On Putting Out Forum Fires

[Smokey the NSer]

Hi kids, I'm back to give you some tips that might help with putting out forum fires.

1. Humour is often a good way to get people to relax and take a step back from a heated debate. You can interject a joke (it should be on-topic or related to a post in the thread) into the discussion to help lighten the atmosphere. Even if your joke isn't funny, the people throwing flames around may start laughing at how goofy you are instead of flaming each other, which is what we want. Just remember to make it clear that you're joking, as I mentioned in On the Prevention of Forum Fires.

2. Sometimes people will stop flaming if you just ask them to. You can remind them that flaming is likely to get them an official warning, something that they probably won't want because they don't want to be one step closer to deletion. Expressing genuine concerns for their safety on the forum is generally more effective than threating them with "I'll have to report you to the Mods for this if you don't stop," but sometimes that threat can work as well. You need to exercise caution when using these methods, and remember that being patronising or condescending in using them almost always causes the situation to backfire.

3. If there's a forum fire and you think it needs a fire truck rather than a simple bucket of water (those forum fires can get out of control quickly), report it to the Moderation forum and let the professionals (Mods) deal with it. They have better tools to do so. Remember that using the first two methods can save the Mods some work and lead to a much cooler forum, but don't be afraid to report flaming.

And as always...



Remember kids, only you can prevent forum fires.

[Colodia]

You can have my kids anyday.

[FairyTInkArisen]

yay! Smokey's back!

[Czardas]

I'm starting to wonder who exactly this guy (girl?) is, and why s/he already knows so much helpful stuff even though s/he's only been here a couple of months.

[Cogitation]

This is good advice, people. Listen to it.

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation

[Jordaxia]

I'm SURE I know who it is, but I'm not saying. Nuh-uh.
Anyway. I second Tinks sentiments.

[Czardas]

I'm SURE I know who it is, but I'm not saying. Nuh-uh.

You wouldn't!

"I know Max Barry's nation ID, I know the name of Czardas's former nation, I know where [violet] is...but I'm not telling you. :P"

[Whispering Legs]

This is good advice, people. Listen to it.

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation

Yes, it is. I would add, however, that some other posters will complain no matter how you phrase something (even if you're trying desperately not to offend).

[The Noble Men]

You wouldn't!

"I know Max Barry's nation ID, I know the name of Czardas's former nation, I know where [violet] is...but I'm not telling you. :P"

Awww, please?

Can I at least guess?

Max Barry is SalusaSecondus.
Czardas' former nation was deleted.
[violet] is gone, only to be resurected as Fribeeteria.

Just a guess.

[Frisbeeteria]

Max Barry is SalusaSecondus.
Czardas' former nation was deleted.
[violet] is gone, only to be resurected as Fribeeteria.

Wrong on two out of three.

I can't be bothered to look up Czardas' former nation, so you might be three for three.

And it's Frisbeeteria.

[Czardas]

Awww, please?

Can I at least guess?

Max Barry is SalusaSecondus.
Czardas' former nation was deleted.
[violet] is gone, only to be resurected as Fribeeteria.

Just a guess.

Wrong on the first count. Salusa = a college tech major named Gregory Rubin who played around so much with NS's code that Max made him an admin.

Wrong on the second count. I let my earlier nation die for a few reasons. (If I told you I'd be giving it away.)

Wrong on the third count. [violet] is not gone. I have been asked to hide [violet]'s ID from you regular players. [violet] is a small group of players assigned to that position by Max, led by a mysterious woman under investigation by us (hence the "she" used by the mods). At least one Generalite and one mod are part of [violet].

[Pure Metal]

aw man, now i have "if you go down to the woods today" stuck in my head!

[Frisbeeteria]

I have been asked to hide [violet]'s ID from you regular players.

And cleverly, from yourself as well.

[The Noble Men]

Wrong on the first count. Salusa = a college tech major named Gregory Rubin who played around so much with NS's code that Max made him an admin.

Wrong on the second count. I let my earlier nation die for a few reasons. (If I told you I'd be giving it away.)

Wrong on the third count. [violet] is not gone. I have been asked to hide [violet]'s ID from you regular players.[violet] is a small group of players assigned to that position by Max, led by a mysterious woman under investigation by us (hence the "she" used by the mods). At least one Generalite and one mod are part of [violet].

Hey, I've only been here a month, it was all speculation. I'm still convinced that Max is actually a mod, however.

No fun if you don't tell.

That explains why there isn't a nation called [violet].

And it's Frisbeeteria.

Sorry, my typing isn't all that great.

[Czardas]

And cleverly, from yourself as well.

What I tell mods like you: Yes...which I have proceeded to comply with.

What I tell regular players: Yes...but you can't beat me that easily.

Hey, I've only been here a month, it was all speculation. I'm still convinced that Max is actually a mod, however.

Max doesn't have the time for modding, he's busy writing his book!

No fun if you don't tell.

It's not that I don't want to, but it would reveal too much about me.

That explains why there isn't a nation called [violet].

*Hint* You can't use brackets in nation names */Hint*

I don't think anything but proof of [violet]'s other existence will ever convince me that my theory is wrong.