Moderator Etiquette

[xperis]

Given the amount of compaints about Miro's selective censorship and doing things suddenly, I would like to ask that the Forum Moderators here try being being above the level of "I am in control here" and try a little "I am here to help make this a better forum."

I did not know that images were not allowed in signtures.  Partly because there are so many of them still around.  But, I made a mistake that should have been easy to remedy.

RobInk instead of sending me a message reminding me.  Not only removed my image, but my entire signature and replaced it with a very terse note.

• The most polite method would be to message someone first.  There was no message.
  
• The second most polite would be to remove the image and put a simple "Sorry, no images in signatures" message. 

I am not sure WHY the chosen method was to DELETE THE ENTIRE signature text and image and replace it with a terse note?

Can we define some rules for Moderator Eittqette so this feels like a community, not a top down organization?

I get that RobInk and others are trying to do their best.  But the first thought might be, "How would I like it if someone else did ____ to my message or profile"

Thanks

[brad]

We have a modertors guide that moderators follow. Most of these common actions (removeing signatures when against the rules, have been formulated over the years but the moderation team.

Sorry if you found that un-etiquette-like, but PM'ing all users who don't read the rules would take up our entire days here. Please try to understand the workload some of us have been under.. we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel though.

Forum rules: http://forum.opensourcematters.org/inde ... ,65.0.html

Signatures:

    * Must be setup in your Profile (link up the top, next to logout) , and not manually added to your messages.
    * May NOT contain any images.
    * May not contain any pricing, sales, product etc. details.
    * May contain a maximum of two smilies. Or one animated smiley.
    * May include two clickable links. URL's or mailto:
    * Only exact URL's allowed ie not < a href="www.domain.com">LOOK HERE
    * May include two colors. Hyperlink color is set by the forum and is not counted as a color.
    * Maximum font size cannot be larger than normal.
    * Must be kept to a maximum of four lines (at 1024 resolution).
    * May not contain links to other threads or posts.
    * Your signature is your signature. It is not for sale or rent.
    * Any signature that is offensive or insulting to either us, our members, or our staff, are prohibited.
    * We reserve the right to ask you to change and/or remove your signature at any time, for any reason.

If you see any users breaking the rules please use the 'report to moderator' link and it will be taken care of.

[brad]

How would I like it if someone else did ____ to my message or profile

I'd say.. no big deal.. I can easily add my signature back, one that is in harmony with the rules. Plenty of other communities use methods such as this.. one for example: http://www.webhostingtalk.com

Anytime moderators edit a message a is left. FYI

[xperis]

So your telling me it takes more clicks to send a message asking someone to change a mistake. vs altering a private profile? 

I wasn't arguing with the rules.  I just had forgotten that one. Reposting them just sounds like a "I'm right what's your problem " attitude.

Didn't we all end up here because some didn't feel respected by a set of rules others were sure made sense.

All I asked was that before you alter the private profile or messages of a user, you have some respect for their "space."

It's the cyber equivalent of being a place that asks customers to not smoke the first time, vs. yanking the cigarette out of their mouth and shouting "No Smoking"  One is a quality business and one is dive I with no service training.

If we think of moderators as those in service to the community, vs high school hall monitors we understand asking, vs just changing.

Is it a small thing, yes, but it was MY small thing.  Just like when someone litters on your front lawn.

[brad]

I appreciate your viewpoint, however I do ask you forgive us for offending you.

We are volunteers here as well... and we are doing our best. I am not sure what forum moderation experience you have.. but I can assure you that 99% of the moderation going on here is of a high standard, designed to make it 'safe' around these parts. You agreed to the rules when you signed up and the vast majority of users have no problems with them.

Please can we just leave this issue here.. you have taken up more of your own time on this issue, than it would have taken for you to add a new signature. There is no need to send any more PM's to Robin either.

Thanks

[xperis]

I think Robin and I are fully able to come to an amicable conclusion of our discussion..which we had before you decided that needed to be commented on too, in public. (There's that "I'm in charge here." attitude again!) 

Service and Quality always take a bit more work and listening than quoting rules and doing the easiest thing.

I personally have no problem spending time advocating excellence and service over attitude or just an impersonal expediency. None of my comments were related to the time needed to fix my signature. 
I was merely suggesting Nordstrom is a better model vs K-Mart when interacting with the community. 


I am too am done with this thread.. thank you.

[RobInk]

Hi xperis,

Thanks for your explanation, as I replied by PM already, I will take your comments into consideration. I am closing the topic since you also replied you are done...