We, the Administrative and Moderator Teams as a whole have come to a decision. After long debate we have decided that this is the Final “Ultimatum” for Mike1984. We have counted multiple times were we have issued multiple warnings, even tried peaceful discussion, and have had little or no results.
Beast’s Lair has lost many members due to Mike’s actions and open hostility. Multiple members have left the board altogether while others who were original posters rarely venture onto BL anymore due to Mike’s open aggression on subject matters concerning, or those he forcefully concerns, Sakura. It has gotten to the point where BL has gathered infamy, and not of a positive note, due to Mike’s belligerent conduct.
He has made his vehement distaste for the Admin and Mods publically known to the point of insulting us in blog posts or in open discussion. We understand that there are other members baiting Mike, but he goes far beyond a reasonable response for being baited. Most of our users are rather peaceful, but we do try to deal with the “Bad Eggs” as they come along. Case in point, Crying_Vegeta.
However, if Mike’s complaints aren’t immediately dealt with he flies off the handle and calls us unfair, and when we have to deal with him he calls us “fascists” and “Jackboot and Nazi Uniform Wearing”. We have explained time and time again we deal with things as a committee. We bring things up to vote and most of us have outside lives of the forum. I am often called to work mandatory overtime at my job for example and it’s not uncommon for me to work several 10 hour days during the work week and occasionally a Saturday as well.
Despite all of this, Mike continues to act in a hostile nature in the following cases in point:
He makes new fanfiction writers uncomfortable. Fanfiction is fanfiction, it is a work made by a fan for other fans on subject matter they enjoy. Which may not include Sakura. Handing out constructive criticism if she’s not characterized properly is one thing, but flaming is not appropriate. If one cannot find anything constructive to say, then simply leave. Demanding a character be injected in a fic if he or she doesn’t belong doesn’t do any good. Especially if the Author doesn’t know how to “handle” said character nor had any plans for them in their story.
We have seen multiple cases where Mike has gotten antagonistic about the treatment or lack of treatment that writers have given Sakura in their fanfiction. It has gotten to the point where new Authors who would have positive and entertaining content uncomfortable to post here. Which is something we do not want. Our fanfiction community is perhaps the busiest part of the site. We want people to feel welcome here.
Sadly, berating authors to include a certain character and flaming their works does not invite positive activity.
If something is writing something that you don’t like, don’t read it. Simple as that. Don’t bully someone simply because you don’t like what they write. That’s a waste of your time and the author’s.
Being hostile to the Admins and Mods. This was already mentioned above, but I’ll go into more detail here. We have lives and aren’t on line 24-7, our names are neither Clark Kent or Bruce Wayne. Everyone gets a response, but there maybe a few hour wait time. Flying off the handle if a response is not given within minutes is severely unreasonable.
Then when we have to make a decision against Mike’s behavior after he’s become aggressive and antagonistic, we are automatically called facists, Nazis, and unfair. Even though those of us who are his friends, such as Altima and myself, have given him chances and friendly warnings to cool down, but they’re not heeded. Then when we do have to, regrettably, step down we are automatically insulted and harassed about having to do our jobs to keep peace on the forum.
Honestly, any other forum would have banned him a long time ago. However we have given him multiple chances to change, and he has promised that he would change. Yet we have not seen that promise take effect yet even after we’ve given him admittedly special consideration that we may not have given other members. We’ve bent over backwards trying to help him, but it’s been a thankless task and made already stressful lives even more stressful.
An example of this can be seen here, and despite acts like that we have given him multiple chances.
Having overly heated arguments with other members. I will admit that there are members of this forum who openly “troll” Mike. We handle these trolls as they come and have handed out warnings and temporary bans because of this. A friendly bit of rivalry is fine and expected, but to get outright hostile is not.
However Mike has instigated as many arguments as he has had started against him. His hair trigger temper gets the better of him. I understand getting pissed off, but there’s an old Native American saying, “Giving someone your anger gives them their power over you.” There should be a point where one walks away, or figure out how to get your point across without being an antagonistic wanker.
Broken promises of change. When we started the new forum, Mike apologized about his abhorrent behavior in the past to Altima and said he was going to change. He promised to be less hostile and sharp with his tongue. If anything he’s gotten worse over the time the new forum has been up.
We’ve gone to great lengths, more so than most members, to explain to him why his behavior is troublesome. He complains about the rules and doesn’t abide by them. Our rules are simple and made for the enjoyment of the community so that it’s not a hostile environment here like other forums. He states in another circumstances he’d act differently, but he hasn’t. We’ve given him multiple chances, more so than we would other members.
In fact we constantly get bombarded with questions of, “Why haven’t we banned them yet?”
He calls us unfair and fascists, but how is trying to force one’s feelings upon someone else any better?
Because we’re trying to be fair to him, and that some of us are even friends with him. However there is a point where friendship goes so far. That point is now. His latest blog post is sort of the “final nail in the coffin”. I am writing this with a heavy heart though, because Mike is my friend.
We are giving Mike one more chance to change, after that we will fully ban him from the forum.
If Mike is banned or not is up to Mike now. We've given him plenty of warnings and chances to change. If he fails to do so, we will ban him.
Thank You,
Elf and the rest of the Moderation and Administration Team. (Note: Elf helped compile this, but it is all of our thoughts)
This goes out to the rest of the forum and not just Mike:
If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot respond in a reasonable matter then do not respond at all. Just walk away.
Originally Posted by Altima of the Gates
