ITT: Mod Manuals

The Cadet · Jun 8, 2009

Do you have a manual for your moderators to follow? Let's see what you got!

Tom · Jun 8, 2009

No, though I once had one for GorillaNet, I'll have to dig it up.

I'll show you it, for sure.

Nick · Jan 10, 2014

Moderator Expectations: (borrowed from somewhere with a mix of my own)

This Moderator Information guide is a document designed to outline the roles and expectations of Moderators, and keys to becoming a successful moderator.Please take the time to thoroughly read and understand the context.
What is a moderator?

At a forum, someone entrusted by the administrator to "moderate" discussions within the guidelines .

To "moderate" the discussions is to remove any violating content and to ensure the site remains friendly, fun, and safe.

Being a moderator is a job taken on by volunteering forum members. Although you are volunteering, you must adhere to the moderator guidelines and expectations.

Moderator Expectations:
As stated above, being a moderator is a volunteered responsibility. Therefore, you always have the right to dismiss yourself from your position. Always keep this in mind.

Interest in the forum. All moderators are firstly and most importantly expected to show and exhibit an active interest in the forum. You've gotta be excited! This means that you exhibit good amounts of posting, energy and presence. Sincere interest exhibits itself through your posts and presence. If a moderator is seen to begin losing interest in the site, whereby through diminished posting and presence, we would ask that they then realize this and request that they assess their active role here as a moderator. Moderators must realize that the role of an ideal moderator is an active one and is based entirely upon an active presence. If your interest begins to change, please be honest about your role and how this affects our expectations of you as a moderator and speak to an Admin as soon as you can about your situation. In short: be active, post a lot, and maintain interest and excitement. (See later on regarding breaks and your real-life interruptions)

Comportment as a moderator - Moderator comportment (behavior) must be exemplary if not model and ideal. Moderators are expected to follow the rules regarding behavior and attitude that reflects well on the site, and sets an example for all of the community to follow. Especially when dealing or posting on other sites regarding any of the subject matter that our own site deals with, the "hat" of moderators never comes off and all moderators should see themselves as diplomats of our community, bearing in mind that all actions and posts that they produce elsewhere are a reflection of the honor code and reputation of The Linnie Forum.

Knowledge of the Rules and enforcement. Moderators are expected to know the rules. They are also expected to enforce the rules diligently and fairly while preserving the dignity of members and upholding the friendly tone of our community.

Courage and compassion is key here. It's easy to point out a broken rule, but much more of a challenge to do it diplomatically while preserving the dignity of a member. A friendly but firm pat on the back shows members what they've done that was against our rules, but also gives them the message that we value their patronage and their continued presence on our boards. Let's look for as many win-wins as possible! .

Encouragements:

Welcomes. We strongly encourage all moderators to be aware of all new member registrations and to warmly welcome them to the site. This is a great way to make the introduction of yourself as a moderator and shows hospitality and warm wishes to new and nervous members who make that first introductory post. This may be taken so far as to send out a personal PM to a new member if something in their profile interests you personally and express a personal welcome this way.

Motivating. We encourage all members of the team to motivate the community regarding posting and presence. Ways in which this can be done is to look for posts made by shy and/or rare posters. Applaud their efforts, find constructive comments that encourage their initiative and this will inspire them in their roles as contributors.

Projects. As the site's content is intensely community driven, we encourage all members of the Staff Team to post ideas and/or projects that they think may add to the content and/or energy of the site. Projects like this can help us all maintain interest in the site, it's direction and further growth.

Click to expand...

Moderator Procedures Guide:

In order to properly enforce the rules, you need to know and understand them: Lineolated Parakeet Forum - Forum Rules.
Please read them and be sure to let me know if you have any questions or misunderstandings.
As the forum Staff Members, our goal is to ensure that the forum is free of hatred, obscenity, or rudeness and is safe, fun and friendly for all.
Some of your tasks as a moderator are the following:

Approve (or deny) the first two posts of new members (This is a Spam-Prevention)

Edit or remove posts, visitor messages (on profiles), social group messages, or any other user-submitted content that is in violation of the rules.

Move posts or threads into the proper location when necessary.

Warn or Infract users who violate rules. This may eventually lead to a ban or other form of punitive action on the user’s account.

Ensure that threads remain peaceful and mature by offering public reminders in threads when things appear to begin to get out-of-hand.

Assist members with using forum features as well as any other customer-service duties (this includes welcoming all new members in their Introduction thread).

Keep the forum active by posting in threads and discussions.

Promote the forum throughout the internet (when and where permitted) while continuing to maintain the forum’s positive image.

Anything else that you feel will benefit the forum and that I may have left out.

