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Monday, June 25, 2007

moderator actions

http://www.lonelygirl15.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11713

Broken Kid says:
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 1:18 pm

We have amended the Forum Etiquette, Rules, and Policies (with The Creators' approval) to add the section about moderators. From this point on, public discussion of moderator actions or moderator policies will not be allowed on the forum, and such posts will be removed.

Why are we updating these rules? Because being a moderator is not an easy job, and moderators are all volunteers. Sometimes the moderator has to be a bad guy, and a user may not like their actions. However, all too often public posts result in users piling on without understanding the issues which may not be appropriate to share with the entire forum. This not only diminishes respect for the moderator but reduces their power on the forum.

Moderators are fans, and often a moderator posts as a fan. But moderator actions such as splitting or merging a topic, deleting or editing posts, warning users, etc. are taken with the best interests of the forum in mind. Some users may not always agree with these actions, but that doesn't mean the actions where inappropriate.

We are also adding a new title: Moderator Manager. Trainer101 will serve as the Moderator Manager at this time. The Moderator Manager is a moderator with no additional powers on the forum; however, he will act as the first level of escalation for concerns about moderator actions. If you have a concern about a moderator, contact the Moderator Manager. He will review the action, compare it against the guidelines, consult with the forum administrator, and respond to the user. If the issue requires another escalation, it will go to the forum administrator, and if the administrator requires another ruling, he will take the issue to The Creators.

Note that this is not a unique rule. In fact, most other major forums have a policy against posting publicly about moderator actions. On LG15, the moderators are encouraged to post a message explaining why a thread is moved or locked, and even this is rare on other forums. Large forums with a significant number of users require that moderators' actions be appropriate and quick, without fear or public dissent.

If you have any questions or concerns about this, please feel free to contact me.

------
NOTE: It looks like a thread has been created for responses to the post above from BK

18 comments:

  1. What do you have against Trainer? I've never in my life seen him get out of hand or unjust.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Deja, I dont think thats what MM was implying LOL. "Who watches the watchers" is a well known L15 phrase.. All the same its interesting there is now one person who is in charge of the other mods..I'll be very interested to see if it works

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well first I would like to say, thank you to the necro mods and Creators for making it that much easier for me to NOT use the necro. This is exactly the type of tyrranical censorship bullshit that evidences a significant portion of the reason I do not use the necro in the first place.

    No feedback of any kind? No permitted criticism or discussion? Let's have fun everyone, as long as you stick to the script provided for you by Big Brother. And if you don't... well don't worry, your errors in judgment will be removed before they encourage anyone else to have an independent thought.

    As for the mods being volunteer and not deserving criticism for their actions... shenanigans. If you volunteer for the responsibility, you take on everything that goes with that responsibility. If you don't have the spine to stand up and defend your actions when need be, and you lack a thick enough skin to let the rest fall off of your shoulders, stop wasting my time with your farcical display of authority. You get no respect from me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would only respond to say that every site has its rules, and this is one that will benefit the forum. Most other large forums - and many many smaller ones - have similar rules in place. There are plenty of opportunities for feedback with multiple layers of escalation.

    It's unfortunate, however, that those who dislike the forum will use this as another reason to express that sentiment.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Today the moderators are going to moderate the posts about the moderators moderating.
    Tomorrow the moderators are going to moderate the moderators moderating of the posts about the moderators moderating.

    Say that fast three times, I DARE YOU!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm copying this because I feel that it would be a nice addition to this post Modelmotion. I sent this to Broken Kid's account on the forum, and where I am no longer aloud to post it on the forum, why not post it here:


    This is my only problem:

    Our forum rules are heavily based on public debate and we have based our etiquette on public say.
    While I understand why, I don't think banning public debate is the proper solution here BK. It actually feels more so like a "We're annoyed at people pointing out our faults, and we're annoyed because we don't like to be called wrong, so you aren't allowed to anymore."
    And If you can recall, that was the BIGGEST problem on the forum so far with the mods, the simple inability to admit that there may have been wrong doing.

    I just wanted to point out that what is reflected in your statement is EXACTLY the reason people bitched and complained about the moderators soooooo much.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Actually I kind of like this.

