Graceheart the Leopard
Resident Amur leopard
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Sometimes, I really, really wish that AH.com's moderation team were CFC's mods.
It is time for a change in the way things are moderated
- Thread starter aimeeandbeatles
- Start date
The problem is that the moderation, unless it wants to be accused of a communist/fascist conspiracy, can't really crack down on what's really ruining OT: obnoxious borderline trolls who dances around the rules, cannot be reasoned with, parroting the same talking points (left-wing and right-wing) and constantly misrepresenting other people's opinions, causing a precipitous drop in quality of discussion with the effect of driving reasonable posters away.
salty mud
Deity
While this is maybe a bit extreme, it does hold some truth. The "big players" of CFC seem to be able to get away with more. I mostly steer clear of OT because 1.) you are often omitted from discussions because you aren't as well known, or 2.) you are at much higher risk of facing an angry mod's wrath.
There's an easy way to moderate, in which many people have an enjoyable, pleasant experience that they look forward to returning to and do so often. And there's a hard way to moderate where problems are not really dealt with, the atmosphere is not pleasant and enjoyable, the best people give up and wander off, the moderators get frustrated and burn out and stop doing the job and just don't come around much if at all any more.
Where are we?
shadowplay
your ad here
I strongly agree with this point. I don't even bother reporting posts anymore because of this. It's very obvious favouritism is at work at times.
aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
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I definitely had one case about rules being applied for one thread and not another -- despite the same sort of thing happening -- depending on who had started the thread. At times it feels like it depends on how much the mod likes such-and-such a poster.
To be honest, I've nearly gotten to the point of quitting. Sometimes I wonder if this is worth the trouble. Sometimes I wonder if this is worth the fight. I never have made my mind up about it. I've just decided to let it all ride.
Been next to bystanders who shoulda said something.
To be honest, I've nearly gotten to the point of quitting. Sometimes I wonder if this is worth the trouble. Sometimes I wonder if this is worth the fight. I never have made my mind up about it. I've just decided to let it all ride.
Been next to bystanders who shoulda said something.
NickyJ
Retired Narrator
I can't really comment on number one because I'm rather well known, not all of the big players escape. Recently, the best known (and in my opinion, best mannered) user of OT got banned. But I definitely agree with number two. You just have to hope that a moderator didn't have a bad day and decided to add a notch to his mouse-clicker.
Agreed, though I still report posts, even if it is just for the personal satisfaction of doing my small part.
The worst part of the moderation is not knowing what's going to be infracted, and what won't. Hardly a day goes by that someone wonders whether his response is going to be infracted, even if there is nothing wrong with the post. (Heck, I'm not even sure that my second paragraph of this post won't be infracted because some mod decides to take it personally.) It's one thing for the mods to be respected, and to know what the whole Staff's set of rules are. It's another thing to worry whether the Staff is going to swing its iron fist at you for being honest.
What is this easy way to moderate that you speak of? The easiest moderation is no moderation, which is not what people seem to want.
aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
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Encouraging good behavior would probably be more productive.
And please don't pull out the "being able to post is your reward for good behavior" thing. I'm sick of that.
And please don't pull out the "being able to post is your reward for good behavior" thing. I'm sick of that.
I discussed that a lot a year or 2 back. When I wasn't being shot down, I was being ignored. I'm not sure there's any gain to going public with it any further.
I honestly do not remember what you said 2 years ago. Maybe PM me if you do not want to discuss it publicly?
aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
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I think CFC-OT is flirting with time unless things change soon.
aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
- Joined
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What is a circle jerk?
Maniacal
the green Napoleon
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=circle-jerk
tl;dr basically a group of people who all agree on the same opinion and keep going on and on about it.
The age of the internet version I presume.
**************
I do not think that there is a good solution to moderating OT as things stand. It is too big and too complicated with too many moving parts (members/mods/topics).
Idea 1: split off religion and politics into their own subforums and leave the rest as a no pc (spam?) forum. This would hopefully isolate the problems into more manageable pieces.
Idea 2: Reduce moderating across OT to only impact the most serious stuff. Ignore most spam and stop trying to figure out trolling.
Idea 3: Get tougher and figure out how to keep the moderating staff interested and not burning out.
GenMarshall
High Elven ISB Capt & Ghost Agent
This I most definitely agree with. I'd figure since there are red diamond threads that the moderation would be more laxed.
ParadigmShifter
Random Nonsense Generator
I think we're just running down a dream here.
NickyJ
Retired Narrator
Currently, the quality of the moderating is heading down south. Even free falling. Unlike others, I do not think it's alright for now. I think we would all feel a whole lot better if the moderation wasn't so inconsistent. The only saving grace of this site for me is Forum Games. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here to watch the breakdown.
It's time to turn this car around, this site being the car. We need to turn it around now, and start back at square one. I'm sure the moderating can be fixed from there. I'm sure it can be taken to a higher place, rather than to a cabin down below.
Of course, that may be just my opinion, and I'm only a face in the crowd, but I'm depending on you to realize that it's wake up time. Otherwise, for me, it'll be time for me to move on from this old town.
It's time to turn this car around, this site being the car. We need to turn it around now, and start back at square one. I'm sure the moderating can be fixed from there. I'm sure it can be taken to a higher place, rather than to a cabin down below.
Of course, that may be just my opinion, and I'm only a face in the crowd, but I'm depending on you to realize that it's wake up time. Otherwise, for me, it'll be time for me to move on from this old town.
This is about what I would expect from the "elite" moderators. The higher you get on the totem pole, the more you start to think that OT is just some junk bin where nothing of interest or importance ever gets discussed. Birdjaguar, you know there are good discussions on topics that aren't strictly politics or religion. And what if something ends up with a political or religious angle - do you take away post count and send it to the inaccessible, unseen recycling bin once it reaches 1000 posts?
Define "most serious stuff." One of the most important rule changes I remember participating in came about as a result of some very bad things going on in one of the SERIAL threads.
Stop trying to figure out trolling...? Um, yeah, great idea there.
There are already ideas posted in the staff forum about this, are there not? I know I at least intended to suggest a kind of "exchange program" where moderators change forums for awhile to get a fresh perspective.
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