Current Events > Would you prefer the moderators to actively search out violations?

(+) Yeah! (+)

First, let me state for the record that this poll will in no way alter the way we (the mods) do business on this site. It's not a poll that's been suggested by any other moderator or administrator. This is just something that I've been wondering for a while.

So, in short, as I'm sure most - if not all - of you know, moderators handle marked messages from a queue. That's something that we've said time and time again on many boards. Along with that is the general guideline of "if it's not marked, then we probably don't need to act on it." That was sort of spelled out in SBAllen's Terms of Use Update topic seen here: https://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/6-gamefaqs-announcements/61332382.

Under the current system, mods are encouraged to overlook most "minor" infractions when browsing the boards. With trolling and flaming, for example, we can just look the other way for the time being until we're normally going to be in the queue or until another mod is working the queue and handles it. This falls under the "does this post somehow interrupt the conversation at hand" concept in the topic above. If it doesn't interrupt, why should we step in? We can and are encouraged to handle things that we find of an offensive of "illegal" nature on the spot - or at least make sure that we mark those posts ourselves, so another mod will get to them.

However, it seems that users get upset when a post/topic is deleted, and similar posts/topics stay and understandably so. I often see users state that we - the mods - should be more aggressive with finding violations and deleting them. That because we have volunteered and been chosen as mods, it is our responsibility to seek these things out, and the user is under no obligation to report.

I've put together a list of what I think are some of the pros and cons of tracking down violations.

Pros:
Potentially "cleaner" boards with fewer posts slipping through the cracks..
Less obligation on the users' side to find marks.

Cons:
Larger moderation staff would be required, and this would potentially lead to more inconsistency with handling marks and interpreting the rules.
Innocuous posts on smaller boards that had been allowed in the past would now be deleted, leading to an increase in moderation/upset users.

There may be some others, but I think those are the general arguments for and against the idea of moderators basically acting on their own.

So... thoughts?
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Yep. You guys are mods for a reason. I'm tired of seeing topics getting bombed while similar ones stay up.
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i think the mods should stop being dweebs and take context/audience/etc into account when they mod instead of going down a checklist of offenses and saying "yup, this contains point #17 on the TOS! better mod it!"
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This will go amazing.
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No, mods are inconsistent enough as it is, and extremely left leaning. Make the mod group smaller, only work on what's in the queue.

We already have groups of losers that mass mark people they don't like such as goathief/the fam.

The answer is no.
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you already do that
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Freddie_Mercury posted...

you already do that

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Yes. I think that might give the impression of more consistency.
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No

SJWs know this very well: if you look for something that offends you, you will find it
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It currently takes eons for mods to respond to disputes. I don't think stretching the mods any thinner is a good idea.
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gmo7897 posted...

we can just look the other way for the time being until we're normally going to be in the queue

@Error1355 remember when I said if enough people marks a post then it'll be against the ToS no matter what? Yeah boy GOTCHA!
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UrethaFranklin posted...

and extremely left leaning.

I always laugh when I see this. Especially considering how the extremely left leaning users feel about me... <_<
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I think only mod if marked and instead of modding you set an auto response that called whoever marked it a punk ass bitch.
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"It's only moddable if it is marked" is a horrible logic. Where the fuck did you guys get this?
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Asherlee10 posted...

Veggeta_MAX posted...

"It's only moddable if it is marked" is a horrible logic. Where the fuck did you guys get this?

Why is that horrible logic? Do you want mods running around moderating everything under the sun? Half of CE would be gone.

Because somethings needs to be quickly modded without having to go through the queue. I'm sure you know and seen these kind of topics.
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I would prefer having the ability to contest mods fairly as a result of being trolled by mods I've lost my priv to even contest anymore.

GF will basically just silence you if you disagree it's authoritarian to the max.
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No matter what the final result is, the vote is going to be relatively close. Leave it the way it is. If it ain't broke don't fix it
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I don't think you need to be more aggressive. You just need to enforce the rules evenly, regardless of your political bias. Either delete both topics on opposite ends of the spectrum, or leave them. Personally, I'd rather you leave them both alone.

"Offensive" moderations are the biggest bullshit about this site. There's no definition or consistency, it's just the mod's whim.
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Unify criteria. Some mods are total tools some are actually sharp.
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How about yall start by taking yourselves less seriously instead? You clean up the shit that bubbles up from most bottom of the barrel gaming forum online today for free. Hardly something to feel any sense of pride about
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ZombiePelican posted...

