Approved TF2 Admin App: muffinman80

Status
Not open for further replies.
muffinman80

muffinman80

Gore-Spattered Heavy
Contributor
Servers Bottiger's 24/7 Idle Trade

Time Zone CDT

Link to your stats page http://stats.skial.com/ https://stats.skial.com/#player/tfidle/80182952

Playing time on Skial servers. Not TF2 total. 100 hours minimum. 2090:49:00 (13:43:54 AFK)

Will you get mad if you lose admin? No

How do you ban yourself for "obvious aimbot" using your own SteamID?

Please read the guide here https://www.skial.com/threads/admin-info.82/ sm_ban "#[U:1:80182952]" 0 "obvious aimbot"

Anything else you feel like saying
Hello my name is moof, I live in southern Wisconsin and work in quality control for a computer engineering company. I spend a lot of time playing on Skial servers, specifically Bottiger's idle trade. I don't really play anywhere else, apart from MvM, as I just don't have as much fun playing elsewhere. I've found myself wanting to give back more to the community, and a handful of individuals have reached out to me expressing their interest in me applying for this role. Spending time working on and viewing reports on the Skial forums is important to me, and I'll continue to maintain a strong presence on the website as well as in-game. I've made a lot of friends here, and I genuinely enjoy the time I spend with them and interacting with the community as a whole. Because of this, I'm interested in applying for a moderator/administrator role.

I do have a couple mutes on record, but I'm committed to following the rules and doing my best to report those that don't. For what it's worth, I'll try my best to be a valuable addition to the staff.

Any and all constructive criticism is welcome, be it positive or negative. This is my first time applying for such a role. Even if the answer is no, I'll do my best to grow from it and I'll be glad I at least gave it a shot.

Thank you for taking the time to read this application!
 
  • Like
Reactions: USAFMike, Super Cool Man, Winnie and 10 others
As a long time regular of Skial servers, I have met very few people I would be happy to have as an admin on Bottiger's Idle. Moof is one of them. He is responsible, levelheaded, able to make rational decisions under pressure, and is always trying to keep the server free of cheaters and report racism/homophobia/harassment whenever he sees it. He does those things even without being an admin. If he was an admin, I believe he would do an excellent job keeping the server fun and playable for all.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Hellgasims, geddan and muffinman80
+1 I can't think of a better candidate than Muffin. As a long-standing member of the community, their dedication has been clear through their countless excellent reports and overall positive presence. I'm thrilled they've decided to officially step up and apply.

My one question touches on that experience. Having filed so many reports, you're no stranger to dealing with negative reactions. As a mod, that visibility increases. Could you talk about your approach to maintaining a calm and professional demeanor when facing trolls or unfair criticism? And do you have a theme or inspiration behind how your moderation strategy?
 
  • Like
Reactions: muffinman80 and Winnie
lucas4647 said:
+1 I can't think of a better candidate than Muffin. As a long-standing member of the community, their dedication has been clear through their countless excellent reports and overall positive presence. I'm thrilled they've decided to officially step up and apply.

My one question touches on that experience. Having filed so many reports, you're no stranger to dealing with negative reactions. As a mod, that visibility increases. Could you talk about your approach to maintaining a calm and professional demeanor when facing trolls or unfair criticism? And do you have a theme or inspiration behind how your moderation strategy?
Click to expand...
I've personally only had a handful of negative/troll reactions that I can recall. Generally I've found that engaging with that behavior only makes things worse, so I just report it and move on. I had an incident recently involving a user on the forums that started review-bombing my previous reports and leaving ragebait comments on my profile. I reported the user, and they were banned shortly thereafter.

In regards to a theme, I generally look to @gala and @KalashnikovA for inspiration. Their moderation strategy generally involves being impartial, professional and straightforward in regards to handling reports and ban appeals. Something along those lines is what I want to aim for.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Winnie and lucas4647
Yea Vote

Muffin is very civil when handling reports within Skial. I have not witnessed any infractions that would automatically disqualify them from the potential role. There are some talking points regarding their tenure on the server, which I will bring up for the transparency of the community. My vote still stands as Yea on this application for the sake of grace and chance of change for Muffin to be a potential pick. If this does not reach an agreement, then I will not pose any contradictions or resentment.

mooffinman | λ² - False vote/Toxicity​

Starting with the most recent report, I would like to discuss the approaches Muffin would take in extreme instances like these. It's actually a good discussion to have here now regarding minors in the server when TF2 is an M-rated game.
While I am not sure what the kid said on the mic at this time, I think the approach to muting them came in good faith. I don't think the report should have been approved in this unique situation.
No matter what, if there is a kid in an M-rated game, who wouldn't be concerned?
My question(s) is/are:
  • If another minor were present in the server in instances like these, how would you approach the situation as an admin, and no other admin was present to assist?
  • Would you mute, kick, or ban if intel was present on when they would turn of age to play TF2?
  • Would you potentially ban for an appeal to reveal the truth?

