As stated on our front page, Falchion Valley's main purpose is for the administrators and moderators of the Chaos Insurgency wiki to meet and discuss matters, and to better coordinate and direct the site through non-PM and forum means.
To ensure that our objectives are met, there are several areas which we are primarily concerned with. These include:
- Enforcing proper site conduct among our users
- Maintenance of the site, the forums and material
- Discussion over projects and proposals for the future of our site.
- Proper treatment and service towards the community
This page will serve as a handbook for how we carry this out in detail.
As Staff Members in general…
As members of the staff here at Falchion Valley and at the CI site, it is our responsibility to uphold site standards and ensure the general well-being of users on our site. For that to be accomplished, we need to work as a cohesive unit, assisting fellow staff members on issues with small or big ramifications and point out errors of misconduct should they occur. Staff in their respectable teams are expected to fulfill their assigned tasks.
Though we have assigned teams for different site functions, members of different teams are allowed to assist in areas they are not assigned to provided they inform staff members of their actions. This is to ensure minimal conflict and disorganization of staff functions.
Disciplinary Protocols
- A Staff member who frequently breaks site rules, refuse to participate in their duties, or display questionable behavior unfitting as members of staff will be called in for review by our administration.
- All available staff members will be called upon to take into account various factors and behavior the staff member in question had exhibited as well as their actions.
- A general consensus will be initiated among moderators and administrators on this matter until a verdict can be determined. The Master Administrator (or the nearest equivalent) will then deliver his/her decision. If the MA's vote is outnumbered by the majority of the Staff administration, a compromise is to be made by the next 48 hours or the MA decision is overridden.
Absence or Limited Activity
- Staff members who know that they will not be able to participate for a period of time or will be only active for a limited amount of time should inform members of staff beforehand.
- If there is an update or major change in the CI Wiki, FV Wiki, Staff Structure or community, a staff member is obliged to PM the absentee about it.
Emergency Powers
- Upon the request of the staff member in question, his/her staff duties and responsibilities, as well as the privilege of the absentee's vote, may be given to any other staff member. This staffer will have the ability to use the absent Staff's authority and powers.
- In case of the absence of a Master Administrator, he/she will be obliged to transfer his/her powers to a staff member after a vote of no less than two (2) other staff. If he cannot be reached for a transfer, the CI wiki's administration will equally be considered MAs. However, the MA title may also be 'assumed' by a staffer upon a unanimous vote by the administration.
AWOL
- In the event that a staff member is absent without leave, the Insurgency must mobilize all available ASSAULT Search Assets and reserve forces to attempt locating and recovering the unit - counter-insurgency, counter-intelligence and security forces are to be placed on Black Alert in the event of a splinter attempt or another Aleph 11 Tango. - No, this is a joke.
- In all seriousness, if a staff member is absent or otherwise inactive without having informed the rest of Staff beforehand, he/she is to be excused from participating in the wiki, staff functions and team functions. As AWOL staffers are commonplace in our burgeoning community, it can be regarded as a simple matter.
- AWOL staffers are subject to the same treatment as regular absent staffers.
As staff, it is our duty to monitor any potential problem or conflict and intervene when said conflict has become too detrimental to the site and the community. Users that are taking undesirable action and are not following the Site Rules should be reported and properly dealt with after consultation with other Staff.
Certain behaviours like vandalism, spamming, bullying, malicious actions or vehement and hurtful gestures should be taken into consideration. The offending user must be given an official warning explaining his/her offence, and and explanation that disciplinary action will be taken, the time of action depending on the severity of the offence. Upon repeat of any offence, proper banning or other equal disciplinary action must be taken.
Actions and offences that have significantly damaged or otherwise defaced the wiki or the community as a whole that it has affected user performance, experience, and site quality, are to be, first and foremost, resolved and fixed, meanwhile proper punishment of the offender is to be discussed. Banning, flagging as abusive, or revocation of membership will to be considered.
Disciplinary Protocols
Revocation of User Membership
Revocation of a user's membership is usually considered if a user in numerous instances does not understand the site rules, are incoherent, or repeatedly coldposting downvoted articles in quick succession despite clear warnings from staff members. In such cases, the CI wiki Administration withholds the right to revoke such user's membership in the CI wiki. The users will be allowed to reapply after 24 hours have passed depending on the situation.
Order of Disciplinary Procedures
The "3 Strikes, You're Out" Disciplinary Policy.
The "3 Strikes Your Out" Policy is pretty simple in overview. Any users who has offended will receive no more than 3 strikes before being permanently banned from the CI wiki and any other site's under the control of the CI wiki. The escalation of disciplinary actions are broken down into 3 stages.
Step 1: First Offence
The user will be warned either via a Staff Private Message or Staff Posts on the Forums to cease and desist in their behaviour. Their actions are to be submitted to Falchion Valley for other staff members to review. Depending on the circumstances, the user's membership may be revoked by CI wiki Administration. An Official Warning will be issued by a CI wiki staff member via Wikidot Private Message to the offending user warning against future offences. If the situation is especially severe, Staff members may bypass Step 1 and move onto Step 2 or Step 3 after explaining the situation to the offending user.
Step 2: 2nd Offence(s)
If the user continues to proceed in their offences on the site despite repeated warnings from staff to cease and desist, escalation of disciplinary measures will come into effect. The user will be banned for 24 hours and informed of his or her ban via Wikidot Private messages. Should the user's behavior show no signs of improvement their ban will be extended for 7 days followed by 1 month should misbehavior persist. If the situation is especially severe, Staff members may bypass Step 2 and move onto Step 3 after explaining the situation to the offending user.
Step 3: You're Out!
If the user's behavior shows no signs of improvement after escalation from Step 1 to Step 2, The CI wiki Administration will permanently remove the offender from the CI wiki and other CI sites after a general consensus among the current administration. That user will also be flagged as abusive by CI Staff members. The user may only appeal their ban after 1 year. If the user's appeal is accepted, he or she will be heavily monitored by CI staff with any new offences resulting in another permanent ban and rejection of all future appeals.
Special Circumstances:
Sometimes there are certain situations which require immediate and severe disciplinary actions with extreme prejudice. These Special Circumstances will result in the offending user to be permanently banned regardless of their previous record. Here are a list of some situations which such action will be deemed necessary. Please note these measures can be invoked at staff discretion, not just under those two circumstances.
- Harassment: Any form of harassment against a CI site user discovered by the CI Staff will result in the offending user to be permanently from the wiki without the privilege to appeal. No information regarding the incident except the bare minimum will be posted to Falchion Valley.
- Plagiarism: Any form of plagiarism will not be tolerated on CI sites. Users found guilty of plagiarism will be permanently banned from all CI sites. They may appeal their ban in one year.