Moderation Update Thread

[Thestatusquo]

CHANGES TO OFF SITE MAFIA/LSG ADVERTISING RULES

Since the recent decision to unban thingyman there has been some feedback from the community that they would like to remove the prohibition against recruitment from the general site rules. After deliberation the mod team has decided that we agree and feel like the rule has not served a productive purpose in a long time. Therefore we have decided to make the following changes to the site rules:

"This includes unsolicited links to other Mafia-specific sites." will be removed from Prohibited Actions 1 of Universal Site Rules

Discord Specific Rule 6 ("Spamming or advertising other sites or communities is not allowed. This includes linking to other mafia sites and other sites that have Large Social Games (a.k.a. “Online Reality Games”). Please ask a relevant list moderator if you would like to advertise. If links are requested or solicited, please keep them in private rather than the server.") will be removed entirely.

We believe the greater mafia and ORG communities are stronger when sites view each other not as competitors but as friends and parts of a greater whole. For this reason we will no longer be treating solicitation for play on other sites as against the site rules. Cases where users are not members of our community and only on the website to solicit players for other sites will be handled the same as any other kind of spam content

[AniX]

Going forward, when banning a user for ban evasion, the moderation team will follow a policy of publicly stating the previous names of that user in the ban announcement. In some specific cases, we may make exceptions to this new default policy as necessary.

[AniX]

Machine Learning and AI

With the rise of machine learning and language models such as chatGPT we thought it would be useful to provide a few guidelines for how these tools can be used in mafia games. While using such tools is not completely banned on Mafiascum, please observe the following if you plan on using them in games:

1. Players are responsible for all content they post and for making sure it follows the site rules. Creating content with chatGPT or other AI generative tools is not an excuse for breaking site rules, and will not be treated any differently by the Moderation Team.
   
2. Use of chatGPT or other AI generative tools must be clearly labeled as such. You may not use chatGPT to create posts and pass them off as your own.
   
3. Use of chatGPT or other AI generative tools cannot be substituted for playing the game yourself. Even use that follows the previous rule can still violate the rules of Mafia if AI generative tools are used to remove you as a player of the game or give the appearance that your decisions and thoughts are not coming from you but instead are primarily being generated by outside tools.
   
4. While chatGPT and other AI generative tools themselves are not able to actively distinguish mafia players from town players, there is a potential for the creation of machine learning networks that can be trained on data which lets them distinguish mafia posts from town posts. Using machine learning in this way is strictly prohibited and will be considered cheating.

[AniX]

Starting this Saturday, August 19th, from Noon to 3:00pm ET, I, AniX, will be conducting what I hope will be monthly Town Halls in Discord Voice. Details, recaps, and future scheduling information can be found here.

[AniX]

Due to the risk of malicious access by banned users, Site Chat has been shut down, potentially permanently. Please see this thread for further explanation and discussion.

[lilith2013]

queue overhaul implementation

We are in the process of implementing the queue overhaul we announced in July. To summarize, we are sunsetting the Newbie Queue and consolidating all other games into Open, Normal, and Theme. Here is a detailed list of the changes to the Open, Normal, and Theme queues:

1. The Theme Queue will now contain Micro, Mini, and Large Themes, although Large Theme games will still have their own signup threads.
   
   
2. The Theme Queue will have one designated Micro Theme slot, and two slots in total for Minis and Larges.
   
   
3. The Open Queue will remain at two slots, but one slot is now designated for Approved Open setups, which will be our "newbie-friendly" queue slot. We are working on updating the Approved Open list so that all setups on this list are newbie-friendly. There will always be at least one Approved Open/newbie-friendly setup in signups if possible.
   
   
4. The Normal queue will remain at two slots, but there will no longer be a spot reserved for Large Normals specifically - any two games can fill the slots, with the caveat that there can be a maximum of one large normal in signups at a time. Micro and Mini Normals are also now explicitly separate game types.
   
   
5. Deadlines for games to fill will become more standardized across queues.
   1. Two weeks for Micro Themes
      
   2. Three weeks for Opens and Mini Themes
      
   3. Four weeks for Large Themes
6. Game limits will be simplified and standardized across queues.
   1. Playing: Players can play in a maximum of eight games of ten or more players at a time. There is no limit to playing games with nine or fewer players, but keep in mind that excessive flaking out/replacing out may lead to restrictions from playing mafia.
      