How about yall start by taking yourselves less seriously instead? You clean up the shit that bubbles up from most bottom of the barrel gaming forum online today for free. Hardly something to feel any sense of pride about

Talk your shit but I bet if I triggered the fuck out of you you'll be crying about how toxic this place is and how the mods don't do anything about trolls.
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ZombiePelican posted...

How about yall start by taking yourselves less seriously instead? You clean up the shit that bubbles up from most bottom of the barrel gaming forum online today for free. Hardly something to feel any sense of pride about

This would get modded under the new regime
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At least go after those who spread false infromation aggressively.

tbh, yes.

also idk why people getting frustrated at you guys should even matter tbh
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No.

If it's not marked, there's no need to delete it.

If a mod "stumbles across" a lewd post, then fine, delete it appropriately. But there is absolutely no reason to patrol every single post just..."fishing" for something to mod.
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there is an interesting pattern about the type of people complaining about mod "bias." they're typically the insecure trolls who turn to shit posting every time they get in their feelings instead of bowing out gracefully, but also somehow think they're justified in escalating.

because so many aren't socially mature enough to handle conversations about real life, you make internet strangers have to do parenting just to make up for your lack of self awareness and control.

with that said, mixed feelings. I don't want mods actively going through people's post to be the "norm." but something reserved for the seemingly incorrigible. I remember marked message accuracy(MMA) turning people into bigger trolls and snitches alike, lol. was too much.
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thelovefist posted...

Freddie_Mercury posted...

you already do that

But fucking this seriously. Some moderators mod you and then go through your post history to dig whatever they can to further punish you.

@Burgess come confirm or deny this
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If a mod post in a topic that should signify the topic is not a violation. Likewise if a mod is quoting a post.
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gmo7897 posted...

However, it seems that users get upset when a post/topic is deleted, and similar posts/topics stay and understandably so.

I feel like most of the people that get mad over this are usually the ones that constantly break the rules and have their messages deleted. Then they cry about it when they see another post stay up, for what they perceive to be the same infraction, but it's usually milder compared to theirs and they're just looking for the attention.

The rule is fine how it is. Some people are just drama queens.
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"actively seek out"?

No.

I think if a mod is reading a thread and normally encounters a violation that is not marked, they should delete it, however.
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Veggeta_MAX posted...

Talk your s*** but I bet if I triggered the f*** out of you you'll be crying about how toxic this place is and how the mods don't do anything about trolls.

Nah,that's what the ignore list is for
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Veggeta_MAX posted...

thelovefist posted...

Freddie_Mercury posted...

you already do that

But fucking this seriously. Some moderators mod you and then go through your post history to dig whatever they can to further punish you.

@Burgess come confirm or deny this

Did you ever think that maaaaaybe it's the fact that your post history isn't private so literally anybody could go through and mark all your shit?

I know it's not as fun and tin foiley of a theory but sometimes life works that way.
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I don't get why people say strict modding is what's killing the boards

If you look back over the past year there have been tons of very good posters who left CE because it's too negative and full of trolls. not just one person but a bunch of people have said / done this. if anything is killing CE it's the stuff making those people leave which is due to too lenient moderation, not too strict
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Trigg3rH4ppy posted...

Did you ever think that maaaaaybe it's the fact that your post history isn't private so literally anybody could go through and mark all your shit?I know it's not as fun and tin foiley of a theory but sometimes life works that way.

This what at a time people's post history was made public.
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I'm not against the leniency of how things are going. As always, I'm against the inconsistency and the obvious bias impartial bullshit some mods pull.
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No

however if you're in a topic and see moddable posts you should deal with them immediately.

I've seen multiple mods get called out in topics for not doing anything and their response it "well I'm not on the clock right now"
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WizardPowers posted...

I've seen multiple mods get called out in topics for not doing anything and their response it "well I'm not on the clock right now"

This. And then there are times when the mod is objectively triggered by said post so they go out of their way to punish the user.
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I like the idea that the boards are to a large extend self managed, rather than controlled by a small handful of mods who undoubtedly have personal biases.

And think about what it would be like as a mod to be responsible for that. You'd just spend all your time looking for things to be offended by. Not a fun experience for you guys either.
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That sounds stupid as shit

The TOS should be more lax in the first place but the people who used to run the site had to be sellouts
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The mods are not adequate at their task as it is. This would be an epic failure.
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I just want the mods to not ignore my marks completely

legend has it that there is a former mod who now spends his days haunting the halls of CE as a shit posting phantom.
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