On the Use of Colored Text by Moderators

[Bullgrit]

I agree with Celebrim.

Bullgrit

 

[Raven Crowking]

I'm trying to be clear here:

Color is not a different person! Color is to make it so people skimming the thread don't miss something. It increases visibility. When using color, we tend to be short and too the point, again, to increase clarity. If we aren't writing in color, you can bet that we aren't terribly worried if someone misses the point - we probably don't see it as a fire that needs putting out, or something. We are highly unlikely to slap a ban on someone for failing to see something we wrote in white.

But Rel in Red is still Rel. Umbran is Umbran, whether in Orange or Red or White. Morrus is The Man, no matter the color. If one of us says that something is uncool, that's someone who's an authority on behavior on the boards saying something is uncool.

Heck, even if JohnQPoster says something is uncool, you should be considering that maybe that it is uncool.

Are you not the same Umbran who distinguished between mod-voice and poster-voice in the past, when posting something a mod should not? Do I need to try to track down that post?

You are aware that this sounds very much like "I was trying to godwin the argument, but I'm not going to admit it", aren't you? After all, one wonders what was "uncool" that you are referring to, apart from the observation that your Grand Truth was your Grand Opinion?

Or was the above supposed to be a mod warning not to discuss how "arbitary, petty and bizarre" this is?


RC

 

[Piratecat]

So we're clear: let's discuss the topic. Any attempt at baiting or personal attacks, like your's, RC, aren't going to be tolerated. We're talking about the use of colored text by mods, not moderator decisions you may or may not agree with. I'd rather not mix the two.

And hey, I made it red!

 

[Raven Crowking]

Sorry....let me rephrase:

A major benefit to using colour-coding is to avoid sending mixed messages.

RC

 

[Piratecat]

Sorry....let me rephrase:

A major benefit to using colour-coding is to avoid sending mixed messages.

RC

I think we can all agree on that.

We're chatting about this in the mod forum, and I suspect we'll work to be as consistent as possible. We'll still require people to use their best judgment, of course. If you ever use your best judgment and end up on the wrong side, be sure to talk to us about it so we can figure out how the situation could have been improved.

 

[jaerdaph]

You're all kidding, right? Because I think - "I" being someone who has been on the receiving end of a few of those red text warnings (and deservedly so in each case) - EN World probably has the most level-headed, fair and consistent moderators and moderation guidelines that I've ever seen on any message board, RPG-related or otherwise.

Maybe we should do a Moderator Exchange Program with some other sites I could (but won't) suggest to see how good we have it - that would definitely be interesting!

 

[Pseudonym]

With the new version of the board software, is there some way to flag a particular post as being a Moderator post separate from a normal post? Something that may not involve text color but something more distinctive?

This would enable the ability to put moderators on ignore lists. That way when a moderator is posting with their Mod Hat on the post would be flagged visible, but when posting as some guy with an opinion, I won't.

 

[Piratecat]

This would enable the ability to put moderators on ignore lists. That way when a moderator is posting with their Mod Hat on the post would be flagged visible, but when posting as some guy with an opinion, I won't.

That's it, mister; I'm putting your hero Hemlock the Magician on "ignore" next time we play MnM!

And the actual answer is: I don't know.

 

[Pseudonym]

That's it, mister; I'm putting your hero Hemlock the Magician on "ignore" next time we play MnM!

I'll just use an Action Point to power stunt a Mod Hat for an encounter then.

 

[Nifft]

As mods it's in our best interest to make it really clear when we're speaking in an official position, though. If I say something that I expect to be followed as a rule, and it's ambiguous, sorting out the resulting confusion is usually more of a pain for me than the original problem.

This is all I mean about not being able to post as both at once: it's got to be unambiguous when you're talking in "mod-voice" and when you're just posting as a normal dude.

You just can't use both "voices" at once: either you speak for the site policy as an enforcer -- in which case questioning your pronouncements is to be avoided -- or you speak as a normal dude whose opinions must stand on their merits.

I tend to agree with you about not having folks post in red or orange text, but there's no realistic way to enforce that. More trouble than it's worth; better to do our best to make it obvious and let members be responsible for their own actions.

It could work like this:

1/ Only mod-level accounts get [red] and [orange] translated into HTML colors; and
2/ When a mod-level account edits a post, that post cannot be edited by lower level accounts.

That should cover all corner cases.

- - -

However, the thing that sets "mod-voice" apart from regular voice need not be red text! It just needs to be visually distinct, and unavailable to regular users -- and IMHO it would be nice if it were easy to spot when skimming a thread.

Maybe use background colors instead of foreground?
Black text on yellow, black text on orange?

Cheers, -- N