an idea for keeping the moderating sorta "low pressure" (was: Re: right on the edge...)

[Mike Schwartz]

I think it would be preferable to have the decisions made
    by the moderator, not be [normally] decisions to KILL a given
    post or thread "completely", but rather, just result in -- at worst --
    the post or thread getting "moved" to another discussion list,
    (maybe call it the "PLUG-Alt" list).
THIS WAY, they would
   *still* get mailed out -- and archived! -- just not on the main
   "PLUG-Discuss" list!
This way, it would be much LESS of an emotional issue,
   when a certain decision got made by a moderator.
   (a decision that, [let's say], someone disagreed with!).
Also:  maybe the moderator should have the option to
   ["suggest" that the poster (/ author) should]
   **modify the "Subj:" header** of a given message,
   e.g. to add "OT: " to the beginning of it.
   OR, maybe, just to make it more helpful / correct.
We could allow that, the poster could always
   "decline" to do so, but being stubborn and "refusing"
    to go along with the suggestion, might tend to
   lead to stuff getting transferred to the PLUG-Alt list.
   (Not a too severe of a consequence).
Those who choose to do so, can subscribe to BOTH lists.
    Those whose post got "moved" to the PLUG-Alt list,
    could ask to "appeal" the decision, via a message to some
    committee (which should probably reside on the PLUG-Alt list!),
    but that would not be as big a deal,
    since no matter what gets decided,
    we are not talking about ANY posts getting censored completely,
    we are just talking about [maybe] getting moved to a different list.
    Also, all of that "appealing" [**"if"** any!] (see above)
    would all happen outside the visibility of most readers,
    who don't want to be bothered with it.
Also (*IMPORTANT), all of the "appealing",
    (along with all of the flaming, or other posts
        that  got "moved" to the PLUG-Alt list,
        as determined by the moderator)
    (maybe including some "OT" posts?...)
    would *also* (!) remain **outside** the visibility
    of most "new" or "prospective" [possible future]
    readers of the main "PLUG-Discuss" list!
    so, they would not get disgusted / a bad impression,
    due to accidentally tuning in
    on a day when some very severe flaming
    (or, whatever) was taking place.
Again of course, this is just my 0.02,
    but I think this idea would help to satisfy those who do
    ["seem" to] want to flame each other,
    or want to discuss "OT: " topics,
    while not bothering (very much) the "general public".
(Hey!  "general public" -- ! ...is that what the "GP" in "GPL"
    stands for?  Woo-Hoo!)
--
Mike Schwartz
Glendale  AZ
schwartz at acm.org

On Wed, Nov 5, 2008 at 9:49 PM, Ryan Rix <phrkonaleash at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> HI Alan,
>
> Though I am a high school student, most nights I am available to moderate
> discussions of this sort. Perhaps stick all OT in a moderation queue and let
> someone (even if it's not me, honestly I am indifferent on you nominating me,
> if that's what you meant to do) pick through and eliminate sketchy ones. It's
> imperfect but obviously it works better than our current setup. However, the
> monthly publication is a good idea, though I find that monthly may be too
> often.
> Maybe semimonthly, but make all new registrations read it and agree under
> threat of removal from the list?
>
> Honestly, it sucks to see something like this, but something must indeed be
> done.
>
> Best,
> Ryan
>
> --
> Thanks and best regards,
> Ryan Rix
> TamsPalm - The PalmOS Blog
>
> I support Debian [...]
>
> On Wed November 5 2008 09:40:15 pm Alan Dayley wrote:
> > On Wed, Nov 5, 2008 at 9:17 PM, Ryan Rix <phrkonaleash at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > I agree, this, imo, immature bickering [...]
> > > needs to stop. [...]
> > > I suggest making a rule, at least, not to touch:
> > >
> > > *Politics
> > > *Religion
> >
> > I agree with this.
> >
> > > These posts will get either moderated or just plain dropped.
> >
> > Are you offering to be moderator?  [...]
> >
> > I'm not trying to [...]
> >
> > > Any other ideas?
> >
> > The ideas I like most are:
> >
> >  *Self moderation out of respect for the group and the topic of the
> > list.  This means don't make off-topic posts.
> >  *Community moderation, which usually works.    This means respond to
> > off-topic posts only to ask them to stop.
> >
> > Both of the above broke down on this, the day after a hard-fought and
> > historic election.  We must re-enforce them.
> >
> > Maybe a monthly publication of expected participation activity would
> > be appropriate.
> >
> > Alan
> > ---------------------------------------------------
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