(Site is a graveyard - How can boards save itself?) Any update?

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122554546#Comment_122554546

No need to flip it - try to run any business or charity or sports club where the 'staff' are rude and it will struggle.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122554581#Comment_122554581

I think one of the reasons posts may not be getting reported is a perception nothing happens, due to the lack of visible mod activity on the thread. The poster may have been sanctioned, or not, you don't know. For long time in CA the only visible sign of activity might be a message "Poster X threadbanned".
Other than that… posts deleted and stuff done by DM.

Multiple posters have flagged recent posts in this thread in CA, it has been 3 days and nothing has happened to content which under multiple boards rules is completely unacceptable.
I am not mentioning the poster here, but I am bringing it up as an example of why people perceive they are wasting time reporting posts.

I know the CA mods have a lot of their plate, and do trojan work but it is not an isolated incident that egregious posts are left in situ for long time despite being reported.

Have a look at the posts from 25th August 6pm or so on this thread, last page.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058317133/hamas-strike-on-israel-threadbans-in-op-mod-warning-in-op-updated-19-10-23

There's similar comment on this Help Desk thread, also reported, comments still there.
Look at 10th August 5pm.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058363766/doesnt-boards-have-a-policy-about-hate-speech#latest

Smee_Again

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122554617#Comment_122554617

Context matters.

I'm from a family business and have managed in retail, I couldn't tell you how any customers I've been "rude" to over the years but it was nearly always customers we could do without and who were ruining the experience for others.

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122554617#Comment_122554617

Ok. Nobody should be rude .

Kimbot

@odyssey06

OK I tend not to get time to Mod in CA but I know I have the permissions to do so, I will get a few minutes to go through reported posts and look after them to give the main CA guys a dig out. I seen the posts you have refereed to and will take them into acocunt when I get about 20 mins or so this afternoon.

Esel

If a mod is acting on a reported post, they should leave the post in place, delete the inappropriate content, and leave a brief statement of mod action in the post.

In this way, reporters can easily see if mod action was actually taken. Original reported post remaining as is implies no mod action.

The only reasonable exception should be if nuking a rereg troll, where all posts are normally deleted.

If you are prepared to do the mod work, that should include leaving a mod comment when action is taken.

JP Liz V1

I think there should be a general boards feedback thread here too (which doesn't get closed) as well as mod announcements thread

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122554741#Comment_122554741

OK I tend not to get time to Mod in CA but I know I have the permissions to do so

I hope to see more of this, it's as though CA in particular has fallen into this trap of eg. 'beasty etc. normally handle this forum so I'll let them keep at it' for the sake of consistency or whatever, but some of the posts in feedback lately indicate that eg. beasty etc. may be rightly taking more time off from the site lately whether from IRL or burnout so it's good of people with the permissions to come and step in, IMHO.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122554259#Comment_122554259

The point is - if you think a mod is breaking the rules in a private post - then report them like any other board member should be reported.

Tell me how

Several times on this thread, we've seen posters mention a specific lack of modding on various threads, mods have reacted and said they'd look in to it and have often come back to say action was or would be taken.

This in itself shows that a big big issue is reports aren't being seen or acted upon. If that is happening, there definitely isn't time for determining context on any given thread. This will lead to frustration and more accusations of bias as somethings are missed and more are actioned.

Sufficient mod numbers is the biggest hurdle to a functioning site. Something we've probably all known for the mast 3 years. I'd like Boards to update why it's been something they haven't managed to get a handle on in that time.

nullzero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122555024#Comment_122555024

Back and forth shouldn't be tolerated in such a thread either.

Questions are fine but people losing their tempers over suggestions or statements made by other users has tanked this thread.

Same goes for smarmy one liners designed to cause arguments, if that's your contribution to feedback you should be sitting out the thread for a day or two.

eightieschewbaccy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122555047#Comment_122555047

One minor suggestion, maybe it's worth rotating mods in from other forums. Just so long term mods don't face burnout and have more support..

Leg End Reject

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122554640#Comment_122554640

Mother of God is that trolling or genuine hate speech?

That should have attracted an accumulation of warnings (even of it was to random posts) thrown on until a permanent site ban was triggered.

Or just implanted by a mod/cmod/admin as it was mentioned earlier in the thread it's possible to do that.

Leg End Reject

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122555066#Comment_122555066

People might be reluctant to do that because the mod will see it.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122555193#Comment_122555193

This is probably not the place to discuss it in specific terms… and this thread's closure is imminent.

I mentioned it obliquely (and deliberately didn't link to the specific posts or name the poster) to reinforce perception that reporting posts is a waste of time in CA (at times).

I don't have confidence that all reports are being eyeballed within even 72 hours, whether that is lack of mods or technical issues in the reporting tools I don't know.
Not just in CA. One of the current most active threads in the Dublin City forum based on all previous moderation on the forum should not be there.

I would suggest to mods\admins reading this thread, if they get a chance, to report posts as a test in their forum and verify that the reports show up.

Given the new requirements coming in, mandatory for social media sites for hate speech etc, something will have to give with CA… more mods… closed overnight (!) … some process for escalating posts of concern wrt to the legislation that is subject to sanction if abused.

Kimbot

@odyssey06 I had a look at the posts referenced in the first thread and actioned same.

The 2nd thread was actioned already by Beasty on 11/08. I am still going through reports to try and tidy things up a bit but have issued out warning/infractions and warnings on threads in the last few minutes.

