A few thoughts on moderation

[Gene]

Seems like there has been a lot of discussion - to me directly and on the site - on the recent removal of a certain member.  Wanted to provide some context:

 - This member was warned multiple times and had multiple complaints from multiple members over several weeks.  They will not be invited back.  There are no plans to invite any previously removed members back, either.

- I really don't care how knowledgeable someone is (there are tons of knowledgeable members still here).  If they are a rude to other members, they are gone, like a cancer that needs removal.  Not sure this is a lot different than any other Internet site.  I frequent several discussion forums and when people post things that are inappropriate or rude or vulgar, the content and/or member are removed.  Seems pretty simple to me.

- Moderation is tough, especially on a site I no longer use because people were rude to me when it started. If we don't moderate, trolls run off members.  If we 'over moderate', then people leave because they can't have passionate discussion.  People are going to leave either way.  It's like death and taxes.

 - With a site of this size, there is no earthly way you can please everyone.  I remember being in a leadership position in college and noticed with a group of just 30 people, every single decision I made disappointed or upset someone...without fail.  This site has almost 2,200 members.  Whenever a choice is made to leave or remove someone, people will be upset.

 - People who 'threaten' to leave like the site like they are some critical contributor whose departure will crater the site...please let me know if you have any problems doing so and I would be more than happy to help you!  :-)

David McIlveen Wright had a great suggestion a while back that I think we need to consider - a Code of Conduct.  Here's the example David provided.  This is NOT an official Ning or Exclusively Setters Code of Conduct, but it has a lot of positives:

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• No hostility. All discussions must be friendly and civil.

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To me, a lot of the above is common sense, but you know the old adage about common sense.  Open to suggestions on improving the moderation process so it optimizes the communities enjoyment of this site.

Gene

[Andy Benstead]

Hi Sue. I agree with you and Margaret.

[Andy Benstead]

Hi Jane. I have always stated that I have the upmost respect for breeders of Setters. In my opinion it is a 50/50 partnership between breeders and owners. We need each other. As for the pictures, most of what we see is much the same as what we have seen before. I can fully understand how a person is so pleased with their dog and wants everyone to see it. It does show they are proud to be a setter owner and that is a good thing. I do understand the point you have made.

Kindest regards. Andy

[Torie Lancaster]

Sorry Mel but you have lost me here.....I wasn't aware that I was playing a game.

I really don't know where you get idea I want breeders to leave the site, I would be very happy if all members whether breeders, pet dog owners or anyone else want to stay :))

Reply ended up in the wrong place as usual!

[Angela Clarke]

How about using the code of conduct refered to in the original statment ? I would except all conditions without question just to be able to see the views of profesionals and novices  <:0)  Well Gene, could you put up a forum vote ??

[Torie Lancaster]

Why is "one of the most experienced and knowledgeable show person/breeder no longer on the site" Sue?

[Rhonda Fisher]

Gene has been very open and the answer is fully explained above in the post. I accept the code of conduct. As Gene and David suggest it is common sense.

[Torie Lancaster]

I must have been half asleep when I read it the first time.........thanks Rhonda

[Rhonda Fisher]

I keep reading Genes post. It does not mention a group of people being moderated, it talks about members and people. People are moderated on their individual behaviour.

Passionate discussion has not been stopped or restricted.

 People who 'threaten' to leave like the site like they are some critical contributor whose departure will crater the site...

Again it talks about individual people not breeders or owners. Surely people can have a passionate discussion without having ongoing rude ‘fun’ at some other member’s expense. I don’t believe having rude fun is the trait of one particular group such as breeders or owners, we all choose to type what we type. However I would be saddened if this was used as an excuse to pressure members into accepting this behaviour no matter where I was.

I am not a member of a gang and I find it hard to understand when people gang up on one person. I don’t judge people by their faces but more by their actions. Even then, if the action is not driving someone off I simply observe.

I welcome reading the discussions of all experience levels on ES. I appreciate the discussions where breeders are sharing knowledge in a positive way.  

[Margaret Sierakowski]

To give an example of how valuable experienced breeders are on this list. A few months ago one of my dogs fell seriously  ill with something that I had never heard of  in any setter before. I contacted Eva , and she remembered  straight away that somebody in Irish Setters had had a dog with the same thing, and  this owner  was also on Exclusively Setters.  Within a few hours I was talking to the other owner on the phone and had got advice and information that I urgently needed, my dog was on the right medication from my vet , and after a few days was making a good recovery. Thats how communication through the internet makes it possible to make use of the knowledge of other experienced breeders in a way that just wasnt possible twenty years ago

[Rhonda Fisher]

A good example of a experienced breeder using their knowledge in a positive way. I would trust that the communication was polite and not rude. That your query was treated with respect and you were not given that respect because you were a member of a certain group. The pathway communication through the internet is still open for experienced breeders and every one with all types of experience.

[Rhonda Fisher]

And then unfortunately we have this type of communication as a comparison.

 

[Rhonda Fisher]

Mel the answer is in Genes very open explaination above in the post you are replying to.