Automated Suspension/UAV tracking - Page 6

[mamajake]

Originally Posted by abimommy

The main reason is to save moderator time so they can participate more. We actually make people mods because we like their posts. But they get bogged down in "paperwork."

Now I am going to get all offended no one ever asked me to be a mod.

Kidding. Sooooo kidding.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by Flower of Bliss

Good, that's what I was telling myself, but I had to ask. That would certainly be a programming nightmare and generally scary as well, but I imagine it would save the mods time so to speak .

I don't know how it would be possible.

[Theoretica]

Originally Posted by abimommy

I don't know how it would be possible.

Technically it is, there are programs that can 'scan' for specific words or phrases etc. that the admins can put in, and it will auto-flag a post, hold it for moderation, or just delete it and IP ping whoever submitted it. Mostly it's used for swearing etc. though, although it could be a little more 'big brother' than that if used incorrectly.

[Ruthla]

I have sudden visions of half the legitimate posts in MDC getting flagged for containing the words "breast", "penis" and/or "vagina".

[mamajake]

Getting through the three pages of post ya'll wrote while I had dinner , could someone tell me what "GA" stands for? I understand (now) what it is but I have never heard of GAs. Are they identified in some way I have missed?

There have been times I have thought about trying to steer a conversation out of dangerous territory but then stopped myself thinking I would be stepping on the mod's toes. So there is a person I don't know about whose volunteer job it is to do this?

Sorry if my questions are way dumb. I was on MDC for years before I knew what TAO stood for. Many many forums are cyber fly-over states for me. Forums get closed before I know they even exist. I barely knew MDC had a politics forum, for example.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by Theoretica

Technically it is, there are programs that can 'scan' for specific words or phrases etc. that the admins can put in, and it will auto-flag a post, hold it for moderation, or just delete it and IP ping whoever submitted it. Mostly it's used for swearing etc. though, although it could be a little more 'big brother' than that if used incorrectly.

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I have sudden visions of half the legitimate posts in MDC getting flagged for containing the words "breast", "penis" and/or "vagina".

Yeah that is the problem. We talk about vaginas and penises too much.

I can't think of anything we could just flag. I am not sure we have that function available, I haven't looked. It sounds like something that wouldn't work for this board.

[fek&fuzz]

Speaking of UA violations, Abimommy I sent you a PM about 45 minutes ago.

[Theoretica]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I have sudden visions of half the legitimate posts in MDC getting flagged for containing the words "breast", "penis" and/or "vagina".

HAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Well, the mods would be able to customize the program to flag words they want watched for. So I'm doubting those words would be a problem lolol

Originally Posted by mamajake

Getting through the three pages of post ya'll wrote while I had dinner , could someone tell me what "GA" stands for? I understand (now) what it is but I have never heard of GAs. Are they identified in some way I have missed?

There have been times I have thought about trying to steer a conversation out of dangerous territory but then stopped myself thinking I would be stepping on the mod's toes. So there is a person I don't know about whose volunteer job it is to do this?

Sorry if my questions are way dumb. I was on MDC for years before I knew what TAO stood for. Many many forums are cyber fly-over states for me. Forums get closed before I know they even exist. I barely knew MDC had a politics forum, for example.

GA = Granola Ambassador

And my DH is at school tonight so the girls and I have been playing cards in the living room while watching youtube vids. So I've got an excuse....kinda lolol

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by fek&fuzz

Speaking of UA violations, Abimommy I sent you a PM about 45 minutes ago.

Oh dang sorry

[Ruthla]

GA= "Granola Ambassador"

I don't think there's a problem with anybody trying to gently steer threads back on topic or reporting them if they do get out of line. It's just that only "Granola Ambassadors" HAVE TO do so.

[AngelBee]

Originally Posted by fek&fuzz

Speaking of UA violations, Abimommy I sent you a PM about 45 minutes ago.

Just saw you tried to pm me too.

My box is full. : I can't renew my subscription right now. No money.

So email me

[mamajake]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

GA= "Granola Ambassador"

I don't think there's a problem with anybody trying to gently steer threads back on topic or reporting them if they do get out of line. It's just that only "Granola Ambassadors" HAVE TO do so.

How did I never know that? That is hysterical! Is there some way to know who is one?

Thanks for all the help.

[Theoretica]

Originally Posted by mamajake

How did I never know that? That is hysterical! Is there some way to know who is one?

Thanks for all the help.

They are orange (their name, at least) and it says Granola Ambassador under their name, or other Ambassador-y-ish title

[mamajake]

Originally Posted by Theoretica

They are orange (their name, at least) and it says Granola Ambassador under their name, or other Ambassador-y-ish title

Thanks!

[Irishmommy]

Originally Posted by mysticmomma

Crap! I didn't quote myself...

Don't current "transgressions" expire after 12 months? I think the violation stays on the "record" but the warnings/points no longer count.

Originally Posted by abimommy

No the alerts never expired.

Originally Posted by AngelBee

Now I am confused again.

But warnings do?

Butting in here. Alerts for off topic threads in TAO did expire after a year, maybe that is what you are thinking og?

[Irishmommy]

Originally Posted by mysticmomma

OK, so what expires after 12 months? Was that just TAO OT warnings?

Originally Posted by abimommy

Yeah that was TAO OT things.

I should have kept reading.

[Shantimama]

Originally Posted by abimommy

GA commitment isn't really set, we ask the mods for approx five hours a week but of course they take time off when they need it.

I have yet to meet a mod who can control themselves that much - most of us probably spend that much time on MDC in just a day or two! No matter how much other work we have to get done. Not me of course. I never hang out on MDC when I have a paper due or anything like that Five hours a week is it for me. :

[Sierra]

Bear with me. I am a logical-mathematical thinker.