   2. Moderating: Game moderators can run a maximum of two games with ten or more players at a time. There is no limit to running games with nine or fewer players, but game mods have to wait until their previous game goes into signups to enter the queue again (this prevents someone from taking up consecutive slots in a queue when others want to mod games). Also keep in mind that abandoning games may result in restrictions on moderating games.
7. Requirements for backup/co-mods will be standardized across queues.
   1. First time game moderators must always have a backup/co-mod.
      
   2. For games with fourteen or more players, a backup/co-mod is always required.
      
   3. If a game moderator is running more than one game at a time, a backup/co-mod is always required.
      
   4. If this is the only game a game moderator is running across all queues, it is not their first game, and it has thirteen or fewer players, a backup/co-mod is strongly recommended but not required.
      
   5. Backup/co-mods must always qualify to run the game on their own in the event they need to take over the game.
8. Experience requirements will be simplified and standardized across queues. We are no longer differentiating between sizes of games when considering moderated games to meet experience requirements.
   1. Approved Opens and Mini Normals do not require any experience.
      
   2. Micro Themes, Mini Themes, Large Normals, and non-Approved Opens require one successfully moderated game.
      
   3. Large Themes require two successfully moderated games.
      
   4. Additionally, if a game moderator is running multiple games at the same time, they must have at least as many games of moderating experience as they are running simultaneously.
9. Pre-in policies will be standardized across queues. Games in all queues can now have half of their slots rounded down as pre-ins, and pre-ins must confirm within 72 hours of the game going into signups.
   
   
10. Areas where game moderators have discretion and can decide their own policies will now be described in more detail in the "Moderator Information" section of each queue. This includes policies regarding hydras, alts, blacklisting, experience requirements, and requesting exceptions to site rules, as applicable.
    
    
11. Queue forms will be standardized across queues, and now have designated spaces for game moderators to indicate their policies on the areas where they have discretion.
    
    
12. All games currently in signups will be listed in a central location (will be linked here) so players can see what games are available at a glance.

Anything not mentioned above should be consistent with our previous policies, but please reach out if you are seeing any discrepancies. These changes will go into effect as soon as each queue has a new thread posted.

If you have any questions or comments on the queue overhaul, you can post in this thread.

(Edited on September 23 2023, to reflect changes to the administration of the Normal Queue)

[AniX]

One Rule Change, one Rule Clarification, and one Housekeeping Matter:

Upon reflection of the needs of the site and to reduce rules that are misleading, confusing, or redundant, the following rule, commonly referred to as the "Baiting Rule" will be removed:

In line with our aim to prevent a hostile environment, users should not attempt to weaponize Mafiascum rules or policies in order to get a user banned. It is the moderators' responsibility to regulate behavior. Vigilantism will not be tolerated. Examples of prohibited conduct might include but is not limited to: shadowing another user across threads, demanding a user engage about a certain topic or leave a thread, or coordinated efforts where multiple users engage in behavior that would violate this rule if done by a single user

Please note that all of the specific examples listed will remain forbidden as they still fall afoul of other rules forbidding harassment. Users who feel another user is rulebreaking should continue to report those instances to staff rather than attempt to adjudicate it on their own.

Players should make every effort to avoid joining games with other users that have explicitly told them they do not want to play with them. This includes when playing under anonymous alts. Going forward instances of using anonymous alts to play in games with players who have expressed that they do not wish to play with you will be considered harassment.

In order to streamline the report process, users will no longer need to select a category of report from a dropdown menu and the dropdown will be removed. The text box will still remain for users who feel additional context or explanation would help the mods resolve the report.

Furthermore, as soon as technologically possible, the checkbox to receive an email when one's report is closed will be removed and the function will be removed. This feature often gave the mistaken impression a report had been fully dealt with, whereas mods often close reports prior to full conclusion of deliberations for housekeeping or report consolidation purposes. When feasible, Mods will instead begin reaching out to reporting users to inform them when their report has been dealt with.

[AniX]

The term "gaslight", which originated as and is still commonly used as a word to describe a specific behavior pattern in domestic abuse, has intermittently been used to describe mafia gameplay for years. Going forward, users shouldn't publicly accuse one another of gaslighting in the context of mafia games.

For some players, usage of the word "gaslight" in mafia can be casual, to indicate they believe another person is attempting to mislead or manipulate them, particularly in an overly aggressive way. While we understand users may not like being manipulated, manipulation is a critical and encouraged part of playing mafia, and to describe mundane play as "gaslighting" risks trivializing the abusive nature of actual gaslighting and harms users by comparing them to abusers when they are playing mafia as intended. As such, we ask that users seek out alternative, less-charged words to describe play they believe is attempting to manipulate them.

