Address MOD Questions....?
 

"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"

-------------------------------

Hey Paul, thanks for the definition of what a "Mod" does and how awesome they are (I do appreciate their generosity with their time). I was just curious why you didn't leave the thread open for discussion?

Should this be out of line, please feel free to delete the post. However, I think there might be a few people (maybe more) that may have more specific questions that need addressing.

It may help bring clarity to the community to do so in a public manner.

Just my two cents.....

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Can wait for the irony of this thread being locked

Edit to add that I think some clarity would help a ton.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

With the lock comes clarity, perhaps.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Some of the mods have too much abuse of what they think their job is in this community.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

I'll prolly get banned for asking a question.....

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

I would say that stifling open and honest discussion in an attempt to "sweep things under the rug" is REALLY going to work to the detriment of the community, many of whom have spent years here helping to build up this forum.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

I think some of the mods occasionally make mistakes similar to what I and other parents do. I can get very frustrated with my daughter, her occasional bouts of arguing or rule-bending getting me worked up to the point where I'm a bit too quick to wield my power over her. I give out punishments or rule interpretations just to put her in her place and make me feel 'in charge'; instead of loving her and making sure her viewpoint is considered.

Probably didn't word that as well as it perfectly makes sense in my mind, but hopefully at least one of you can see my point.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Might also helped if a few more paying members chimed in, as opposed to moochers like myself. That may make a difference.

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I'd pay if I got more than an avatar and access to a dead zone.....

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Johnny Smith?!?!

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

I know you were just joking, but I don't think the ~$200 a year they get from us in total entitles us to much influence.

Who watches the Watchmen? No one; even talking about them or their stupid decisions is illegal.

The natives are restless.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Just got caught up on this whole thing. I'm sure this thread will be locked or removed. But if the decision is 3 months off, then I'll take 3 months off in solidarity, starting now. See you all on 9/11.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

No, don't go! You are crucial to the Otter forum. It'd be like if Hulk left the Avengers or Lisa disappeared from the Simpsons!

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Interesting. I wonder what would happen to this place if half of the top posters took 3 months off, it would be a stale ghost town.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

The statement by Paul has some internal inconsistencies. If a mod warns you about something in a thread and you think that warning is unjust, you are supposed to email them. The very next sentence says you cannot attack or harass a mod via email. That's a darn fine line between "you should email them if you feel you've been treated unjustly" and "don't email them lest they interpret your objection to what you view as unjust treatment to be an attack/harassment".

Then it says that once a member has been warned/suspended, the situation is over. But then it says they should discuss over PM.

If I'm a warned or suspended member who feels unjustly treated, and I want to discuss the issue, this post doesn't really give me much guidance. On the one hand, it tells me to do that discussion in private, but then it says I can be punished for doing so.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

If you hadn't noticed, it's been losing activity (at least in the forums I mostly visit, Otter and Sports) for quite some time now.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Wait, what?

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

http://i.imgur.com/3ajkQLo.gif

Marry me....?

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

From what I've heard they frequently ignore emails too so it's pretty much up to the whims of that mod to do as he pleases if he doesn't like someone.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Maybe we're not praying enough? Where's moviefan2k4 when we need him?

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

This is the exact reason all the Tarantini pictures got posted.
People are left to act in a way that does get a response.

Since no one will respnd to the emails and then the emails get you in Trouble anyway it becomes a paradox.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

I just got a suspension warning via PM from exactly who I would have suspected and it was threatening in it's very demeanor. What are the suspension/ban protocols, or can someone (even a mod or admin) just send a threatening PM at their whim....?

I assume this place is trying to run things professionally, but is this acceptable/professional moderation:

Title of PM: "I assume you're looking for a suspension?"

Body of PM:"All the REDACTED stuff you're doing will have you joining him if that's your goal."

What kind of passive/aggressive threat is this, and exactly how am I supposed to interpret this? We're not little children (although we have tendencies to act like it at times).

Fine, I'll abide and stop referencing a banned member via protocol, but what the fuck is IB's protocol with regards to threatening PMs sent by other members/moderators....?

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

fixed

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Also...how come we don't have any female mods? Are the penises afraid of the [edit]? Or do we already have some [edit] playing around in the pool of penises.

