Question for Captain Ewok

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If you read the moderator paragraph of the TOS it states that if someone has a problem with a moderator or their decisions, then they should contact the admin to review the issue.

So it is now against TOS to openly question a moderator?

I feel like I've stumbled into Soviet Russia

Fair enough, Ewok. It's your site. You've gone and put mod egos ahead the interests of the site, but that's ok. It's still your site

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

The TOS says,

"VisaJourney.com does not actively monitor the use of these "moderation" abilities by Moderators, however if a member disagrees with a Moderators use of these "moderation" abilities they may contact VisaJourney.com and request that the Moderators actions be reviewed. The final decision on whether to reverse or alter a Moderator's action(s) will be decided at the sole discretion of VisaJourney.com. "

The moderators did not say you can not openly critisize them. They said that if you have a problem with a moderation issue then to contact the admin to have it reviewed. The point of this entire thread here is "you questioning a decision by a mod". If that was not allowed I would have closed it and not responded. as you can tell I have done the opposite and gave a very detailed response regarding this issue (see previous posts).

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The point of this entire thread here is "you questioning a decision by a mod". If that was not allowed I would have closed it and not responded. as you can tell I have done the opposite and gave a very detailed response regarding this issue (see previous posts).

Thanks. So then, for the record, questioning a decision openly is allowed. Since I've done it here and you've allowed the thread to remain open.

One of your mods has PMd other members implying such was not allowed. I am glad to know he's wrong.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

The TOS says,

"VisaJourney.com does not actively monitor the use of these "moderation" abilities by Moderators, however if a member disagrees with a Moderators use of these "moderation" abilities they may contact VisaJourney.com and request that the Moderators actions be reviewed. The final decision on whether to reverse or alter a Moderator's action(s) will be decided at the sole discretion of VisaJourney.com. "

The moderators did not say you can not openly critisize them. They said that if you have a problem with a moderation issue then to contact the admin to have it reviewed. The point of this entire thread here is "you questioning a decision by a mod". If that was not allowed I would have closed it and not responded. as you can tell I have done the opposite and gave a very detailed response regarding this issue (see previous posts).

I should note that even the mod replied to you in your thread with a reason for the mod action. They apologized for not getting back to you sooner. The whole point here is that if you disagree with a mod and think that their decision was wrong, the admin is the right person to talk to, to have review the mod action and possible undo it if deemed appropriate.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Sure, but I think there is value to the community being aware of the specific kind of actions that generate mod-reactions. That's why I'd rather do this openly. I've not been rude or confrontational in this thread, I don't see why the assumption has to be made that any thread like this must be.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

The point of this entire thread here is "you questioning a decision by a mod". If that was not allowed I would have closed it and not responded. as you can tell I have done the opposite and gave a very detailed response regarding this issue (see previous posts).

Thanks. So then, for the record, questioning a decision openly is allowed. Since I've done it here and you've allowed the thread to remain open.

One of your mods has PMd other members implying such was not allowed. I am glad to know he's wrong.

An example of that -in an uncalled for and condescending tone- is in your PM box Mike. Please check it out so I can know what's what? thx

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

An example of that -in an uncalled for and condescending tone- is in your PM box Mike. Please check it out so I can know what's what? thx

The condescending tone, lately, has been the norm rather than the exception in mod communications. It wasn't like this when moderation was introduced.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

The point of this entire thread here is "you questioning a decision by a mod". If that was not allowed I would have closed it and not responded. as you can tell I have done the opposite and gave a very detailed response regarding this issue (see previous posts).

Thanks. So then, for the record, questioning a decision openly is allowed. Since I've done it here and you've allowed the thread to remain open.

One of your mods has PMd other members implying such was not allowed. I am glad to know he's wrong.

Well I have specifically told the moderators not to engage in a tic for tac argument wit members on moderation decisions. I told them to refer you directly to the admin to review any decision you feel is wrong. They don't take it personally if I disagree with them and over rule something. That is how we work.

