Forum rules regarding interaction with moderator team
06-11-13, 03:43 PM
#1
Forum rules regarding interaction with moderator team
Hi all,
To address some recent questions regarding moderator/member interaction and how to handle this important issue, I'd like to reiterate some guidelines that are posted via the "Rules" link at the bottom of each page on this forum:
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/rules.php
Specifically, it's vital that the moderator team is able to do their difficult, volunteer work free of having to worry that they will be attacked in any way for doing their best to apply the rules of the site in a fair and even-handed manner. The rules I'm referring to are rules against:
• Ignoring or arguing with warning posts a moderator or administrator makes in a thread. If you think the warning is unjust please email them or another moderator to discuss it.
• Attacking or harassing any moderator or administrator on the forum or via email.
• Continued posting in a manner that antagonizes other members.
Let's go over what a moderator is. A mod is first and foremost a member of this forum community. They have usually been so for quite a long time before they have an opportunity to become a moderator and be trusted with the few additional tools at their disposal.
Second, moderators are volunteers. They are giving their time and energy to the community, often for years at a time, because they believe in the site, love the community, and want everyone to have the same opportunity to enjoy DVDTalk that they did.
Lastly, moderators are part of a team -- one that confers internally on difficult issues, before acting. Often, as recently, that action begins with a post that is against the site's rules and TOS; the member is apprised of the violation, perhaps warned or suspended, and the issue is done with. If the member continues to violate policy, or worse, exacerbates the situation by calling out the moderator in the public forums rather than handling the situation through PM, more extreme action is called for. In one recent instance, after long deliberations, a 3-month suspension was called for.
This is a drawn-out way of saying: Be Nice. The moderator team is here to help everyone enjoy DVDTalk. The more we help them do their job, the less of a job they will have to do, and the more we can all enjoy this passionate community.
Best,
Paul O'Brien
Community Manager
To address some recent questions regarding moderator/member interaction and how to handle this important issue, I'd like to reiterate some guidelines that are posted via the "Rules" link at the bottom of each page on this forum:
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/rules.php
Specifically, it's vital that the moderator team is able to do their difficult, volunteer work free of having to worry that they will be attacked in any way for doing their best to apply the rules of the site in a fair and even-handed manner. The rules I'm referring to are rules against:
• Ignoring or arguing with warning posts a moderator or administrator makes in a thread. If you think the warning is unjust please email them or another moderator to discuss it.
• Attacking or harassing any moderator or administrator on the forum or via email.
• Continued posting in a manner that antagonizes other members.
Let's go over what a moderator is. A mod is first and foremost a member of this forum community. They have usually been so for quite a long time before they have an opportunity to become a moderator and be trusted with the few additional tools at their disposal.
Second, moderators are volunteers. They are giving their time and energy to the community, often for years at a time, because they believe in the site, love the community, and want everyone to have the same opportunity to enjoy DVDTalk that they did.
Lastly, moderators are part of a team -- one that confers internally on difficult issues, before acting. Often, as recently, that action begins with a post that is against the site's rules and TOS; the member is apprised of the violation, perhaps warned or suspended, and the issue is done with. If the member continues to violate policy, or worse, exacerbates the situation by calling out the moderator in the public forums rather than handling the situation through PM, more extreme action is called for. In one recent instance, after long deliberations, a 3-month suspension was called for.
This is a drawn-out way of saying: Be Nice. The moderator team is here to help everyone enjoy DVDTalk. The more we help them do their job, the less of a job they will have to do, and the more we can all enjoy this passionate community.
Best,
Paul O'Brien
Community Manager
