The Official Feedback Thread

[sleepey]

From a Staff perspective as well, I can understand that it might feel like throwing him under the bus after years of service, some sort of betrayal of a colleague, and sabotaging yourselves in terms of providing sufficient moderation and event manpower in a time where the community is also crying out for better moderation practices and complaining of Staff not being able to address concerns in a timely manner/at all. If there's anyone remaining, or who has left but would be willing to return, who sees the site worth salvaging after all the damage so far, I'd say it might call for community members to step up and be the change they want to see as new Staff. As it stands, I don't see how we even have events moving into the future; currently seems like we'd be lucky to fill a single cabin for Camp Bell Tree compared to the four cabins/teams for past events. Hell, I don't even know what we're going to talk about since

I want to highlight this because this is soo real. I don’t want to be staff, but I do like… long to be a leader or helpful person in the community !! so long as there is a community left to be had. my end game in participating in this feedback thread-turned-open conflict resolution meeting is having a forum where i feel safe enough to make the most out of AC 6 upon release. can anyone else relate to that?

---

I’m writing this while sitting in the dark on my rug with my cat and thinking, “dark mode would be really awesome rn” and then i thought of this discussion btwn justin & seliph many many pages ago that is seemingly related.

 

[aericell]

I have read a good chunk of the thread. Yes, I do understand it has nothing to do with popularity. As I believe I clearly stated in my post, I said this was the public perception of the situation, not the actual reality of it. As we all know, public perception and what reality is are two very different things.

Given the nature of the thread being an ongoing feedback thread, I think it's wholly unreasonable to expect people to re-read the entire thread anyways.

public perception? shouldn't the fact that many people have felt strongly enough to speak out against it say a lot in itself? shouldn't the reactions on posts send enough of a message on how people are feeling? sorry but if i jumped into this thread without a clue about what's going on, these are some of the first details i'd notice

i really don't think anyone is expecting people to go back and reread the entire thread, but you don't even need to when the same concerns have been expressed over and over again. if someone is concerned enough about the ban to form strong opinions, then it's kind of on them to take the time to understand what's happening and why. if they reduce this entire situation down to popularity rather than unfair punishments, then they are making the choice to stay ignorant. there is no way you would not get this info unless you actively choose to avoid/ignore/misconstrue it despite how clearly articulated it's been by several people.

 

[LadyDestani]

Thank you for addressing a few things already, within the last half of the 2nd post here and ‘thread highlights’. These are really appreciated. For these types (and quantities) of ‘official’ updates, sifting through thread highlights can be a little difficult - I’d like to suggest possibly compiling topics that have been already covered into one place - possibly updating the 2nd post? Or an ‘updates’ thread outside of this, where only staff post? Not sure what’s best or appropriate, just a suggestion to keep new information accessible.

That's very doable. It's been a little low on the priority list right now, and I realize we've also been lax about adding the thread highlight to our recent posts too. Those things are all easily corrected when we have time.

Action Item #1: Add Thread Highlights & Link in OP/2nd Post

If a forum member was in the same situation (as staff or not) - would they also be graced with essentially, no consequences for their actions? Do we just have to give enough detail about our personal lives to excuse behaviours? Can I post something wildly inappropriate tomorrow and avoid warnings, bans, and apologies because I’m dealing with xyz like severe depression, undiagnosed ADHD & autism, financial difficulties and substance abuse - which you just have to take my word for? It’s not an excuse or safety blanket, it’s unfair for everyone to handle problematic behaviour like this.

This was in response to Chris' posts (for context). Before I begin: This is how things are done now, but they do not have to stay this way. We'll consider changes. When it comes to posts that are several years old, we currently don't give warnings. We would check the member's post history to see if they were still repeating the behavior. If it was an isolated incident, we'll delete the offending post with a message to the member making sure they understand why it was against the rules. If it's still happening, we'll give the warning for the most current post but link all the problematic ones. Along with the warning, we'll also delete all those posts. The only reason we'd give a warning for a significantly older post is if it was extremely egregious (such as threatening violence) and something that bad would probably come with a ban as well.

