Secret Moderators

[ABSpareEditor]

I would like to acknowledge that there are some accounts that have been created by our moderators, to help them control the community, without breaking their normal identity.

Having multiple AnswerBank accounts is against site rules. However, these accounts have been approved by the Editors.

These moderators will be added to this thread, and you should give them as much respect as you would give to an Editor.

If you are a moderator, and would like to have one of these accounts, please send us an email.

[pixie374]

I agree they need to be rewritten. It can't be right that 9 mods might leave a post, but the 10th removes it.

[jim360]

Let's hope it never happens again, roadman :P

[jim360]

// It can't be right that 9 mods might leave a post, but the 10th removes it. //

How often does this happen, though? Mods presumably don't record "negative action". Maybe many didn't even look, or maybe they only briefly looked but were too busy engaged in the argument. Maybe, as andy hughes has suggested, they set some personal boundary to the effect of "I am involved in this discussion and therefore will not moderate it for fear of bias". Maybe there's an additional context that the tenth saw, or was aware of, that the others missed.

By all means, though, feel free to come up with a suggested rewrite that covers all cases so that there is no room for subjectivity in moderation. Still, the very fact that we're having this debate ought to be enough to show that there is scope for interpretation even between rational people.

[pixie374]

- no spam
- no adverts
-no named personal attacks.

[naomi24]

Expecting uniform standards for the removal of abusive posts is a waste of time. It's never going to happen because all too often posts are removed not because of what's been said but rather because of who said it. Some insult with impunity.

[ABSpareEditor]

"Ab Editor - Are our comments being read? If so, will there be any further feedback?"

Yes, the comments are being read. We may give further feedback, but to be honest, I think this has already gone on longer than it should have. This thread was to acknowledge that the "SecretMod" was in fact a moderator and not a troll.

The moderator got praised on the thread so we thought this would be a welcome change.

[pixie374]

The only way to genuinely avoid that- would be to remove usernames and use times only. I wouldn't go that far. Sly digs and frustration will happen anywhere online.

[jno]

It can't be right that 9 mods might leave a post, but the 10th removes it.

it could be, given that opinions differ. But as long as the Eds review all deletions and can restore them as they see fit, I don't think this is going to be a big deal.

As to how many mods leave a post - well, no way of telling, is there? Once in a while a mod might flag up a post for the Eds to look at, without actually removing it himself/herself, but I would have thought this was rare. So those 9 mods are straw men, we'll never know if they exist.

[Zacs-Master]

Thanks Ab Editor.

[pixie374]

Exactly jno, it only takes one.

[Peter Pedant]

“There are more opinions in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
that IS Shakespeare but slapped around a bit....

and to my mind explains why 9 leave and the 10th zaps.

[Zacs-Master]

'So those 9 mods are straw men, we'll never know if they exist.'

All the Secret Mods are, I understand, to be called SM1, SM2, Sm3...... so if it goes to SM10, we know, in theory, that there are another 9.

[jno]

but that one is always subject to review, Pixie. Which is fair because the Ed is ultimately responsible for the site.

I've had a few posts removed over the years and often been left wondering why. But I've never objected, questioned, or even worried about it. So an opinion of mine is no longer on the internet - so much the worse for the internet, but I'm a grown up, I can cope.

[ABSpareEditor]

There are 16 moderators in total, not including the Editors. Our moderators don't get paid. It's a voluntary and thankless task.

[pixie374]

Me too, jno- but as it appears "customers" are asking for transparency and fairness... "secret mods" and no guarantee of which number rule was broken- except another opinion, makes no sense.

[Peter Pedant]

we have had Shakespeare, Churchill and Tolstoy
but what about
Josef K awoke. There was a man beside his bed. " This is the day you are erazed".
"Why? what have I done?" Josef Z asked. "The Secret Mods know...."
"No, who are they." Josef asked. "They know you and what you have done." the man said, now come with us

Shakie it isnt, but not bad for Kafka !

[pixie374]

Nobody knows who to thank or not thank... it's a secret.

[gulliver1]

I had a post removed yesterday for no reason at all by an over zelous School Prefect, or milk monitor.

[jno]

the thing is, Pixie, I suspect mods look at the ordure poured on other mods for their supposed elitism, favouritism, bias, personal grudges etc etc etc and think to themselves "If my identity is ever made public I will retire instantly as a mod."

When that happens, the site will be waist-deep in spam for ever.

[THECORBYLOON]

Some folk have been suspended multiple times under more than one username but are here still.

If they think genuinely, that the system is skewed against them, why do they keep returning?