# Clarification of "junior modding" **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 3, 2014, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703 "2014-08-03T10:32:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/41 "2014-08-06T16:42:13Z")
Into the fray, Junior Modmen, Into the fray, fauxstaff green, Into the fray, Junior Modmen, Climb into that threadwar scene! And when you hear that true Mod sputterin’, And you get your wings clipped short , We will know the Junior Modmen, Will return for more sport! ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/42 "2014-08-06T17:22:47Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > To reiterate and back up Sam: you canNOT go wrong reporting a post you find questionable. Don’t worry that you’re reporting too many. If that happens we’ll alert you. There are posters in Great Debates who report several per day and, even if Tom and I don’t act on all of them, there’s no resentment. It’s the best way for us to know when a thread is boiling over and one of us needs to hit them with the hose. Purely out of interest; what’s the general ratio of “reported posts that need mod action” and “reported posts that don’t”? I’d be curious to know roughly how good or bad posters are at recognising behaviour worth reporting. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/43 "2014-08-07T00:52:42Z")
> [@Revenant\_Threshold](#): > > Purely out of interest; what’s the general ratio of “reported posts that need mod action” and “reported posts that don’t”? I’d be curious to know roughly how good or bad posters are at recognising behaviour worth reporting. I can only speak for GQ(and for myself). I’d say 80% of “reported posts” in GQ need mod action. But, understand at least half of those are merely started in GQ when they should have been started in another forum. 25% are spam reports. 10% are reports indicating political posts in GQ. 10% are reports of “insults.” 40% are “needs a different forum.” 15% are in the “We(mods) don’t agree that this needs action.” **Colibri** and **\_engineer\_comp\_geek** might have their own analysis. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/44 "2014-08-07T01:32:07Z")
Chiming in for me in GD - and it doesn’t apply to Tom or Marley - but I probably do something with 50% of reported posts. In Great Debates we get a lot of reports of ‘he insulted me!’ that I look at and decide one way or the other. But some are spam and some are real errors by posters that either need a note or a warning. But GD is likely our forum with the most warnings with emotions sometimes running very high. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/45 "2014-08-07T01:59:18Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > I can only speak for GQ(and for myself). > > I’d say 80% of “reported posts” in GQ need mod action. But, understand at least half of those are merely started in GQ when they should have been started in another forum. > > 25% are spam reports. 10% are reports indicating political posts in GQ. 10% are reports of “insults.” 40% are “needs a different forum.” 15% are in the “We(mods) don’t agree that this needs action.” > > **Colibri** and **\_engineer\_comp\_geek** might have their own analysis. I would have thought that spam reports were a higher percentage, but otherwise wouldn’t disagree with the breakdown. (I think that 99% of posts reported as spam actually are spam. Every once in a while a genuine newbie will include a link in his first post so it looks suspicious, but it’s not common.) A large majority of thread reports are something we end up doing something about. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/46 "2014-08-07T11:13:30Z")
Almost all of the reports I get need mod action, and most are spam reports. (If two people report the same spam, I guess technically only one report “needs action” because the spam is gone before I see the second report, but I’d say both of them count as “needs action.” And we’d far rather get multiple reports then have people sit back and not report for fear of multiple reports!) And every report I’ve seen has been worth looking at. Some of the ones that don’t need action are close calls, sometimes it’s a case of "let’s keep an eye on this poster " (I guess that counts as action?) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/47 "2014-08-07T12:42:02Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I would have thought that spam reports were a higher percentage, but otherwise wouldn’t disagree with the breakdown. (I think that 99% of posts reported as spam actually are spam. Every once in a while a genuine newbie will include a link in his first post so it looks suspicious, but it’s not common.) A large majority of thread reports are something we end up doing something about. I mostly agree too. I went back and counted, and 20 out of the last 50 post reports were reporting spam, so 40% there. There were only a couple where we didn’t think any action needed to be taken, so I’d put that down around maybe 5% or so. There are a few people who generate a lot of spam reports (which we very much appreciate), but otherwise there isn’t anyone in GQ who is creating an excessive number of post reports. Just to be clear, we aren’t seeking accuracy in post reports. If you’re not sure about something, there’s no penalty for reporting the post and having us decide that there’s nothing that needs to be done about it. If you aren’t sure, we would rather that you go ahead and report it and let us figure it out. We’ve had a couple of post reports lately in GQ where the person reporting the post wasn’t sure if ti was a violation or not, and reported it as such. We don’t mind those at all. Don’t worry about accuracy. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/48 "2014-08-08T14:45:45Z")