We also understand that sometimes users might legitimately feel they are being gaslit in a manner beyond what they would expect from the game, and we want to be careful not to silence you. Just like how there is a line between aggressive play and abuse, there is a line between manipulation and gaslighting. While we don't want to discourage users from identifying and calling out gaslighting, a public debate in a mafia game over whether something is or isn't gaslighting is unlikely to solve anything. If you feel that another player is gaslighting you, please report the post and/or contact the game moderator. Serious accusations of abuse should not be made in game threads.

[Ausuka]

Normal games are going through an overhaul. The gist of the changes is that Normal games will be split into three compartments - simple, regular and complex games. Some roles and modifiers are allowed only in certain tiers. The intention of this is to create a queue where people are more aware of what kind of game they are signing up for and can choose an experience more well-suited for them. Additionally, it can create an environment which is more friendly for new players, especially within Simple games. Please click this link for more information.

[AniX]

A Clarification on Tactical Replacements in Mafia Games:

Historically it has been implicitly understood that tactical replaceouts have been against the rules. However, there isn't currently a rule that specifically addresses this. We are adding a new rule regarding tactical replaceouts, as well as a new post in our Replacement Rules announcement thread providing more clarification:

Tactical replaceouts are not permitted. Do not replace out based on your alignment. Do not replace out in order to gain a mafia-related advantage. More information on this rule can be found here.

If you have any questions or suggestions on this rule change, you can contact any Listmod or post in the Feedback for Moderation thread.

A Clarification on Anonymity and Out of Game Influences in Mish Mash/Large Social Games:

Old Rules

• The functioning of the MM/LSG forum requires all users to engage in good faith and adhere to the individual rules of the games they are playing. Cheating of any kind in any game is not permitted. Any action that violate the rules of a LSG/Mish Mash Game will subject a user to sanctions. If a user is unsure whether a particular action would violate the rules of a game, it is their responsibility to contact the applicable game moderator or MM/LSG List Mod for clarification.
  
• A core part of many Large Social Games is the anonymity of the player base. Similar to the Mafia Rule about not discussing ongoing games, users participating in an anonymous LSG must make every effort to preserve their anonymity as dictated by the rules of the game, including refraining from mentioning having signed up to participate in an anonymous game.
  
• Users unsure of whether a game belongs in Mish Mash, LSG, or some other section of the site are urged to contact a MM/LSG List Mod.

New Rules

• The functioning of the MM/LSG forum requires all users to engage in good faith and adhere to the individual rules of the games they are playing. Cheating of any kind in any game is not permitted. Any action that violate the rules of a LSG/Mish Mash Game will subject a user to sanctions. If a user is unsure whether a particular action would violate the rules of a game, it is their responsibility to contact the applicable game moderator or MM/LSG List Mod for clarification.
  Many Mish Mash games or LSGs have their own individual rules that may differ from previously-played similar games. Players are expected to be familiar with the rules of the individual game in which they are playing.
  
  
• Do not bring out-of-game influences into the game - this includes threats, bribes, wagers, non-game-related promises, etc. This also includes exploiting the site or game rules to gain an in-game advantage.
  
  
• All forum identities for all anonymous games will be revealed at a game's conclusion during the live reveal. We may allow exceptions, but this will be on a very rare, very limited, case-by-case basis with input from all listmods.
  
  
• Users unsure of whether a game belongs in Mish Mash, LSG, or some other section of the site are urged to contact a MM/LSG List Mod.

[AniX]

After through testing and discussion with technical admins, we now believe there is no safety issue in regards to banned users having access to Site Chat and therefore it will return to full function within the next few hours.

[AniX]

After reflecting on user needs, we are modifying the guidelines related to self-bans. Going forward, rather than a full year, users who feel taking a break from the website is in their best interest can contact a member of the moderation team to request self-bans in three month increments (minimum three months, maximum one year). After that term has ended, users can then contact one of the mods to have their ban lifted if they feel they are ready.

Furthermore, self-bans may now be limited to areas of the site users feel are not in their best interest to be a part of at the moment. For example, a user may decide to request a Mafia self-ban, preventing them from posting in the Mafia forums, while still retaining access to Discussion and Mish Mash/Large Social Games.

All other requirements remain in effect. Users must still wait 24 hours after the initial request and then confirm before the self-ban will take effect and, once banned, users may not request the ban be ended prematurely. It will also remain policy that self-bans are not recorded the the Ban Announcement Thread unless specifically requested by the user.

