Moderation - what do you want?

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:51 am

Dear all,

After the recent discussions on moderation, I thought a short poll might give us a change to get to the core of the issues.

Feel free to say what you think about how it should be moderated, or why not. But what matters now is the yes / no to moderation.

This is not an official WIX question - I'm just asking. I'm sure Scott will be watching, so be convincing.

This is a chance for the majority to make their views count.

The poll is open for a week.

(There's a thanks for PMs and messages in the Off Topic forum)

Regards,

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:05 am

Good moderation is a good thing. Otherwise things tend to get out of hand. It's really annoying to see tons of bad, frivolous posts that waste one's time or stir up un-needed controversies that have already been discussed 25 times. It should also be fair and considerate, as there are times where a legitimate issue blurs the lines, but that's where a good moderator can keep it from going too far.

My two cents.

Ryan

TAdan · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:43 am

I think moderators are very important to the site. Keep the clutter out and keep threads on topic.

I happened to like the style of moderation that JDK used.

muddyboots · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:12 am

I'd like YOU BACK. AS A MOD. ENFORCING THE RULES.

Even if you are a poncy, funny hat wearing, XXX drinking Aussie.

XoXoXo

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:31 am

...and we have one vote against moderation, and 27 for.

Glyn · **Joined:** Mon Feb 14, 2005 12:23 am **Posts:** 321

We can have a moderator or we can have anarchy. I have voted for the former.

Forgotten Field · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:53 am

A very wise man, in a very important cultural event, the film "Stripes," said,

Quote:

I need some heavy discipline
in my life.

I vote for moderators who wear heavy lead X-ray gloves and hang them over banning buttons.

PinecastleAAF · **Joined:** Fri May 25, 2007 4:50 pm **Posts:** 1028

I believe the recent event proves the need for moderators. If we don't have them it will become a bulletin board free-for-all and good content will go unposted. I also think the moderators should not have to engage with posters to defend their moderations, it just adds to the work.

Mudge · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:35 am

IMHO...There's no question that this place will have moderators whether we vote for 'em or against 'em. Without them, I'm sure Scott would shut this forum down in a heartbeat. There's a certain amount of :bs:

he will (and has) put up with. Without mods., he'd reach for the "off" button muy rapidamente. I'm sure he has neither the time nor inclination to be constantly sweeping up the "horse-puckey" that's caused all the banishments and wrist slaps lately.

Mudge the prescient :roll:

Craig59 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:54 am

I frequented a hobby forum for years before it was purchased by a new owner. It quickly became an under-moderated free-for-all and I haven't visited it in at least three years. We need "moderators" in all aspects of life simply because some folks don't know how to play nice.

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:11 am

Hi James... I missed the flap (thankfully) that caused you to end your time as moderator. I'm very sorry it happened, as I think you've been doing a fantastic job... always impartial, and extremely polite, with wise perspectives. I have no wish to hear about the event, only to say that whoever caused the issue did us all a great dis-service.

Thanks very much James...

Richard

Dave Downs · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:46 am

To re-emphasize the points I made in the original discussion -

Moderators should be anonomous
Moderators should be all-powerfull
Moderators should not delete or modify posts, but publicaly request the original poster to delete or modify
Moderators request is not really a request, non-compliance is met with banning
Moderators actions are not subject to discussion

MODERATOR IS A DEITY - NEVER TO BE QUESTIONED

Bluedharma · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:47 am

I am currently a moderator on another site.
I have found that it is often easier to not engage and comment on posts that clearly violate the rules.
Spam for Viagra and such are removed… no banning…no commenting… just dumped.
A delete policy works very well for those.

“Questionable violations”
The problem occurs when we have different views of what a violation is.
Links??? Copyrighted pictures??? Some view Warbirds as a tool of Politics… others view Warbirds differently.
Some people are offended by sarcasm. Cultural differences in terms used can be offensive.
What may be offensive to someone in the Europe is not to someone in the States.
No amount of moderation will ever change that. Moderator should expect to be offended and be above it.
They should not react emotionally (even if the person was rude), but protect those who would react emotionally. (not an easy task)

But it is not just the Moderator that needs to watch their emotions…
People need to work a little harder on explaining what they wish to convey.
Example: http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... 972#284972
*gets popcorn, sits on sofa* ??? Is that a slam? An insult? A comment on how stupid I am? A jest? A joke? All of them?
Is that comment Warbird related? No… but maybe it does apply to Bluedharma…. Maybe it is just funny. Looks like most people enjoyed it.
Getting upset at that wouldn’t fix anything… So move on and go forward… the rest of the thread was pretty good.

Members… the real power of WIX is with you. Keep your emotions in check…
Moderators, just dump the real crap… and I wish we would not ban anyone without a trial by the WIX community.
( I know… I know… It is Scotts site… and moderators do not ban… but a “trial” would give credit to actions taken. This is a community… )

Banning people just results in a loss of important data, anger and information loss.
I think everyone has something worthwhile to offer… even if many people don’t like their views on certain things.
Arguing sometimes leads to the truth in some topics.

The best way (IMHO) is to create a new section called “YOU STEPPED OVER THE LINE”.
“Questionable violations” could be moved there without moderator comment.
People could avoid… or argue forever… All content can still be found with a search.
If that gets out of hand… then posts could be moved there.. and the person who caused the problem could be banned from all areas except the YOU STEPPED OVER THE LINE area.

Moderators cannot be accused of censoring… because the information is still there.
People who are emotional could behave badly… or avoid it.

And Moderators could then be removed from any WIX politics.
IMHO…

Paul Gordon
**gets more popcorn… sits on sofa **

Mudge · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:38 pm

Bluedharma wrote:

Members… the real power of WIX is with you. Keep your emotions in check…
Moderators, just dump the real crap… and I wish we would not ban anyone without a trial by the WIX community.
( I know… I know… It is Scotts site… and moderators do not ban… but a “trial” would give credit to actions taken. This is a community… )

Gotta' disagree with the "trial" by a jury of their peers.
Maybe if the verdict consisted of no more than a "guilty" or "not guilty" answer, PERIOD, it might work. If we all were invited to "testify" for or against, the thread could/would go on "ad infinitum" and it would, I'm sure, descend into hostilities itself.

Just my thoughts.

Mudge the prudent jurist :hide:

Robbie Roberts · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:41 pm

I'd like to see a third option- SOME moderation, allowing for free exchange of ideas, some argument, but also allowing for things to be stopped "before they go too far", with "too far" being decided by those involved, but arbited by the moderator...

A good fist fight among friends can be fun and releasing... But taking it to a death match can present problems.

Nice to see you still in the ring JDK!

Robbie

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