we need an official moderator - come in to discuss

MamaFantastic · August 2013

first off, start by reading the KCCO thread if you haven't already done so, linked below:

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12050753/kcco

as was discussed in there, it seems like a good idea to get a mod going for this board, as we've clearly seen our fair share of drama and inappropriate posts already. i get the impression mods are often chosen after a board is a bit "older", but i wonder if our board might be an exception and require someone sooner. i'm hoping to hear from you guys about this.

according to the TTGP mod in the post above, we should probably nominate or vote on a person (two people, maybe? we are all still in our first trimester, after all...) and send that nomination to Bump Jackie via email. hopefully after that point, we can have a moderating presence here that can help calm the storms as they arise.

so my proposal:

1) we should talk about whether or not this is the right time to choose a mod. we're getting to know one another, but we're nowhere near a "tight" board yet. that kind of dynamic can only develop with time.

2) if we agree to choose one now, i think we should keep the nominations in a SEPARATE nomination thread, not in this one. that just seems cleaner all around, and less confusing.

3) if we get to that nomination point and there are some clear favorites (based on how many people clicked "love it" maybe??) we can make a THIRD post with the actual nominees and people can vote privately so the process is a bit more democratic.

i'm by no means the rule maker here, but i'm tossing these suggestions out as a jumping off point, and we can see what the board as a whole thinks and wants.

GeorgiaWife12 · August 2013

I definitely think this is a great idea. We've already had a whole lotta crazy and I dont think it's going to get any better.

AcaAwkward · August 2013

I think it's a very good idea, and I also think 2 mods might be best since we're so early on in the BMB journey.

thomas930 · August 2013

This all sounds great and if we could get 2 that would be helpful.

sadurnba18 · August 2013

I agree, but I think it may be a bit early for that...maybe in a few weeks?

ichamommy · August 2013

Moderator? I'm not a frequent blogger or chat room person... In just here for advice and a community. Please explain...

SeattleMomma · August 2013

It must be too early for me because I'm sooo confused right now.

amhah09 · August 2013

I think it's too early. I know we've had some issues but I think it's jumping the gun. I like a lot of people here but I don't "know" anyone well enough to elect them into a mod position.

Andrewsgal · August 2013

I think it is too early. Statistically we will loose quite a few more people. I also don't feel like we know people well enough yet. Mods have powers on other boards so I think if we need one right now for a certain post we can essentially borrow one until we get our own.

junebug1027 · August 2013

I think it is a little early, but I would rather have someone from the group and not one appointed to us. I worry that because it is early the chance of loss is greater right now and I think it would be twice as hard to tell the board as a mod. All that being said, I think it is a smart idea to have co-mods. Hopefully the board wouldn't pick two crazies

SeattleMomma · August 2013

What's KKCO and MOD mean?

Mamamonzo · August 2013

I agree lets pick two for now! We need someone to start being able to weed out our crazies

Andrewsgal · August 2013

I think people also need to realize even though we have had a lot of crazies very few have been against TOS where a mod could actually step in.

Kellijo1218 · August 2013

Perhaps we could act as adults, and pass over any comments we don't care for? It's not necessary that we engage in the banter. This is a blog- for expecting mothers (one of life's most precious miracles) and were talking about the need to have a moderator?! I, for one, signed up on the bump to be able to share experiences and learn what to expect; instead i feel like ive joined an episode of jerry springer. Can someone tell me what would be so awful about just ignoring a comment you don't like?

MamaFantastic · August 2013

aronie82 said:

I disagree. I think it's too early. I don't know people well yet. And I definitely don't know anyone well enough to pick who can be impartial in a debate.

there's no debating involved in a moderator's job. i suppose it would have been a good idea to explain what (i think..) they do. moderators are responsible for making sure users are following the rules the bump posts (so things like no defamatory language, no hate speech, no revealing personal information about another user, no spamming, no advertising your own business, etc). the moderator does NOT moderate discussions or tell squabbling members to settle down, etc.

i believe moderators probably also have the ability to make a post sticky or possibly to close posts from new responses, but i'm not positive. i know they can delete entire posts outright because we've seen it happen here. it's possible they might be able to delete or edit individual answers too.

can someone find a place online where the bump talks about the official responsibilities of a mod?

