The Heavy-Handed Moderation Has to Stop

[Tinia2]

Originally Posted by ThetaPrincess24

I agree consistency is key and needs improvement across the entire span of moderators not just in heavy traffic forums.

from what i have read on greek chat, i agree. however bear in mind that one should be careful of what you ask for. some of the best boards i have seen and been a part of had just about a zero tolerance policy for violation of tos. the moderators let threads change course and what not. but they did not let them get derailed by matters that where not part of thread or of the board. worked great to keep trolls and sock puppets off of board. and there was no such thing as personnel attacks or comments. now keeping just those two points, which are just two rather random ones, review a few threads here and picture just what they would look like. and as someone posted in another thread i believe today, the moderators, if they had to clean something up that may have been of some question (trolls not included), did communicate with poster. i should add that they did act as moderators and not posters. very rarely did they post on their own. and generally when they did, it was to start a thread or add factual information to it. and copy write laws, fair use was strictly enforced. post a line or two to explain the story and the link and then include the link.
policy was just about three strikes and you were out. warning, suspension and then banned. and while i am not sure, i have a strong feeling that ip code was recorded.
and there was no tracking of amount of time spent on board or how many postings. general posters where all equal. first time or new members were monitored, by the moderators, for several postings.

[AKA_Monet]

A little GC History is in order here per my observations:

Pre-2000 John Hammell purchased a different forum format than what is currently used--vBullentin BB. Other forums for purchase are Jelsoft and phpBB--which is free but requires some level of programming ability.

During the switch, sometime in 2003 (I think), we now use the vBulletin format. At the same time, several moderators for the boards were lost, no longer post, for whatever reasons.

Now, some organizations, like my Sorority, has policies, procedures and protocols mandating how we are to represent ourselves online as members. Through discussions with several supermoderators and moderators, we all understand how we will govern the AKA Ave. So I don't care if a newbie poster is a 2 year old Mensa in the National Academy of Sciences with 5 doctorates, if that poster asks inappropriate questions about Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. his or her post will be deleted or closed.

I will remain heavy-handed in the moderation of the AKA Ave. as long as I decide to maintain my moderation. I do not care what anyone thinks, the FACTS are that if the poster forms an inappropriate thread or post on the Ave. it will be deleted. We state that in SEVERAL places on the AKA Ave. I am sorry if someone chooses to ignore the information, but having just coming off probation on another board I frequent, folks have to "suck it up" and learn from their mistakes.

[Tinia2]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I will remain heavy-handed in the moderation of the AKA Ave. as long as I decide to maintain my moderation. I do not care what anyone thinks, the FACTS are that if the poster forms an inappropriate thread or post on the Ave. it will be deleted. We state that in SEVERAL places on the AKA Ave. I am sorry if someone chooses to ignore the information, but having just coming off probation on another board I frequent, folks have to "suck it up" and learn from their mistakes.

i have never, as i have no real reason or need to, posted within your section. i however looked at it a few times and you do make it very clear what you will do. i have no problems with that as i too have had to learn from my mistakes on other boards. one just has to make sure that you read and understand the tos. both as it is written and in spirit.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

No one is talking about how organizations moderate their own forums. I have yet to see questions of consistency with the deletion and locking of threads in the NPHC forums.

That make be true, because we all uniformly agree (NPHC organizations) that membership intake, etc. are questions that if not on the International websites, campi or local alumnae chapters, are deemed inappropriate.

However, on the other areas we frequent, such as chit chat, greek life and sometimes recruitment, we see all kinds of questions being asked, sometimes infringing on our organizational rules, legitimacy, and other silly irrelevant matters. The senior GC membership may be inconsistent in dealing with these matters.

Having more rules or standards may or may not cause folks, especially newbies to do searches. IDK? What is the pleasure of the group.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

No one is talking about how organizations moderate their own forums. I have yet to see questions of consistency with the deletion and locking of threads in the NPHC forums.

Yeah, it's consistently stupid, but I'll deal with that in my own way.

[Buttonz]

I miss the GC it was when I first started posting.

Some of you might have noticed I'm not around that much anymore. Some of it is because of how much GC has changed.

