New mod author comment moderation features and updated terms of service

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We’re so close to finishing our work on the centralisation we can almost see the light. We’re putting the final touches on the code and running mock runs of the merging work we’ll need to do to centralise the separate databases so that the down-time the centralisation will cause will be as minimal as possible.

As I mentioned way-back-when, one thing I wanted to add to the sites before we finalised any centralisation work was an update to the moderating tools available to mod authors. It’s something that has divided opinion among mod authors over the years; some wanted to be able to directly control what posts were and weren’t allowed on their file pages while others wanted control to remain with our moderation team. Each school of thought has its pros and cons. While I’ll always skew towards the latter school of thinking, once we open up the Nexus to all games and, potentially, a lot more files I think keeping a strict moderating stance among a small, close-knit group of volunteer staff will be an untenable situation.

Today we’ve updated all the sites with the new functionality for all uploaders who are within the mod author group. A reminder, in order to be in the mod author group you need 1,000 unique downloads across all your files for a single game. 500 + 500 unique downloads on 2 Skyrim mods? You’re eligible. 500 unique downloads on Fallout 3 Nexus and 500 unique downloads on Fallout New Vegas Nexus? You’re not eligible. The script is run once a day to add you to the mod author group and at the time of writing this article there are over 15,000 users in this group. This functionality is not available to people who are not in the mod author group at this time.

The new functionality is two fold. To begin with mod authors can now delete comments from their file pages. There’s no delays, no moderator review and no crowding your comment topics with lots of notifications informing you about posts that have been moderated. To you, and other users, once you delete a post it’s gone. What actually happens is the post becomes hidden to everyone except the staff. We’ll retain a copy of all posts deleted by mod authors to ensure that the feature isn’t being used for nefarious means. Examples of what we consider “nefarious means” would be things like getting into a flame war with a user and then deleting all your posts while leaving the other user’s posts to try and make the other user look worse. This system isn’t being put in place to allow mod authors to cover up any indiscretion, it’s there to allow mod authors to keep their file comments clean and tidy and ensure the discussion going on in their file page comments is to their liking within the boundaries of our terms and conditions. Having said that our terms of service are still going to be enforced to the fullest extent. If you’re a mod author who doesn’t mind users treating your file page comments like it’s a 4chan thread then tough luck, our rules still apply to the fullest extent.

When you go to delete a comment you’ll be presented with an easy to use text field to report the comment to the moderators. This doesn’t affect the actual deletion of the user’s post, that will be gone straight away, but what we most definitely don’t want happening is mod authors deleting posts and blocking users from their file pages and not actually reporting the members who they think are breaking the rules. We want to get rid of any members who aren’t following our rules properly rather than just hiding what they do out of convenience. Deleting a user’s posts and blocking them does not remove the root cause of the problem; the user, and simply allows them to go off and do the same thing to another mod author. So please use the report feature if you think user’s are breaking the rules when you’re deleting their posts.

The second new feature is the ability to block a user completely from your file page or all your file pages. We’ve also added in a convenient link to the pre-existing forum page that allows you to block specific users from PM’ing you. This functionality should be pretty self explanatory; if you have a problem user who won’t leave you alone and you no longer wish for them to be able to access your file pages then you can block them entirely either from that specific file or all your uploaded files. Note that this doesn’t just block the user from commenting, it blocks them from your entire file page; they won’t see a single thing or be able to download your files and they will be presented with an access denied page explaining that you, the mod author, have blocked their access to the page.

A new page has been added to the “User area” where you can view the users you have blocked and remove the blocks if you so wish.

As far as the staff is concerned I’m not planning for the moderation team to get involved with this aspect of moderation at all. If you’ve blocked a user from your file pages then that’s that. We’re not going to deal with the justified and/or petty squabbles between mod authors and blocked users in this regard so if a mod author blocks you from their files do not come running to the moderation team about it because we’re not going to be removing any blocks. In the same vein this new functionality presents a whole new dimension of potential issues, e.g. you block a user, they PM you with hate. Naturally we’ll jump to the defence of anyone who is being abused through the PM system but you should be aware that blocking people from your pages will open you up to potential abuse and you should harden yourself accordingly to that eventuality. We naturally speak from experience on this subject. We have put a warning on the access denied page informing the user that if they PM you and they’re anything less than amicable in their message they’ll probably be banned instantly. Still, some people are really stupid. So as I said, harden that back-bone if you’re going to use that feature. Or block the user from PMing you entirely. Your choice.