SeattleMomma · August 2013

Yes that sounds good then. ^^

nikki912 · August 2013

I'm not sure if we really know each other well enough to choose someone and trust them with that job. However if it is decided we need one now I vote for getting 2.

amhah09 · August 2013

Like PP said though. Very few of our crazies have violated TOS. I don't want someone playing mod on the board who gets DD happy. I'm glad the TTGP mod came over and deleted that asshattery from the other day but even still it wasn't violating TOS. And as she said in the KCCO thread there are people even abusing the flagging feature. I think it's too early for a mod. Even if there's two.

SeattleMomma · August 2013

Thank you ma'am!

Serenla · August 2013

Well, it is not uncommon to have more than one mod. My old BMB had two. As for it being too early well, I'm on the fence about this one.

Barihoop · August 2013

I was on The Nest's facebook forum when they shut down their apps. We went rogue after that and started our own private forum, where I modded for a while.

From day one on Weddingbook, The Nest, and Mommyhood (the TK, TN, TB fb apps), there were multiple mods (as well as admins). Period. I don't really understand how a forum is supposed to function smoothly without one, especially a forum comprised of 100% women, all of whom are either pregnant and hormonal, hoping to become pregnant and hormonal, or psychotically pretending to be pregnant and hormonal.

I don't know about on TB, but IME, mods can indeed make threads sticky and close them to new responses, they can suspend and ban users for violating TOS, they can issue official warnings to specific users or on threads in general (e.g. warning someone for violating TOS or warning the whole of the forum for allowing a thread to spin out of control), they can delete offending threads (or threads where the OP wants to DD for a valid reason), or delete just specific offending posts within threads.

Generally, there is more than one mod to balance the power and not allow anyone to think they are in charge, or act on a bias (although that can happen, anyway, if the mods are like-minded). Ultimately, it comes down to judgment calls about what is best for the community.

IMHO, it's way past time. Close group or not.

TallaB · August 2013

If its too early...and we vote someone in...can we vote to take them out later??

Barihoop · August 2013

TallaB said:

If its too early...and we vote someone in...can we vote to take them out later??

This is a good question. I think that sounds fair.

mrscrcalli · August 2013

I'm in! We need one and one that understands what the duties are..
Also someone that's going to be able to use good judgment based in a logical not necessarily emotional place. Who can use common sence which is not to common anymore..

thomas930 · August 2013

aronie82 said:

@Kellijo1218 very well said. My thoughts exactly. @spasticfantastic I read the rules. I absolutely believe that one would need to be impartial in a debate because a mod would have to decide when a person crosses the line from a healthy debate to flaming and harassment. There are already cliques in this chat room and I don't want to lose the ability to vent and gain information because I made a new post when there was one 10 pages back.

@aronie82

I don't think anyone is talking about deleting threads that involve things that have been asked before or controlling the board, but rather ending the harassment that has happened over the last few days. Those trolls clearly crossed the line and hurt a lot of people and in my opinion, needed to be taken care of a lot sooner then what they were...that's what has brought this all up anyways.

MamaFantastic · August 2013

aronie82 said:

@spasticfantastic I read the rules. I absolutely believe that one would need to be impartial in a debate because a mod would have to decide when a person crosses the line from a healthy debate to flaming and harassment. There are already cliques in this chat room and I don't want to lose the ability to vent and gain information because I made a new post when there was one 10 pages back.

you're basically writing the job description of a good mod! sure, people will naturally gravitate toward other specific people or groups - that's to be expected. that happens in real life too. but the whole point of a board putting a vote of confidence in a person or a small group of people (whether now or in 2 or 6 months from now) is that there's an understood expectation that the person's "allegiances" to certain members of the board would not influence the person's ability to look objectively at posts and users and evaluate the behavior against the TOS, and NOT against personal preferences, prejudices or past interactions.

mrscrcalli · August 2013

In order to save time I think we can just put a bow on this whole thing.. I vote for @spasticfantastic =D>

MamaFantastic · August 2013

totally 100% not interested in the job, but thank you!

mrscrcalli · August 2013

spasticfantastic said:
totally 100% not interested in the job, but thank you!

Well then those who are interested need to come forward and put their name in then have a thread that takes those in a poll as everyone can vote.