Most people don't apologize when they get warnings or bans. They may protest it through CTS and we'll review their case again. I have actually reversed a warning before because I gave it in error. I've never reversed a ban, but I also haven't given many bans. However, saying "it's my x, y, or z" won't change things unless it's an extreme case. They'll keep the warning or the ban that was already handed down. Having those challenges ( ? not sure if that's the right word) is not an excuse, but it does help us frame things in the future when we're interacting with them. Our goal is not to let them get away with anything, but to approach them in different ways based on what they best respond to.

I'm going to pause right there and say what I know many are thinking: We have not been doing a good job with that. I agree.

Action Item #2: Going forward delete ALL posts that break rules or cause harm regardless of how we've dealt with the member.

I don't think it's feasible to go back and remove every discriminatory or inappropriate post made over the last 20 years.

Why have posts called out in this thread as discriminatory or inappropriate not been removed?
We've been letting posts slide all the way around in this thread. Some posts have been rude, some have been inflammatory, some have included discriminatory language, some have targeted and criticized staff members (which is against the current rules). In complete and total honesty, we are a little confused right now about what everybody wants.

You've called out that certain posts were inappropriate and should never have been made. This is fair and we agree. However, when those posts were deleted by the staff member who made them, which is part of our normal process to take them out of public view so they won't harm anyone else, we were accused of sweeping things under the rug. Those posts have now been pasted throughout by members in this thread where anybody, including children, can see them. This is a legitimate question for you all. I'm not trying to be rude or instigate anything. I really just want to know if the expectation is for us to take those down or leave them up for eternity in the Feedback Thread.

 

[LambdaDelta]

some have targeted and criticized staff members (which is against the current rules)

with all due respect, that rule is a load of authoritarian-esque bunk and should honestly be restructured

I understand not wanting staff to have to deal with harrassment over their unpaid volunteer work or for every decision to be scrutinized, but wholesale barring criticism isn't it

 

[themysterybidder]

Snip

Thank you for the update. I feel really sorry for you as you're the Moderator posting the most and bearing the brunt of this thread! I have nothing but the highest praise for you, and thank you for being a mod who puts effort into all threads across the forum. You are also friendly and approachable which is extremely important.

 

[fairysyndrome]

Destani, i first would like to say i do appreciate your efforts in trying to consistently participate in this thread and acknowledge commentary when able. this brunt shouldn't fall primarily on you as the acting mouthpiece, so the efforts are sincerely appreciated. that said, several of your responses do still come across as misguided & not-quite-listening in the way staff has overall been.

Before I begin: This is how things are done now, but they do not have to stay this way. We'll consider changes.

firstly, this may sound nitpicky of me, so i apologise if so. but especially after everything occurring here, word choice is important and this one strikes a chord - you should not be considering changes, as consideration is not a guarantee. changes of some kind do need to be made, not just considered, and it rings hollow at least to me to simply say they will be Considered. again, maybe i'm simply too nitpicky (or perhaps cynical) at this point in the thread, but considering so, so much of this thread has been begging for action to be made and feeling like it's falling on deaf ears... considering doesn't feel like enough.

We've been letting posts slide all the way around in this thread. Some posts have been rude, some have been inflammatory, some have included discriminatory language, some have targeted and criticized staff members (which is against the current rules).

this rule sucks ass, to put it bluntly. i'm not going to put this one politely as i've been trying to keep the rest of my wording throughout all my participation here. this one is awful and shouldn't even be brought up as a point for what you're letting slide. as Lambda said - wholly barring criticism of staff is authoritarian. while we understand staffing is entirely a volunteer position and staff is human as anyone else is and should not be hit with excessive cruelty by members, you are still all at a higher position on this website and have accepted responsibilities involved with those positions, voluntary or no, and you should not be exempt from criticism in any form simply because you are not paid to carry out these responsibilities.

