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This topic has moved here: Subject: Admining/Moderating: Tips and Tricks
  • Subject: Admining/Moderating: Tips and Tricks
Subject: Admining/Moderating: Tips and Tricks
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I wrote this guide because I've seen some fairly rough and unfair moderating. Through nearly one year on Bungie.net (using a different account) here are the tricks I've learned which work. They are in no particular order.

Tip 1: Rule through respect, not through open forum threats.
* If a person flames in a response, send them a PM identifying the thread. Many people do not often intent to flame, but do/come across like they are. A PM is a good way to get the message across, but not create any future relationship problems.
* If a post was created that goes against your group's code of conduct, lock it immediately and send a PM. If the post contains racism, or lewd threats, delete it, temporarily blacklist and send a PM. Racism/threats are not to be allowed under any conditions: as a mod it is your responsibility to make this clear.

Tip 2: Enforcing the right things.
* Expanding on tip 1, cracking down on the slight infractions your members may have committed (e.g. no posts in CAPS) creates resentment. Encouraging moderators to observe every rule like the Bible creates resentment. Avoid being too strict, but make your stand on significant issues clear.

Tip 3: Excess delegation results in group failure
* This applies to admins more than mods, but either way the same principle applies. Excess delegation and too many ranks dilutes the power structure and lessens the experience for your group. Keep authority centralized, keep your mod staff updated, but do it all in a positive and encouraging way.
* Also, excess delegation and lack of activity on the admin's part makes your group unfamiliar with you and more familiar with the mods. This de-centralizes power, and, if the mods have too many privileges, can make the leader a figurehead and thus destabilize (and eventually destroy) a group.

Tip 4: Reward group members with content, not promotions.
* The best way to make people come back is with your content. While tip 3 stresses too much shifting of power will make things unstable, be sure to appoint worth and experienced mods to keep things going smoothly while you develop the next episode in your (e.g.) machinama. Don't try to get members to return by offering them power. If they wanted power, they would make their own group (very important point).

Tip 5: Encourage communication outside of forum.
* This is true in general, but it is especially true between mods/mods and mods/users. Recently, I resolved a problem in my own group via AIM. It couldn't have been worked out over PMs (though I tried). Whether your other form of communication is mIRC, or telephones, keep communication between all members of your group fluid.

That's all. I'll add to it and edit it when I have more time, and as I learn more things. If you have any suggestions, tell me, and I'll edit that way too.

Cheers,
Cr0sS Eli73

<<Edit>> 11/10/05: Shishka's perspective on the matter (abbreviated)
Posted by: Shishka
I should mention how I run Igni Ferroque. The group, for those that have never visited, sits at around 700 members. I'm the administrator and the only moderator, and the group, which is open to the public, is impressively civil. Consider it a social experiment on my part.

There are two rules in IF:
1. Don't plug other groups.
2. Don't be an idiot.

A breach in either rule means a blacklisting. IF's blacklist is about two and a half pages long, considerably short for a large public group (and, I would imagine, my reputation)...


* Inference: Igni Ferroque's immense success comes as a result of Shishka's respect on Bungie.net (being a longtime moderator) and stays successful due to how he runs his ship: tight.
* Opinion:I should imagine that a small group run "rigidly" (for lack of a better word) with a not-as-respected contributor to the community heading the forum would result in failure as unpopularity develops. However, that is only speculation, if anyone wants to cite an example of a successful forum in this manner, I'll be more than happy to add it.

[Edited on 11/10/2005]

  • 11.09.2005 11:35 PM PDT
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Hah, I clicked on this expecting someone telling us how to do our jobs.

Nice.
-TGP-

  • 11.09.2005 11:42 PM PDT
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lol no generally I don't flame Bungie.net mods. You guys get that enough already...

Except for Shishka.


Just kidding shish, you know i love you. =D

  • 11.09.2005 11:44 PM PDT

-S

Posted by: Cr0sS Eli73
Just kidding shish, you know i love you. =D


Would it kill ya to say so a little more often? =\

[edit]Anyway, I guess I should mention how I run Igni Ferroque. The group, for those that have never visited, sits at around 700 members. I'm the administrator and the only moderator, and the group, which is open to the public, is impressively civil. Consider it a social experiment on my part.

There are two rules in IF:

1. Don't plug other groups.
2. Don't be an idiot.

A breach in either rule means a blacklisting. IF's blacklist is about two and a half pages long, considerably short for a large public group (and, I would imagine, my reputation). It's pretty easy to find a place in my group, but just as easy to get yourself removed. After all, what makes someone an "idiot" is completely up to me.

