Comments on: Moderation in Moderation: Making Good Choices for Your Site’s Community http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/ Blogging News, Tips, & Tutorials Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:52:02 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: jessamyn http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/comment-page-1/#comment-4779 jessamyn Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:16:17 +0000 http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/#comment-4779 I sort of felt like I was bullied somwhat in that instance. As a moderator, it's pretty crucial that I not "fight back" when people are being fighty, but I was trying pretty hard to point out what I thought was some pretty knee-jerky silencing behavior and I felt like two posters who I've known on the site for years both decided to give my comments the least charitable reading possible and then give me a hard time for it. On the other hand, the thread wasn't going badly and I had to sit back and reflect that my opinion is just that, and I didn't want to spend my day fighting with people on the internet about it, but dealing with that particular thread did really sort of start my day off on the wrong foot. I sort of felt like I was bullied somwhat in that instance. As a moderator, it’s pretty crucial that I not “fight back” when people are being fighty, but I was trying pretty hard to point out what I thought was some pretty knee-jerky silencing behavior and I felt like two posters who I’ve known on the site for years both decided to give my comments the least charitable reading possible and then give me a hard time for it. On the other hand, the thread wasn’t going badly and I had to sit back and reflect that my opinion is just that, and I didn’t want to spend my day fighting with people on the internet about it, but dealing with that particular thread did really sort of start my day off on the wrong foot.

]]> By: PS3 http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/comment-page-1/#comment-4720 PS3 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:52:36 +0000 http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/#comment-4720 Like a lots of things, if you criticise the action, rather than the person performing that, it will be far less personal and easier to diffuse a situation. Like a lots of things, if you criticise the action, rather than the person performing that, it will be far less personal and easier to diffuse a situation.

]]> By: Wii http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/comment-page-1/#comment-4714 Wii Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:57:09 +0000 http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/#comment-4714 You are right that it takes a lot of practice and patience to mod effectively. I also imagine that one of the hardest parts must be not to get personally involved. One of the best bits of advice I have been given is never post when annoyed/upset. Go back to the thread a day later and your post should be far more objective. If not, and it still makes you angry, then it should probably be deleted/closed. You are right that it takes a lot of practice and patience to mod effectively. I also imagine that one of the hardest parts must be not to get personally involved.

One of the best bits of advice I have been given is never post when annoyed/upset. Go back to the thread a day later and your post should be far more objective. If not, and it still makes you angry, then it should probably be deleted/closed.

]]> By: Kevin Ott http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/comment-page-1/#comment-4706 Kevin Ott Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:11:07 +0000 http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/#comment-4706 Good point -- and I was actually thinking that as I wrote the post. I think that in the grand scheme of things (and trolls notwithstanding) conversations on the web seem to be civil, particularly if you've built up a good group of users. In this case, the mod wasn't warning anyone about bad behavior, but pointing out that MetaFilter users tend, as a group, to dislike cops. While the comment is true overall, I think in this particular case the users were showing some restraint, and therefore it wasn't totally accurate, which is why people reacted the way they did. It was a sticky wicket, and you could easily make the argument that she couldn't have commented in the first place. But I think she prevented the molehill from becoming a mountain. Good point — and I was actually thinking that as I wrote the post.

I think that in the grand scheme of things (and trolls notwithstanding) conversations on the web seem to be civil, particularly if you’ve built up a good group of users. In this case, the mod wasn’t warning anyone about bad behavior, but pointing out that MetaFilter users tend, as a group, to dislike cops. While the comment is true overall, I think in this particular case the users were showing some restraint, and therefore it wasn’t totally accurate, which is why people reacted the way they did.

It was a sticky wicket, and you could easily make the argument that she couldn’t have commented in the first place. But I think she prevented the molehill from becoming a mountain.