Why have posts called out in this thread as discriminatory or inappropriate not been removed?
In complete and total honesty, we are a little confused right now about what everybody wants.

You've called out that certain posts were inappropriate and should never have been made. This is fair and we agree. However, when those posts were deleted by the staff member who made them, which is part of our normal process to take them out of public view so they won't harm anyone else, we were accused of sweeping things under the rug. Those posts have now been pasted throughout by members in this thread where anybody, including children, can see them. This is a legitimate question for you all. I'm not trying to be rude or instigate anything. I really just want to know if the expectation is for us to take those down or leave them up for eternity in the Feedback Thread.

on May 24th, 2025, i went back and double-checked the post i had initially provided a cap of when i was posting it in case a copy of it with Chris' current username was needed (as my copy was under his previous username) & it was still up as of then. i have a timestamped Discord post regarding it as proof if needed. any deletion efforts were years late and would have not occurred at all if members didn't address the topic to begin with. had i not posted that photo, the post would have remained up. and - even upon posting - had this topic not become such a hot spot after our initial address of it, the post would have simply been quietly deleted without facing any proper acknowledgement or repercussions.

while i can't speak for the others who've shared other caps - especially as Sharksheep, who initially brought the topic up, has exited the conversation - i'd be more than willing to delete mine / volunteer it for deletion once action has occurred as it's not something that should stay circulating once the topic has been properly addressed. that said, while i understand you are trying to ask a genuine question & it is a sincerely valid point in that the photos should not stay circulating past a certain point, this does very much come across as trying to turn the situation on the people who brought up the criticism to begin with (especially as, again, at least one of the posts was still up until it was brought up in this thread four years after it was made.)

also, while the posts should be deleted, the idea that a staff member can go back and scrub inappropriate posts of theirs - even if they are posts that shouldn't exist - and others can instead face criticism for bringing up / sharing these posts doesn't sit quite right with me in a way i can't find the proper words to verbalise at 4AM. but this IS what people mean by sweeping it under the rug - they're deleted without any genuinely proper address of them years later after the damage has been long, long done. certainly, the posts should not exist, and i understand this is a difficult situation no matter what avenue is taken, but considering the nature of it there may be no proper answer until a proper solution is reached and that is perhaps something the staff will just have to deal with as it is a member of their own who made these particular slipups to begin with. and maybe this can be a lesson used as motivation in providing a proper response from the staff as an entirety.

 

[Sharksheep]

Action Item #1: Add Thread Highlights & Link in OP/2nd Post


This was in response to Chris' posts (for context). Before I begin: This is how things are done now, but they do not have to stay this way. We'll consider changes. When it comes to posts that are several years old, we currently don't give warnings. We would check the member's post history to see if they were still repeating the behavior. If it was an isolated incident, we'll delete the offending post with a message to the member making sure they understand why it was against the rules. If it's still happening, we'll give the warning for the most current post but link all the problematic ones. Along with the warning, we'll also delete all those posts. The only reason we'd give a warning for a significantly older post is if it was extremely egregious (such as threatening violence) and something that bad would probably come with a ban as well.

How kind of you to consider changing. How kind of you to consider listening to feedback. I guess nothing is a problem if you don't acknowledge it is a problem. Or I guess the new modern way to solve issues to consider addressing them.

We've been letting posts slide all the way around in this thread. Some posts have been rude, some have been inflammatory, some have included discriminatory language, some have targeted and criticized staff members (which is against the current rules).

I should have known that being staff was a special protected class that makes you free from criticism. You can say and do whatever you want with no consequences. No wonder people want to be staff so badly. When only posts of praise can stay up and you cannot be ignored.

Did you know that the people in positions of power who enforce this censorship end up on the wrong side of history?

Action Item #2: Going forward delete ALL posts that break rules or cause harm regardless of how we've dealt with the member.

I don't think it's feasible to go back and remove every discriminatory or inappropriate post made over the last 20 years.

