Moderator Application

[MoguL]

Thread Topic:
MoguL@useast.battle.net

Name:
Mike

Age:
23

Game moderator position (see below for choices):
DotA

Brief introduction:
My name is Mike, I'm 23. People know me as MoguL@useast. Been playing WarCraft for a while, very familiar with the mechanics of it. I've played DotA for 2 years or so. Outside of DotA, I play guitar a lot, work out, run a website that I co-own.

What are your current hours of playing time (approximate)?
Currently unemployed, so on and off all day, every day. Will be that way for a while...

What is your current time zone?
EST

Describe any relevant experience, both in moderating and in Warcraft III:
Been playing WarCraft for about a decade. Used to be an admin for roc.replayers.com, one of the largest RoC replay sites, where I helped arrange tournaments, review replays, etc. I switched to DotA about 2 years ago and have become a pretty solid, consistent player that a lot of players enjoy playing with. I have real-world experience with making tough decisions and helping to address various complaints and suggestions effectively. Recently, I've read through the threads on maphacking, etc. and have been practicing catching maphackers. (Think I've gotten pretty good.)

Why should we accept you?
I'm a pretty well-liked, active player that's able to help review complaints, suggestions, hacks, etc. I'm also a pretty forward-thinking individual that wants to help not only maintain, but improve the community. I've got a lot of experience running tournaments, reviewing forums, and moderating a gaming community.


Why do you want to become a game moderator?
I can definitely help share the moderating responsibilities because I'm active and I enjoy being the person that people go to for help. A lot of other players have suggested I give this a shot and after thinking about it, I'm ready to. Besides, I've enjoyed being a mod/admin in other communities and I've had great feedback about it.

What will you bring to the ENT/Warcraft III community?
I'd like to bring serious tournaments, leagues, etc. into the community. Also, I'd to help enforce the rules of the community and continue to ensure we have a fair and just place to play here.

Closing Statement:

Hope you accept me. Here's 2 of the recent threads that I've posted for maphacking:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7352

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7334

Cheers,
mogul

[Queen_Kristen]

I suport mogul, Hes always on, never an ass hole, and always fair even when he gets stomped by noobs xD

[Bubblestorms]

I can't help but see that you seem to have had with some of our staff, if you were to become an admin and assuming you had a problem with one of the staff, how would you go about to resolve it?

Also if you were to make a mistake, such as abuse in game and a user made a complaint about it, how would you deal with it?

[MoguL]

@Agreements

I've become proficient at looking at fog clicks. On roc.replayers.com, the team had developed a parser that was able to detect maphacking. I wasn't too familiar with the way it worked, but I can definitely take a look at it, ask them, research, etc. Currently I'm just using the fog detector to find hackers. If everything checks out with that, then you really don't have any "hard" proof that hacking has occurred. Now obviously, that just means a player wasn't careless enough to select a unit in fog, but that doesn't mean they aren't hacking. You can look for other signs, or even through other games that the player has played in order to find a careless mistake that proves it.

@Bubblestorms

Yes, it's true - I've had some problems with some of the staff. I would consider it minor though and there's no hard feelings. Basically, I like expressing my opinion when I think it should matter. If I had a problem with someone though, I would address it with them or other necessary. means.
As far as making mistakes are concerned...I would honestly try my hardest not to make mistakes to begin with. Abusing in a game is definitely something that I know isn't permitted, so it would be simple to avoid. Obviously, we're all human here and mistakes are possible - so if I made a mistake, I would be the first to admit it and make any corrections I would need to ensure it didn't happen again. Also, a simple apology goes a long way with people.

[Bubblestorms]

Yes, it's true - I've had some problems with some of the staff. I would consider it minor though and there's no hard feelings. Basically, I like expressing my opinion when I think it should matter. If I had a problem with someone though, I would address it with them or other necessary. means.
As far as making mistakes are concerned...I would honestly try my hardest not to make mistakes to begin with. Abusing in a game is definitely something that I know isn't permitted, so it would be simple to avoid. Obviously, we're all human here and mistakes are possible - so if I made a mistake, I would be the first to admit it and make any corrections I would need to ensure it didn't happen again. Also, a simple apology goes a long way with people.

That s a good answer, how would you go about dealing with the staff you disagree with in context to lets assume he was caught abusing his powers, I mean lets say I abused admin powers, how would you address me, would you state so on the complaints topic which a user put up or perhaps discuss it on admin section?

[Palsgraf]

How would you deal with someone who is excessively racist in game? Would you treat it the as bannable as another offense, such as AFK griefing or votekick abuse?

Why or why not? Please answer in 3000 words or less.

[MoguL]

@Bubblestorms

Calling upon previous experiences, it's always best to coach/criticize that person privately while still addressing the issue effectively enough with the public. I'm all about constructive criticism to correct problems and help people get better.

@paslgraf

Was that sarcasm about my verbose posts?

Anyway, this is a case by case scenario. The rule reads: Do not flame. Don't rage or insult other players excessively. So technically, it is bannable and enforceable like AFK griefing and votekick abuse. Personally, I have a high tolerance for raging and racist remarks because I see it all as jokes. It doesn't really affect me. At the same time, if it does cross the line or is consistent enough, then yes, it could result in a ban.

