State of the Board - April 3, 2014

[Trunk]

A few things...

 

A SHIFT in MODERATION APPROACH (Mods just a little, Admin more)

I've come to the realization that occasionally more aggressive moderation is necessary in order to maintain a more friendly board atmosphere. This forum started with just a few people who already e-knew each other... At that point, there was *no* moderation, none really necessary and it was just really wide open. And I think that staff, at all levels... well, we've just been a very open, kind, forgiving sort and you'd just about have to burn the place down (which has happened a few times) before you'd get suspended/banned (and often times, even at those extremes, that wouldn't even happen, lol).

 

That approach just doesn't work with a forum this size; as it's grown it's become more chaotic... the more aggressive elements take root and the kinder souls stop posting, leave, or never join at all.

 

So, solutions. Basically the moderators will be doing mostly the same job they always have been, with some minor encouragement to occasionally (as appropriate to the situation) be more aggressive with warnings, suspensions, bans. I've emphasized with moderators to "do what you think is right given the situation". Of course moderators will still be following rules and principles foundational to TTBs, but there's also an acknowledgement that the mod situations vary endlessly so they also need to be able to apply their own judgement within the rules to those unique situations.

 

Realize that each moderator is different (we're human, y'know)... though we hope for some broad consistency, we *never* promise. These are all unique human interaction situations and we're all making calls as best we can. Admins do our best to choose *kind* discerning moderators: there's no attempt to change moderators into, ... I dunno, ... something they are not.

 

We've also implemented "immediate temporary suspensions". Sometimes, when a mod situation is reported, members will be suspended immediately (temporarily). It takes time to discuss and sort out a mod situation and this allows mods to stop the chaos while they sort things out, then apply more resolute action after a decision is reached.

 

I guess the main change is with me, and with how I see the role of admin. I'm taking a stronger role to sometimes employ quick-to-ban action, at admins prerogative. My view is that there are often just a few people who are basically too aggressive such that the safe space to discuss the delicate issue of one's spirituality is lost. Some times those people have been allowed to stay on the board for just way too long. Other times a member will show up and it's immediately clear that they're just here to cause trouble, not contribute quality, and I intend to take more immediate action to "nip in the bud" those situations (rather than let it go on endless months to maybe eventual longer suspensions, maybe ban - or maybe never ban, lol). Those situations are what I want to remedy; that's the safer space I want to foster... even though I know it's not entirely possible on an open internet forum, and still I want to leave room for a variety of people and for lively debate... but I feel that, just sometimes, with 1 or 2 or 3 people gone, the whole atmosphere changes. So, as admin, I'm more apt to sometimes jump in and take those actions than I have been before. This is a process that I'm continuing to navigate, issues I'm sorting out. It's been a long road.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

Zanshin is moving from moderator back to steward of the Healing Circle. Thank you! for your help, Zanshin!

 

Yascra has joined as an additional Lobby steward. (Chang has been on his own there and it's one of the busier steward positions.) Welcome, Yascra!

 

We have a new I Ching section under Taoist Discussion. Why-oh-why didn't we have that from the beginning??!!!? Well, it's here now.

 

 

Thank you, everyone, for your patience... and for your quality contributions to this discussion forum.

 

- Trunk

[steve]

Great post, Trunk.

I think your observations and proposed remedies are spot on.

I appreciate the sacrifice of time you and the moderators make to keep this board a-float.

_/\_

[Apech]

Thanks for setting up the I Ching forum and thanks to everyone who moderates for your time and effort.

[BaguaKicksAss]

Thank you very much to the mods for modding, so I don't have to... .

 

Seriously though, thanks for sticking it out, not an easy job.

 

And the iching section!

Edited April 3, 2014 by BaguaKicksAss

[Harmonious Emptiness]

So like, basketball rules instead of hockey rules?

 

Travelling = Consecutive off topic posts

Goal tending = disrespecting points of view without giving adequate reason as to why

Foul = personal attacks

Out of bounds = topic derail with persistent negativity

Double dribble = too many new topics on same subject

 

And when things go wrong, I guess the offending party will either sit on the bench, or the mods could throw the question at hand up in the air and let them try again according to the rules, or this case, good forum decorum?

[Trunk]

So like, basketball rules instead of hockey rules?

Not a bad analogy.

 

p.s.

Even some things that haven't been overtly against the rules (i.e., overly sexy gifs) might be simply hidden (maybe a little stricter in the office).

[Captain Mar-Vell]

...

I'd just like to say thank you to everyone involved in running this forum.

...