Previous Mutes​

1757898419882.avif

There will be confrontation from some guy eventually, who might be upset about being disciplined by you.
It would be best to presume they will be searching for whatever. And there is this.

"I do have a couple mutes on record, but I'm committed to following the rules and doing my best to report those that don't. For what it's worth, I'll try my best to be a valuable addition to the staff."

I respect that you recognize this, but how would you acknowledge?
Given it has been 3 years and reports against the same behavior, it gives me faith that you know how to lead after failures. But it creates a conflict to say, for instance, "I did reports against the same behavior, so I changed."
What made you behave in this manner? It was done from 2017 to 2022 (5 years). 2022 to 2025 (3 years) is not that far apart.
Would it be reasonable for users to hold doubt that you changed? How have you changed from 2022 to now? But in 2022, you didn't from 2017?

Conclusion​

Overall, with the questions I have asked, my vote still stands as Yea unless the answers given are unsatisfactory or absent. @Sonic bp.tf also was someone you knew in the server, apparently. Inviting them to continue an open discussion would be best for all viewpoints. I don't invite them to cause hostility if there are tensions, and I am not responsible for how they or anybody behaves. It's an example of leadership when you have a community that sees eye-to-eye with you, and those who do not. As an admin, you’ll sometimes need to make decisions that won’t always have everyone’s approval. How you respond to those instances will be critical in evaluating for the position. 🙂
 
  • Like
Reactions: muffinman80
muffinman80 said:
I've personally only had a handful of negative/troll reactions that I can recall. Generally I've found that engaging with that behavior only makes things worse, so I just report it and move on. I had an incident recently involving a user on the forums that started review-bombing my previous reports and leaving ragebait comments on my profile. I reported the user, and they were banned shortly thereafter.

In regards to a theme, I generally look to @gala and @KalashnikovA for inspiration. Their moderation strategy generally involves being impartial, professional and straightforward in regards to handling reports and ban appeals. Something along those lines is what I want to aim for.
Click to expand...
Great response. And I'd like to share a story that has always stayed with me, from my time on the Goldrush 24/7 server between 2011 and 2014 (possibly a little later). We had a regular player named Beavis, who was often disruptive and held some controversial opinions. While he frequently danced around sensitive subjects, it never quite crossed the line into actionable offense; until one day it did. He said something truly unacceptable and continued that language for some time.

I called over the moderator,The Ghabaghoul, fully expecting a immediate temp mute. To my surprise, Ghabaghoul did not mute or ban him. Instead, he engaged Beavis in a conversation. He asked why he felt it was okay to use such language and explained how it made others in the community uncomfortable and likely to leave. He concluded by saying that while he should mute him, he would offer a chance: if Beavis could avoid any further reports for a week, the incident would be forgotten. But if he was called on again, he would proceed like this was Beavis's second mute.

In the moment, I have to admit, I was frustrated. We all were for some time. But what I witnessed was a masterclass in community stewardship. That act of measured, human engagement had a profound effect. Beavis went on to become a long-standing member of Skial. While he earned a few mutes over the years, that initial approach of "boots on the ground" moderation (focused on understanding and redemption) ultimately benefited everyone. It took me over a decade to fully appreciate the wisdom in that strategy. Good moderation tends to beget good moderation and many of the moderators that came from the 2Fort, Goldrush, and turbine (whom learned their moderation style from the mods on at that time) I feel will go down as best in Skial's history.

That style of moderation has, unfortunately, become quite rare. Many communities, including our own, have shifted towards a more detached process of issuing punishments and handling discussions solely in ban appeals. While necessary for efficiency, something valuable can be lost in that distance.

This leads to my point. Your response about following the examples of Gala and Kalashnikov is excellent; their professionalism and impartiality are exactly what we need in new moderators. But I also see in you the potential to bring back a glimpse of that older, community-focused philosophy. We are in a time where positive, forward-thinking moderation that encourages people to stay and improve is more valuable than ever. It’s about keeping the lights on in this corner of the internet and making it a place worth staying for. Because I am very willing to come out and say it. TF2 community servers including ours are almost all either dying or feeding on each-other with the large distinction of servers who have promoters with large audiences behind them.

