How should mods be recruited?

The performance of mods on Odhran's last thread was telling. One clearly did not know the rules and thought abuse was fine as long as it was the poster's opinion, one just turned a blind eye to that, and one went off on some bizarre tangent about his wealth.

It was interesting that Odhran thanked some of the criticisms. Obviously one should not read too much into that. But it suggests that he accepts the criticisms had some merit...though I think common sense would lead to that conclusion.

Is the issue one of mod recruitment? Are mods selected by other mods and, if so, would that not lead to problems being amplified? So that mods have the same bias on issues? And why would they sit down and learn the rules of posting if long standing mods clearly don't know them?

And how could that be changed? Another poster suggested mods elected by posters. But would that simply replace one problem with another?

osarusan

Jaysus Conor, you are relentless. Some mod treated you unfairly some time (from your perspective at least), and you have never been able to let it go.

These “discussions” about moderation couldn’t be more transparent.

Let it go.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118382772#Comment_118382772

I don't think you continuously jumping to their defence is more legitimate than criticism. I won't speculate why you do it, it's obviously off.topic.

Now, on topic, how do you think mods should be recruited?

Ubbquittious

I think there should be secret beermats placed in pubs around the country that looks like ordinary beer mats but when you flip them over there is a code they can enter on boards.ie for the chance to become a mod

Victor

Amp Test.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058224638/how-should-mods-be-recruited

Firstly this a private undertaking and the owners select mods according to THEIR preferences, it is not a democracy. The owners pay the piper and they get to call the tunes, so don’t hold your breath waiting for an election or a say in who gets selected as mods.

StevenToast

Why would you want to be a mod?

Serious question?

gmisk

Hunger games?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118383350#Comment_118383350

In fairness to the owner, I'd say he has no part in selecting mods. I presume they do it themselves, and that's why I think problems are amplified rather than addressed. His reaction to posts criticising mods suggests he appreciates the problems, albeit that obviously he can hardly publicly slate those who give their time to manage his asset.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118383273#Comment_118383273

I like it. It would have the advantage of ensuring that mods don't give the gig to their preferred posters, perpetuating any problems!

maestroamado

This forum cannot really be taken serious... mods delete stuff at will... no communication... freedom of speech....

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118383376#Comment_118383376

Boards.ie has a certain utility, people use it to get information. Sure, lots of it is idle chat, but even that has a certain use.

I think modding is a bit like the social contract, we should all give a little of our time voluntarily at something that matters to us. I may criticise modding standards, but think the motivation for most of them is a good one.

Beasty

Mods are selected by Admins and Niamh after input from Category Mods

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118387524#Comment_118387524

Thank you.

What is the basis for selection?

Do they look across the thousands of posters and pick "the best", the "most active", the "least infracted"? What are the criteria?

Any time I've seen a Mod appointed, it's presented as a fait accompli, "here is your new mod" and the process completely excludes posters at one end and the site owner at the other. Which may not be a bad thing...provided the existing process works.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118383398#Comment_118383398

Believe what ever makes you comfortable but without actual experience and evidence it does not really amount to much…..

They look at your posting history, demeanour, your number of infractions, and knowledge of the area.

You then get sent an invite.

It's a largely thankless job, but some collegial comradeship.

One should do it for a time if asked

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118383420#Comment_118383420

It always amusing how often people blab on about freedom of speech as if it somehow trumps every other right and everyone else’s rights….

First of all you don’t have a right to free speech. It has and always will be restricted in the public interest and the rights of others. And secondly you are not being denied your rights just because some privately owned organization decides they don’t want to allow you on their platform.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118389577#Comment_118389577

You're not reading the thread, are you?

Beasty and Chinese Whospers have helpfully provided some detail, so we've moved beyond the belief/evidence stage.

SouthWesterly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118389598#Comment_118389598

Well that's not right for a start. Knowledge of the area doesn't come into it when they have 2 avowed atheists modding the Christianity forum.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118389600#Comment_118389600

I fully agree with what you say.

But other mods don't. In fact, on Odhran's recent thread a mod said

Like everyone else here I an entitled to an opinion and I am entitled to post that opinion.

Which he thought was a good defence for trolling, the old "if I believe it, I can post it" line. He's the mod I referred to in my OP.

So which mod is right?

Maybe a far better idea when it comes to selecting mods would be, instead of gauging their "demeanour" (I don't know how someone's ability to mod is detected by demeanour) to seek applicants and then see who knows the basic rules of modding?

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118389600#Comment_118389600

So its monitored for the benefit of the owners... i was not aware of that... i thought it was a members forum and people only banned for inappropriate comments... it seems this is not the case...Thanks for confirming not free speech... For me free speech is absolutely necessary if a party say they want to represent public interest... Different agenda here...

Squid game!

Furze99

I think ideally you'd have paid mods who are not otherwise allowed to post on the site. Issues can clearly arise when ordinary community members take on a modding role - I don't need to go into these potential issues. I was asked and declined to mod a forum once. I didn't fancy either the time commitment or the idea of running with the hare and hunting with the hound. Other than paid mods, the system is bound to be a bit arbritary.

TherapyBoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118389748#Comment_118389748

The public interest can not be well represented by Boards being hauled into court & held responsible for your (or anyones) example of free speech. It has happened before.

It sucks but “free speech” always has consequences, it was never a right to say whatever you want.