Lastly, with the help of the moderation team here at the Nexus I have just updated our terms of service with a completely new rewrite. These new terms of service incorporate as much information as possible about what we consider acceptable, what we ban for and how we operate. For most of you who are familiar with our old terms of service and how we operate there really isn’t going to be any surprises for you. These new terms of service simply get in to writing a lot of the “unwritten rules” that we’ve enforced but never properly described within our terms of service. For example, the fact we ban pirates dumb enough to speak about it in public isn’t anything new to most people here but it was never obvious within our terms of service. Now it is. If you’re confident you know our rules then you’re probably absolutely fine but, if in doubt, there’s no harm in reading them. I will say that if you’re a regular user of our Image Share section then we’ve clarified quite a few of our rules in regards to what is and isn’t allowed within the normal (non Supporter) Image Share section, including a detailed image of what exactly we do and do not consider acceptable in terms of visible flesh and body parts. That might be worth a look at. Remember our moderation of the Image Share section is not retrospective, meaning we don’t go back through all the images in the database and delete images that no longer apply to our rules, so the “he’s done it so why can’t I?” excuse is right up there in the list of excuses that we moderators really, really despise.

302 comments

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  1. PoorlyAged
    PoorlyAged
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    In response to post #10250210.
     


    I can't see this ever happening to me, but it makes me wonder what if someone abuses the feature to keep someone from using their mod because they made some valid comments on thet mod in a polite and respectful way?


    Then that mod author is a colossal douche and you're much better off not using or supporting his work anyway!
     


     
    I hope it never comes to this but sometimes people who make stuff can not understand constructive criticism well and might take offence to a harmless post a user made who was only trying to help improve the mod for future versions. There are some people sadly who don't take even constructive criticism well and see it as 'bashing'.
     
    I rarely post on mods unless it's to say thank you. I just hope this doesn't turn into a system where everyone is afraid to provide constructive feedback for fear of being completely cut off from a mod they loved and were only trying to help make better. I'm not talking about people who are cursing right and left saying all sorts of unreasonable stuff but simply those who are replying in a polite manner things that are wrong and could possibly be better in the mod. I've seen mod makers on various games in the past get mad over this and pretty sure if they had a power like this would have blocked any opposition.
     
    But here's to hoping it's used responsibily =)
     


     
    I seem to think that constructive criticism comes from people who have actually downloaded the mod and have some positive feedback.  These people have taken a stake in the mod and are justified in their commentary, even if it is an opinion.
     
    Comments from people who haven't downloaded the mod is just useless blah blah.  These people have no stake in the mod and are just spouting off to see their ID in print or to up their post counts.   Such commentary is an abuse of the system and should be treated as such.  
     
    I am not a "recognized mod author"; but should that eventuality arise, comments from non-stake holders will be promptly deleted.  I have no time for "great mod ... but ... would be better if ..." from someone who isn't even using the mod.  And should they return, they are banned.  
  2. testingone
    testingone
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    The second new feature is the ability to block a user completely from your file page or all your file pages. We’ve also added in a convenient link to the pre-existing forum page that allows you to block specific users from PM’ing you. This functionality should be pretty self explanatory; if you have a problem user who won’t leave you alone and you no longer wish for them to be able to access your file pages then you can block them entirely either from that specific file or all your uploaded files. Note that this doesn’t just block the user from commenting, it blocks them from your entire file page; they won’t see a single thing or be able to download your files and they will be presented with an access denied page explaining that you, the mod author, have blocked their access to the page.

    How does it Works? Only for Premium Members? Please PM me for explain (No native english Speaker...)
  3. Zurath
    Zurath
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    This site became better and better...
  4. The Vampire Dante
    The Vampire Dante
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    Yeah, we do.
     
    The author gets slapped with a warning for abuse of the system. Same as if someone was abusing the comments section.
    1. diyeath
      diyeath
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      That's really good to know. You rock Dante, as always!
  5. diyeath
    diyeath
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    Didn't want to create a thread for something that's already been discussed to death. Just another side of this: mod authors can use this to block reports of bugs which would otherwise drive their player base away. There's definitely some room for abuse here, I hope you guys have a way to sort that out if it ever becomes a problem.
  6. Oubliette
    Oubliette
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    This could potentially become abused. I got here because I got banned from a page. I felt the mod author was being condescending and wrote a post albeit I thank him for the mod and then another posted and I answered back. Although in retrospect I came on a bit strong and so im not overly worried about the ban. But if he starts asking other modders to do the same just because he got upset then it becomes a witchhunt. I can see not allowing another to post if the author feels moody for the day but the whole banning thing seems to be a little over the top. Why implement something of that nature if your going "to wash your hands of it". Banning is a strong rebuttle for what could be considered a minor violation of a modders fragil state. Im sure not allowing someones post is more than enough for most disaggrements and if a ban is needed then have them take the time to state a good reason to the moderators.