[Bubblestorms]

@Bubblestorms

Calling upon previous experiences, it's always best to coach/criticize that person privately while still addressing the issue effectively enough with the public. I'm all about constructive criticism to correct problems and help people get better.

Actually the answer I was looking for, while yours may also be a correct approach, the best one in my opinion would be to take the matter with the admin to pm, if we can't be seen as a collective group in front of users, than we lose a lot of face in front of the public. While stating this, does not mean you have go the whole 9 yards to protect the person whom you think is guilty of abuse, but rather than calling him out on it in front of users just let him know what you think in pm, hopefully in a respectable manner. Respect is something earned, something simple like keeping a matter out of the public eye over a fellow admin, like sending a pm outlining what you believe he has done wrong and advising him not to do so again, goes a long way to earn his respect for you, at least I think it does.

[Palsgraf]

Last I checked, the DotA specific rules described the following as bannable: "Extreme impoliteness: racism or excessive trash talking"

It's possible that's changed, though.

Also, it isn't about _your_ tolerance for racism, but rather promoting a friendly and inclusive gaming community for everyone. That is also, coincidentally, why we don't allow you to votekick people who are new and trying to learn the game.

Turns out that if you play a game and happened to be black, and someone on your team or the other keeps going off about N****rs, it kinda makes you not want to be in that game. We seriously considered banning people with patently bigoted account names. Although we did not adopt the policy, the discussion alone demonstrates how committed ENT is to promoting an inclusive community.

The discussion is worth a read. It's archived in the Suggestions sub-forum. I'll link to it when I get off my phone and onto a proper computer.

Does that change your answer?

[teller55]

@Bubblestorms

Calling upon previous experiences, it's always best to coach/criticize that person privately while still addressing the issue effectively enough with the public. I'm all about constructive criticism to correct problems and help people get better.

I kind of agree with Bubbles but I actually think this is a perfect answer. Addressing the issue effectively enough with the public is what should be done. If something inappropriate is happening, it shouldn't just be covered up, but on Bubbles side, it also shouldn't be dragged around in the face of the public either. So your answer suggests a happy medium, which I like.

I also liked your answer to paly.

[NutzSucksHard]

Yes, still is judgement is not enough involved for what (I'am) looking for. I'm not the one that will decide the final decision, still I'am telling you just the truth, you seems to me, not ready. Sorry.

For me, this is a no. Try out a month later, see how everything goes, in and out of the forum.

Good Luck.

P.S : Better in Bnet to see an attitude to a forum, in forum he have hours to think about his answer. Seriously. Nice talk, we saw a lot... These same guys nice talking did what? ----> Admin Abuse. Not gonna name, hope you know who I'am talking about. HINT : My name in april fool.

[Bubblestorms]

@Bubblestorms

Calling upon previous experiences, it's always best to coach/criticize that person privately while still addressing the issue effectively enough with the public. I'm all about constructive criticism to correct problems and help people get better.

I kind of agree with Bubbles but I actually think this is a perfect answer. Addressing the issue effectively enough with the public is what should be done. If something inappropriate is happening, it shouldn't just be covered up, but on Bubbles side, it also shouldn't be dragged around in the face of the public either. So your answer suggests a happy medium, which I like.

I also liked your answer to paly.

In other words your stating we should let a flaming war begin? You know how stubborn some users are, which have lead to most complaints being processed right away or locked. I am all for constructive criticism, however if some one is mad at an admin, do you think they really will think before they type? On this specific topic I have to disagree with you teller, an admin going on to a complaints topic and stating that the other admin had made an error, will cause more problems than resolve the situation. Unlike myself a lot of people dislike being called out on their faults and they become defensive very quickly.

[teller55]

No no, I'm saying, for instance, if a certain moderator got caught doing something they shouldn't have and a user complained, that we shouldn't just move the thread to processed and say "Taking care of it in house" and don't let users know what happened. Especially if they didn't lose any power, but were just reprimanded, the people deserve to know the jist of what's going on, hence MoguL's answer of basically "on a need to know basis"

[MoguL]

@palsgraf

I may have to lower my personal tolerance a bit in order to be more in accord with ENT's community. But would I ban someone every time a curse word is said? Probably not. It's all relative and should be a case by case scenario. I would have to use my good judgement to decide where the line is in each situation and whether or not a complaint has crossed it.

So, did it change my answer? Slightly, yes.

[Bubblestorms]

No no, I'm saying, for instance, if a certain moderator got caught doing something they shouldn't have and a user complained, that we shouldn't just move the thread to processed and say "Taking care of it in house" and don't let users know what happened. Especially if they didn't lose any power, but were just reprimanded, the people deserve to know the jist of what's going on, hence MoguL's answer of basically "on a need to know basis"

Yeah we should inform what's going on with the admin. It would be ideal if the admin just went to the thread and apologized, assuming he actually did abuse his power, problem is hardly anyone wants to say they are in the wrong. There have been a few complaints about me in the past, each time I would either reason out what I did and if some one were to explain to me what I had done wrong, I would admit to what I did and apologize and take whatever restriction had been placed on me.

But yeah a need to know basis works.