Regardless of the specific approach you choose, I have every confidence you will make an excellent moderator. This was a great response to the question, and I truly hope your application is successful.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: muffinman80
Winnie said:
Yea Vote

Muffin is very civil when handling reports within Skial. I have not witnessed any infractions that would automatically disqualify them from the potential role. There are some talking points regarding their tenure on the server, which I will bring up for the transparency of the community. My vote still stands as Yea on this application for the sake of grace and chance of change for Muffin to be a potential pick. If this does not reach an agreement, then I will not pose any contradictions or resentment.

mooffinman | λ² - False vote/Toxicity​

Starting with the most recent report, I would like to discuss the approaches Muffin would take in extreme instances like these. It's actually a good discussion to have here now regarding minors in the server when TF2 is an M-rated game.
While I am not sure what the kid said on the mic at this time, I think the approach to muting them came in good faith. I don't think the report should have been approved in this unique situation.
No matter what, if there is a kid in an M-rated game, who wouldn't be concerned?
My question(s) is/are:
  • If another minor were present in the server in instances like these, how would you approach the situation as an admin, and no other admin was present to assist?
  • Would you mute, kick, or ban if intel was present on when they would turn of age to play TF2?
  • Would you potentially ban for an appeal to reveal the truth?

Previous Mutes​

1757898419882.png
There will be confrontation from some guy eventually, who might be upset about being disciplined by you.
It would be best to presume they will be searching for whatever. And there is this.

"I do have a couple mutes on record, but I'm committed to following the rules and doing my best to report those that don't. For what it's worth, I'll try my best to be a valuable addition to the staff."

I respect that you recognize this, but how would you acknowledge?
Given it has been 3 years and reports against the same behavior, it gives me faith that you know how to lead after failures. But it creates a conflict to say, for instance, "I did reports against the same behavior, so I changed."
What made you behave in this manner? It was done from 2017 to 2022 (5 years). 2022 to 2025 (3 years) is not that far apart.
Would it be reasonable for users to hold doubt that you changed? How have you changed from 2022 to now? But in 2022, you didn't from 2017?

Conclusion​

Overall, with the questions I have asked, my vote still stands as Yea unless the answers given are unsatisfactory or absent. @Sonic bp.tf also was someone you knew in the server, apparently. Inviting them to continue an open discussion would be best for all viewpoints. I don't invite them to cause hostility if there are tensions, and I am not responsible for how they or anybody behaves. It's an example of leadership when you have a community that sees eye-to-eye with you, and those who do not. As an admin, you’ll sometimes need to make decisions that won’t always have everyone’s approval. How you respond to those instances will be critical in evaluating for the position. 🙂
Click to expand...
Thank you for the reply. I'm headed to bed relatively shortly, I'll write a more formal response sometime tomorrow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lucas4647 and Winnie
Sonic bp.tf said:
-1
I haven't played Skial in a while now, but I just know that this guy has been pretty toxic when I've seen him on. Combined with muting a child for no reason and I think once he made fun of me, and put a laugh emoji on a report I did when someone was harassing me. Not very professional...
Click to expand...
Oh



Nvm then, -1
 
Winnie said:
While I am not sure what the kid said on the mic at this time, I think the approach to muting them came in good faith. I don't think the report should have been approved in this unique situation.
Click to expand...
There was a video attached to the report and it was still marked resolved so I would have to assume the kid did not say anything worth muting for. I don't remember the specifics. This isn't that big of a deal that it would get this app declined

Winnie said:
Would it be reasonable for users to hold doubt that you changed? How have you changed from 2022 to now? But in 2022, you didn't from 2017?
Click to expand...
Those other mutes don't matter. 2022 is around the time we removed a section from the rules: "you are allowed to say nigga, unless it's in a negative or hostile manner". And the word was added to the automatic filter. Which lead to a lot of accidental mutes over the following months and the first mute is 8 years ago
 
  • Like
Reactions: Winnie, lucas4647 and muffinman80
+1 Skial Bottiger's 24/7 Idle Trade desperately need more frequent admin supervision.
I have seen a greater increase in hackers, mic spammers and chat spammers.
Muffin feels balanced for this role, he feels neutral. He plays often on Skial Bottiger's 24/7 Idle Trade and i think that he is a good helpful guy.
I vote yes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lucas4647, muffinman80 and Ahri
Sonic bp.tf said:
I'm using Streamable to upload this video, so it'll only be up for about 2 days. However, in the video you can hear the child who he called a vote on just casually talking, and you can also see the chat message he sent around the middle of the video mocking the child when this all happened (Don't forget some of the other in game chat messages of his that I included in my report).
Considering that all of this also only happened three months ago, I'm not too sure if this type of behavior of his has truly improved. However, I can't tell on my own, I barely know this guy and I'm mainly just speaking about an experience that I had with him in the past.
My question and concern would be that, if he WERE to become an admin on Skial, how would he approach a situation like this in the future?


Here is the video that I also included in my report which was mentioned in one of the comments above:
Click to expand...
It is seriously looking bad for muffinman


He’s gotta alot of explaining to do
 
  • Dislike
  • Like
Reactions: Atomicbunny567, lucas4647 and Sonic bp.tf
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom
Back