Self-moderation of the forums

[WanderingMonster]

I just want some thoughts/guidleines here.

Us veterans know that the most important part of EN World is the community. Of course we're a community invited into the virtual living room of the host (Morrus in this case), but I feel that part of the responsibility of the community is to self-moderate behavior that strays from what's accepted. For example, if you talk in a movie theater the manager doesn't "shush" you, the people around you do. I guess this is a role I feel that needs general guidelines.

When do the mods want the Community to enforce its mores and standards, and when do you want us to hit the "bad post" button? I see the line being informing vs. enforcing. I can't enforce squat here, but I can let new posters know what's expected (i.e. "the mods don't take kindly to personal attacks"). Is that okay? I don't pretend to wield power over anything, and I generally keep quiet about it anyway. I recently felt moved to comment on someone's post in another thread, and it just got me to thinking. Thus this new post.

What do the mods think? What the Community think? And the only thing that really matters I guess—what does Morrus think?

 

[Morrus]

That seems OK; I think people pretty much do that anyway. As long as it's polite and helpful, nobody will object to a few tips on how things work.

 

[Zappo]

It seems to me that the current model is working wonderfully well.

 

[Chacal]

It seems to me that the current model is working wonderfully well.

I agree. It also has the distinct advantage of avoiding ruleslawyering about expected behavior.


Chacal

 

[Henry]

I think our "English Constitution" manner serves a lot of purposes, one of which is to give the mods the flexibility to handle things case-by-case.

The other, and this is the MOST POWERFUL of all enforcement tools, is by Example. We've got some of the most well-mannered individuals in one place on the Net I've ever seen. When someone brand new wanders in, they usually take visual cues from the other posters. Simple peer pressure says that when in Rome, you act like a Roman, and when people see the other fello being respectful of one another, it goes much further than any shout-down by an authority.

You guys really are the mods - you just do it in a very subtle way.

 

[Crothian]

For me, I only point the mods to things that either need edited or are exploding in vile. For the most part though, a nice simple and polite message does the job. But then in the same post continue the thread, that helps the thread move along and not stop after a less then optimal post.

 

[EricNoah]

I wonder if another "level" of supervision would be helpful? Something between a "member" and a "moderator" -- something like an embassador, someone who knows where to find info, can tell people who to contact or fill them in on some of the unwritten rules? I dunno, just an idea...

 

[johnsemlak]

I wonder if another "level" of supervision would be helpful? Something between a "member" and a "moderator" -- something like an embassador, someone who knows where to find info, can tell people who to contact or fill them in on some of the unwritten rules? I dunno, just an idea...

I think in effect you may already have that.

What powers would you want to give such, 'ambassadors'? I think most community supporters, of which there are a whole slew now, can search, navigate the site pretty well now, and have a good familiarity with the site in general.

 

[Crothian]

I agree...when people post general questions it does seem that the members try to answer as best they can.