Moderator Abuse - Laughing Fish

Hemulen Magi·Sep 2, 2017·9 votes·854 views

Hello, I would like to report abuse of power from a specific moderator. Laughing Fish deleted three posts of mine today because he disagreed with my stance on a debate. I defended the right of free speech, saying that players should not be punished for in-game banter such as saying "GG EZ". I said that sensitive players should be separated into their own queue so that they can "report one another to their heart's content" while less sensitive players can enjoy a more lax environment without worrying about people being offended. While Laughing Fish has a right to disagree with my opinion, he does not have a right to delete posts which do not resort to name-calling and which have engaged in a civil discussion. His quoted reason for deleting the posts was a vague and subjective "Don't be a jerk." Please review this clear abuse of power. It is sad to see that Laughing Fish lacks the maturity required to maintain objectivity necessary to hold moderation power...

22 Comments

Deep Terror NamiSep 2, 201715 votes

You literally said in your post;

PS. I only mention short-buses because I know it will offend the type supporting this thread.

That's the kind of behavior we don't need around here. If you're going to say something specifically with the intent to offend people, you're gonna get your comment removed.

Hemulen MagiSep 2, 20172 votes

I was specifically referring to the fact that only hypersensitive people would find the reference to be offensive. I was clarifying the divide on the issue that we were discussing.

Hemulen MagiSep 2, 20171 votes

Ps. You are abusing vote brigading and voting via alt accounts to manipulate discussion within this thread. Riot, please look into the behavior of your player moderators. If I can't fairly discuss topics on these boards, then I will discuss them on Reddit or another more open forum.

Deep Terror NamiSep 2, 20179 votes

I'm not doing anything of the sort, but if you're taking issue with people disagreeing with you and expressing it through voting, I'd be happy to disable the votes in this thread for you.

Hemulen MagiSep 2, 20172 votes

Very well, they might be legitimate votes. I don't have enough evidence to the contrary though they began to appear suspiciously quickly the moment you joined the discussion (perhaps you or Laughing Fish notified the posse), so carry on. Definitely, there is a mob/bandwagon mentality forming here. I understand you personally know Laughing Fish and he has a fan-base... So-be-it. If people truly believe that biased abuse of power should be allowed or that Laughing Fish's actions do not represent a subjective bias towards rule enforcement, then I also defend their right to show their opinion. I also have a right to share my feedback.

MavenSongSep 2, 20175 votes

i mean you really have 0 proof of that so uh, cool.

Laughing FishSep 2, 20177 votes

To quote the answer I already gave on another thread to you:

You made references to mental disabilities as an insult, and you yourself said "I only mention short-buses because I know it will offend the type supporting this thread." So even you admit your comments were designed as bait. Your comments most likely deserved a ban, but I chose to be lenient and issue a warning to give you a chance to correct your behavior.

Hemulen MagiSep 2, 20171 votes

To quote the reply that I already gave you on another thread:

I was clarifying the divide on the issue being discussed. Players who would be offended by the statement would fit into the group who feel that "GG EZ" should be punishable. That was my point. I even mentioned that I don't personally have any issue with people who have actual disabilities. It's cool that you have the power to literally ban people you disagree with on a first offense. There is no way that fair and open discussion can occur on these boards. I'll leave it up to Riot staff to decide whether they think an abuse of power has taken place.

You have my feedback on your actions. You can defend your actions or you can come to see my perspective on the matter. I would have defended your right to disagree with me if needed if you had responded rather than simply deleting posts.

ModThe DjinnSep 3, 20173 votes

[{quoted}](name=Hemulen Magi,realm=NA,application-id=6heBIhQc,discussion-id=6P4IL1xE,comment-id=00040000,timestamp=2017-09-02T21:04:20.512+0000)I was clarifying the divide on the issue being discussed. Players who would be offended by the statement would fit into the group who feel that "GG EZ" should be punishable.

There are many ways to clarify an issue without using that sort of language. The reference to metal disabilities in an insulting fashion is pretty clearly designed to be an inflammatory statement, and the Universal Rules prohibit "posting designed to bait conversation" (see section on Spamming/Trolling).

ModWulf HelhammerSep 2, 20176 votes

Yeah your post saying to separate players was titled something along the lines of "can we have a short bus queue?". If you can't see a problem with that, then you're hopeless.

