I know that I am not entitled, and that I am not supposed to ask, but given a mixture of events happening at the same time, I am actually confused and was hoping to receive some clarification that will hopefully help myself as well as others.

1. Are we done with the "This shit makes me ________" threads as a joke or is it part of an anti-general spam campaign?
* Happy: http://www.sydlexia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3793&start=900#299306
* Pissed off: http://www.sydlexia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3689&start=4525#299305


2. Sunday didn't make it, but Friday and Thursday did... also Thursday seemed like a messy day.
* Sunday: http://www.sydlexia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15069
* Thursday: http://www.sydlexia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15047&start=25#299247

Given that moderation is usually dished out in moderation, I am simply curious to know if what we are seeing is new policy or coincidence.

And to be very clear, I am not looking for specifics. No justification is necessary, just a map that steers us safely through what might be a minefield.

Syd Lexia wrote:

I was trying to make a point to a select few people about something, but I forget what that was. The happy/angry threads will bd unlocked before midnight EST, if not sooner. But I'd like to take this time to pose a question. What do you guys want in terms of moderation? What sort of stuff do you think deserves to be locked and what doesn't?

Thank you for the info.

As for the moderation. I would like to just see the rules enforced. They exist and over time have been modified to fit the forum's style. Simply use them as a guide for post moderation. If it appears that the rules aren't working, then modify them on an as needed basis.

As for locking threads. If the original post is in rule violation, then lock it. If the original post is a good one, but the conversation has deteriorated, try to moderate it before locking. A simple warning "get back on track" might be enough, or in some cases, a red-text warning. If that doesn't work, then a lock does.

The most important message I would like to suggest about moderation is that interpretation of the rules is subjective, but the rules themselves are not. Locking a thread should not be due to a moderators personal taste in conversation.

Thread removal shouldn't happen unless the original post is hateful or destructive in nature. A lock allows people to still see what and why things happen. A removal just confuses people and causes unrest.

aeonic wrote:

While I can understand adherence to the rules, it's also a possibility at this point that the rules may need revision. While I understand it's Syd's site and you're a mod, it's also exceeded, I think, at least some of it's original purpose and may need some modification. Just an observation, really, but it might help some of the friction on the topic.

I agree that the rules may need to be touched up, but Jeebus is correct when he says that they must be enforced. If used, it will be easier to see how they need to be fixed. This is especially true if Syd is offering an opportunity to discuss the rules and moderation in the open.

i'll_bite_your_ear wrote:

Dr. Jeebus wrote: Syd Lexia wrote: But I'd like to take this time to pose a question. What do you guys want in terms of moderation? What sort of stuff do you think deserves to be locked and what doesn't? How about enforcing the fucking rules? You have penalties written down in the rules you wrote. Mandatory suspensions/bannings for certain violations. You have never once followed them. You can not take the rules that serious. Just imagining that is pure madness. The rules are an orientation for the users but they get not executed as they are written down. That wouldn't work for anybody.

Perhaps a rule about the misuse of the quote function, like how you just did, is a good example of a rule that isn't too serious.

A rule about trolling is something that needs to be taken seriously because without it, the mods do not have the ability to lean on something when they decide action must be taken.

A rule about hateful language allows the mods to "red-text" a post. The rules here aren't hard to follow. In general they benefit the average poster and allow the community to remain balanced. If they aren't real or rigid enough to be enforced though, there is nothing to stop a bad seed from sprouting.