Reply #137: This is a step in the right direction ...

[RoyGBiv]

Point #2 is essential to any moderating process, and it falls under the general heading of moderator feedback. I have in the past simply assumed that you do not do this because of sheer numbers and the burden it would place on moderators. I have then supposed that either your software did not allow an automated process to be developed or, for whatever, reason you simply didn't want to do it. However, communication between the administration and the users of a discussion forum is essential to achieve all the goals you want. Having such communication doesn't insure you will achieve them, but without it, you can be certain you will not. Consider us all a class of kindergärtners. We're simply not going to behave without constant and direct reinforcement from someone in authority. Simply deleting a post that breaks a rule is akin to a finger wag and then being told we're not going to talk to you about what you did wrong because it's a secret. This generally just pisses a person off and makes them more unruly in the future.

I'm dubious about point #3. Most of the time, at least in my observation, by the time the moderators have been informed about a problem in a thread and have gone through whatever hocus pocus they go through to come to a decision about a post or thread, a whole series of posts end up deleted that removes the offenders from the discussion anyway. Sometimes they come back, but most people really into the flame war game will have moved on by then to start their own thread or wandered someplace else to complain. I don't think it's a bad idea. I just don't know what it will actually accomplish. Since you're in a better position to know, I am assuming you've run the numbers on this and see some utility in it.

You already know my thoughts on this and are probably sick of hearing them, so I'm just going to summarize in public by saying that from my perspective, what this place is missing is guidance and feedback from the people who run the place. Your point #2 above addresses this problem to some extent as do occasional threads like this one. Certainly it would be nice if you could post threads occasionally on more positive topics, not necessarily political topics, but something that creates a sense of community in which we can all discuss things and which involves you and/or others in positions of authority. Like it or not, you built the place, and we need your presence. Otherwise, it appears you don't care, which makes us not care.

Finally, I'll just offer a positive, proactive suggestion. Your moderators are by and large cops. Make them something more. Or, create a new type of moderator that works in concert with your "cops," i.e. a group of individuals who begin and lead discussions. Make it an event, a topic of the day or week or whatever. One thing that *has* changed about this place from the proverbial old days is that you had people who wrote for the place and were featured. This created a lot of interest. Consider bringing that back with certain modifications to encourage participation. Hell, it's the reason I wound up here in the first place, having seen a link to it elsewhere. I haven't seen a link *to* DU in ages, not a positive link anyway.