    Now if a person has a problem with something a mod did, they can pm the mod directly to discuss it.

    It will make all the mods that much more accountable for their actions, and it will keep everyone else from ganging up.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I want to know exactly why other forums doing this makes it okay? LG15 has always been about creativity, being different. Using other internet forums as an excuse to do it here is downright shameful. Be original, its the lg spirit.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Where'd my comment go!!! It was a similar lighthearted one like Joe's :( I didn't know the blogspot was moderated as well...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Omg... never mind that, I'm a dumbass. I realized I hit the "preview" button and not "publish" LOL. It was something about the Moderator Manager being a moderator moderater moderating moderators moderating. Or something, nevermind...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Since the original thread is locked, I started a discussion thread in the same forum section here: http://lonelygirl15.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11741

    One issue is differentiation between discussion of specific "moderator actions" and general discussion of "moderator policy." It looks to me like Broken Kid's posting in the Concerns & Complaints section goes further than the actual text of the rules change that he links to ... so that needs clarification.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would like to add that I have found Broken Kid very reasonable in the past, and have had no issues at all with any forums moderator actions.

    But I do love it when Perky gets riled up and says things like "shenanigans" and "farcical." I love an eloquent toothy rant.

    So I guess I still have mixed feelings.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ah, why can't just everyone be a considerate, well-spoken, obeying-all-rules, always-making-the-right-decision, never-doubting-authority moderator? Life would be a Hymn of One and All and finally everything would have its Order...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Q - BK is very reasonable until he gives you the generic "I will handle it" type msg.
    He gets his mind made up, and there is no way to back him up until you out right humiliate him.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous, the statement you just made is one which would reasonably (in my opinion) be deleted from the forums. It is non-specific bashing (that's enough) but even worse, it is done anonymously. There is no way to evaluate the veracity of your statements.

    I am arguing in favor of moderation that allows general discussion of moderator policy, and for publicly asking questions and getting replies to specific issues in a dedicated forum ... but that does not mean allowing for bashing and disruption in the context of moderated threads on other topics.

    We have no stated policy at all on this blog, and are unlikely to adopt one given the point of view of the main figures here, but if we did, I would not hesitate to delete a comment such as the one you just made.

    I'm not saying you are right or wrong in what you said, or that I have not done the same thing at times. I am suggesting that you be specific if possible, and at least be not anonymous.

    As is, you have left no path to resolution of the issues you raise.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I feel safe sending this because we all know they have no idea what to do with it. I'll deny everything under questioning.

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    ReplyDelete
  17. The previous comment, while unfortunately anonymous, does provide a satirical look at moderation guidelines... here is the translation for those interested but too lazy to convert from base64 to ascii:

    -----
    I've learned through reliable sources (thank you Nikki) that the reason for keeping guidelines confidential may be because of LG15 Forum Penal Code Section 19.03 Capital Offenses, items E-J, which might be detrimental to the image and stability in power of the good people serving us voluntarily. Here's what I was tipped off to.

    [quote]
    19.03 E: The public and PM "redflag" record of the user must be kept updated at all times, and monitored periodically for Capital Offenses. Anyone with 3 or more redflagged PMs is issued a friendly reminder, and a prospective termination officer ("watcher") is posted at the user's local Reverse IP Resouce Identification Provider (RIPRIP).

    19.03 F: If anyone under prospective termination watch starts asking too many questions, be that in public or through PM, termination procedures are initiated, with the creators reserving the option to, upon review of the case, grant a 2-day leniency period for the user to post their goodbies before termination.

    19.03 G: The real reasons for termination should never be made public, and the watcher should make sure the user always says that they're leaving because they're too busy to keep up with the series or they've lost interest.

    19.03 H: During this leniency period, any dissenting or incriminating post is to be removed and punitive termination is effective immediatly. Legal and Operations are notified.

    19.03 I: Termination is executed by the "watcher" storming the user's residence who are then shot in the head. No silencer is ever needed. Put the body in the trunk of the Lincoln.

    19.03 J: Punititve termination is similar, except Legal is to issue libel suits to the surviving family of the offender, and local authorities are notified to guarantee they all lose their shirts.
    [/quote]

    ReplyDelete




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