For the record.. Replies welcomed

Ok, So... (breathe in)

Seems that a recent action taken by me has stirred some controversial opinions. Some that backed what I did and some that do not. I have read the forum replies and have tried to hold off responding... Im a big boy and want to set the record straight.. (breathe in..) Not that I have to explain myself, but I am willing to answer anything you have.

First and foremost.. My forum topic was ONLY.. and I repeat infinity x2.. was ONLY intended to get the response of the people involved.

For anyone to say that I have not 'exhausted' all means before doing what I did? I have sent emails over a month ago.. I either received no replies and/or received no updates that the issues reported were resolved. Is it really that difficult to respond when a moderator has contacted you regarding a complaint/dispute? Can you not provide the moderator with updates on current status' to resolve issues? I do not have any screennames for GTalk, Skype.. your personal email addresses or even your personal cell phone numbers.. and honestly, I do not want them. 

All members of Unity need to respond to the moderators when requested (preferably private) that a user has submitted a valid complaint/dispute. They should always keep the moderators informed of their current status' if called out. Is that really a difficult thing to do? It's simply sending a email. If you can code dolphin, I'm sure you can send emails :)

So..I was not notified that the issues were resolved or any status for that matter.. So what should I have done? Suspended them?  Would that have been more appropriate? Would the members been more receptive that I banned them instead of trying to get their attention? Just an example.. If I would have banned Modzzz (hypothetically) since he did not respond that the issue was fixed until I made that post.. He would be gone, members who bought any of his 120+ modules would be out of luck, etc... Do you see my point? Just reply and keep us informed.. Thats all.

The last thing I want to do is ban/suspend someone.. But I'm not afraid to if it is in regards to keeping our members here at Unity feeling more like.. 'Hey, someone is on my side'.. Then I will..Of course it has to be valid too.

Unity Members, now is your chance to question, challenge, or simply want to now 'why' I did what I did.  All I ask is that you remain a civil human being and let's talk like adults. Please adhere to Unity rules before posting..

its to my understand you didnt do it as a form of communication but as to publicly "shame" the two individuals which is kinda funny that in this here post you ask for people to be "adults"  .. adults dont get off on public shaming of other adults

Not sure how you conclude that I 'shamed' anyone. There is not 1 single derogatory or discriminating statement in my post. So how exactly did I 'shame' anyone?  

nathan stated it earlier http://www.boonex.com/forums/#topic/The-Dawg-is-suspended.htm that that is the reason it was done, and it worked!

then he deleted the comment of course, but not before the world had already seen it

 Regardless of what Nathan said, you are talking to me now. I am telling you and everyone else exactly why I posted that topic.. Nothing more than to get them to respond.. Thats it.. And 'For the record' .. It did work.

People tend to browse the forums more than they check their Unity email.. Its easier for sure. You can browse the forums without having to log in.. So check it out. make sure nothing is directed to you.. etc.. Make sense?

This entire issue has fragmented into a few topics.  I think it helps to re-read Zarcon's initial posting at http://www.boonex.com/forums/topic/Modzzz-amp-Scriptologist-READ-THIS.htm to refresh our impression of how the initial post was worded.

I edited that post to clarify that the comment on it being to "shame" was incorrect on my part.  As Zarcon has explained, the point was as a last resort to get some developers' attention.  Anything else (like embarrassing the developers) was unintentional.  I apologized for making that comment without thinking too much about it, as it's now bit me in the ass (understandable, because it was a comment which set people off).

again, when scriptologist responded and reported there was a problem with the messaging system on the boonex site, seems that was ignored. even when he provided a screenshot to reveal there was a problem. 

I dont have a problem with you doing what you do, my problem with this is that you take a public forum and post that you do not want anybody to post there. Now andrew boon may have declared you GOD but you are not, and this is not a communistic country I live where you can tell eat that shit sandwich and call it peanut butter. 

post in a public forum expect public opinion. i think you done everything you could other than tell andrew boon to step up to the plate and be a man, and contact those developers directly since he has their email address where they get real email, and not from the boonex messaging system that works 1/2 the time.

so yes, given the tools you are provided you done all you could, though the matter should have been reviewed by boon, but we all know he never deals with anything on these forums or his script. he probably got a woody by suspending me, good for him, but stand by my actions and anybody who has a problem with me posting in a public forum well then do what you got to do.

After filtering out the emotion, I see a good suggestion by DosDawg and that is to make each developer's personal (or business) email address available to the moderators so they can also attempt to contact developers via a non-boonex messaging system... before posting dispute related information on the public forum.

I can see where the mail system can have a glitch or two here and there, but I have not had any problems sending/receiving mail from anyone else (even Scriptologist recently). So the whole theory of the BoonEx mail does not quite hold water with me.Not saying its completely impossible btw.

It's true that we only have limited resources when trying to contact members here to resolve complaints/disputes. I feel I made enough effort via PM mail and waited long enough before I posted what I did in order to get responses.

There is nothing wrong with Moderators posting a topic specifically meant to get responses from only those who are affected. It was not a topic regarding how to change the template and I only want Deano to respond (for example). The post was designed for a specific reason, for specific people, in order to resolve some issues that went back as far as last year after attempts were made to each individual unsuccessfully.

Someone said 'Why not post it in the dispute forums?' I did not have a dispute with anyone. I was trying to contact someone(s). And would it have really made a difference if I did? Even in the disputes, other people would jump in (after we asked not to) and post things like "I think this person is great".. "I Think this person is pure crap".. before you know it.. the whole topic is filled with other people's opinions instead of getting the dispute resolved.

