On the subject of moderation. I really like it when an out of turn sentence is used and a moderator is on hand who notices it and immediately pips in with something like....
"That was completely unnecessary. Please refrain in future."
This leads me to a few thoughts.
1. Such a comment from a moderator (unless the moderator has made a gross mistake and the guys were, lets say, just having fun amongst them) lead to an immediate "cessation to hostilities" by the poster/s concerned. No more discussion/argument with the moderator on this subject should be tolerated. The posters concerned can come back with, "Sorry it was a slip" OR "My apologies, it wont be repeated" OR "Noted for future" - anything appropriate and move on . But no more arguing about it and NO CONTINUATION OF HOSTILITIES by either party.
2. In case the moderator has made a mistake, it can be pointed out in very polite language. Pointing out goes not mean providing a justification like "he started it". If there is a strong disagreement with the moderation an off line message can be used but nothing more online.
This can be our (non-moderating posters) greatest contribution to maintaining discipline here.
3. This kind of intervention by a moderator can be effective only if it is done very quickly. Unfortunately that is not always feasible for obvious reasons. Hence it becomes important for other posters who come across this to politely point it out. I do not see any thing wrong with a poster who is not in the discussion saying something like, "That bit was completely unnecessary. You can do without it." and should not get a response like "Get lost. It is none of your business". In fact, such a response to a polite suggestion should be considered a further transgression by the 'offending' poster.
Ideally, the poster at who the offensive remark is aimed should point it out as I noticed a poster doing just a few hours ago to great effect. That, of course would be the best kind of 'self-discipline' we can exercise.
- Writing offensive posts/using offensive language is bad.
- Responding to it in kind is equally bad and does not somehow become justifiable since it was a response.
- Pointing out someone's offensive language can and should be done politely.
- Doing so in a case where you are not a party to the argument is not inappropriate.
- Use the "red triangle" more often. All of us (myself included) are guilty of it.
Lets stop criticising the moderators and start doing more as ordinary members.
In fact, I have NEVER used the red triangle as far as I remember. Nor have I used the options I have suggested above. I have found the ignore option the best for me and it works. But I was wrong and took the soft and easy option
I have 37 people on my ignore list as of now. As soon as I have submitted this post I intend to reduce that figure to zero and follow my own advise
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