to ask questions or infringe the rules, then that should be a personal choice and not a forced and regulated law of god.
In no cases, though, should it be punishable, with the exceptions of the few examples (of abuse and manipulation) I provided above. It's just a user wanting to help, albeit in an extreme and unorthodox method.
However, minimodding in general is something I, and others, frown upon. It isn't your job as a user to hop between networks and catch European or American rulebreakers, especially if you're from Australia! That's a moderator's job, and it shouldn't be taken away from. Naturally, reporting rulebreakers and hackers is an acceptable practice, but doing so in such a fashion that depletes the point of moderating in the first place simply isn't necessary. There aren't limits to helping, but it needs to be recognized when you are working far out of your confines.
TL;DR: Help people, but don't go crazy.
