topic Re: Newest forum rule concerns in Plusnet Feedback

Newest forum rule concerns

TORPC — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 22:19:45 GMT

[quote= http://community.plus.net/forum/index.php/topic,218.0.html#post_report]frivolous reports will be deemed abuse and subject to warning
So what some member(s) may see as offensive, to which a Moderator has a different point of view (even if the reported post is clearly breaking the rules) the Mods think its frivolous , then the reporter most likely gets a warning.
So tell me if a Moderators post gets reported for breaking the rules for say (being derogatory towards a person) (flaunting the rules) (Racist / offensive avatars) etc
Will the Moderator(s) in question be spoken to / (posts removed) or will the reporter be the one to get a warning ?
Can or will you clarify & elaborate indepth & in full, what the Moderation team means by Frivolous reports just so everyone is clear ?

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

Luzern — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 22:30:38 GMT

Frivolous is anything Queen Victoria would not be amused by. May be that's the definition to expect. Mods come on! Let's keep some humour allowed!
TBH I think it wold be more useful too curb some "rant" postings. They can be nearly abusive, just for the sake of it.

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

Jaggies — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 22:39:04 GMT

It isn't frivolous posts that are frowned upon, but frivolous "Report to moderator" usage.

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

Gus — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 00:53:12 GMT

Recent forum behaviour has prompted this change, used to be this forum was family safe, but last few months its like a bad family gathering at Christmas. So now a feature is being abused to make a mods life that bit more tiring each day.
Forum mods are volunteers, walk a mile and see how hard it is.

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

artmo — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 05:28:14 GMT

Quote from: Jaggies
It isn't frivolous posts that are frowned upon, but frivolous "Report to moderator" usage.

I understand there are a few posters who constantly use the 'Report to Mod' button. Pity they don't consider what it involves for the mods dealing with their frivolous behaviour.
The OP has only just been allowed back onto the forums and seems to want to stir things up again

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

w23 — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 06:31:38 GMT

It looks simple enough to me, if a 'Report to moderator' is deemed to be frivolous (having no serious purpose or value) then a moderator (the hard working volunteers who have to deal with such things and who, by necessity, must determine whether such reports are frivolous or not) will warn the person sending the 'Report to moderator' that the report is against the rules (presumably with some explanation as to why it's deemed frivolous). Anyone ignoring such warnings and continuing to report on the same basis may face further action.
Where's the problem?

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

Chris — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 08:02:40 GMT

Quote from: artmo
I understand there are a few posters who constantly use the 'Report to Mod' button. Pity they don't consider what it involves for the mods dealing with their frivolous behaviour.

and

Quote from: w23
It looks simple enough to me, if a 'Report to moderator' is deemed to be frivolous (having no serious purpose or value) then a moderator (the hard working volunteers who have to deal with such things and who, by necessity, must determine whether such reports are frivolous or not) will warn the person sending the 'Report to moderator' that the report is against the rules (presumably with some explanation as to why it's deemed frivolous). Anyone ignoring such warnings and continuing to report on the same basis may face further action.

That's exactly the reasoning. We've seen the same post reported 3 or more times by the same person previously, this adds a lot of work for the moderators so we discussed how to cut this down.

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

TORPC — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:07:06 GMT

Quote from: artmo

I understand there are a few posters who constantly use the 'Report to Mod' button. Pity they don't consider what it involves for the mods dealing with their frivolous behaviour.
The OP has only just been allowed back onto the forums and seems to want to stir things up again

@Artmo
Please do not accuse me of wanting to stir things up again as you are clearly coming across as being derogatory in the adjective sense
I was merely attempting to have clarity, so everyone has an understanding
I guess that if someone else asked the same question, you would not be accusing them to (to stir things up again)
@ Chris
Can you please advise
Where it is clearly stated

Quote from: TORPC
<snip>
Can or will you clarify & elaborate indepth & in full, what the Moderation team means by Frivolous reports just so everyone is clear ?

Is equal to

Quote from: artmo

<snip>
The OP has only just been allowed back onto the forums and seems to want to stir things up again

Also can you please advise on the other questions that have been missed out / ignored / overlooked / other

Quote from: TORPC
[quote= http://community.plus.net/forum/index.php/topic,218.0.html#post_report]frivolous reports will be deemed abuse and subject to warning

So what some member(s) may see as offensive, to which a Moderator has a different point of view (even if the reported post is clearly breaking the rules) the Mods think its frivolous , then the reporter most likely gets a warning.
So tell me if a Moderators post gets reported for breaking the rules for say (being derogatory towards a person) (flaunting the rules) (Racist / offensive avatars) etc
Will the Moderator(s) in question be spoken to / (posts removed) or will the reporter be the one to get a warning ?
<snip>

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

Chris — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:18:59 GMT

I'm happy to discuss the rules and any changes to them, hopefully the reasoning behind this one is now understood.

