Hmm. It would mean reading the OP or the whole thread before the first post in a thread, and then either the OP again or the posts after their first post before posting again. If someone’s posting repeatedly in a thread without reading the responses, there’s not a lot can be done, I guess. But what happened in the thread that started this discussion is people were posting without realising there were any mod notes - if it’s mentioned in the title that’s unlikely to happen again.
There’s no realistic way to force every poster to read mod notes, but there are ways to make sure as many people as possible do.
If you need multiple mod notes (as in, more than two) with sufficiently different instructions (so that one doesn’t supersede the other), then that means the thread pretty much needs to be closed.
And, really, I don’t see there really needing to be very complicated instructions. The only things I can think of are pretty short: “Don’t be hostile” (or “Be extra civil”) “Don’t mention subject X”, “Don’t discuss your choice,” “Don’t mention other posters,” etc.
Save the long explanation for the real mod note.
EDIT: And if you are taking so much time that a mod note could be issued in the interim, then you are likely reading the thread, and thus the stuff in the title doesn’t really matter.
What I tend to do is just stop posting. Not only is there too much of a chance that someone will jump on me with a “Hey, dumbfuck, that was addressed in post #1,718 KTHXBYE”, or, lately, I guess there is the risk of falling afoul of a Moderator warning at some point earlier in the thread. So like I said, I just stop posting to long threads; it’s not like anyone misses One Person’s contributions.
i think it would be a good idea that if a general mod note is made to a thread that it be given (or at least referenced) in a footnote of the OP. as mentioned some OP are (intentionally or not) likely to derail or acquire a tone, you read it and know someone will take it there often without reading beyond the OP. if a mod note applies to only one person then this wouldn’t be needed but if the note would apply to two or more persons it would be a good idea.
I think that was a pretty unique situation. It was ridiculous for the OP to create a poll and then ask the mods not to let people discuss their answers. Basically they just wanted the poll, and the poll only, with no thread. :rolleyes: Those sorts of threads should be immediately closed for stupidity.
I get that being a mod is a thankless time-suck, but can’t they ever, just once, own up to making a mistake?
This really shouldn’t be this big of a deal. A stupid mod note was made, some rash warnings were handed out.
This whole boring mess could be solved in two seconds with: “I’m sorry, we made a mistake.” Jesus Christ. You’d think someone’s honor was at stake or that rescinding a warning cost them money.
I think this is one situation where adding a tag to the OP could potentially be helpful. I’m not sure how many people would notice them, but it’s true that in some polls you’re supposed to reply without reading the entire thing (and that people may not to go the trouble of voting, then reading the whole thread, then posting). I’m not sure it’s worth it but it’s a better option than editing thread titles, for example. I don’t moderate in IMHO and I’m not sure how often this kind of problem really comes up but I could be convinced this falls into the ‘can’t hurt to try’ column.
I don’t disagree with anything you just said. But on the flip side of the coin, there is a huge uproar arising over a handful of people who received Mod Warnings - something that doesn’t even rise to the level of a slap on the wrist.
As I understand it, if such infractions ever add up to the level of coming under review, the frequency and specific circumstances of each of them is considered. IOW, the chances are close to nil that any of those who received warnings will be impacted by them in any way, unless they’re practically trying to rack them up.
Just saying… a little more perspective = a little less outrage.
Since nobody seems to have banned my ass yet, this should be addressed:
All fine and good, since none of that was ever even an issue.
So… you’re planning on having a whole bunch of opinion-less polls in the future? What, exactly, would be the point of that?
The thread garnered four Warnings in the space of half an hour–how much more damn policing do you want to do?
You seem to be still laboring under the impression that anyone actively disagreed with the Mod Note. Nobody even read the damn thing. That’s the way people vote in polls.
To sum up:
Every one of you Mods know perfectly well that those who got warned hadn’t read the Mod Note. You all know know perfectly well that there was no reason for them to have read it, given the nature of polls.
We can dispense with Czarcasm’s attempts to hijack these threads with his “oh, but the title might get too long!” commentary. Don’t get off track.
The problem–the whole problem–was Czarcasm. He decided to change the normal poll process–indeed, the very rules for posting–halfway through the thread. Then he started handing out Warnings all willy-nilly to people who he knew hadn’t seen his on-the-fly Mod Note.
What’s that? Maybe he didn’t know? Well, he knew the hell out of it the next day. So did the rest of you.
He was wrong in every single decision he made over the course of that entire thread.
And you people support him?
You say that it’s a technical problem and that there should have been more eyes watching. No. You should have grown a pair of ladyballs and shut Czarcasm’s ass down as soon as he started getting all stupid with the Warnings.
I don’t care how long he’s been here or who he’s friends with or how much he really, really hates being shown to be wrong–there is no excuse for that kind of behavior.
There was no moderation required in that thread. It gained the board nothing.
Without the moderation in that thread ALL of these posts and threads in ATMB would never have come into existence, and a number of people would have happily continued posting in a thread about Avatars.