I have been around almost since the inception of these boards, way back before they were "MDC." I moderated for four or five years. I was one of two people considered for the position of Administrator many years ago, back in the days when there was only one Admin position. I helped write the web statement of purpose and parts of the user agreement. I feel I contribute and receive a lot from being here.

That being said, I have no idea if I have points and how many. I have been asked to edit at least once for something minor. Have never been clear if that counts as a warning. Having been a moderator, and having really (I think) helped create the foundation for this place, I am pretty confident I have a very good feel for what is appropriate. It doesn't mean I am perfect, but I do know what is okay and what isn't.

The moderators have to use their discretion in issuing alerts and warnings, which means the system will always involve some bias. In the case of the edit request I remember receiving, though I disagreed with the requested edit (I felt it was a poor use of human discretion), out of a deep sense of respect for our mods, I went ahead and did it rather than pleaing my case.

All that to illustrate the following point:

Originally Posted by aoife

There's a recourse clause right in the UA (scroll to the bottom for the clickable links):

With an automated system, even though the same number of alerts and warnings would cause a person to be banned as prior to automation (overall rules haven't changed), now the human element of discretion is not available through the whole process. It is only available through the time of issuance of alerts and warnings. After that, the system taks over. Thus, at least for me, alerts and warnings seem more frightening.

I could see the automated system saving mods time. On the other hand, I can imagine that more folks will be seeking recourse when they get alerts or warnings because the fear of being knocked out of the system (without human consideration) is there. Doesn't this also take the precious time of volunteers?

I think the notion of being able to disolve points over time is an important one because it reduces fear, thus reduces the number of people who will be inclined to take minor disagreements to "the Kitchen Table."

I do understand that not all points accumulation is alike. That's the argument that is being made toward not having points disolved over time. But that's also an argument for not having an automated system at all-- that not all points accumulation is alike, and that there is always a need for discretion throughout the system.

So as long as we *do* have an automated system, shouldn't it be balanced in automation? If points automatically accumulate toward a banning, shouldn't they also automatically disolve?

I'm assuming that *someone* can override the system on either end. That if someone is banned, an admin could theoretically say, "hey wait a minute, that doesn't make sense in *this* case." Soooooo...then, if a person's points are disolving, but the rate of disolution doesn't make sense for the particular type of accumulation of points, then theoretically an admin could suspend disolution because it doesn't make sense in a *particular* case.

I'm willing to bet that for the vast majority, time *does* heal and people do outgrow many difficult behaviors. It seems like most of us should have the opportunity to come back into the good graces of the "parents" of this board.

I respectfully ask that the decision not to disolve points over time is revisited.

[tayndrewsmama]

Originally Posted by abimommy

Yeah that was TAO OT things.

Was, as in no longer?

[Theoretica]

Originally Posted by Sierra

Bear with me. I am a logical-mathematical thinker.

I have been around almost since the inception of these boards, way back before they were "MDC." I moderated for four or five years. I was one of two people considered for the position of Administrator many years ago, back in the days when there was only one Admin position. I helped write the web statement of purpose and parts of the user agreement. I feel I contribute and receive a lot from being here.

That being said, I have no idea if I have points and how many. I have been asked to edit at least once for something minor. Have never been clear if that counts as a warning. Having been a moderator, and having really (I think) helped create the foundation for this place, I feel I have a very good feel for what is appropriate. The moderators have to use their discretion, which means the system will always involve some bias. Though I disagreed with the requested edit (I felt it was a poor use of human discretion), out of a deep sense of respect for our meds, I went ahead and did it rather than making my case.

All that to illustrate the following point:



Without an automated system, even though the same number of alerts and warnings would cause a person to be banned, the human element of discretion is not available through the whole process. It is only available through the alerts and warnings. After that, the system taks over. Thus, at least for me, I'd be a lot more afraid when issued an alert or warning.

I could see the automated system saving mods time. On the other hand, I can imagine that more folks will be seeking recourse when they get alerts or warnings because the fear of being knocked out of the system is there. Doesn't this also take the precious time of volunteers?

I think the notion of being able to disolve points over time is an important one because it reduces fear, thus reduces the number of people who will be inclined to take minor disagreements to "the Kitchen Table."

I do understand the point that not all points accumulation is alike. That's the argument that is being made toward not having points disolved over time. But that's also an argument for not having an automated system at all-- that not all points accumulation is alike, and that there is always a need for discretion throughout the system.

So as long as we *do* have an automated system, shouldn't it be balanced in automation? If points automatically accumulate toward a banning, shouldn't they also automatically disolve?

I'm assuming that *someone* can override the system on either end. That if someone is banned, an admin could theoretically say, "hey wait a minute, that doesn't make sense in *this* case." Soooooo...then, if a person's points are disolving, but the rate of disolution doesn't make sense for the particular type of accumulation of points, then theoretically an admin could suspend disolution because it doesn't make sense in a *particular* case.

I'm willing to bet that for the vast majority, time *does* heal and people do outgrow many difficult behaviors. It seems like most of us should have the opportunity to come back into the good graces of the "parents" of this board.

I respectfully ask that the decision not to disolve points over time is revisited.

My understanding though is that the decision to warn/alert someone is done by a human. The computer program simply keeps the tally and 'flips the switch' once a certain number are reached. The program doesn't decide who to warn or for what purpose. Frankly, if someone manages to get to 27 warnings and gets permanantly banned...it's not like they weren't warned beforehand.

ITA about having one alert at a time 'expire' if there are no further violations after 3/6/9/12/whatever months. I don't think they should ALL expire at the same time, I think it should take longer to 'heal' them...especially when someone has more than one for whatever reason.

If you don't mind me asking, why aren't you a mod anymore? Clearly it's none of my business, so feel free to not answer or decline, I won't be offended, I'm just curious?