Now you've pissed me off...wait, no you didn't.

Or, how to discipline. Every administrator or moderator of any kind of forum is going to have to know how to do this. For me, disciplining didn't come naturally. I'm more of an innovator than an authority figure and had to figure out by trial and error how to effectively keep a member base happily under control. But if I can do it, anyone can...

Yes, I said 'happily under control.' Members who do not know their limits are unhappy members. Many will act out just to find what those limits are. After all, they don't know them. The first thing to make sure of is that you have all your rules clearly stated somewhere prominent on your forum. A rules board right up top, or a sticky thread announced over all boards works well.

So let's say you have all that but your members still act out. Welcome to the world of forums. To make sure that one member acting out doesn't become 700--because it will unless you do something--you need to quickly discipline them.

The faster it's addressed, the better, of course. Keep your language firm but friendly enough, say something like, "What you just did there [quote the infraction so they know what they did, especially if it's now a few posts or more back] is called a powerplay. A powerplay is when you damage someone else's character without permission. Please see our powerplaying guide [link] for more information, and if you are unsure of our rules don't hesitate to ask for help."

The player should correct; it helps to also PM it to them though this may vary. They are less likely to miss a PM than a post, though.

Let's say they keep it up and make the same rule break a second time, a third, etc. Let's say that they argue with you. "It's not a powerplay and he didn't mind! The other RPGs I play at don't have this stupid rule," says the member who's always right.

Here's where I normally step in with the warning bars, checks, etc. along with a scarily calm notice PMed to them that unless they change their wayward ways they could be abruptly removed from the member base. I'd say something like, "Regardless of how other games function, this is how our RPG is set up, and nobody forced you to join. Our rules are clearly displayed to guests. Your arguing and disparaging the site for an error you made has earnt you a [warning bar, etc.] and you will be banned if you continue."

If they continue, it's ban time. Whether temporary or permanent ban, for me depends on the situation.

I always tell my staff, never "raise your voice" to your recalcitrant members. Keeping your language neutral does a much better job of demonstrating you are in control. Someone who's truly in control and doesn't feel threatened by a member's challenges has no need to lose their cool. It also demonstrates to a member acting out that they are unable to get under our skin or make their rule breaks and insults have an impact on us. They may be acting out of frustration because they can't do what they want, but they're also testing you and testing their limits. And your other members are watching. Show them what those limits are, and everyone will be happier for it.