THEY STAY UP BECAUSE THE STAFF DECISION IS TO DO NOTHING. Actually I'm tired of the language we have been using to refer to the staff inaction. The criticism is about the staff decision to do nothing

My original post was quick to be shadow edit merely minutes after I made it but problematic posts that people have told me they reported are still up weeks and months later. Weeks and months later turn to years and staff just hold up their hands and say well too bad it's too late too much has passed!

You've called out that certain posts were inappropriate and should never have been made. This is fair and we agree. However, when those posts were deleted by the staff member who made them, which is part of our normal process to take them out of public view so they won't harm anyone else, we were accused of sweeping things under the rug. Those posts have now been pasted throughout by members in this thread where anybody, including children, can see them. This is a legitimate question for you all. I'm not trying to be rude or instigate anything. I really just want to know if the expectation is for us to take those down or leave them up for eternity in the Feedback Thread.

It's very convenient that so many people have left or considering leaving over this that would remember this that you would consider deleting to sweep it all under the rug. So people will forgot or never learn that this staff has made problematic statements in the past and if they do it again it looks like a first incident.

 

[LadyDestani]

with all due respect, that rule is a load of authoritarian-esque bunk and should honestly be restructured

I understand not wanting staff to have to deal with harrassment over their unpaid volunteer work or for every decision to be scrutinized, but wholesale barring criticism isn't it

this rule sucks, to put it bluntly. i'm not going to put this one politely as i've been trying to keep the rest of my wording throughout all my participation here. as Lambda said - wholly barring criticism of staff is authoritarian. while we understand staffing is entirely a volunteer position and staff is human as anyone else is and should not be hit with excessive cruelty by members, you are still all at a higher position on this website and have accepted responsibilities involved with those positions, voluntary or no, and you should not be exempt from criticism in any form simply because you are not paid to carry out these responsibilities.

I didn't mean to imply that the rule should remain as is. It's important for us to be able to do our work without fear of reprisal, harassment, and threats. Sadly, those things do happen. However, accepting criticism of our actions is equally important so we can improve everyone's experience on the site.

Action Item #3: Revise and clarify site Rules.

firstly, this may sound nitpicky of me, so i apologise if so. but especially after everything occurring here, word choice is important and this one strikes a chord - you should not be considering changes, as consideration is not a guarantee. changes of some kind do need to be made, not just considered, and it rings hollow at least to me to simply say they will be Considered. again, maybe i'm simply too nitpicky (or perhaps cynical) at this point in the thread, but considering so, so much of this thread has been begging for action to be made and feeling like it's falling on deaf ears... considering doesn't feel like enough.

Word choice is important and consider was a poor choice here. I wanted to get something posted asap, so I wrote that at 3am. I was tired and my phrasing reflects that. We will make changes.

while i understand you are trying to ask a genuine question & it is a sincerely valid point in that the photos should not stay circulating past a certain point, this does very much come across as trying to turn the situation on the people who brought up the criticism to begin with (especially as, again, at least one of the posts was still up until it was brought up in this thread four years after it was made.)

It was not my intent to place any blame. I apologize if it came across that way. It was a sincere question and I'd like to note that I was only referring to the screenshots themselves, not the posts criticizing them.

 

[a potato]

Some posts have been rude, some have been inflammatory, some have included discriminatory language, some have targeted and criticized staff members (which is against the current rules).

I didn't mean to imply that the rule should remain as is. It's important for us to be able to do our work without fear of reprisal, harassment, and threats.

Would you mind clarifying the intent of the rule as it is written today?

• Do not target, harass, publicly criticize, or make snide remarks towards staff members of The Bell Tree. As volunteers, staff members devote their free time to running the forum and should be allowed to do so without being targeted.

I agree staff shouldn’t be harassed by making random comments or whatever, but I think there’s definitely some nuance that the rule doesn’t exactly contain. In the case of what happened here, a collective of members had multiple, documented complaints against staff which could be seen as targeting as it is currently written. I think there’s a distinct difference between making a thread called “What moderator do you dislike today?” and raising specific complaints.

