When will the CMODs intervene in A&A?

ohnonotgmail

As per the title. Moderation this evening in A&A has been a joke. Even more so than normal. It was so bad i reported a post by a mod. When are the CMODs going to actually do something about it?

dudara

Have you bought your concerns to the attention of the CMods?

ohnonotgmail

Well i thought this thread would do that. Its not like this is the first complaint about the moderation there.

Dial Hard

dudara wrote:

Have you bought your concerns to the attention of the CMods?

Does reporting a mod's post not do that??? Cause I did the same myself earlier.

dudara

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

Well i thought this thread would do that. Its not like this is the first complaint about the moderation there.

It’s better and more direct to contact the CMods via PM.

Dial Hard wrote:

Does reporting a mod's post not do that??? Cause I did the same myself earlier.

All reported posts are logged and an email notification is sent to the forum mods and the relevant CMods. There is no special treatment if the reported post was posted by a mod. Your reported post would have gone to all mods and the CMods.

CMods generally leave the running of forums to the mods, generally only stepping in when things are very busy or help is needed. If you really want to bring something to their attention, it’s best to make them directly aware.

robarmstrong

Thanks for your input dudara.

I guess what ohnonotgmail is trying to get at (forgive me, I'm not looking to put words in mouths here) - when we reported this particular moderator's post in this thread for X reason, this moderator appears to be the only active moderator on that particular forum, what is stopping them from simply not actioning it? Would it be logical for me to suggest that someone else other than this particular moderator would have to review that report?

I mean for example, if I reported a post you made, are you disallowed from having any interaction with that report?

dudara

robarmstrong wrote: »

I mean for example, if I reported a post you made, are you disallowed from having any interaction with that report?

The only thing stopping me from acting on that report would be my own self-imposed boundaries. Boards does not have automatic mechanisms that filter or workflow reported posts to certain people based on who was the author of the reported posts.

I took a quick look through that thread, and right now, my gut instinct is to ask all parties involved to step back and let tempers cool. This can be reviewed tomorrow when everyone is calmer on the matter. The thread is closed for now.

Calina

dudara wrote: »

The only thing stopping me from acting on that report would be my own self-imposed boundaries. Boards does not have automatic mechanisms that filter or workflow reported posts to certain people based on who was the author of the reported posts.

I took a quick look through that thread, and right now, my gut instinct is to ask all parties involved to step back and let tempers cool. This can be reviewed tomorrow when everyone is calmer on the matter. The thread is closed for now.

That isn't going to be adequate I think, dudara. Moderation of that thread has been sadly lacking in respect of one poster who appears to be subject to lower posting standards than most others in that thread. Moderator has made it clear they will only act on reported posts only but accused another poster of calling on users to spam the moderators when he asked for people to report. I recognise the subject is contentious but the moderator is demanding standards from some posters - ie asking them to provide statistical support for a claim they did not make that are simply not required of other posters. Plus, to be blunt, I never needed reported posts to pull posters up on low quality posts.

Moderation has been problematic in one particular thread for some time, not just since last night. I personally am very frustrated - even the assorted AH threads on the subject were better moderated. Mod also referred to Brexit as a comparison of threads where fevers run high, but I do not think that many posts tolerated from one particular user as posted to A&A lately would be tolerated either on Brexit or Trump threads.

As an ex-mod, I recognise a pile on is deeply unpleasant for a mod, but also as an ex-mod, I would not have tolerated the inconsistency across posts from individual posters. I cannot and won't comment on the moderation in the forum in general but in respect of one thread it is deeply problematic, and very inconsistent. It is causing a lot of frustration amongst a high number of contributors, and for what purpose?

Neyite

Hello,
One of the posters on that thread alerted me to the issue just now.



It's a big thread so it may take a bit of time to review, along with any reported posts etc. And as luck would have it, I'm a bit swamped at work today. But I'll have a decent crack at getting my head around it this evening.


As much as I'd like to reopen the thread from a very cursory skim I did, I think it's at the point now where this needs resolution before the discussion can continue or get back on track so it's going to stay closed until this evening at least.

ohnonotgmail

You only need to look as far back as yesterday. there are enough examples in that time period alone, yesterday evening in particular.

robindch

Calina wrote: »

Moderation of that thread has been sadly lacking in respect of one poster who appears to be subject to lower posting standards than most others in that thread.

I've posted many times that the standard of posting in that thread is lower than the rest of the forum - one of the reasons why I avoid that thread myself - and that most posters are guilty of posting low-quality posts - the low-quality is not restricted to just one side.

Calina wrote: »

Moderator has made it clear they will only act on reported posts only but accused another poster of calling on users to spam the moderators when he asked for people to report.

One poster requested that "everyone report" the poster concerned:

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=110009573&postcount=188

That looks to me like a public request to spam a forum moderator.

Calina wrote: »

I recognise the subject is contentious but the moderator is demanding standards from some posters - ie asking them to provide statistical support for a claim they did not make that are simply not required of other posters.

Again, this is not accurate, as I explained in-thread:

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=110011116&postcount=217

Calina wrote: »

Plus, to be blunt, I never needed reported posts to pull posters up on low quality posts.

