- x Foman123 x
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I am curious to get the Septagon's members' eminently wise views on this idea for a moderating tool.
UPDATED 3/7/07 (updates are noted below by the phrase "(NEW)" and also further stated in my post near the top of page 2 of this thread).
My idea is for a thread "flagging" system, whereby instead of forum users always having to PM a moderator about bad posts, every thread would have an option at the top to flag the post for being spam, illegal, or whatever. Here's how the system would work:* (NEW) Bungie.net would add another tier of membership level in between Forum Ninja and Regular Member. These people would maybe be called "Senior Members." For more and better-articulated ideas on different levels or stratifications of membership, see Recon Number 54's post by clicking on this link.
* (NEW) There would be no limits on the number of Senior Members, but they would not be able to join HFCS or do any other type of moderating except flagging. In order to become a Senior Member, you'd have to be "promoted" by the higher-ups and demonstrate maturity and familiarity with the rules.
* Every thread created by someone who is not a moderator or staff would have a button giving Senior Members the option to "FLAG AS BAD POST."
(NEW: original idea of "all community members" removed)
* Every flag would count as one "vote." Each Senior Member could only vote once, but could also "unflag" the post (to correct accidentally hitting the button or realizing later that the post is actually not a bad post).
* Flagging "votes" would not be anonymous and voters would be visible to the higher-ups. If a "Senior Member" abuses the flagging privilege too much, he or she is bumped back down to regular "Member" status and the ability to flag posts is removed.
* On the main forum page, next to the title of the thread and the date and such, every post would also display a tiny flag icon along with the number of flagging "votes" that the thread has received. This display would be visible ONLY TO MODERATORS and BUNGIE STAFF.
(This would prevent "bandwagon" flagging, where if flags were visible to the general public, people would be more or less likely to flag certain threads.)
* Moderators browsing the forums could see at a glance all of the posts that have been flagged (and how many times each has been flagged) and, from experience, would be able to instantly tell which posts they need to take a closer look at.
* The final decision to lock the thread would belong to FORUM NINJAS and higher only.
(This allows for the problem that many controversial or long-lasting posts might receive flags - even if they are not against the rules.)
* Once a moderator takes a look at a thread and deems it to be "within the rules," the moderator can then remove the option to flag that thread any further.
(This would both help Senior Members to know when a thread has been found to be within the rules and would also save the duplication of effort (so that different moderators would not have to look at the same threads)
NOTE:The new Senior Member idea removes the problem that, with anonymous flagging, some immature people would automatically flag every post just to be funny. Ninjas would be able to learn from experience how many "flags" are required before a post requires urgent attention. At any rate, ninjas would still be inclined to read all posts and make their own decisions - no change from the status quo.
Here are the advantages to this system:
* The really bad posts would get attention more quickly.
* This would reduce the amount of spam in bad threads stating "This doesn't belong in this forum" or "You're about to get locked," etc. B.net users would simply flag the post rather than continue bumping spam by posting.
* As a result of the preceding advantage, bad posts would fall off the first page faster even if they have not been locked, due to less bumping just to say "This post is spam."
* This system might also potentially reduce the number of PMs that moderators receive about bad posts, thereby helping to clean up their inboxes a little bit.
* (NEW) This system might help to reduce bad posts in the first place by encouraging regular members who might otherwise be inclined to flame or spam to clean up their posts in the hopes of being "promoted."
* This system might (or might not) also have the extra added benefit of discouraging bad posts in the first place. Spammers/Bad Posters would be more aware of the fact that the rest of the community might disapprove or not appreciate their bad post, and in some cases might potentially be less likely to post in the first place.
I'm interested to hear what everyone thinks about this idea.... Good? Bad? Does it need improvement or modification? Let me know your opinion!
[Edited on 03.22.2007 12:59 PM PDT]