And for the record.. I would never consider myself a a 'God' and I do not think that was the words Andrew used either. He simply agreed that  even though a bit harsh, it was acceptable. Comparing this to a 'communist' type of activity is really a bit overboard isn't it? For example: If you go into a store that is freely open to the public and you see a door that says 'authorized personnel only'. Would you still go in there? If you got in trouble for it, would you complain that they should not have had that door in a public store?

I know thats a bit or an analogy, but its close :)  In the end, when a Moderator is trying to settle an issue for another member and it's requested for no 'outside' interference, its really simple to just go on to the next topic instead.

It has not happened recently, but i have had problems in the past with the mail system. So i can believe it as a posibility.

I usually don't post reply's to this kind of crap but I am making an exception for this one.

Public is public!. If your going to forbid others from posting in a public forum that is WRONG! Dos Dog and others were completely in their rights to post in a public forum whatever is on their minds. Zarcon maybe next time you might make it a private topic and avoid all this.

Zarcon your actions and the avatar of a cop are very offensive to me. Are you on some ego trip with your moderator status. You asked for reply's here is mine. I expect this post to be deleted and maybe even a ban but so be it, I dont post enough to even give a damn.

My last post regarding the whole issue.... then I'm done.  First of all, this forum might be like a  public store, but it doesn't have an "authorized personnel only" door:

In the future, barring any other method, how about this:

Sticky Thread Topic: Attention Mike and Bob.  Important!

Message: Please contact me immediately regarding an urgent matter.  Your prompt response would be appreciated.

My email: xxx@xxx.com

My Telephone #: 123-456-7890

TOPIC CLOSED

No public discussions. No revealing anything that has no business in a public forum.  No presumption of guilt. No bad PR in the Google search index. 

Maybe it's not always a dispute, so set up a forum called "Moderator Notices"  Have three levels of notices, with increasing strength of wording, where the 3rd one is a do or die.  Explain in advance what all the message levels mean, and the consequences of inaction.  Here's where the ability to have colored topic titles would be a big plus. Notice 1 = yellow topic text, Notice 2= amber topic text, Notice 3 = red topic text.

 You are entitled to your opinion as well. I am not going to hide your topic or ban you.. Oh and sorry my Avatar offends you. I have seen many I didnt like either. Oh and there is no such thing as Private forums.

 Very good idea actually!!! Maybe Andrew or someone will see this..

I stand corrected... that was my next-to-last post on the matter.

This is the crux of the problem:

On one hand, you declare that something is none of anyone's business, except the principle parties, and for the public to stay away.  Simultaneously, that "none of anyone's business", is posted in a public forum for all to see.

The incongruity of this methodology is what makes it a subject of ridicule, and it is this methodology that is being called into question.....NOT the messenger.  However, regardless of what you have been led to believe, throughout history,  it has not been uncommon to shoot the messenger.... so always be prepared to duck.

I agree, @houstonlively has some good ideas... but I seriously doubt it will work for all cases.  Some developers don't read the forums on a regular basis... and even if all developers did read such notices promptly, there will still be at least one developer that will choose to ignore all reasonable requests from moderators.  Only when the requests become unreasonable (i.e. "extreme") would such a developer pull their head out of the sand and begin to properly deal with a set of issues that, in most cases, has been building for many months.

This is what transpired prior to the public posting :

a) You first contacted me on the 18th of June regarding two complaints.

b) I responded on the same day (18th of June) saying I acknowledge the issues are outstanding and I would handle them. You responded immediately saying thanks for the update.

d) You contacted me again on the 26th of June.

e) I responded the same day (26th of June) saying one issue was resolved and I had already notified that client of the resolution while the other was currently been dealt with. You responded immediately basically saying thanks again. That was the end of our communication. No further mail was sent by either you or me to each other.

f) I completed the patch and made a public announcement in the support forum (where the client first posted the error).

g) Next I notice a public forum post about outstanding issues that I need to resolve.

Now tell me how the above represents not getting responses and exhausted all means of contacting developer.? Yes, I could have also sent you an final update (and that is where I am to be blamed) even though I updated the client who made the complaint .... but likewise you could have sent a simple message asking me to confirm that the issues were resolved. I maintain my stance that you did not exhaust efforts to contact me and your public posting was wrong.

I personally think all moderators here (including you and Nathan) do excellent jobs as moderators especially since it is an unpaid service. Nathan has an excellent style where he gives specific deadlines for both responses and deadlines plus he uses a warning technique. I think this should be adopted by all moderators as it leaves no room for ambiguity or misunderstandings.

I publicly endorse the moderator system on this site and my opposition of the post must not be seen as an opposition to being moderated. I do believe that clients should have an outlet to voice their concern when they have any kind of issue with any seller.

@Modzzz Just a verification, the email you sent me on the 26th of June stated (and I quote):

"Answers module is currently being updated." (I can provide the whole email if you want)

That is the last I heard from you. That statement does not imply that the issue has been resolved as you say that you stated.  "e) I responded the same day (26th of June) saying one issue was resolved and I had already notified that client of the resolution while the other was currently been dealt with."

Now you did state in the forum topic I posted for you and Scriptologist on 7/18 that the issue was resolved and I thanked you for the update. I also said that "I can take this one off my list now." 

When quoting that I did not get the responses needed, I did not point a finger at you or Scriptologist. I meant in general.

I will not disagree that where I 'could have' sent another email asking what the status is, but I did notify you of the issues, you acknowledged.. so you could have sent me an email stating you resolved the issue as well. 

As stated before, there was no disgracing of any developer here. It was strictly meant to get some issues resolved. Heck, I personally own over 10+ modules you have developed so it's definitely not a vendetta against anyone. Even after all of this. I will still continue to support you and your mods that you provide to this community.. I hope you can understand and agree to move on to brighter days ahead.