That's pretty much all there is to Igni. There are no promotions. No chance for people to moderate, I don't even give custom titles (save for agdTinman, but since he's Bungie I'm the only person that knows what that title is, as the title Achronos gave him overrides group titles). In order to keep the "Shishka" threads at bay, there's a sticky that corrals them. Outside of that, so long as people follow the rules, everybody's happy.

[Edited on 11/10/2005]

  • 11.10.2005 1:45 AM PDT
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Posted by: Shishka
Posted by: Cr0sS Eli73
Just kidding shish, you know i love you. =D


Would it kill ya to say so a little more often? =\


Oh come on now, you're a big boy -er...BoB.... exploding...thing...

[Edited on 11/10/2005]

  • 11.10.2005 1:47 AM PDT
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Read about the Forgotten Spartan I Program
Butane: To protect the world from devastation!
sir_brilliant: To unite all people within our nation!
Rainman89: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
sir_brilliant: To extend out reach to the stars above!
SpaceGhostFlyer: Jessie!
Butane: James!
sir_brilliant: Team Rocket blasting off at the speed of light
Butane: Surrender now or prepare to fight
sir_brilliant: Meowth, that's right!

Posted by: Shishka
Posted by: Cr0sS Eli73
Just kidding shish, you know i love you. =D


Would it kill ya to say so a little more often? =\

[edit]Anyway, I guess I should mention how I run Igni Ferroque. The group, for those that have never visited, sits at around 700 members. I'm the administrator and the only moderator, and the group, which is open to the public, is impressively civil. Consider it a social experiment on my part.

There are two rules in IF:

1. Don't plug other groups.
2. Don't be an idiot.

A breach in either rule means a blacklisting. IF's blacklist is about two and a half pages long, considerably short for a large public group (and, I would imagine, my reputation). It's pretty easy to find a place in my group, but just as easy to get yourself removed. After all, what makes someone an "idiot" is completely up to me.

That's pretty much all there is to Igni. There are no promotions. No chance for people to moderate, I don't even give custom titles (save for agdTinman, but since he's Bungie I'm the only person that knows what that title is, as the title Achronos gave him overrides group titles). In order to keep the "Shishka" threads at bay, there's a sticky that corrals them. Outside of that, so long as people follow the rules, everybody's happy.


could this be considered illegal advertising?

  • 11.10.2005 3:57 AM PDT
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This would be a good topic for Chapter Founders.

  • 11.10.2005 5:22 AM PDT

-Quaere verum.

Got a report? Use the report tool or send a pm.
Chairleg Productions presents: 'Console Wars' and 'Games as Art?' (also on Halo Waypoint).

Posted by: Rainman89
could this be considered illegal advertising?


*Arrests Shishka* ;)
The answer is no.

Tip 5: Encourage communication outside of forum.

I am pleased to see that more people are doing this. Taking their community to higher levels, expanding. For me, it is very encouraging.

[Edited on 11/10/2005]

  • 11.10.2005 6:42 AM PDT

Posted by: Johnrap
I would say, mark all the violatory posts, but then with some random algorithm programmatically remove the offensive posts so that only 5% of the forum postings are offensive. But you need at least 5% of the chaff to stay. You clean it up beyond that and you are no longer getting a slice of life. You're getting a reconstituted, canned ham, molded, serving of life.

Get used to it - pretty soon, all the chaff will be shot into the Sun.

  • 11.10.2005 6:50 AM PDT
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Read about the Forgotten Spartan I Program
Butane: To protect the world from devastation!
sir_brilliant: To unite all people within our nation!
Rainman89: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
sir_brilliant: To extend out reach to the stars above!
SpaceGhostFlyer: Jessie!
Butane: James!
sir_brilliant: Team Rocket blasting off at the speed of light
Butane: Surrender now or prepare to fight
sir_brilliant: Meowth, that's right!

are you saying you have no faith in our mods? HOw dare you, Gods Prophet, arrest him

  • 11.10.2005 7:26 AM PDT

Posted by: Johnrap
Read your post and think about it. Your not debating me. You're asserting authority. Do yourself a favor and read some history. Make a model of how you moderate. Then look for occurrences of the model in history. I think you'll be shocked at whose footsteps you are following.

You are stepping on pretty thin ice. I suggest that you have a look at our rules before you decide on how to respond.

While you're at it, also find out a bit about Bungie - my post will suddenly make sense.

  • 11.10.2005 7:27 AM PDT
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Read about the Forgotten Spartan I Program
Butane: To protect the world from devastation!
sir_brilliant: To unite all people within our nation!
Rainman89: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
sir_brilliant: To extend out reach to the stars above!
SpaceGhostFlyer: Jessie!
Butane: James!
sir_brilliant: Team Rocket blasting off at the speed of light
Butane: Surrender now or prepare to fight
sir_brilliant: Meowth, that's right!

the nwhy not do us all a fovor and hurl yourself, bungie hater

  • 11.10.2005 7:42 AM PDT

Johnrap isn't a Bungie hater, he just likes to act a little... "odd" on the forums.