 

[Mairmalade]

The rule relates to 'publicly criticizing staff' rather than simply 'criticizing staff.' Criticism is certainly valuable in many cases.

The intent for the rule (or at least, my interpretation) is to avoid, for example, pages of public backlash with valid criticism sprinkled in. I don't believe that is productive/helpful for anyone

What is helpful (at least for me) is that if I make a mistake or I miss the mark on something, I'd prefer being told privately, where I have the time and space to listen and reflect. Depending on the nature of the criticism and who's giving it, I may privately respond with acknowledgement and a commitment to learn/correct/grow, publicly acknowledge it, or simply thank you for sharing and respectfully disagree. Not all feedback is equal.

Edit: I feel like I need to bold the above. I cannot speak for others, only myself. The above would be helpful for me in a community or any working role.​

I find it disappointing how we are sometimes so quick to pick things apart.

--------

I have read through some of the commentary in/surrounding this thread and share LadyDestani's sentiments that we are a little confused right now about what everybody wants, though the expression of exhaustion, frustration, and concern is shared.

Edit: to clarify the above paragraph, it's difficult to address feedback in the mass this thread has become.​

One thing we've discussed and I wholeheartedly agree on is a Rules and Guidelines overhaul with specific examples and clarity on moderation (e.g., warning structure and how severity intertwines to determine strikes/bans and their duration).

I've seen some wild commentary and genuinely do not know how to respond here unless I say 'girl, bye' to any sense of professionalism. In saying that, that probably makes me unfit for a community role, so I respect those who can.

Edit: I also felt the need to stress this.​

Happy to provide insight where I can, though I cannot speak for others, disclose private information, or speak on topics where I don't have a lot of context or information.

 

[Yoshi155]

I know this conversation is already over, but since I’m a minor, I wanted to say that

Furthermore, while it is still important to remember that kids could be participating here, the community has been used primarily by adults for quite some time. The average age of active users is currently 35, while the median age is 29. I also suspect that Animal Crossing now has one of the oldest userbases for Nintendo games. This is just something that may be worth keeping in mind while comparing TBT and its rules to other social media apps, Discord servers, etc.

I think this is hilarious, when I read it I was like “lol are we being so deadass right now?” I don’t even need to explain what’s wrong with this quote. I really don’t see what you lose from just banning sex related discussion. Obviously it’s inappropriate for minors (but apparently keeping them safe isn’t a priority so idk), but most of the people who have said that it makes them uncomfortable are adults. And I don’t think anyone would care about other members’ sex lives because why would they? So if you did ban sex related discussion, literally all you would be doing is making the site a more comfortable place. Just admit when you’re wrong about things.

Honestly, this site is so draining to visit now because staff does **** like that. Everything since seliph’s ban makes me feel like they really do not care. I’m sure some of them do, but I haven’t seen actions that prove it.

 

[-Apples-]

I actually like how fair the staff are. They don’t see posts or situations black and white like everyone else. They also acknowledge that some who made problematic posts in the past, whether or not they knew what they were doing was wrong, do change and are open to change. I’m still waiting for a response on seliph’s ban though.

The problem with many of you are that you are very nitpicky over situations (like you demand an apology from a specific staff member and sounded ungrateful since the apology was late, tell people to stay with the current flow of complaints when they talk about something else, immediately point out contradictions to staff responses etc.), use grudges or someone else’s past to count against them today, hound on others for opposing viewpoints, complain about being silenced or others being dismissive when calling out your poor behavior, and immediately determine someone as a threat after one post that bothered you without giving them any chances. If this is how you behave in public, you’re going to give others a bad impression of who you are. One particular example was that some of you said that you don’t owe others your forgiveness if they said something harmful in the past. Do you know what? Neither do the other party. If you feel the right to take action against someone today for what they did last year, five years ago, or ten years ago, they might do the same to you next year, five years later, or ten years later. Whatever goes around comes around.