Hemulen MagiSep 2, 20172 votes

Oh, please. Laughing Fish makes memes which clearly make light of people with weight issues, misogyny, meth use, etc... Not that I personally have a problem with his posts, but if we're trying to create a "safe environment" out of these boards and mentioning a "short bus" (which even included clarification that I don't hold any prejudice towards people with actual disabilities) is forbidden, then people need to realize the hypocrisy of those enforcing these subjective "rules".

Automated RivenSep 2, 20175 votes

First off the right of free speech does not apply to riot games. By accepting the terms and conditions you are agreeing to riots set rules to play the game. They do not have to continue to allow you to play the game if you do not abide by those rules. If you utilize your right to free speech to break the contract you signed from riot then they have the right to remove your permission to play the game.

BoilTheOilSep 2, 20173 votes

He should be able to make a post about something as small as ggez though

Automated RivenSep 3, 20171 votes

I am not saying he was wrong to make the post. I had no information about why his post was removed. (altho from the moderaters posts I would agree that it should have been removed). But I was simply giving a response to his issue that he was complaining about in the initial post which got removed.

Hemulen MagiSep 2, 20172 votes

I am not banned from the game, nor am I punished for saying "GG EZ". I was merely defending others use of the phrase when my posts were removed. I do not think there is any specific Riot-enforced rule on these boards that say "You may not share an opinion on the boards which a player moderator, such as Laughing Fish, disagrees with". Any language which I used in my post was mild compared to typical boards content, including potentially offensive content (not that I find it offensive, merely regarding "potential" to raise offense) within Laughing Fish's own meme posts.

BakedLotionSep 2, 20173 votes

[{quoted}](name=Automated Riven,realm=NA,application-id=6heBIhQc,discussion-id=6P4IL1xE,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2017-09-02T20:18:23.805+0000)

First off the right of free speech does not apply to riot games. By accepting the terms and conditions you are agreeing to riots set rules to play the game. They do not have to continue to allow you to play the game if you do not abide by those rules. If you utilize your right to free speech to break the contract you signed from riot then they have the right to remove your permission to play the game.

So, basically, it's okay for moderators to delete a post as long as they disagree with it?

EarthyMadnessSep 2, 20176 votes

No, it's okay for Moderators to delete a post as long as it violates any of their guidelines. You're twisting words, Automated Riven explained it perfectly.

If the terms and conditions include the line "Don't say the word: Moist" and you proceed to use the word moist, your post can be removed, and you have no right to complain. That's why you're supposed to actually read the ToU and rules of a board/site before you comment.

BakedLotionSep 2, 20171 votes

{quoted}

No, it's okay for Moderators to delete a post as long as it violates any of their guidelines. You're twisting words, Automated Riven explained it perfectly.

If the terms and conditions include the line "Don't say the word: Moist" and you proceed to use the word moist, your post can be removed, and you have no right to complain. That's why you're supposed to actually read the ToU and rules of a board/site before you comment.

But what rule did he break?

EarthyMadnessSep 2, 20171 votes

Read the comments by Nami and Fish, the moderators presiding over the situation. As they both said, he used suggestive language that insinuates insults towards mentally disabled people, which is against the rules.

Automated RivenSep 3, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=Deep Terror Nami,realm=NA,application-id=6heBIhQc,discussion-id=6P4IL1xE,comment-id=0003,timestamp=2017-09-02T20:34:10.115+0000)

You literally said in your post; PS. I only mention short-buses because I know it will offend the type supporting this thread.

That's the kind of behavior we don't need around here. If you're going to say something specifically with the intent to offend people, you're gonna get your comment removed.

[{quoted}](name=Laughing Fish,realm=NA,application-id=6heBIhQc,discussion-id=6P4IL1xE,comment-id=0004,timestamp=2017-09-02T21:00:21.858+0000)

To quote the answer I already gave on another thread to you:

You made references to mental disabilities as an insult, and you yourself said "I only mention short-buses because I know it will offend the type supporting this thread." So even you admit your comments were designed as bait. Your comments most likely deserved a ban, but I chose to be lenient and issue a warning to give you a chance to correct your behavior.