Suggestion about closed posts [Archive]

DKCharlie

10-09-2006, 04:10 PM

It seems to me that the 'relationship' between moderators and members has become even more strained with the current setup, not more open and agreeable and friendly for anyone.

I agree with why moderators may choose to remain anonymous, but if they are moderating under an anonymous system of moderating #'s, why do they feel the need to moderate in stealth mode and in secret, where they won't even publically acknowledge what actions they have taken? Moderators are removing, closing, editing posts without accepting public recognition for their actions. How about moderators being required to make their actions public by leaving some indication of who did what? I mean, if they're already anonymous, why do they feel the need of this extra layer of secrecy in that they won't even attribute their actions to themselves?

This infraction system seems to have created even more problems, it is so subjective of what any particular moderator might find 'inappropriate'. I don't see how this system helps moderators and members work together. It seems to me that it creates more divide between them as members receive these 'penalties', apparently warned through a PM. Yet they can't address the apparent 'offence' with a moderator because while moderators may send PM's, they don't receive them. And while they may receive emails, they don't return them. There seems to have already been some mistakes made with arbitrarily giving people 'infractions' when they were by mistake. Yet the only way to address this has been by publically posting on the forum about it. Yet these posts are now being removed by moderators or else edited out by moderators. So how can members discuss what may be arbitrary and incorrect infractions? Especially if you don't know who gave the infraction?

Obviously there HAVE been some mistakes. But if you can't write about it publically and if you can't communicate with a moderator privately (actually send and receive communications), then how is this system fair and helpful to members?

And why aren't moderators expected to take responsibility for their actions by leaving some indication of what each one specifically does? Why aren't they required to keep themselves visible so that members know who is here and who is doing what? They are named 'moderators' with numbers, not any personally identifying information - so why do they need to act so secretively and anonymously beyond this in their actions too? Why can't they take responsibility for what actions they do by showing publically who did what or even know is here?

It's like they don't trust the members (or else don't want to accept responsibility for their actions). And members are losing any trust in these anonymous moderators who want to do things as anonymously and secretively as possible without any means to resolve issues because the moderators have distanced themselves so much and want to keep members at arm's length as much as possible.

If moderators are only identified by numbers, why do they need any other anonymity and secrecy in what they are doing? Why can't they put their 'signature' on their actions so we know who is doing what? And if we can't post here about erroneous infractions or questions about what specifically a member has done to warrant an infraction (or a banning), and moderators are unavailable any other way to communicate with us (unless they just send out a PM but then refuse any replies), how is this going to lead to anything but confusion, frustration and even more suspicion and distance between moderators and members? It's definitely more confusing when a moderator can alter the post of a member and not even leave a notice that it was done at all. A member whose post has been changed deserves a note put that what remains is NOT their words. And they deserve to know who to talk to about it and not have their posts removed if they try to bring it to someone's attention (or be given an infraction for it).

This system just doesn't seem to have any respect or considerations for the members in it, and more to do with making moderators even more anonymous and secretive and powerful. How about if we break down this divide a bit more and at least have moderators acknowledge publically what they've done so we know who did what?

And could we please know if the moderators are all different people or instead if it might be one person acting as different moderators? Could we try to bring the moderators CLOSER to the members instead of farther away by these walls of secrecy and anonymous post-editing? What is the big deal of a moderator actually putting their moderating name to their action and taking responsibility for it?

Thanks for letting us offer feedback. Hopefully we'll all start to break down some walls and find a balance that makes this place better than it was before.