Thread etiquette

[Evales]

Is it just me or are the Moderators busier then they were say a month ago?
If so maybe we should see this and use it as a way to better our adherence to the rules.

Lets not let this site become much less than it could be.

[Beto]

They're certainly busy, but just making moderator interventions doesn't accomplish anything. The cards have to come out of the pocket if players are to be compliant. There's way too much talk of "thread closure" even before several probations are issued, which I think would be the appropriate way. Closing a thread should be a last resort, with the disruptive members being held responsible, and not giving them a "victory" by ruining the debate for everyone else.

[OnceConvinced]

Yep, things have definitely deteriorated lately and the mods have been kept busy. Lately it's to do with one new member who is rubbing a lot of people up the wrong way.

I admit that I have let this person irritate me and need to show more patience and tolerance. I am going to make an extra effort to be "christian" in this situation.

[Evales]

Yes I have let people get to me and bitten back.

Part of the reason I started noticing all the mod intervention that is needed in threads.

Perhaps a warning system is needed.

3 strikes and your out, certain amount of time to work it off (ie 2 weeks to work off a strike)

[Confused]

They're certainly busy, but just making moderator interventions doesn't accomplish anything. The cards have to come out of the pocket if players are to be compliant. There's way too much talk of "thread closure" even before several probations are issued, which I think would be the appropriate way. Closing a thread should be a last resort, with the disruptive members being held responsible, and not giving them a "victory" by ruining the debate for everyone else.

First, if everyone submits to breaking the same rules, then everyone is guilty, not just the first offender.

Second, the threads that have been either closed or threaten to be closed have had a minimum of 10 moderator notes posted to multiple offenders, at different points in the threads, for essentially the same violations.

Third, how do you expect us to issue probation to any one individual when several are guilty of the same things? It doesn't matter who starts it. Several times, it has been noted to report the violations, not respond to them. Yet that is a concept that seems to have been forgotten lately. Instead, they get reported and comments are made in the threads about them.

Fourth, if you think a thread closure is a victory for anyone, then I am sorry you feel this way. But the way I see it, if back to back to back to back moderator interventions are needed for the massive amounts of reports that are being received, then I have to wonder at what point "moderating" became babysitting?

This is something that we ALL have to work on. Give us a chance to do what we are suppose to rather than adding to the problem.

[Confused]

Is it just me or are the Moderators busier then they were say a month ago?
If so maybe we should see this and use it as a way to better our adherence to the rules.

Lets not let this site become much less than it could be.

Better words could not have been written. Thank you.

[Beto]

First, if everyone submits to breaking the same rules, then everyone is guilty, not just the first offender.

I agree. But not many threads have "everyone" breaking the same rules. Why am I ignoring several forum members if the threads are closed even though I never read or respond to these offenders?

Second, the threads that have been either closed or threaten to be closed have had a minimum of 10 moderator notes posted to multiple offenders, at different points in the threads, for essentially the same violations.

When there are too many moderator interventions offenders will just assume there is no stomach for anything more serious. I suppose a sports fan will see this as more apparent. In football (soccer) if yellow cards don't start coming out, players get increasingly rough, confident the referee won't go beyond verbal admonishments. A debate forum isn't all that much different.

Third, how do you expect us to issue probation to any one individual when several are guilty of the same things?

I don't. I expect probations to be issued to those several. Again, if I'm permitted a sports analogy (getting annoying by now I suppose) both players, the first offender and the one who reacts, are punished for the mess they make.

It doesn't matter who starts it. Several times, it has been noted to report the violations, not respond to them. Yet that is a concept that seems to have been forgotten lately. Instead, they get reported and comments are made in the threads about them.

I noticed.

Fourth, if you think a thread closure is a victory for anyone, then I am sorry you feel this way.

So am I.

But the way I see it, if back to back to back to back moderator interventions are needed for the massive amounts of reports that are being received, then I have to wonder at what point "moderating" became babysitting?

Too many moderator interventions for the same individuals is precisely what I'm questioning.

This is something that we ALL have to work on. Give us a chance to do what we are suppose to rather than adding to the problem.

Well, you're supposed to enforce the rules, and rule #5 is broken ad nauseam with no moderator intervention whatsoever. This upsets people who make a genuine effort to support their arguments. From that to ad hominems and thread closure is a small step and you really can't blame people for becoming frustrated during the debate.

[Thought Criminal]

My take on this is that closing threads just allows the same people to do the same thing somewhere else. If someone's behavior is a problem, PM them. If they keep it up, put them on probation. If they still don't get it, kick them. Nothing else will work.

TC