[MysticCat]

^^^ That's really how it ought to be done, Jen. Simply removing threads without explanation does nothing but raise suspicions and exactly.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by Jen

I'd appreciate a mod leaving a note in the a thread explaining why it was closed, locked, posts deleted etc. Even a simple:

"I've deleted a few posts I received complaints about that were venturing into personal attacks. Let's keep it clean because this thread has valuable information."

"This thread isn't appropriate for this forum, so I am moving it to Chit Chat."

"I'm locking this thread because I had 6 reports about the content. Certain posts may be removed and the thread re-opened shortly. Thanks for your patience."

"I am closing and pinning this thread to highlight the information it contains."

"I will be moving this thread to mod corner for clean up and it will return shortly. I've decided to move it to mod corner so other mods can help sort out the issues in this thread to remove any bias I may have."

That way posters will know what's going on and that other posters and members of GC were complaining and it's not just the mod serving their own personal agenda by erasing or deleting what THEY don't like.

yes, yes, yes!!

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Jen

That way posters will know what's going on and that other posters and members of GC were complaining and it's not just the mod serving their own personal agenda by erasing or deleting what THEY don't like.

This is what bothers me the most; there's a whole lot of discretion left to the moderators, and, while there are a few who do a great job, there are some who go a bit too far.

For example, what amounts to a "personal attack" depends on the forum involved. Some moderators will take out anything amounting to an attack, while others will delete posts with profanity, leaving personal attacks that have "clean" language, or worse, leaving posts that contain racist/sexist language. There are posters who are publically admonished on the boards for their conduct, while others (BA, for example), go on for months attacking others. Some posters have their posts deleted quickly, while others are allowed a lot more leeway in their posting. It just doesn't make a lot of sense.

As for the Recruitment forums - I've tended to stay away because they are sorority-slanted, and as a fraternity member, I'm not exactly an expert on sorority recruitment. But, in my limited reading of the forums, I notice a lot of removal of honest assessments, leaving people with purely aspirational "You go get em!" posts. While some may see a perfect world where everyone gets a bid, and where every parent/friend/rushee is understanding of the process, that's not the way it is. A little honesty, harsh as it may sound, could go a long way to saving people from future disappointment. As more and more parents come to the board for advice on how to deal with their children's recruitment, they could use some honest advice as well.

Look, I understand moderating can be a pain in the neck, and I'm sure we all appreciate the work of those who do a good job. But, no one is forcing people to be moderators, and if you don't want to put work into it, you might as well try to do a good job of it.

[Tinia2]

Originally Posted by Jen

I'd appreciate a mod leaving a note in the a thread explaining why it was closed, locked, posts deleted etc. Even a simple:

"I've deleted a few posts I received complaints about that were venturing into personal attacks. Let's keep it clean because this thread has valuable information."

"This thread isn't appropriate for this forum, so I am moving it to Chit Chat."

"I'm locking this thread because I had 6 reports about the content. Certain posts may be removed and the thread re-opened shortly. Thanks for your patience."

"I am closing and pinning this thread to highlight the information it contains."

"I will be moving this thread to mod corner for clean up and it will return shortly. I've decided to move it to mod corner so other mods can help sort out the issues in this thread to remove any bias I may have."

That way posters will know what's going on and that other posters and members of GC were complaining and it's not just the mod serving their own personal agenda by erasing or deleting what THEY don't like.

Originally Posted by KSigkid

This is what bothers me the most; there's a whole lot of discretion left to the moderators, and, while there are a few who do a great job, there are some who go a bit too far.

For example, what amounts to a "personal attack" depends on the forum involved. Some moderators will take out anything amounting to an attack, while others will delete posts with profanity, leaving personal attacks that have "clean" language, or worse, leaving posts that contain racist/sexist language. There are posters who are publically admonished on the boards for their conduct, while others (BA, for example), go on for months attacking others. Some posters have their posts deleted quickly, while others are allowed a lot more leeway in their posting. It just doesn't make a lot of sense.