If forum mods had to remove every low-quality post in that thread, then the thread would shrink greatly and possibly die - both outcomes are reasonable. A+A has a rep for allowing people to post with a minimum of intervention and this apples to that thread too. However, if there's a general wish for the forum mods to remove all low-quality posts, then that can be done - though it will be done to both sides, and not just done to the opposing side - I don't recall, for example, any pro-choice posters reporting other pro-choice posters for low-quality posts, avoiding the question, using slippery language and the other forum sins which eotr is reported for - a policy which can look like using the reporting mechanism to score points against other posters.

Calina wrote: »

It is causing a lot of frustration amongst a high number of contributors, and for what purpose?

That thread is held to lower moderating standards than the rest of the forum for the reasons given. The topic in real-life, just as in A+A, generates far more heat than light and that's reflected in the heat of the discussion and the above-average number of lower-than-average quality posts.

Perhaps the solution might be a) to delete substandard posts (at the risk of annoying posters even more) and b) remove the forum charter update from last year, whereby forum mods will adjudicate on a matter of fact - so far, it's been done I think four times, and each time, it's been for something relatively minor.

ohnonotgmail

So basically it is everybody elses fault but yours?

Mark Hamill

robindch wrote: »

I've posted many times that the standard of posting in that thread is lower than the rest of the forum - one of the reasons why I avoid that thread myself - and that most posters are guilty of posting low-quality posts - the low-quality is not restricted to just one side.

So you avoid that thread and yet are confident that both sides post are of low quality standards? You've been asked before and you haven't, but can you now give examples of posts that are of low quality from the pro-choice side? I can certainly see the low quality posts from eotr, who has for what must be over a year now been soap-boxing nonsense and getting away with it. If you could give some examples of the other sides low quality posts, then maybe we might get your point (and improve our posting style)?

robindch wrote: »

One poster requested that "everyone report" the poster concerned:

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=110009573&postcount=188

That looks to me like a public request to spam a forum moderator.

You have, more than once, defended non-action against eotr in the A&A feedback thread by saying that people aren't reporting him, or not reporting him to your standards. So now when a poster reminds and encourages users to report him, that is a problem?

robindch wrote: »

Again, this is not accurate, as I explained in-thread:
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=110011116&postcount=217

King Mob simply said that harassment takes place in the US, no claim about levels, just that it happens. eotr said:

i personally don't believe the harassment is anywhere near what is being claimed within the US

King Mob asked him to substantiate that claim.
As King Mob never made any claim about the level of harassment, why is his job to supply evidence for those levels, when it is eotr who is claiming they are wrong?

robindch wrote: »

However, if there's a general wish for the forum mods to remove all low-quality posts, then that can be done - though it will be done to both sides, and not just done to the opposing side

So do it. I fail to see the issue here. If both sides are producing low quality posts, then the discussion will only improve if all of them are removed. And, absolutely, do not play favourites, no is suggesting that.
The only possible issue is that not a single other poster can tell what you are talking about when you say that all posters are doing what eotr is doing. If you can give some examples, then maybe we can all get on the same page?

robindch wrote: »

That thread is held to lower moderating standards than the rest of the forum for the reasons given. The topic in real-life, just as in A+A, generates far more heat than light and that's reflected in the heat of the discussion and the above-average number of lower-than-average quality posts.

Perhaps the solution might be a) to delete substandard posts (at the risk of annoying posters even more) and b) remove the forum charter update from last year, whereby forum mods will adjudicate on a matter of fact - so far, it's been done I think four times, and each time, it's been for something relatively minor.

Is there a substantial problem with posters being annoyed at low quality posts getting removed from all of the other threads in the A&A forum? If the abortion thread gets held to the same moderating standard as the rest of the forum, then why would you expect a substantial amount of posters to suddenly start getting annoyed?

Faith

Just to say, this is actively being looked into. It's a complicated issue requiring a lot of reading and digesting, so please be patient with us while we untangle it .

Neyite

Just popping in to say that I've been reviewing it, as has Faith, (two heads are better than one right?) and we will have a reply and resolution to this later this evening when I'm at home to post properly.

Neyite

We are working at actively changing the charter with the mods as we speak. We have discussed moderation from this point forward with the forum mods. We are working on changes to the mod team as we speak.

We are engaging with the posters on the feedback thread to find out from them how best we can help the mods create a forum that is workable and enjoyable for all users, is fair to all users and deals with issues.

robarmstrong

Neyite wrote: »

We are working at actively changing the charter with the mods as we speak. We have discussed moderation from this point forward with the forum mods. We are working on changes to the mod team as we speak.

We are engaging with the posters on the feedback thread to find out from them how best we can help the mods create a forum that is workable and enjoyable for all users, is fair to all users and deals with issues.

I can haz be mod now plez?

In all seriousness, thanks to you and the mod team in that particular forum for being so engaging and welcoming in the discussion relating to the charter & taking our feedback on board. I hope this continues as we appear to be making some good progress.

ohnonotgmail

is it possible to get this thread deleted? I appear to have opened it in error.

98q76e12hrflnk

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

is it possible to get this thread deleted? I appear to have opened it in error.

No, there is no need to hide.

ohnonotgmail

declan2693 wrote: »

No, there is no need to hide.

Who are you?