 

[themysterybidder]

I hate writing posts like this but I cannot let this one go. I do write this with the upmost respect for you:

The rule relates to 'publicly criticizing staff' rather than simply 'criticizing staff.' Criticism is certainly valuable in many cases.

Sorry, but it also works both ways. One of Jeremy's public posts to a user.

You're not being straightforward, you're simply being rude. Take this post, for example. You're lying by claiming the staff are closed to feedback despite this thread showing otherwise on multiple points. You're condescending by claiming we want our hands held and saying things like, "I'm going to talk to you like an adult." This is how you're ruining feedback: by turning something productive into something negative. You're making it difficult for legitimate concerns to be heard because you're distracting from them by acting like a bully. Yes, you're right that this isn't new, and this has nothing to do with me and goes far beyond the topic of feedback, as I'm sure you're well aware.

Taken from the Rules:

• "If you disagree with someone, please do so in a dignified manner and refrain from using personal attacks."
• Keep your criticism constructive and avoid posting anything that belittles another user.

Maybe I've misunderstood the rules and they only relate to regular members and not EVRYONE, please educate me publicly or privately if anyone wishes.

 

[Jeremy]

I am going to requote this point I made earlier:

A lot of the feedback we are hearing today is the wish for the forum to align closer to PG or G ratings rather than PG-13. This is valid feedback, and we are not necessarily opposed to carefully reining in some of these topics, but there are other things worth considering that may make this less simple than the way it is being framed. Also, please stop taking my statement about the average age out of context. As a mixed-age community, it's reasonable to compare to others such as Facebook, TikTok, Discord, Twitter, etc. My point is simply that the topic of "Animal Crossing" does not make us a website targeted at kids more than these others. In fact, the opposite is likely true. Secondly, safety for younger readers/members is something we take seriously, and we have made changes to address this as recently as March of this year.

And expand on it further:

• This forum is not unique in the way it addresses this topic. It has the same or stricter rules than our fellow Nintendo forums, most of which are dedicated to Pokémon. If you're unsure about this, I would recommend looking at the Pokémon forum called Smogon, which is the most active Nintendo-based forum on the internet. This is just one example, but you'll find that their rules are far less strict than TBT's.
• The reason for this approach here on TBT is because, in prior years, there was public outcry that it should be allowed.
• As I stated, we're completely open to changing the rule, and this can easily be communicated in this thread without making accusations.
• Some members who have made statements about this have personally discussed this topic openly, and their posts are still visible on the forum.
• Even more members who have made statements about this have personally made sexual innuendos/references, which would also be banned in a more G-rated setting.
• TBT has never allowed 18+ content.

 

[Mairmalade]

I hate writing posts like this but I cannot let this one go. I do write this with the upmost respect for you:


Sorry, but it also works both ways. One of Jeremy's public posts to a user.


Taken from the Rules:

• "If you disagree with someone, please do so in a dignified manner and refrain from using personal attacks."
• Keep your criticism constructive and avoid posting anything that belittles another user.

Maybe I've misunderstood the rules and they only relate to regular members and not EVRYONE, please educate me publicly or privately if anyone wishes.

Hi, @themysterybidder

I appreciate your reply!

You aren't misunderstanding them. I agree with you that, as staff, we should be interacting with users in a dignified manner and that respect is a 'two-way street.' It can certainly be difficult when a high level of frustration comes into the mix, but we still have that responsibility.

I cannot speak for Jeremy, though I believe he apologized for the post you've highlighted somewhere in this thread with a commitment of "doing better" moving forward. I realize that doesn't erase the post that was made and the feelings that came from it.

Edit: OK, I searched for the word 'apologize' in this thread and was misremembering the scenario. There was an apology given for delayed responses in this thread and for allowing the situation to escalate further, but I am uncertain if a direct apology was given for the post you've quoted. I apologize for the rushed response and confusion that may have come from my above statement. I agree that action is paramount compared to simply stating an apology.