     
    The main issue I take with your comment is that it appears you believe that the Nexus and it's staff have the right to decide who uses someone elses content. The mod authors here should be praised for all the time and work they put into creating completely FREE assets for users to use and many give authorization to freely use in your own modding adventures if you decide to delve into that end of the pool. Mods are intellectual property, it's a mod authors choice to ban someone. Regardless of whether you think they're being moddy, unreasonable, or completely justified in their response. It's THEIR work. It's THEIR property. It's THEIR decision who gets to use their "stuff". It couldn't be more plain and simple than that. 
     


     
    So basically:" I wrote this book. I published this book. But you can't read this book. It's my book and I don't like the way you said it could be better if I only removed extraneous character F. So no book for you."
     
    Makes perfect sense
     
    It hurts me as the writer to restrict access to my work for just about any reason because that lowers the number of people who can enjoy my work and pass on that enjoyment to other people. Even if one of those people doesn't like my work and makes that known in a manner that's a cross between the linguistics of a five year old and someone who eats nothing bug rotten garbage, restricting their access to my work because they hurt my feelings does more to diminish my work than ignoring it does.
     
    Of course I always have the option of saying: "hey that book I wrote is still all mine baby! I'll just take it back and put it on my shelf so only I can read it."
     
    That is always an option and it's not like I wrote the thing so that other people would read it and enjoy it, I wrote it because I wanted to. I'll keep writing because I want to, or I'll wake up one day and realize I'd rather be a carpenter and that's it for the writing! Except that's not a great option either because though I'm not writing for someone else it kind of sucks to work so hard on something and then not let anyone else see how awesome it is. I suppose that's why some modders who are banned here, don't ask to have their mods removed and some that do - find ways to have their mods reuploaded here, usually through a proxy uploader.
     
    But I'm not a mod maker and I certainly don't endorse the attitude that modders should take any and all kind of flak when they're really already being pretty awesome sharing things they don't have to share with the rest of us. I just thought the above argument was flawed enough to need a light shinned on those bits.
  7. blove
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    There is nothing plain and simple about it. The only decision that they should have is whether or not to post their work. You do not see Amazon enforcing book bans of individuals that an author does not like.
  8. markus242005
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    This could potentially become abused. I got here because I got banned from a page. I felt the mod author was being condescending and wrote a post albeit I thank him for the mod and then another posted and I answered back. Although in retrospect I came on a bit strong and so im not overly worried about the ban. But if he starts asking other modders to do the same just because he got upset then it becomes a witchhunt. I can see not allowing another to post if the author feels moody for the day but the whole banning thing seems to be a little over the top. Why implement something of that nature if your going "to wash your hands of it". Banning is a strong rebuttle for what could be considered a minor violation of a modders fragil state. Im sure not allowing someones post is more than enough for most disaggrements and if a ban is needed then have them take the time to state a good reason to the moderators.


     
    The main issue I take with your comment is that it appears you believe that the Nexus and it's staff have the right to decide who uses someone elses content. The mod authors here should be praised for all the time and work they put into creating completely FREE assets for users to use and many give authorization to freely use in your own modding adventures if you decide to delve into that end of the pool. Mods are intellectual property, it's a mod authors choice to ban someone. Regardless of whether you think they're being moddy, unreasonable, or completely justified in their response. It's THEIR work. It's THEIR property. It's THEIR decision who gets to use their "stuff". It couldn't be more plain and simple than that. 
  9. CapNKirkland
    CapNKirkland
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    I had a member post a rude comment on one of my mods so I deleted the comment and banned the member from all my mods. I left the PMs unblocked (as I always do) so that there would be a point of contact should they choose to use it.
    That user has now contacted me and apologised and I have revoked the Ban.
     
    The system works!
    Thankyou very much.


     
    i only wish i was having issues with you instead of the jerk who banned me from a page that's not even his.  at least you keep the PM's open. this guy blocked me from any form of contact entirely before i was even given a chance to apologize. 
     
    the post above you is right. this threa... sorry,  dissolvant of any and all responsibility for the actions of privileged others is just begging to be abused, and already is.
    1. Eckss
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      Mod authors (and those we choose to give author permissions on our files) need something to help us deal with a small minority of people who, if left unchecked, will drive authors to stop sharing their mods. There are already authors who refuse to share Skyrim mods because of the behaviour of a small minority of rude people.

      We share our mods with the community here on Nexus because we love the community, not for privileges and not to abuse others.

      I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and allow that there may have been an overreaction - that's what moderators are in a good position to help with.

      Write your apology, then contact a member of staff and ask them to pass it on for you.
  10. Eckss
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    I had a member post a rude comment on one of my mods so I deleted the comment and banned the member from all my mods. I left the PMs unblocked (as I always do) so that there would be a point of contact should they choose to use it.
    That user has now contacted me and apologised and I have revoked the Ban.
     
    The system works!
    Thankyou very much.