Agree with Furze, there is a clear problem with some mods, who show their opinion when being an ordinary poster, and it is obvious it impacts on their decisions when being a mod.

I have had mods PM me about decisions of other mods, when they have been clearly biased either towards other posters or against me.

I have had very few warnings or infractions on boards and in general have no issue with most mods, but there can be issues with posters of certain forums brings mods on those forums.

B.A._Baracus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118383376#Comment_118383376

No idea why anyone would want to be a mod.

Like we all use boards as a past time. If someome becomes a mod they may feel obligated to go through posts and delete the garbage - For what? You're not getting paid. You're given up your free time, time that you used to entertain yourself, to help a website that makes money. Money you do not see.

Also, I've seen a lot of overzealous mods over the years. Some people get off on that small little power they get. Which is quite mad when you look at it.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118389686#Comment_118389686

Knowledge of and agreement with are two different things, believe me 😉

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118389873#Comment_118389873

I wouldn’t mind myself anyway. I know what’s involved and I know it’s not “fun” BUT I actually do enjoy the sort of cleaning up admin part of being on a site. Just helping to keep things smooth.

its unfortunate that the sites changes seem to have affected the mods ability to do their thing at the min. Let’s a lot of absolutely nonsense slip by unchecked (that thread about bath salts..) but that’s not their fault obviously. Nevertheless I do catch myself wishing I had the POWA to deal with it as necessary.

that’s another thing actually now that I mention, I’m not super sure what is & isn’t allowed in terms of moderating, but I will say if it’s a mod rule that you can’t cross moderate (a mod of after hours can’t take mod actions in the Christmas forum for example) I think that should be rectified.

at least for quite extreme cases, the bath salt thread being the main example I can think of. If you’re scrolling the front page and as a mod you see something totally not okay just cos you’re not a mod of that particular forum shouldn’t hinder your ability to sort it out. I guess maybe the power literally doesn’t exist within that forum? I don’t know. Either way, some cross forum moderating could be a nice help while the mod system is sorted out.

completely appreciate it may not be possible in practice though. I fully understand why mods are not site wide and assigned forums based on their interests and knowledge but all the same, moderating is moderating & forum topics don’t necessarily skew what is and isn’t acceptable for the most part. As with everyone else on the site it wouldn’t be a big hassle to scan the forum charter and then if you’ve identified obvious rule breaking that’s going unchecked due a failure of the report system then step in.

I don’t necessarily think the only good forum moderator is one who has extensive knowledge on the topic being moderated, as it’s fairly plain to see when someone’s acting the prick. There’s no forum (I’m aware of) on boards where you can troll either, so.

Beasty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118389523#Comment_118389523

Often there is a discussion between Mods and CMods based on prolific posters in the forum. On the old platform we could list the 20 most prolific posters in a forum over the previous 6 months. Alas that feature is not currently available on the new platform, so when we do recruit new mods we will be more reliant on mods being able to identify those who are prolific posters (in the cases of small forums we could see the list of the top 20 going down to 1 or 2 posts, although such forums are very rarely any bother)

CMods would look at the relevant disciplinary records. Anyone who regularly gets in trouble in a forum is unlikely to be put forward. We do though see posters who were a bother some years ago but have changed their approach being put forward. Again though the new platform makes that more difficult as we have no history from the old platform to look at

The CMods would typically put forward 2 or 3 candidates for Admin review. They would state when the poster joined, posts in the forum and a summary of cards and bans, if any, together with any comments they have following discussion with the forum mods

Admins plus Niamh would then vote on the candidates. We would usually look for 5 or 6 votes but would examine further if there was a single "no" vote and that would typically involve the Admin(s) voting no explaining their reservations. We would normally expect a unanimous "yes" vote and would then go back to the relevant CMods who would then PM the candidate to ask if they are interested. If not we would revisit the other candidates originally put forward by the CMods or invite further suggestions

I think we have only appointed a single new mod to a quiet forum since the platform changeover. We do need to revisit the whole process given changes in functionality brought about by the platform change. In addition we have a number of limitations that will hopefully ease over time. However there are probably only 2 particularly active Admins at present plus Niamh. Others will drop in on occasion but have not got particularly involved since the platform changeover. That pattern is repeated at CMod and Mod levels

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118389847#Comment_118389847

So your saying me repeating something i heard on RTE 1 new is against the rules of the forum...

Beasty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118390724#Comment_118390724

It can be against forum and/or site rules

Linking to relevant reports on reputable news sites should generally be fine. However posting something you "heard" somewhere does not mean you are transcribing it accurately, or indeed that is is within site rules. For example you may hear an interpretation of the law on the news. It is against site rules to provide legal advice so saying you heard it on the news does not get you round that rule. Sometimes facts change - for some time it was not legally possible to name child victims of murder despite the fact the name of one very high profile victim had been put on the site before the relevant legal ruling was issued.

It should also be noted that mods, CMods and Admins are generally not lawyers. If something is reported as illegal we will err on the side of caution. And it's not a case of just going and getting relevant legal advice - the site is unlikely to be able to afford such advice

However all that has been discussed previously in this forum. This thread is about how mods are selected, and the only point I would add here is that mods are as entitled to their anonymity as anyone else on this site. We do not do background checks beyond reviewing what they post here. No one should assume a mod has any specialist knowledge, be that in the legal sphere, or in connection with the underlying forum subject. Equally many mods and other posters display their knowledge through what they do post on the site.