"Hey, look what I found..."

Introduction

Hello, everyone. Most of you know me, some of you do not. I'm Mox, the player of Kormok. Obviously not my real name, but I like to keep a reasonable buffer of privacy. While once a moderator of the Earthen Ring Roleplaying Network, the departure of Jaero as our administrator and the migration to the Ning platform required someone to wear the big pointy hat, and that someone ended up being me. This post is here to let you know how I intend to operate things while I wear this silly hat.

First, a little about me.

I'm a pretty easy-going fella, and I like to believe that all people are worth speaking to and getting to know unless they prove otherwise. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and a say, and that's how I like to operate my guilds and, by extension, this site. I tolerate a fair bit of snarly-ness from people if they get angry, and I'm usually pretty easy to talk to in the event of a disagreement. If you've gotten to the point that I don't like talking to you, you've done something really, really wrong.

However, like many of us, I'm a working man, and I have a lot of real life responsibilities that make it unwise and impossible to be involved in every little thing that goes on here. I prefer to keep a hands-off approach to the operation of the site, limiting my administration powers to approving accounts and doing the occasional bit of moderation where necessary. I'll rarely get irritable with people even if they do something against regulations, but I do like to run a tight ship and I expect everyone who utilizes this network to do so with maturity and respect to one's fellows.

To put to rest any concerns about favoritism or whatnot, my promise to the network users is that I do not (and have not, and will never) utilize my administration powers for the benefit of my guilds, my friends, or those who are undeserving. That said, I reserve the right to have guilds, have friends, and deal with them as I see fit without letting the network administration duties get in the way. I'm a person and a player of World of Warcraft, just like any of you. I ask for the same respect that I would give back to you.

The Banhammer

Jaero used to use a mighty tool of administration lovingly called the Banhammer. I might not be as liberal with its application, but when it does come down, you've done a Very Bad Thing. You have to climb a little thing that people familiar with Blizzard's penalty structure will recognize as a "penalty volcano".

Tier 1 - Warning

At this tier of the volcano, you will be issued a written warning via a private message and placed on a moderator watch list. You get this level if you do something in violation of the Terms of Service willingly and knowingly. This will include trolling and passive-aggressive commentary in content posted on the network.

Tier 2 - 3 Day Suspension

If you've climbed this high, you did something bad enough to warrant your removal from the network for a period of time. You will be issued a private message warning (which will route to your email) and will find yourself unable to log in for 72 hours. Any harassment of network members, no matter their stature, will result in this tier's application of hammerific justice.

Tier 3 - One Week Suspension

Getting to this level means you've either done something malicious or are a repeat offender. After a private message warning is issued, you will be suspended from the network for a period of one week and will be placed under strict moderation and observation should you decide to return after your suspension is up.

Tier 4 - Permanent Ban

Yep, you've gone and messed up. You've either threatened or harassed someone, not learned your lesson from suspensions, or either vandalized or stolen someone's intellectual property. From this point on, you are persona non grata on the network, your accounts will be closed, and we will not approve future accounts. Efforts made to get around this will result in a full IP ban.

Don't get to tier four.

"The ERN is dead. Long live the ERN."