However, I'm also uncertain what consequence(s) would be applied in this case. beyond that.

I know there's a response cool down in this thread now, so I'll mention that I am also open to private messages if that's preferred.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

I just want to say, I've been out of the loop in regards to what's going on here, I've been very busy with irl stuff and spending my time online elsewhere. but it's kinda sad to see/hear what's going on. at least the important issues are coming to light now, and I hope they're resolved soon. I'm just kind of disappointed, and uncomfortable.

that's all I have to say, I will refrain from posting here for now. in the meantime I will continue to take my hiatus, and friends are free to message me on Discord if they like

 

[toxapex]

I have been attempting to keep up with this thread despite being busy lately, and genuinely feel like I might expire from a fried brain trying to put together my thoughts on every single situation that's come up in this thread over even just the past week.

So I'll just express my general ... disappointment? in this thread?
To be clear, this thread in concept is such a great idea, but in practice feels almost willfully ineffective at times.
And I hate to say that. I generally like the staff, and I wish I had something positive to say here.

Getting communication from staff feels like pulling teeth. In addition to the slow/inadequate responses that have already been mentioned by others (I think we are all getting frustrated and antsy from being told that there are discussions going on behind the scenes), I was also not aware of Chris' hiatus until Chris himself broke the hiatus and mentioned it had been happening. I know one of Jeremy's more recent posts mentioned it, but I would like to ask in case I missed it: Was this hiatus officially announced anywhere prior? If not, I feel that it should have been communicated promptly, given that multiple users were expressing their concerns and recommending stepping down or a hiatus of some sort. I understand this might have been embarrassing for Chris, but at the same time I do think people deserve an update about action pertaining to a situation that has been concerning them. If nothing else, it might have helped ease the sentiment that staff was not taking any action on these concerns.

Another thing I was disappointed to see a few times in this thread is users doubling down on offensive takes instead of saying "oh I see why such and such would make someone feel unsafe/unwelcome on the site, sorry about that."
I understand the temptation to have the last word, or to be "right" or even to just try and explain yourself if you feel misinterpreted.
But I really believe there is a lot of good faith to be earned if you take a second to cool off, and try to put yourself in the shoes of the person telling you they're uncomfortable using this site when certain topics are not moderated seriously, or upset that their child and other children could even chance running into sexual discussions, especially potentially harmful ones, in a random thread.
And I'm not telling you to just roll over and agree with every piece of criticism you get. Just, try to understand WHY you're getting it before going into defense mode. To the staff's credit, LadyDestani has been very good about this from what I have seen.
When you make an argument or propose a rule, just try and ask yourself "Who would this benefit? Who does this protect?"
I do not pretend to have all of the answers, and I'm sure this long-winded "think before you post" speech comes across as incredibly condescending/preachy. And I apologize if it feels that way, but regardless I thought I should say something after watching these discussions drag on for so long.
I firmly believe that the members of this site should feel safe using it, and any moderation actions should keep in mind the safety and peace-of-mind of its most vulnerable members.

 

[Crash]

-

 

[Aurita]

• This forum is not unique in the way it addresses this topic. It has the same or stricter rules than our fellow Nintendo forums, most of which are dedicated to Pokémon. If you're unsure about this, I would recommend looking at the Pokémon forum called Smogon, which is the most active Nintendo-based forum on the internet. This is just one example, but you'll find that their rules are far less strict than TBT's.

I disagree with this, Jeremy. If anything, Smogon has a stricter set of rules.

From Smogon's actual Code of Conduct: "In general, all forms of discussion of sex, flirting, or otherwise suggestive commentary is discouraged. common technique for pedophiles and other sexual predators to find victims, is to lead online chat conversations into the sexual arena. This is a Pokémon server, so it's best to avoid sexual conversations altogether. A certain amount of bawdy "guy talk" is inevitable, but comments will be moderated if it gets out of hand."

