Members and Staff Moderation: Public or Private

[Shawn Gossman]

Do you moderate in the public, private, or both?

Moderation includes warning, suspending, and banning members for various violations. It also means getting a topic back on topic, splitting topics, and closing topics.

Some moderation needs to take place in the public like explaining why a topic was locked after a toxic argument. But some would say that most moderation actions need to be private like warning members for violating the rules.

Some forum staff publicly warn members. Some feel that is a good practice while others think it leads to more issues and problem members.

How do you feel about moderating a forum in the public vs. the private? What is your take and practice?

 

[Heatman]

There are some situations where part of the moderation should be carried out publicly. For example, in a forum where two members are having a serious misunderstanding which derails the topic, they can both be cautioned to keep it civil and remain on topic.

Personally, I don't believe any topic should be locked when discussions haven't been exhausted on the subject. If they don't heed the caution, they should be moderated from posting until everything is resolved in DM. I won't cut off others from engaging in a topic because two people decide to be stupid.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Personally, I don't believe any topic should be locked when discussions haven't been exhausted on the subject. If they don't heed the caution, they should be moderated from posting until everything is resolved in DM. I won't cut off others from engaging in a topic because two people decide to be stupid.

I agree with this.

I really try my hardest not to lock topics unless there isn't a need for discussion in them like how to use a specific board or a policy.

I'd rather deal with the troublemakers directly than indirectly and ruin the discussion for everyone.

 

[Heatman]

I agree with this.

I really try my hardest not to lock topics unless there isn't a need for discussion in them like how to use a specific board or a policy.

I'd rather deal with the troublemakers directly than indirectly and ruin the discussion for everyone.

Seriously, I don't understand it when some forum owners do that or allow their staff (mod) do it. What sense does it make that two people having misunderstanding in a topic are bigger then every other members interested in discussing on the subject? I saw that happen a lot of time on VGR years ago which had me totally disappointed.