[NA] Need "Forum Moderation: Philosophies and Approaches"

Let'sgoflying!

Let'sgoflying!

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Dave Taylor
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I am looking to read up on 'moderation styles for a chat forum'
This has nothing to do with POA. In fact, I would be chagrined if the usual characters devolved the thread unpleasantly in that direction. (I hold up POA management as a sought-after example of a difficult job well-done)

Back to my question. I am again stuck running a forum and need to bail asap, but until then...
(I have discovered the ideal plan is to start a needed-forum, take all the credit - then run for it.)

Anyway, the only thing I could find with a few moments was
this

I am not really looking for how and when to delete posts or ban people.

I am looking for different styles of moderation; the pros and cons of each.
The philosophy of laissez-faire vs The Hammer; what the long term result of each approach can be. Or maybe some new ideas.
The forum I am needing this for is one in which the mods are seriously lacking in free time - maybe I am hoping for confirmation that having the forum self-regulate is going to be adequate.

Your personal thoughts and experiences, of course, will be welcome - but really I am looking for an almost research-quality paper on the topic.
 
As a mod on another aviation forum, all I can say is, "use your judgement." I'm one of a group of moderators working on behalf of an absentee forum owner, working within policies he's set, i.e. no politics, stay on topic, keep it civil. We try to cut people some slack, if a thread goes too far off the rails one of us will issue a friendly reminder, shut the thread down if it doesn't stop, and [only rarely] ban people who continually refuse to get the message.

I've never seen a self regulated forum that didn't self destruct... for an example, see rec.aviation.piloting.
 
I'm a mod on two sportbike forums. My attitude is like **** it dude but don't start an oil thread or argue that clutch up wheelies are better than throttle wheelies but like cole slaw it's all good in the end.
 
Sac Arrow said:
I'm a mod on two sportbike forums. My attitude is like **** it dude but don't start an oil thread or argue that clutch up wheelies are better than throttle wheelies but like cole slaw it's all good in the end.
Click to expand...

I actually am. Really. I'm serious. I mean it. Like that yo.
 
I have been a moderator on and been involved the management group on a few car enthusiast boards. I've also moderated chatrooms in the past...

My biggest advice is to do as little moderation/censoring/banning/etc as possible. The more hands-off you can be the better. If you need to stop someone be apologetic about it and just warn them. People will complain no matter what but being hands-off will minimize this and allow the community to grow more organically.

Also instead of having long lists of rules just have guidelines. Something I find works well is to use the movie ratings... G, PG, PG-13, R, etc just because it's something most people know and basically understand.
 
Sac Arrow said:
I'm a mod on two sportbike forums. My attitude is like **** it dude but don't start an oil thread or argue that clutch up wheelies are better than throttle wheelies but like cole slaw it's all good in the end.
Click to expand...

Clutch wheelies allow you to feel the lift off better. Once you realize a throttle wheelie is coming up too fast, it's almost too late to get out of it.
 
StevieTimes said:
Clutch wheelies allow you to feel the lift off better. Once you realize a throttle wheelie is coming up too fast, it's almost too late to get out of it.
Click to expand...

Certainly with a stock supersport. Pro stunnas use a massive rear sprocket ratio, which smooths out the torque band, making it easier all around. Also, V twins, like Duc Monsters, make particularly good stunt bikes. There is a local guy here that even stunts a Harley.
 
And another half interesting, barely aviation related thread deteriorates into typical poa bs....
 
Perhaps a private conversation with the moderators is a better way to explore this.

This public thread provides the unfortunate excuse to comment on moderation and could be interpreted to be directed at this forums moderators.
 
Sac Arrow said:
Certainly with a stock supersport. Pro stunnas use a massive rear sprocket ratio, which smooths out the torque band, making it easier all around. Also, V twins, like Duc Monsters, make particularly good stunt bikes. There is a local guy here that even stunts a Harley.
Click to expand...

Really I was digging for a reason to say clutch up wheelies were better...

:smilewinkgrin:
:devil: :cornut:
 
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