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

TORPC — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:27:48 GMT

Can you please show examples of what the moderation team may consider frivolous reports & any other appropriate clarification, in a sticky for any new members or members that do not frequent the boards as much as we do, that may not see this thread in the future as it will get pushed down the list.

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

dvorak — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:30:05 GMT

I don't think so, the remain private for a reason.
However I'm sure if anyone were to start that path a polite conversation would take place expressing the concerns of the moderation team.

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

Chris — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:31:19 GMT

Frivolous reporting of posts should be explanatory enough to not warrant examples being required. The rules are stickied in the announcements area of the forum, if anyone would clarification on them then they are welcome to ask.
From my point of view, frivolous reporting would be along the lines of the same user reporting the same post(s) multiple times or reporting without basis.

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

TORPC — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:42:46 GMT

@dvorak
you do not have to use real world / life example(s)
There is such a thing as imagination that could be used to provide examples,
Like reporting a post just because it quoted a passage from
(William Shakespeare) that the reporter does not feel comfortable seeing on n ISP forum, just because the reporter hates / dislikes William Shakespeare
@Chris
You are quoting from your one point of view (& that is ok), however one point of view is not definitive across the board
We all get the report more than once (issue)
Yet
What examples of without basis are (the moderation team to be working with) IE: a template
& what about my other questions, are they going to be answered

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

Chris — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:45:52 GMT

I'd missed your other points on the edited post!
If a post is reported and the moderators don't believe any action is required then they won't just warn the person making the report as that's not a frivolous report. It's more to help the moderators with the volumes of reported posts they need to go through, so if 1 person reports 15 (example number) posts in a short period and it's obvious that some of these are just because they disagree with the point made, or are clearly not breaking the rules then a moderator may then decide to have a conversation with the person making the reports.

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

Chris — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:48:04 GMT

Quote
So tell me if a Moderators post gets reported for breaking the rules for say (being derogatory towards a person) (flaunting the rules) (Racist / offensive avatars) etc
Will the Moderator(s) in question be spoken to / (posts removed) or will the reporter be the one to get a warning ?

If the rest of the moderation team don't agree with the reported post, then it's likely that no action will be taken. If the same post is reported by multiple people, then the moderators can revisit and make a decision again. The person making the report is unlikely to be warned in this instance. (I know exactly which thread you mean and don't agree that any rules are being broken).

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

TORPC — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:59:13 GMT

@Chris
For one
The questions were asked in the opening post tbh, & the edited in to avoid scrolling up / down, dependent on your settings
Still remains unanswered

Quote from: TORPC
<snip>
So tell me if a Moderators post gets reported for breaking the rules for say (being derogatory towards a person) (flaunting the rules) (Racist / offensive avatars) etc
Will the Moderator(s) in question be spoken to / (posts removed) or will the reporter be the one to get a warning ?
<snip>

So what happens when the the moderator(s) break the rules etc as stated above & seemingly gets away with breaking them ?
Are they not bound by the very rules the must implement ?
Or
Do they have a different set of rules (that are seemingly to be made up as we go along the mulberry bush)
also please see Reply #7 where I asked you to advise on the difference between clarity & being accused of stirring things up & what you propose to do about it

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

Chris — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 11:01:19 GMT

Quote
So tell me if a Moderators post gets reported for breaking the rules for say (being derogatory towards a person) (flaunting the rules) (Racist / offensive avatars) etc
Will the Moderator(s) in question be spoken to / (posts removed) or will the reporter be the one to get a warning ?

I have replied in my previous post.

Quote
also please see Reply #7 where I asked you to advise on the difference between clarity & being accused of stirring things up & what you propose to do about it

It is not my place to take action on this, I am not a moderator of these forums. I am happy to discuss this with the moderators, however any action required is decided by the moderation team.

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

MauriceC — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 13:35:18 GMT

Just for the record, I perceive no major problems in interpretation of the revised rules.
They are deliberately left 'open' to allow the moderators some flexibility without having to pedantically change the rules too frequently. (My interpretation)
Being a Mod is not an easy task, so let's try and make things work well.
E.g. The last few weeks have seen a number of potentially 'tricky' threads that have all been managed amicably, resulting in good debate. I hope we can retain that status quo.
M

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

TORPC — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 13:58:57 GMT

I quess that post #4 meets your requirements
Which that kind of behaviour, I hope will be nipped in the bud

Re: Newest forum rule concerns

TORPC — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 01:20:27 GMT

Whilst we are discussing the rules in a civilised manner
Can we have the Language / Signature rules to be clear, in that it is ok, to have a different / foreign language in the signature
Or if it is not ok, then make that clear in the rules
Please refer to this thread for clarification