Kimbot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122555199#Comment_122555199

If people are worried about that then why not PM an Admin with the report?

Leg End Reject

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122555238#Comment_122555238

I just saw the posts today and you had already said you'd have a look. I'm not hugely political so read very few threads in CA.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122555226#Comment_122555226

Thank you for looking into that, that the warnings on threads are visible is important as I think it sets a visible standard to posters that this isn't a Wild West, and that if moderation comes their way it won't be out of the blue.

Kimbot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122555249#Comment_122555249

I like to keep things visible as much as possible but sometime there is content which could be damaging to a person that has to be removed as well so posters should keep that in mind too. Where this happens us mods should post on thread to say something along the lines of "Posts removed as they are out of line, stay on topic" and hopefully that would keep thing smother for the users.

Leg End Reject

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122555238#Comment_122555238

Sorry, I didn't check which post you quoted so my reply doesn't make sense. I thought it was the post about applying permanent site bans to hate speech.

I don't have a problem with any current mods, and I'd make no bones about it if I did.

Flaneur OBrien

Before this closes, and admin/management and hopefully owner gather somewhere to discuss the finer points raised….

…or not!

Can anything be done about notifications? My phone says I have 2 constantly, but on the laptop there's none. But when I do get a notification, there's no way to tell which one you've read as they all appear in bold, but they don't go back to normal font after you've read the notiication.

TYVM!

Spear

It's 5PM and this is now being closed as was announced.

Mike is aware, and hopefully a more formal response will be forthcoming.

Boards.ie: Odhran

Thanks for everyone's feedback on this.  It is clear that there are significant frustrations and concerns regarding the site's moderation, particularly in the Current Affairs (CA) section. I have tired to summarise the key points below in order to form a reply for discussion - hope I haven’t misses anything:

Moderation Issues: Many users have expressed dissatisfaction with the perceived lack of visible and consistent moderation. There is a concern that reported posts often go unaddressed, leading to frustration and a belief that reporting is ineffective. Some users suggest that the moderation team may be overworked, indicating a need for more moderators or better distribution of responsibilities.

Subscription Model: The idea of introducing a subscription model to deter trolls has been suggested. While some users believe a small fee could help manage the site better, others worry it would drastically reduce user engagement and traffic. A middle-ground solution proposed is a voluntary subscription with additional benefits, though concerns about its practicality remain as we have this in place already today with low adoption rates.

Moderator Behavior and Transparency: Some comments around the behavior of some moderators, with some arguing that mods, as representatives of the site, should maintain a professional demeanor akin to customer service.  Mods however are unpaid volunteers and should not have to endure abuse from users. The discussion also comments on the need for greater transparency in the reporting process, with suggestions that moderators leave visible notes on actions taken to reassure users.

Support and Burnout Among Moderators: There is an acknowledgment that long-serving moderators might be experiencing burnout. Some suggestions include rotating moderators from other forums to provide support and prevent burnout, which could improve overall site management.

Site direction: Where are we going and what’s next for boards

==================================================================

Thank you all again for your feedback and the passionate discussion in this thread. We understand that there are concerns regarding moderation, user engagement, and the overall direction of the site.

As many of you know, the transition to Vanilla was driven by the need to find a sustainable solution for hosting our community. vBulletin had become too expensive to maintain, and Vanilla offered a more cost-effective platform that allows us to keep the site running. Currently, we’re operating with a very small team—essentially one person—so resources are extremely limited. Despite these limitations, we are committed to maintaining and improving the site.  We have a call with Vanilla this week to discuss contract renewal and will know more about future direction after those discussions.

Boards and other forums like ours are competing for your time and attention against giants like Meta, TikTok, Google, X, Reddit and others. It’s a challenging environment, and it’s natural that people are spending less time on traditional forums as social media platforms continue to grow. However, we believe there is still significant value in the kind of focused, in-depth discussions that a forum like Boards.ie can offer.  That is why we keep doing our best to ensure the platform continues on into the future.

In terms of moderation, we hear your concerns. Our moderators work very hard and on a volunteer basis. Without them there is no Boards. That’s an important point - and one that should not be lost in all of this.

We are taking steps to address issues raised, including exploring ways to utilise Vanilla’s platform to help with moderation - a more shared task perhaps - but a plan that we will discuss with admins and moderators to see what is feasible.

The suggestion to rotate moderators or bring in support from other areas is also being considered to prevent burnout and ensure that we have adequate coverage, particularly in busy sections like Current Affairs. But all needs to be discussed and agreed so we will be arranging a forum to raise these topics, define the situation and agree an action plan. 

Regarding the idea of a subscription model, we are open to exploring a more robust way to collect voluntary contributions (which is in place today) that might offer some additional features or benefits, but we want to be careful not to alienate our community by forcing a subscription. Our goal is to keep the site as accessible as possible while finding ways to support its sustainability. We have done well in that regard by turning Boards from loss making to almost breakeven. Given the pressures on display ad revenue over the past few years this is very positive. 

We greatly appreciate your continued support and engagement with Boards.ie. Your input is invaluable as we navigate these challenges and work to keep the community strong. Please continue to share your thoughts and suggestions— particularly around monetisation as they are crucial in helping us make the best decisions for the future of the site.

On our side we continue in the background to work on ways to do more than just keep the lights on.

Thank you for being part of the Boards.ie community.

Odhran & Mike