Hey Dex, Mabel tog on 1/4 Dex! And that’s what I’m leaving in, because Autocorrect just said so too! ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/49 "2014-08-11T00:47:35Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > … we want people to report Spam, and to note that they have done so (so we don’t sixteen reports of the same spam.) I get this, but is there any way to cut out the “reported for forum change” comment that just comes across as sarcastic? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/50 "2014-08-11T00:56:40Z")
> [@donkeyoatey](#): > > I get this, but is there any way to cut out the “reported for forum change” comment that just comes across as sarcastic? While we understand how you view it, it alerts other posters that the post in question has been reported for a change, so we don’t get 10 reports about the same thing. I’ll take that as a help. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/51 "2014-08-11T01:04:01Z")
> [@donkeyoatey](#): > > I get this, but is there any way to cut out the “reported for forum change” comment that just comes across as sarcastic? It’s never seemed sarcastic to me. Am I alone in seeing it that way? ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/52 "2014-08-11T01:14:58Z")
It used to seem snarky and rather high-handed to me until I realized what the intent almost always was. I’d think it would be useful for the reporter to say something like “This looks like it goes in this forum over here rather this current one because _x_.” I mean, most of these come from first-time posters who might be confused as to what is going on. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/53 "2014-08-11T01:38:05Z")
It doesn’t seem sarcastic to me. I understand it the way **samclem** explained it, as a way to cut down on reports to the mods. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/54 "2014-08-11T01:58:18Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > It’s never seemed sarcastic to me. Am I alone in seeing it that way? You are not. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/55 "2014-08-11T11:40:23Z")
> [@donkeyoatey](#): > > I get this, but is there any way to cut out the “reported for forum change” comment that just comes across as sarcastic? I’ve never seen it as sarcastic, but terse can sometimes be taken as harsh, when it isn’t intended that way. Brief formulaic “reported” comments may be functional and thus stirpped to the bone, but to a newbie they might be perceived as a criticism rather than just alerting participants to reduce duplicate reports. Perhaps a little wordier would be politer. “I think this is in the wrong forum, I’ve reported it to the mods for their review.” ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/56 "2014-08-11T11:52:14Z")
I think **Irishman** hit it: terse can be seen as harsh. But I’m not sure that we can (or should) ask folks to be wordier. I’ve never seen it as a problem. They’ve already filled out a REPORT, and they’re being nice enough to let others know it’s already reported. Concise is probably the best we’ll get. And it’s become the tradition, it’s what one sees others saying. Yes, I guess I agree that longer and more polite would be nicer, but I don’t see that we can (or should) demand it. Perhaps if more people start doing it, it will take over as tradition? In the same vein: \*“Reported for spam” when the post in question is one of those with links to 42 free downloads of brand-new movies… well, I guess we don’t care much whether it’s seen as sarcastic. \*Reported for trolling" could be simply helpful to let others know it’s already reported, could be junior modding, and could be an insult. I guess it depends on the circs. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/57 "2014-08-11T11:58:16Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > “Reported for trolling” could be simply helpful to let others know it’s already reported, could be junior modding, and could be an insult. I guess it depends on the circs. I actually specifically avoid that one. I think, if the trolling is obvious enough to say it blatantly outside the Pit or ATMB, just saying “Reported” will be enough. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/58 "2014-08-11T13:51:31Z")
> [@donkeyoatey](#): > > I get this, but is there any way to cut out the “reported for forum change” comment that just comes across as sarcastic? > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > It’s never seemed sarcastic to me. Am I alone in seeing it that way? Well, from the **I pit roofers who poop in my yard** thread: > [@I pit roofers who poop in my yard.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-roofers-who-poop-in-my-yard/695138/26): > > Reported for move to Barnhouse. It can be done, I guess… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/59 "2014-08-11T13:54:03Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Well, from the **I pit roofers who poop in my yard** thread: > > It can be done, I guess… > > 😃 Y’know my comment wasn’t a challenge… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703/60 "2014-08-11T16:37:21Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > \*Reported for trolling" could be simply helpful to let others know it’s already reported, could be junior modding, and could be an insult. I guess it depends on the circs. IMO, that would be against the rules except in the Pit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-junior-modding/694703.md?page=4)