Hi, I agree that longer threads tend to be less abusive, but I don't like our chances of being able to come up with an algorithm that achieves what Forrest suggests, unfortunately. There does tend to be an ethos on this forum of longer threads.

Severin, Susan has never that I can recall moderated this forum. The division of labour is that she does the journal and I do the forum. She is on holidays at the moment so I am doing both. Fortunately she has left me well-supplied with articles.

CJ did score some time out as well.

Pat, I'm not sure who would regard being moderator as a "promotion". I feel a little like the little red hen. ;-) One thing that would be nice would be a button allowing the moderator to close a thread. I think this one has come to its conclusion, which is why we are now running a book club here.

Some others might be better closed because if left open they invite abuse.

Aha.. well there is a reform though from GY.

Closing debate down after a 'certain point'.

How about the originator of the thread is asked if they feel it has served its purpose, by GY, and if they agree, close it down?

That is a good idea TBC. Many a time we can see the originator of a topic willing the debate to end.

Graham, why don't you approach OLO members you feel have the right skills/approach and the time to assist you in moderation even if only for one/two days per week to alleviate your workload.

The helper/s could use the moniker 'Moderator1', 'Moderator2' etc or they may be willing to keep their user name for the purpose - I am not sure what would work best from your POV. Perhaps even one of your regular contributors might fit the bill.

So, a high level of moderation with a low workload for Graham is all very simple, is it not?

OLO has got a good bunch of regular 'community policing' posters who would cover just about all threads between them on a daily basis.

These posters would be strongly inclined to do their bit to uphold the high standard of OLO by hitting the red cross at the bottom of any suspect post, rather than to be reluctant to do so for the fear of being a ‘dobber’, or the preference of letting someone else do it, or holding the belief that if a post is illegal, someone else has probably already reported it. At any rate, their ‘dobbing’ activities will remain confidential and only known to Graham.

Isn’t it just a simple matter of promoting the fact that there is a little red cross at the base of every post and that every poster should use it if they feel that a post infringes the rules?

I wonder how many posters actually don’t even realise what that red cross is there for?

Graham’s workload might increase initially, but once the ‘culture’ of strong moderation, upheld by vigilant posters (or actually, just normal posters undertaking a normal duty of care), is established to the extent that just about everyone realises that if they muck up, they WILL be pinged for it, the workload will drop right off, with only the occasional newbie or old drongo putting up unacceptable posts.

A couple of other things need to go with it –

1. Well-defined rules and regulation that matches them.

2. A record of infringing posters and their warnings/suspensions kept by Graham so that harsher punishment can be meted out for further infringements and warnings rather than suspensions can be given to first-time offenders.

Graham, I've not been following this closely but just got back to a skim of most of what I've missed.

"was only aware there was a problem half way through the war,"

I know it can be used differently but a rename of the recommend for deletion button might help. I've used it a couple of times to draw your attention to a thread which I think you need to look at but where I don't think the particular post needs deletion.

I've never much liked using a button labeled as recommend for deletion for that purpose.

I don't know how pedantic others are about the label but it does leave me reluctant to use it for more general purposes.

R0bert

Hey r0bert I bet you have never walked across the road unless the little man is green.