VABride2008 · August 2013

I think it's too early. While one could have been useful in some situations that have come to light on the board in the past few weeks; I personally can't think of one person that would be a good mod at this time (I just don't "know" anyone at this point). The board really seems split to me and I'm not sure people can truly be impartial at this point. It seems like emotions have been running high around here and like it or not, cliques have started. I like the idea of a mod from another board stepping in when needed; but I just don't think we've been together long enough to be able to truly vote someone in.

fireflygirl12 · August 2013

Can someone re-cap the deleted thread for me? Aside from that thread (since I don't know what happened), I think there have been some heated debates and some really dumb people, but I don't think there have been a lot of TOU violations. I think we really need a Mod once things are regularly being appropriately flagged (not just for dislike). At that point, I would think that @bumpjackie would tell us we need a Mod.

amhah09 · August 2013

After this post sits for a while and everyone (or majority of the board) has a chance to see it, can we have a poll thread that just simply has "too soon for a moderator at this point" and "I'll vote for two moderators now" as options? No special snowflakes. It's either too soon or we get two people.

MamaFantastic · August 2013

fireflygirl12 said:

Can someone re-cap the deleted thread for me? Aside from that thread (since I don't know what happened), I think there have been some heated debates and some really dumb people, but I don't think there have been a lot of TOU violations. I think we really need a Mod once things are regularly being appropriately flagged (not just for dislike). At that point, I would think that @bumpjackie would tell us we need a Mod.

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12052388/wtf-happened

Andrewsgal · August 2013

People are missing the point. Mods don't stop the crazy or stupid. The only reason the one thread was deleted was because it was an AE. The other things that have been posted while stupid and offensive are not against TOU and would not have been deleted or shut down. A mod is not a babysitter making sure everyone plays nice. They are to make sure ToU are followed. It is it going to stop people from getting their feelings hurt.

JulianneJacks · August 2013

If we pick a mod now it should be someone w a history on The Bump - like Sunlavendar or RRDiva. I have seen them for the past year on TTGP and I will vouch that they aren't cray. Basically my vote is if we pick someone now it should be someone that people are familiar with.

figgs0831 · August 2013

Agreed about needing a mod! Definitely 2 for the beginning since it is so early.

mrscrcalli · August 2013

JulianneJacks said:
If we pick a mod now it should be someone w a history on The Bump - like Sunlavendar or RRDiva. I have seen them for the past year on TTGP and I will vouch that they aren't cray. Basically my vote is if we pick someone now it should be someone that people are familiar with.

Well being that most of us have been on here for 8 weeks max I can't imagine the majority of us know people for the past year.. I have no idea who the two people you mentioned are so I'm not comfortable with that either.. It should be someone who knows the A14ers not just someone who is a Bump Vet. IMO.

BumpJackie · August 2013

Hi everyone,

If you would like to recommend someone or volunteer to be a moderator -- please email community@thebump.com

amhah09 · August 2013

mrscrcalli said:

JulianneJacks said:
If we pick a mod now it should be someone w a history on The Bump - like Sunlavendar or RRDiva. I have seen them for the past year on TTGP and I will vouch that they aren't cray. Basically my vote is if we pick someone now it should be someone that people are familiar with.
Well being that most of us have been on here for 8 weeks max I can't imagine the majority of us know people for the past year.. I have no idea who the two people you mentioned are so I'm not comfortable with that either.. It should be someone who knows the A14ers not just someone who is a Bump Vet. IMO.

More than half of us last time I checked are on our 2+ pregnancy and most if not all of the 2+ moms (myself included) were on here for those pregnancies as well. And I'm fairly certain a large number of the FTM were on TTGP before this board. Not to mention all the PgALers. I'm betting the women who have only been around 8 weeks or so are in the minority.

mrscrcalli · August 2013

amhah09 said:

mrscrcalli said:

JulianneJacks said:
If we pick a mod now it should be someone w a history on The Bump - like Sunlavendar or RRDiva. I have seen them for the past year on TTGP and I will vouch that they aren't cray. Basically my vote is if we pick someone now it should be someone that people are familiar with.
Well being that most of us have been on here for 8 weeks max I can't imagine the majority of us know people for the past year.. I have no idea who the two people you mentioned are so I'm not comfortable with that either.. It should be someone who knows the A14ers not just someone who is a Bump Vet. IMO.
More than half of us last time I checked are on our 2+ pregnancy and most if not all of the 2+ moms (myself included) were on here for those pregnancies as well. And I'm fairly certain a large number of the FTM were on TTGP before this board. Not to mention all the PgALers. I'm betting the women who have only been around 8 weeks or so are in the minority.

Oh my bad.. Well go on then.. Do your thang momma.

I'm clearly tardy for the party.

sarahbeth27 · August 2013

I think we absolutely need a mod; but am concerned about voting someone in this early.

Want a personalized experience?

we need an official moderator - come in to discuss

Re: we need an official moderator - come in to discuss

Choose Another Board

Search Boards