Below are the procedures/steps to follow when you encounter a variety of situations.

Removing a thread that violates the rules

Click "Thread Tools" above the first post

Select "Trash Thread" at the bottom of the pop-up menu

Click "Perform Action"

You are then redirected to the thread which is now in the Trash Can.

Warn or Infract the user accordingly

Removing a post that -- in its entirety -- violates the rules

Tick the checkbox in the upper-right corner of the post(s) that need to be removed

Scroll down to the area below the last post on the page and locate the "Moderation" drop-down menu

Select "Move Post" and click "Go"

On the next page, choose to move the post to the Trash Can forum and click "Move Posts"

You are then redirected to the post(s) in the Trash Can

Warn or Infract the user accordingly

Editing a post to remove content that violates a rule

Copy the URL of the page where the post that needs to be removed is on.

Tick the checkbox in the upper-right corner of the post that needs to be edited.

Scroll down to the area below the last post on the page and locate the "Moderation" drop-down menu

Select "Copy Post" and click "Go"

On the next page, choose to copy the post the Trash Can forum in its own thread and click "Copy Posts".

You are then redirected to the post(s) in the Trash Can. You need to make a post in that thread that includes the link to the public version of the post that you will now edit. (Just paste the URL you copied in Step #1)

Navigate to the public version of the post you just edited. (The URL you copied in Step #1)

Click "Edit".

Delete the content that needs to be removed from the post and Save it.

Warn or Infract the user accordingly (from the post on the public forum)

Warning and Infracting Users

You must always issue your infractions and warnings throught the infraction system.

A warning simply means the user is being warned. No infraction points are issued, and no punitive action is imposed.

If it is not a warning, then it is an actual infraction. In that case, points will be issued and the member will be punished accordingly. The punitive action varies depending on the rule that was violated (See the Infractions section of the forum rules).

Click the red/yellow card image in the post that violates the rule (.)

NOTE: In some cases, an unmodified version of the post will be in the Trash Can, and the censored version will be in the public forum. If this is the case, issue the infraction from the post in the Trash Can.

DO NOT issue the infraction from the Member's profile

Choose the rule or guideline that they have violated. (If it isn't an option, choose the custom infraction choice. Enter a reason and a point value (see the Infraction section of the forum rules to get an idea as to how many points the infraction should be worth). If you enter a custom infraction, set it to expire in 42 days.)

If you want it to be only a warning, tick the box in the "Warning" column. (If you are using a custom infraction, you make it a warning by entering a value of 0 points). Otherwise just leave the warning box unticked.

If the infraction you are giving is worth 2 points or more, you must enter a ban reason in the box titled "Ban Reason". Something brief is fine (e.g. Violation of Rule # ___)

Enter an administrative note (if you wish)

Enter a message to be sent to the user (See "Sending Messages to Users")

Click "Give Infraction"

Then, a thread will automatically be created in the staff sub-forum titled "User Infractions and Discussions", which is where any follow-up discussion of the matter will take place.

Moving Threads

Click "Thread Tools" above the first post

Click "Move Thread"

Click "Perform Action"

Choose the appropriate forum to move it to

Leave an "Expiring Redirect" that expires in 2 days.

Post in the thread stating that it was moved to the ____ forum.

You can move threads en masse by viewing the forum in which the threads reside. Then tick the box on the far right of each entry that needs to be moved. Scroll down to below the thread list and in the Moderation drop-down menu, choose to Move Threads.
Opening and Closing threads
Feel free to close threads as you deem necessary. You can even close a thread that is getting out of hand and re-open it a few days later.

Click "Thread Tools" above the first post

Click "Close thread"

Click "Perform Action"

Sticking Threads
Sticking a thread means it will always remain at the top of the thread list inside of a forum, regardless of if it is "bumped" with replies. Feel free to stick threads that you see fit. Threads that are very informative or contain a wealth of information make for great Sticky threads.

Click "Thread Tools" above the first post

Click "Stick Thread" (or "Unstick Thread" if that's what you're doing)

Click "Perform Action"

Merge Threads
You can merge two threads if necessary. This isn't done often, but just use your judgement and use it if you find it necessary.

Click "Thread Tools" above the first post

Click "Merge Threads"

Click "Perform Action"

Follow the prompts

Merge Posts

In the thread where the posts are, click the checkbox in the upper-right corner of the posts to be merged

Scroll down to the area below the last post on the page and locate the "Moderation" drop-down menu

Select "Merge Posts" and click "Go".

Follow the prompts.

Managing Commercial Spam
This is ONLY for use when the post is a commercial-spam message. Click here for an example. If you are not positive it is commercial spam, please do not proceed, as the following steps will permanently delete the post and ban the user.

