Just checking in - I'm glad to see so much support and positive activity here. Reading through a few posts from @Aalasteir , @BickerySebastian and @MalwareShop , I thought I might add some clarification to a few things:
1) The manifesto of the Elite Guard Barracks explains who we are and how we got here. We work with the moderators to help remove clearly rule-violating submissions on a case-by-case basis. We DO NOT engage in any mass down-voting or coordinated efforts against any user, for any reason. It is up to the Moderators to decide to ban a user based on what we report.
2) We do have a structured set of officers and an official member roster page. While anyone is welcome to join the forum, ask questions or assist in any way, to officially join the barracks, there's a few things you'll need to do first. We do have a set of standards and practices we adhere to that will ensure that all members operate within the manifesto and operational guidelines.
3) We've been around since 2005. I personally have been a member since 2006, and there is a flow of those who join and those who leave. Some stay a long while, and others, just a few months. We're always looking for new recruits who are willing to step up to the challenge of maintaining the high ideals of the Elite Guard Barracks - and maybe one day lead it.
4) As for flagging reviews, I personally stick to submissions under 3-4 months old. Sure, there are older ones that are crap, but if the moderators have let it go that long, it probably means they'll let it pass. Be careful - if you are not sure about a review flag, then let it go.
5) Finally, when it comes to blamming or protecting a submission, unless that submission is clearly in violation of Newgrounds rules (where a moderator will handle it), we vote as individuals. I may see a game submission that, although well made, is just a knock-off of a prior submission from the same user, and choose to blam it because it's nothing new. But someone else here might see it as a halfway decent game, and give it a 3, since it was an effort. Voting is subjective and private - and should remain that way.
Hope this clears things up a bit - and thank you for being active users in our forum. We welcome all the help we can get! If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to post them here, or PM me if you wish.
Regards,
EGSC byteslinger
Chief Barracks Officer