  • 11.10.2005 8:20 AM PDT
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Posted by: Johnrap
I think I've been unfairly labeled a Bungie hater.

Just ignore it, it will go away. And I certainly don't consider you a Bungie hater.

There are people here who only want attention, we try to ignore those people, but like that recurring nightmare they always come back.

  • 11.10.2005 8:21 AM PDT
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Posted by: Johnrap
I think I've been unfairly labeled a Bungie hater.


No, that's what they call us trolls sometimes.

  • 11.10.2005 8:47 AM PDT
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Read about the Forgotten Spartan I Program
Butane: To protect the world from devastation!
sir_brilliant: To unite all people within our nation!
Rainman89: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
sir_brilliant: To extend out reach to the stars above!
SpaceGhostFlyer: Jessie!
Butane: James!
sir_brilliant: Team Rocket blasting off at the speed of light
Butane: Surrender now or prepare to fight
sir_brilliant: Meowth, that's right!

your lack of faith in the moderators severly disturbs me, so much that i was compelled to label you so

  • 11.10.2005 8:56 AM PDT

Posted by: Shishka
Posted by: Cr0sS Eli73
Just kidding shish, you know i love you. =D


Would it kill ya to say so a little more often? =\

[edit]Anyway, I guess I should mention how I run Igni Ferroque. The group, for those that have never visited, sits at around 700 members. I'm the administrator and the only moderator, and the group, which is open to the public, is impressively civil. Consider it a social experiment on my part.

There are two rules in IF:

1. Don't plug other groups.
2. Don't be an idiot.

A breach in either rule means a blacklisting. IF's blacklist is about two and a half pages long, considerably short for a large public group (and, I would imagine, my reputation). It's pretty easy to find a place in my group, but just as easy to get yourself removed. After all, what makes someone an "idiot" is completely up to me.

That's pretty much all there is to Igni. There are no promotions. No chance for people to moderate, I don't even give custom titles (save for agdTinman, but since he's Bungie I'm the only person that knows what that title is, as the title Achronos gave him overrides group titles). In order to keep the "Shishka" threads at bay, there's a sticky that corrals them. Outside of that, so long as people follow the rules, everybody's happy.


There is no reason why you should add any "rewards" to your chapter, Shishka. No matter how many you ban, your popularity will always bring in more members, something some chapter founders don't have the luxury of.

[Edited on 11/10/2005]

  • 11.10.2005 10:00 AM PDT

-S

Posted by: Banshee Barron
There is no reason why you should add any "rewards" to your chapter, Shishka. No matter how many you ban, your popularity will always bring in more members, something some chapter founders don't have the luxury of.


I wasn't particularly bragging about how many people are in my group. Specifically, I was referring to the fact that I don't follow the thread starter's guidelines for group management and my group remains civil. Which, given the number of members, I feel is an accomplishment.

  • 11.10.2005 1:45 PM PDT
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Only the paranoid will survive!

Interesting idea, Shishka.

Hmm. Well now I've had an idea. I've created a new group which will remain unnamed, but I applied something which I think will either make it or break it.

Now before I go into any description, I know it won't get a lot of members. What I'm hoping it does get is activity out of the members.

I've never heard of another group doing this, but I may be wrong. I just wanted to see what would happen if I kept on queued membership but gave everyone moderating powers (for the most part). They won't be able to edit posts or blacklist members, the major things a mod can do, but they can do everything I can in regards to the site. They can pin threads, lock them, change the motto, add news, all that. Everyone. I'm hoping that this freedom will encourage people to stay in the group and stay active. However, I will only accept people I'm familiar with, so it will hamper the number of members admitted. Just an idea I want to try out.

  • 11.10.2005 2:20 PM PDT
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Posted by: Shishka
Posted by: Banshee Barron
There is no reason why you should add any "rewards" to your chapter, Shishka. No matter how many you ban, your popularity will always bring in more members, something some chapter founders don't have the luxury of.


I wasn't particularly bragging about how many people are in my group. Specifically, I was referring to the fact that I don't follow the thread starter's guidelines for group management and my group remains civil. Which, given the number of members, I feel is an accomplishment.


While I'm fairly certain you didn't imply this Shishka, I didn't mean be relaxed to the point of chaos, I think that some things are slidable (inventing new words as I go along here) and somethings aren't. In either case, I'm gunna take a few choice phrases from your comments and add them to mine above. Quoting you of course. It's good to hear both perspectives, especially from someone so senior.

  • 11.10.2005 9:13 PM PDT