In Smogon's global forum rules: "Do not flame, insult or otherwise belittle other users for any reasons. Do not spread hate speech or other bigoted views, including racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, or anything else that may fall under that umbrella. This will be punished extremely harshly. Note that this will be punished regardless of where it happens—if private servers or PMs are reported, you are liable for them just as much as you would be for posting directly on the forums."

Smogon has an entire section dedicated to User Safety and Sensitive Subjects such as doxxing, harassment, and sexually explicit content on Pokemon Showdown (rules and bans are mirrored between the two).

Especially regarding Pokemon Showdown—"Pokémon Showdown has a wide and varied userbase, with people of almost all ages enjoying the site. It is therefore against the rules to discuss anything sexually explicit, anywhere on the site. This includes private messages, even between two consenting adults. Any attempt to elicit sexual interactions with another user will absolutely not be tolerated and will be punished harshly. If there are suspicions that such behavior is taking place, we can and will check PM logs to investigate. Furthermore, linking to or discussing websites that contain sexually explicit content in chat rooms will result in a lock"

In comparison, this is TBT's rule:

Prohibited Content
Do not post any content that contains or promotes the following:

• Violence, terrorism, suicide, self-harm, or other obscene content.
• Advocating or celebrating the harm or death of others.
• Discrimination against any race, religion, or sexual orientation.
• Hacking information, viruses, or harmful computer software.
• Information on how to access items that violate copyright laws.
• Pornography, nudity, or sexual material.
• Words or images that purposely bypass the forum censor, including partially replacing letters with asterisks or other symbols.

Smogon also has a warning / punishment system that is laid out: Warnings on Smogon's site and Punishments (scroll down) in their global forum rules. I won't be adding it here since it is long and detailed.

Further, their forum rules specifically state: "If a moderator is abusing their powers, let someone (preferably a Super Moderator or Admin) know. If a user is harassing you in PM, take a screenshot and let someone know. This includes verbal and emotional abuse, no matter what the capacity. If you contact a member of Senior Staff, they will take it into their own hands and punish the offending users accordingly. No user on this site, especially one in a position of authority, is untouchable, and no user is immune to the consequences of their actions."

As of now, I do not feel comfortable informing a Sr. Moderator or above regarding any moderator abuse or moderator content. Other members may agree, but I don't want to put words in their mouths. The lack of transparency, extreme delays in responses, and the amount of inactive staff instills further distrust, scrutiny, and skepticism about corrective action.

From my point of view, an overhaul of mods may be necessary to regain the trust of the forum members. I'm not saying we remove all the current mods, but to add new mods, remove inactive ones (or move them to an 'hiatus mod' role or something), set specific role guidelines and expectations, and an established (and public) warning/ban system.

Especially the last point—this partially removes the authoritarian power of being able to ban any member t anytime. Members should receive warnings (justified and appealable) and after X amount of warnings or the type of warning, a ban may be on the table.

And no, I'm not stating we should promote Apples as a moderator. I think candidates can be picked by current staff, and put to a public anonymous vote to ensure trust in new moderators.



EDIT: after Jeremy's reply to me

I recommend using their forum's search functionality to check out some of the content posted there within the last year or two.

Jeremy, first, I think it's compelling that you chose to reply to me right away compared to some of the other posts here. (too bad I can't retort back in a new post due to the 4 hour cooldown)

Second, you mentioned the rules specifically and I compared just the rules.

Additionally, from my search, it seems most of their 'explicit' content is within their Basement-equivalent subforum. I'd be glad to share some examples from TBT's Basement that mention 'explicit' content.

Further, the staff asked what *we* want, and I made a suggestion which was not addressed in your quick reply.
Lastly, do you really think it is a fair comparison to compare competitive Pokemon forums to Animal Crossing forums?

note: Smogon states "Be respectful of other communities. Smogon is not a place to flame any other internet circles." I think we should do the same.

 

[Jeremy]

I disagree with this, Jeremy. If anything, Smogon has a stricter set of rules.

I recommend using their forum's search functionality to check out some of the content posted there within the last year or two.