As for the Recruitment forums - I've tended to stay away because they are sorority-slanted, and as a fraternity member, I'm not exactly an expert on sorority recruitment. But, in my limited reading of the forums, I notice a lot of removal of honest assessments, leaving people with purely aspirational "You go get em!" posts. While some may see a perfect world where everyone gets a bid, and where every parent/friend/rushee is understanding of the process, that's not the way it is. A little honesty, harsh as it may sound, could go a long way to saving people from future disappointment. As more and more parents come to the board for advice on how to deal with their children's recruitment, they could use some honest advice as well.

Look, I understand moderating can be a pain in the neck, and I'm sure we all appreciate the work of those who do a good job. But, no one is forcing people to be moderators, and if you don't want to put work into it, you might as well try to do a good job of it.

^^^^^^^^agree with both of the above postings.

[Tom Earp]

What is funny, as much as I have been maligned on this site, I only deleted one post when actually I should have just deleted a certain part of it as in a persons name. That alway bothered me.

But, I did have the courtesy to PM the person and the reason why.

When John asked me about a super Mod situation, I suggested to him it not be from people/mods on site but outside moderators. Well that did not proof out did it?

Now, there is problems in the ranks of not only members but Mods and I do now wonder why.

Have a great day!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

When John asked me about a super Mod situation, I suggested to him it not be from people/mods on site but outside moderators. Well that did not proof out did it?

Tom, this situation has NOTHING to do with the people who are supermods or the concept of supermods in general. Don't drag them into it, that's not what they are for.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Jen

I'd appreciate a mod leaving a note in the a thread explaining why it was closed, locked, posts deleted etc. Even a simple:

"I've deleted a few posts I received complaints about that were venturing into personal attacks. Let's keep it clean because this thread has valuable information."

"This thread isn't appropriate for this forum, so I am moving it to Chit Chat."

"I'm locking this thread because I had 6 reports about the content. Certain posts may be removed and the thread re-opened shortly. Thanks for your patience."

"I am closing and pinning this thread to highlight the information it contains."

"I will be moving this thread to mod corner for clean up and it will return shortly. I've decided to move it to mod corner so other mods can help sort out the issues in this thread to remove any bias I may have."

That way posters will know what's going on and that other posters and members of GC were complaining and it's not just the mod serving their own personal agenda by erasing or deleting what THEY don't like.

I think you have a good idea, Jen. I've tried to do this when possible via PM, but I'm sure that I've dropped the ball more than once. It would serve as a good standard for the mods.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by Jen

I'd appreciate a mod leaving a note in the a thread explaining why it was closed, locked, posts deleted etc. Even a simple:

"I've deleted a few posts I received complaints about that were venturing into personal attacks. Let's keep it clean because this thread has valuable information."

"This thread isn't appropriate for this forum, so I am moving it to Chit Chat."

"I'm locking this thread because I had 6 reports about the content. Certain posts may be removed and the thread re-opened shortly. Thanks for your patience."

"I am closing and pinning this thread to highlight the information it contains."

"I will be moving this thread to mod corner for clean up and it will return shortly. I've decided to move it to mod corner so other mods can help sort out the issues in this thread to remove any bias I may have."

That way posters will know what's going on and that other posters and members of GC were complaining and it's not just the mod serving their own personal agenda by erasing or deleting what THEY don't like.

While agree that SOMETIMES leaving a note as to the moderation of the thread is fair, other times, I am not going to explain why certain rituals and secretive information will be deleted without question and without explanation, like I had just had to yesterday for the second time.

And, as a matter of fact, my actions are sanctioned from my International HQ. They are telling us and my sorority sisters that ANY electronic discussion of information regarding ritual or secrets are verboten. So, I am attempting to comply to the rules. Most of the super-mods agree and understand that as the information from my HQ was given to them by me.

As such, if searched and found by my echelon of members, John could get in trouble for it... And no one wants that to happen.

So, at best, if it violates our TOS and POW announcements, it will be either closed or deleted without question and we do not need to provide explanation. If the poster repeats it, both AKA2D'91 and I will recommend banishment for harassment. It is about protecting everyone here with comfortable, respectful discourse, sharing of opinions and hopefully a learning process...

[Tippiechick]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

As such, if searched and found by my echelon of members, John could get in trouble for it... And no one wants that to happen.

I doubt John cares about getting in trouble with some members... Although I do agree about keeping ritual info unexplained.