I've got nothing to add really. Seriously though I wouldn't actually mind having a serious sit down type of discussion about what this thread exists for. Clarity is awesome.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

For the longest time there has been a rule about not discussing [BANNED] members because they cannot answer back. To some extent that has been the case with suspended members, also, although clearly there are ways of having one's say on/regarding a forum from which one has ostensibly been temporarily prevented from posting.

I can't recall a time when a mod has posted details of private correspondence - although from time to time I have tentatively suggested that harassed members of the moderating team should be allowed to post some of the messages that are sent their way just to illustrate the nonsense they have to deal with.

I'm not going to go through the rights and the wrongs of this current situation but it seems to me that we are sometimes damned if we do and damned if we don't.

What I would remind fellow members is that none of us are not on here 24/7, we are not monitoring our email boxes full-time and that it would be nice if it was understood that conversations on the mod forum themselves do take some time. That is just how it is with volunteers.

I've lost track of the number of times during the past decade that particularly vocal members have called me out when I've said words to the effect that I need to consult with fellow mods and that I would appreciate it if they could give me the time to get on with this. Receiving message after message demanding immediate and conciliatory responses from someone who is clearly not reading what you have already taken the time to send out by way of an interim response can be... dispiriting.

Anyway, I can only say that things are not as black and white as some may decide they are and that considerable efforts are made to put personal opinions to one side and try to keep members on board and within the rules; ideally without suspension and with a BAN only in extreme circumstances. It ain't always easy, that's for sure :(

<font color=blue>To the previous poster: am I missing something? Your question appears to be phrased in the worst possible way. And we have had and do still have a female presence on the moderating team although for how much longer could be in some doubt.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

You've always been straight up with me on previous suspensions.....


:up:

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Benedict, I understand that and all of us here do appreciate the work you all do to keep order around here.

I can only speak for myself though in saying I have never sent anything to a mod that I can remember
But if I was suspended for anything I would hope to have a fair response if I did send an email
To a mod. I think this is the major issue here.
No fair and reasonable responses from mods to those who are suspended most recently and notably Tatantini.

It comes across as petty and " I'm the mod so what I say goes and that's the end of that and if you ask me again you'r banned."

I don't say this is you Benedict but it appears this has happened to suspended people.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Snake thereis at least one female Admn/mod.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

I believe you are supposed to send a PM to another Mod to ask for help on your behalf if you believe a Mod just threatened you, and NOT reply to the same Mod who did it. That is considered harassment and they can ban you for asking for clarification.

Honestly, moderating the Other Forum seems like a stressful job (one that I would not want to do). It does sorta sound like a Mod may be getting burned out a bit. I think everyone looking at this impartially would agree. It stands to reason that even mods can fall victim to internet-rage.

Do the mods themselves have a policy for this? Perhaps a vacation to a lesser part of the board may be a good idea? I dunno... but maybe something I'd do if in the same situation.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Sarcasm, man. I'm weirded out though. I don't even think I know who you are. We probably haven't even crossed paths. Weird that someone would take my nonsense seriously, lol.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

I volunteer to be a mod. Pussy power! :D

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Lesser part of the board? Like what? Book talk? Lol.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

I've never had a problem with any mods in my 10 years here. Only one PM that I can recall, about an old avatar picture, and the mod was really cool about it.

My main issue here is a lack of communication. If you leave us to assume the worst, we will.

I think a good moderator is like a good sports ref/umpire: keep the peace, enforce the rules, but never make it personal.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Has benedict always been an admin? Thought he was a mod.

If that is a new development, it gets a big :up: from me. As a longtime MusicTalk poster he has always handled things in a fair and appropriate manner. His contributing constructively to this thread is just another example of that.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

If we are giving out mod love, then I want to pass on my appreciation for wendersfan. May he some day rule all of DVDTalk.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Nine times out of ten I think a fair response would be forthcoming within a reasonable timescale. It is not in our interest to keep people hanging on and to let a situation fester.

However, I'm not sure everyone has the full details/timeline as to what happened in the case under discussion.

I have to turn in now (gone midnight where I am) but maybe those participating could take a step back and consider whether they are getting the full picture, if they are aware of any back-story and if some credit should be given to the mod/admin involved for all the behind-the-scenes stuff he does to keep things running as smoothly as possible in sometimes difficult circumstances.

I'm not trying to be enigmatic so much as discreet but there's lots of smart people around here who could do some digging and decide how much weight they want to give to any particular version of events.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

Yeah, those plus Supermallet are great.

Re: Address MOD Questions....?
 

We lost one!