Moderating Co-Ed

[Guest082216-1]

We do allow a lot of leeway in responces in threads. related jokes. single comments, etc are common. But, there are some words and topics that are posted only to casue disruption to the thread. Those we will edit. We have learned from long expereince there are hot topic people will interject into a non-related topics for just this purpose. If we did not handle these, there would be no need to have more than one thread on the entire board. If adults woud be adults here, we would not have do this. We also do have a system to punish those who constantly violate the rules.

Originally Posted by johnnylongcaulking

For the love of grapes, don't moderate off-topic posts. Just let them play out the way they will. This is an adult website, let adults be adults and stop baby-sitting. When they start to get defamatory or openly hostile for no other reason that to be an asshole/cunt, then shut them down with a nice time-out and a private message explaining the time-out. You are honestly taking much of the joy out of this website when people can't tell slightly related jokes because it's "off-topic". FFS.

[Larrydumbass]

#22 - ECCIE Staff will go to great lengths to avoid editing, deleting, or censoring our members posts or threads...unless absolutely necessary. Forbidden topics such as underage sex, illicit drugs, bestiality, revealing personal info, medical speculation, or images not in compliance will be removed from public view. Controversial, troublesome, or objectionable posts may draw staff attention or in some cases disciplinary action, but the offending post will not be removed from the view of our membership in any but the most extreme cases. Often times you will find directions, footnotes, or other guidance from staff edited INTO posts which draw our attention. These are for the purpose of educating the readers of what is and what is not acceptable as well as informing others about how these issues have been dealt with. Members are encouraged to RTM posts which include rule infractions or objectionable material if it appears that staff has not already becomed involved with the thread or post in particular.
Note: Staff will consider a request from the original poster to remove a thread/post they have made provided it was recently posted and not replied to. As a general rule, staff will not consider such requests once a thread or post has been visible for at least 4 hours or received 2 or more replies. In these cases, a request from the OP to lock the thread is more appropriate and will receive consideration.

So you are saying it met the above standards.

[Bloodhound]

Great question Larry.

[bigdog0311]

nevermind

[CM]

#22 - ECCIE Staff will go to great lengths to avoid editing, deleting, or censoring our members posts or threads...unless absolutely necessary. Forbidden topics such as underage sex, illicit drugs, bestiality, revealing personal info, medical speculation, or images not in compliance will be removed from public view. Controversial, troublesome, or objectionable posts may draw staff attention or in some cases disciplinary action, but the offending post will not be removed from the view of our membership in any but the most extreme cases. Often times you will find directions, footnotes, or other guidance from staff edited INTO posts which draw our attention. These are for the purpose of educating the readers of what is and what is not acceptable as well as informing others about how these issues have been dealt with. Members are encouraged to RTM posts which include rule infractions or objectionable material if it appears that staff has not already becomed involved with the thread or post in particular.
Note: Staff will consider a request from the original poster to remove a thread/post they have made provided it was recently posted and not replied to. As a general rule, staff will not consider such requests once a thread or post has been visible for at least 4 hours or received 2 or more replies. In these cases, a request from the OP to lock the thread is more appropriate and will receive consideration.

So you are saying it met the above standards.

Member Larrydumbass posed a question to moderators.

We do allow a lot of leeway in responces in threads. related jokes. single comments, etc are common. But, there are some words and topics that are posted only to casue disruption to the thread. Those we will edit. We have learned from long expereince there are hot topic people will interject into a non-related topics for just this purpose. If we did not handle these, there would be no need to have more than one thread on the entire board. If adults woud be adults here, we would not have do this. We also do have a system to punish those who constantly violate the rules.

Bubba3452 indirectly answered Larrydumbass' question. His response clearly shows moderators have a very liberal approach to enforcing the forum rules. The moderators are given a lot of latitude to disregard the forum rules if they think the end justifies the means. While this liberal approach may be beneficial to maintaining order on the website as a whole, it also creates an arbitrary and subjective means of enforcing the forum rules. The arbitrary and subjective means of enforcing the rules leaves many members, such as Larrydumbass, with the impression the moderators have different standards for different members.

[Guest082216-1]

Our goal as mods is to use the Forum guidelines to ensure a free flow of information while provideing a level of order that allows people to express thmeselves as freely as possbile. We could be very strict with the rules and punish every infraction. That would quickly stifle and kill that free flow of information. Or, we could forget the rules all together and have utter chaos. We try to walk the middle ground. From experience, we know there are specific things and yes, people, who if left unattended will quickly lead us to that chaos.

We try to use the most moderate way of handling these at first and only escilate to harsher controls last. Sometimes, depending on the nature of the problem, all it takes as a simple edit and warning to the poster of what they are doing wrong and we never have a problem with that person again. If needed though, we have a point system that helps record repeat offenses. If a person over time continues to be disruptive, we can eject that person form the board.

We try to use common sinse and apply the rules with the goal of making it easier to communicate. A lot of what we do remains in the background. And, you may not see a public explanation of everything we do. Trust me, if we overstep, the owners and admin will step in and guide us back on track. But, while we allow a lot of leaway sometimes, we do our best to meet the goal of the free flow of information.

So, do you want draconian application of the rules or for us to use some common sense and try to walk the middle ground? The more liberal approch does allow for more error and sometimes uneven application of the rules. But, it also allows you to have more freedom to express yourselves. As a mod, my job would be far easier if I aggressivily applied the rules to evey infraction. But the board would be a lot less fun.

[johnnylongcaulking]

Inconsistent application of authority is what makes a free society great! Oh wait...

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree here because clearly I don't have power or authority to change how, when, where and why you do what you do. I will say that I disagree with it. Personally, I think it's silly to moderate most of the crap that gets moderated on a board dedicated to adult material topics, let them say what they have to say until it gets out of hand or puts someone in danger, physical, legal or financial.

[Wheretonow]

Traits of the Ideal Moderator:

• Impartial
• Intelligent
• Even- handed
• Thick skinned
• At least an eighth-grade-level command of English grammar, punctuation and word usage
• Courtesy
• Willingness to explain actions
• Willingness to justify actions
• Please add your own criteria

I think most of ours are missing a few...

[pyramider]

You forgot being dead.

[Wheretonow]

Originally Posted by Wheretonow

Traits of the Ideal Moderator:

• Impartial
• Intelligent
• Even- handed
• Thick skinned
• At least an eighth-grade-level command of English grammar, punctuation and word usage
• Courtesy
• Willingness to explain actions
• Willingness to justify actions
• Need to add: Tolerance
• Need to add: Modesty

I think most of ours are missing a few...

One of the things that bothers me the most about the way the board is moderated is that the moderators will apparently get a RTM, and they seem to only read that post, without any research about what may have transpired before. If you're going to issue points, at least look at enough of the thread to see what prior posts may have provoked the response.

[johnnylongcaulking]

Shit, I think you should let the Original Poster moderate on-topic vs. off-topic conversations. If anyone knows what's on-topic vs. off-topic it's the original poster.