]]> By: Online Community Building http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/comment-page-1/#comment-4705 Online Community Building Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:59:03 +0000 http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/#comment-4705 Unfortunately I didn't read the actual post you refer to - it was far too long! My comment was based on your post and description of events, although perhaps my choice of the word 'bullied' was a little harsh. The fact is, the community in this instance have seen that if they 'rally the troops' and disagree with a moderator, the mod will back down - not an ideal situation. Having said this, as a moderator she shouldn't have got involved with her own opinions on such an emotional topic - if there were comments that broke the site rules, then she should have taken action based on that, and that alone; not simply because she personally disagreed with people's comments. Your post highlights a good point that moderators will always be seen as moderators, even when they want to make a post 'out of uniform' - unfortunately few mods realise this! - Martin Reed Unfortunately I didn’t read the actual post you refer to – it was far too long! My comment was based on your post and description of events, although perhaps my choice of the word ‘bullied’ was a little harsh.

The fact is, the community in this instance have seen that if they ‘rally the troops’ and disagree with a moderator, the mod will back down – not an ideal situation.

Having said this, as a moderator she shouldn’t have got involved with her own opinions on such an emotional topic – if there were comments that broke the site rules, then she should have taken action based on that, and that alone; not simply because she personally disagreed with people’s comments.

Your post highlights a good point that moderators will always be seen as moderators, even when they want to make a post ‘out of uniform’ – unfortunately few mods realise this!

- Martin Reed

]]> By: Kevin Ott http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/comment-page-1/#comment-4704 Kevin Ott Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:49:58 +0000 http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/#comment-4704 Martin, do you think that's what happened in the example I mentioned? Because I don't think she was bullied; I just think she made a comment that a lot of users disagreed with (and which many other users agreed with), and left the discussion when it became obvious that her opinion was in the minority. Nobody was being abusive or discourteous; the reason I found her actions so encouraging is because she maintained the boundary between "mod" and "user" pretty well, and didn't get bogged down in an ultimately pointless discussion that could have a negative impact on the users' opinions of her. Martin, do you think that’s what happened in the example I mentioned? Because I don’t think she was bullied; I just think she made a comment that a lot of users disagreed with (and which many other users agreed with), and left the discussion when it became obvious that her opinion was in the minority. Nobody was being abusive or discourteous; the reason I found her actions so encouraging is because she maintained the boundary between “mod” and “user” pretty well, and didn’t get bogged down in an ultimately pointless discussion that could have a negative impact on the users’ opinions of her.

]]> By: Online Community Building http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/comment-page-1/#comment-4703 Online Community Building Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:41:16 +0000 http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/#comment-4703 Moderating an online community can be extremely challenging, particularly in emotional situations such as the example you mention. Moderators need to remember that their primary roles should always be to encourage interaction but prevent abuse; therefore, they are often walking a metaphorical tightrope. It is essential that moderators remain impartial at all times. If a member breaks the site rules, they need to be professionally notified of this and pointed to the specific rule they broke. They should never be drawn into arguments or debates regarding their decisions. If a member isn't happy with the actions of a moderator, they should be asked to contact either a senior staff member or the site owner in private. There is nothing wrong with admitting errors or saying sorry, there is a problem when a moderator begins to take action but is then bullied out of the picture. - Martin Reed Moderating an online community can be extremely challenging, particularly in emotional situations such as the example you mention.

Moderators need to remember that their primary roles should always be to encourage interaction but prevent abuse; therefore, they are often walking a metaphorical tightrope.

It is essential that moderators remain impartial at all times. If a member breaks the site rules, they need to be professionally notified of this and pointed to the specific rule they broke. They should never be drawn into arguments or debates regarding their decisions. If a member isn’t happy with the actions of a moderator, they should be asked to contact either a senior staff member or the site owner in private.

There is nothing wrong with admitting errors or saying sorry, there is a problem when a moderator begins to take action but is then bullied out of the picture.

- Martin Reed

]]> By: Link Building http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/comment-page-1/#comment-4702 Link Building Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:38:16 +0000 http://www.pureblogging.com/2008/03/27/moderation-in-moderation-making-good-choices-for-your-sites-community/#comment-4702 great post, it's important to keep a good vibe on your blog, i agree. so much nicer when people are friends :) great post, it’s important to keep a good vibe on your blog, i agree. so much nicer when people are friends :)

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