So please do not think if a moderator does not want to openly dispute an issue that they are saying you can not raise concern. They are simply saying that raising your concern is best done by contacting the admin.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

So please do not think if a moderator does not want to openly dispute an issue that they are saying you can not raise concern.

A moderator has PMd a member (maybe more than one) saying threads criticizing mod-actions will be closed.

That is why I think what I think. I am glad you've set the record straight.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

An example of that -in an uncalled for and condescending tone- is in your PM box Mike. Please check it out so I can know what's what? thx

The condescending tone, lately, has been the norm rather than the exception in mod communications. It wasn't like this when moderation was introduced.

If this is true then it can certainly be good to have a teachable situation to show the mods the right way to discuss mod actions with members. I prefer that a "matter of fact" and "political" type language be used.

We are (me too) always open to improving things .

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Thanks, Ewok.

I'm satisfied this thread has served its purpose. Feel free to close if you wish

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

I wanted to make one more comment (I will unlock this thread for replies). Per the TOS moderators are members too. There should not be threads or posts created just to "bash" mods. It is totally ok with people disagreeing with mods however the most productive way that a member can address any concerns that they have with a moderator is to PM or email an admin (as the admin's can review mod decisions to see if they will be changed or left standing). I specifically told moderators to not engage in any "tic for tac" arguments over moderation decisions of policy. That type of engagement on policy and reviewing moderation should be forward to myself. I personally am very thankful for the help the moderators donate for free to VJ and I want to take that type of stress and dump it on me alone.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I wanted to make one more comment (I will unlock this thread for replies). Per the TOS moderators are members too. There should not be threads or posts created just to "bash" mods. It is totally ok with people disagreeing with mods however the most productive way that a member can address any concerns that they have with a moderator is to PM or email an admin (as the admin's can review mod decisions to see if they will be changed or left standing). I specifically told moderators to not engage in any "tic for tac" arguments over moderation decisions of policy. That type of engagement on policy and reviewing moderation should be forward to myself. I personally am very thankful for the help the moderators donate for free to VJ and I want to take that type of stress and dump it on me alone.

You don't pay them?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Per the TOS moderators are members too. There should not be threads or posts created just to "bash" mods.

Ewok,

This thread was created to call out a questionable mod-action. It was not created to "bash", therefore you let it stay open and even participated in it.

Am I to therefore assume that threads like this are ok, as long as the tone doesn't rise to the level of a lynching?

Also, it's recently come to my attention that a mod (I don't know which one) may have deleted all posts of a user (including posts that did not violate TOS) due to a problem with their signature. Do you condone this behavior by a mod, if in fact that is what happened? It's my understanding that you have the ability to edit signatures and that if a mod takes issue with a member signature, you should be the one who acts on it. I don't believe it's appropriate for a mod to simply remove all of that member's posts.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

That was just a mistake. First off ALL their posts they ever made were not removed. Second, Mods can not edit a members signature (only me).

What happened was that the member with the offending signature was not online and the mod thought that the siganture is a part of the posts (while in fact the signature can be edited later and ALL the old posts will be fixed up). So this is just a case of the mod getting used to the moderation tool set and I will let them know. I will edit the signature and "bam!" all the old posts will no longer have the offending item.

This is a perfect example of why I generally prefer people PM me with issues like this. You made it out to sound (and publicly) that the mod has deleted all the members posts because they had an offending signature. Point in case, they temporarily hid several posts to "hide the signature" thinking that this was the only way to fix the issue when I was not online. Not only can the hidden posts be "made visible" again, but once I edit the siggy then all posts will be fixed. This was simply an innocent mistake by the mod and had nothing malicious about it.

I know you use the terms "if" and "in fact if this happened", but the general accusation of the mod still was posted. Now if you would have PM'd me I would have come to the same conclusion and fixed what was a silly goof by a moderator learning how to use the tools. I hope you can see why PM'ing or emailing me for most of these questions is more appropriate.

see next post.

Edited April 1, 2009 by Captain Ewok
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