[AniX]

Over the past few months, the moderation team has worked on a plan to update our Discord server to make it easier to access for both long time users as well as any new ones!

The biggest change is that the server will now have a limited selection of channels open to anyone who wants to join, whether or not they've reached a certain threshold of posts or games. This is to allow newcomers to more immediately connect with our community, as well as allowing MafiaScum to connect with other communities too. However, as our Discord server was previously semi-private, we will be archiving our current #general-discussion channel and creating a new one to protect any content our users would not have posted into a truly open server.

The channels new users will have access to will include our general discussion channels as well as channels relevant to mafia and Mish Mash discussion and advertisement. They will not have immediate access to the more personal channels and will instead have to verify themselves as is currently required before seeing these.

Furthermore, we will be archiving a few channels that do not see use anymore or are superfluous - namely, we will be cutting down the amount of voice channels we currently have available as to reduce bloat and make our list of available channels more accessible. Some channels and categories will be rearranged. These will still remain viewable after archival via an opt-in role. There will also be a secondary general discussion that will have slow mode enabled as well.

Our role permissions will be changing as well - namely, we will be removing the current system of opting into roles. Instead, users will be able to pick and choose what they would like access to via the 'browse channels' feature, listed at the top of the channel and category list. This allows you to easily select what you would like to follow and view. We will retain reaction roles for events such as movie nights, Jackbox and other in-server games and activities.

We recognize the risks that come with opening our server more publicly - bad actors may arrive with the intents to cause harm to our users. While we will be diligent in handling any issues that may arise from this, we have also created a safety guide that further explains the tools Discord offers to keep you safe, which you can find in #safety-guide on the Discord.

As always, we are open to feedback regarding these changes and will answer any questions. The #discord-overhaul-discussion channel will remain open for this purpose, as well as our Discord Overhaul Discussion thread.

[AniX]

The following rule has now been added to "General Rules" within the Rules for Mafia Players section:

- Players are required to follow all rules posted by game moderators and are required to abide by all decisions related to those rules made by that moderator. If you feel a game moderator has made a decision in error, please contact the appropriate List moderator.

The following rules have now been added to "Prohibited Actions" within the Rules for Mafia Players section:

- While players may occasionally need or want to switch the account they use to play a game, users must publicly make clear that the account is the same person and must inform the game moderator they are doing so. Users may not secretly replace into their own slot with an alt of theirs, except when explicitly permitted by game rules.

- Do not use moderator adjudication of game or site rules to speculate on the alignment of other players.

[AniX]

In order to better clarify where NSFW posting is and isn't permitted, the following rule has been moved from being a General Discussion rule to being a Universal rule:

Post appropriately to the thread and the forum you are posting in. For example, do not troll or repeatedly post off topic posts in a serious thread. Do not post 'adult' content outside of the Speakeasy.

Furthermore, "This includes in all Mafia games" has been appended to the rule to make this rule clarification as clear as possible.

[Ydrasse]

Recently, we've seen an uptick in sexual/adult posting around the site. While this is not inherently an issue within the Speakeasy, where one might expect to see adult discussion in some places, the nature by which it is most often occurring is one we want to stop.

Currently, we are seeing several posts that make sexual comments about or towards someone, rather than the generalized NSFW joke someone might make on occasion. We find that these posts make other users uncomfortable - whether or not they are the person explicitly involved - especially given that they happen during otherwise SFW discussions where a person may not reasonably expect these topics to appear.

We do not want to rule that NSFW or adult discussion is not allowed, nor do we want to completely halt any joke that is adult in nature. However, we want to ask our users be more mindful of when, where and what they are saying to one another.

As always, the mafia portion of our website is strictly PG-13. Per our rules, please do not post adult content in these areas.

[AniX]

Mafia Moderator Rule 9 has been slightly modified to clarify intent:

Old Rule:

Game moderators may not use individual users of the site as flavor in the game without obtaining list moderator approval and review of the text.

New Rule:

Game moderators may not use individual users of the site as flavor in the game without obtaining approval

from both the individual user mentioned and a list moderator. Please note this rule is intended to address the use of real life identities as flavor and does not exclude usage of user's identity within the context of the game, such as nightkill flavor.

EDIT: I've added an additional clarifying clause since the question has come up.

[AniX]

Reflecting current usage levels and in an effort to streamline the Discussion forums, The Arcade subforum has been closed and all the contained threads have been moved to the main General Discussion forum. As The Arcade remained indexed since its creation, there is no change in access or privacy for these moved threads.