Tick the box in the upper right corner of the Spam post

Go down to the "Moderation" drop-down menu and select "Delete Post as Spam", and click "Go".

On the following page, tick the following boxes:

Delete other posts and threads started by the affected users

Send data to Anti-Spam Service

Physically Remove -- Reason: Spam

Ban These Users

{Proceed}

The username (should already be ticked)

Place Banned Users into: Banned Users

Lift Ban: Permanent - Never Lift Ban

Ban Reason: Spam

Click "Ban User".

Approving Content
As previously stated, the first two posts of new members must be approved by a moderator before appearing publicly. Some Visitor Messages and Social Group messages must be approved as well. When an item is in the moderation queue (waiting to be approved), the Welcome Block (located on the top right corner of the forum) will flash various colors. Clicking "Your Notifications" will open a drop-down menu listing all items that need your attention. Click the appropriate one and approve threads that adhere to the rules. If it does not adhere to the rules, move it to the Trash Can, approve it, and infract the user accordingly.

Sending Messages to Users
When sending a message to a user (usually a warning or infraction)(which must be done through the Infraction System), you need to be sure to include a few key points.

Thread or Post has been edited or removed

Violates a rule

Quote specific rule

Link to the forum rules

Ask if you have any quetions

Thank for cooperation

Any additional explanation or personalization you would like to include.

Some notes

Every post that is in violation of a rule must be given a warning or infraction using the forum's infraction system. Simply sending a warning PM to the user does not fulfill my requirement to maintain strict records. When you issue a warning or infraction, you will have the opportunity to include a message.

When you make a public moderator note/comment in a thread, please use the special moderator text. To use this, highlight (with your mouse/cursor) the text you need to distinguish, then click the blue “M” on the editor toolbar (.) which should add “[MOD]” to the beginning of your text and “[/MOD]” to the end.

Click to expand...

It's probably a bit sloppy and full of errors, but that's because I put it together as time went on and things were needed.
It's also supposed to be very detailed and in-depth, as my niche isn't one that is full of technically-competent users.

The Cadet · Jun 9, 2009

That is one long manual.

Mine is still a work in process (yes this thread was shameless idea-gathering :V)... But here's what I have so far.

# Read the mod lounge and the metaboard.
Seriously, this is important. If there's a new post in the mod lounge, I want you to read it. If you don't understand it, ask about it. New posts in reports: read 'em. New posts in help desks: check if they're in yours, then do as you wish if they aren't. New post in the main metaboard: act like the average member should and just read it. Same with SYM.
# Be careful when giving out warnings and infractions.
We want to be nice and friendly. Watch out when giving warnings and infractions. If it isn't serious, just PM the member and remind them nicely about what is going on.
# Don't modtext other mods.
It makes us look weak in the eyes of our enemies (okay, not really, but it could lead to resentment) if we turn against each other. Inform a higher-up of the problem (if it's a mod, tell a GM or Admin, if it's a GM, tell an admin, and if it's an admin, tell me so that I can stop being a douche on time. )
# Be an example.
You are the people who show the members how they are supposed to act. Friendly, with humor, with grace. Don't let yourself get drawn too deep into potentially dangerous arguments, don't break rules, etc.
# Be Active.
Biggie. You want to be around a lot. It ensures that you know what's going on all the time. If you aren't active enough, we will prod you once, ask what's going on. If we have to prod you again without an increase in activity, we will be forced to remove you from the team.
# If you post somewhere else in the same niche, link back in your sig
Unless it's forbidden, do it. Or extendo, or something. Spread the word about us. Same with mafia forums-link to our mafia section. This is the best way to get publicity. This goes doubly if you are influential somewhere (*cough* psi *cough* kpaca *cough* ).
Click to expand...

I gotta work on it somewhat... Most of the mods know their normal forum duties, but I should probably go over that more too...

Chris · Jun 9, 2009

Mine is actually quite similar to Nick's - I'll post it shortly.

The Cadet · Jun 9, 2009

You do run the same forum, after all... :V

Nick · Jun 9, 2009

The Cadet said:

You do run the same forum, after all... :V
Click to expand...

Mine was from my personal forum. Most of the time when I'm answering threads here about my techniques, procedures, etc., my answers are based off of other forums I run or have ran; not this one.

It's a long manual because it is supposed to cover instructions for every scenario that moderators encounter.

The Cadet · Jun 9, 2009

It was a joke.

Nick · Jun 9, 2009

The Cadet said:

It was a joke.
Click to expand...

Well I'm just clarifying for any others who may be confused as you seemed to be.

ITT: Mod Manuals

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