[Yascra]

Aye, thank you for that clear statement. And thanks for welcoming me

 

I have to say that actually I'm more sorry for a development that makes such a shift necessary... but without a doubt it's difficult if people show up just to cause trouble, so there has to be some way to deal with that attitude.

Let's hope that times might change and things might smoothen out to some degree.

 

I'd like to say a Thank You to everybody who's investing their time and energy to keep up this place here and contribute to create an atmosphere for positive exchange, that means Mods and Tech and Admin, and whomever I might have forgot.

Good to have you here

[soaring crane]

WTG Trunk, and all the rest of you mod-squadders! You all really do a tremendous job and most all of us appreciate it :-)

[Brian]

WTG Trunk, and all the rest of you mod-squadders! You all really do a tremendous job and most all of us appreciate it :-)

Solid.

This seemed almost obligatory.

Edited April 3, 2014 by Brian

[RiverSnake]

With these changes and the giving of more authority to moderators, one thing I'd like to request is that when some is suspended (temporarily or for however long) or banned that the moderator log be updated at the same time that it is done as well as the reasons given that such action was taken.

 

Thus, there is a sense off open-ness in regards to this kind free style moderation. Would like to hear others thoughts on this?

 

My 2 cents, Peace

Edited April 4, 2014 by OldChi

[ralis]

Where are the moderation logs? I have an old link that is not updated.

[Trunk]

.. one thing I'd like to request is that when some is suspended (temporarily or for however long) or banned that the moderator log be updated at the same time that it is done as well as the reasons given that such action was taken.

 

Thus, there is a sense off open-ness ...

You're right. We're *supposed* to post in the moderation logs section already... but sometimes we (including me personally, plus I am responsible for directing the team, so twice me, lol)... Sometimes after: getting the mod report, discussing it, coming to a decision, posting publicly in-thread, posting in the appropriate spots in the (private) moderator dungeon ... sometimes after all that I've gone, "ppffftt, I'm tired, gonna do other things in my life", lol. But, yup, we should be doing that already and your comment is a good reminder to be better at it.

[RiverSnake]

You're right. We're *supposed* to post in the http://thetaobums.com/forum/165-moderation-logs/]moderation logs section[/url] already... but sometimes we (including me personally, plus I am responsible for directing the team, so twice me, lol)... Sometimes after: getting the mod report, discussing it, coming to a decision, posting publicly in-thread, posting in the appropriate spots in the (private) moderator dungeon ... sometimes after all that I've gone, "ppffftt, I'm tired, gonna do other things in my life", lol. But, yup, we should be doing that already and your comment is a good reminder to be better at it.

Cool, sounds like good stuff. For the record, In the past.......I have had to take up disciplinary positions in organizations I was part of as well.

 

Thus......I understand how difficult it can be for many moderators on the forum, dealing with people in this fashion. It can be a very taxing ordeal....emotionally and psychologically. It sucks to have to deal out the hurt and mold and decipher the best course of action to take.

 

I give great thanks for all of the Bums whom have taken up the challenge of being leaders and stewards in this forum. The Tao Bums is a place of learning and sharing that is worth preserving. May you continue to grow as powerful and wise emperors, constructively guiding the course of policy in this site. Blessings!!

 

 

http://dreadgod.net/the-emperor/

 

My 2 cents, Peace

Edited April 4, 2014 by OldChi

[thelerner]

What members should learn from this is that there is a little less rope and a little less tolerance for rudeness, insults and trolling. Before you post in anger or indignation, think twice and err on the side of civility.

 

We don't want to stifle lively discussion, speak your truth but stay within the bounds of our forums rules and decor.

[Trunk]

I think important to repeat what I just mentioned in another thread:

Moderators' role is staying essentially the same, with only minor adjustment. They will still be careful, methodical, ruling by consensus, mostly along the rules and basic patterns of mod'ing ... with some significant but still modest allowance for "just doing the right thing" within the spirit of the board. All of those components keep the moderators working pretty much as they have been in the past.

Admin's role is the one that is changing considerably, with the ability to step in occasionally with quick-to-ban or other action to protect the atmosphere of the board. Here's how I foresee (and hope) it will work out in the short and long run, a quote of mine from a private conversation:

While there was immediately a number of bans by me, my guess is that the result will be - in the longer term - less admin involvement. I think by infrequent admin action of efficiently getting rid of the *very* *few* real trouble-makers that the general level of negativity will be greatly diminished... so that the moderators can be left alone more to manage a more manageable board, and that the admin can leave for more extended periods of time.

How things actually progress, we'll have to see.

[zerostao]