Newsletter for mods
So just a thought, as we all know there are a certain types of trolls which keep coming back and there are times that a mod may take a break or just have been too busy so they would not know the regular trolls ,so maybe sending a periodic newsletter uprising the mods about the trolls who have been making the rounds amongst other things so they can stay updated and are ready if they have to encounter any difficulty in any of the rooms .any thoughts ?
Thanks for noticing this thread:)
The newsletter is more to keep updating the mods who may have been too busy or taken a short break as well as providing information to newer mods.
Few aspects which can be included will be the types of trolls being encountered in that period in all the three rooms(WR,DS,SYS).
Any difficult situation faced by any of the mods and how they dealt with the same.
Any uncomfortable situations which have been faced or which may be faced in the future .
Names of the super active mods and around what time are they usually available so as to create a support system .
Different ways to get people to interact or get people to talkwhen there are not so many people who are talking (specially in the wr) like recently we had this game of either or (questions)(everyone was silent) and then people started joining in and it lasted for around 3 hours.
Maybe a welcome article for the newer mods.
Names of mods who have joined in that time period.
Maybe a feature on some mod who has been real active in that time period (to motivate them as well as others to keep up the good work )
then we can go on to include some inspritational quotes or if someone wants to write articles say for the improvement of the site or just things that would be pleasent to read.
It can also include major updates to the site specially if they are concerning mods.
To answeryour second question it can be published every week ,bi monthly or monthly depending on the number of people ready to help.
Just some ideas .
Realistically, a newsletter would have to be short and simple for everyone to want to read it. A lot of what you mentioned can be addressed through current means. For example, acknowledging another listener can be done in shout outs, PMs, or nominating them as a featured listener.
Anyways, we'll see if it's possible to send a newsletter out to keep everyone updated. For now, group mods should keeputilizing this forum and the group mod zone to keep each other in the loop since that's what it's here for. :)
The main idea was something along the lines of publishing regular troll issues ,help regarding certain situations which may be encountered and creating a dedicated network of mods who would update the others as also create a support system for the mods across the rooms , the other things were secondary which could have supplemented the primary aspect of keeping the rest updated .that being said thanks anyways
sorry one point I seem to have forgotten is that if a mod wants to thank or acknowledge another mod or listener(there have been many who have helped me )so that can be included.
And the names of listeners who have been super helpful and who should be considered (consider enrolling )can also be nominated by the mods and can be vetted by the mentors maybe. just some ideas
Just a clarification bi monthly I meant once every two weeks
And not once every two months .
I love it @poeticguy! It is a really good idea.
I like this idea although I am not a super active Mod due to work commitments and having a family I do come in when I can. I think having a newsletter that keeps us up to date with what is happening would really help.
Fantastic idea
Fantastic!! I would love to help!!
@poeticguy..I think the idea presented here is good..you can always count me in...:)
This is a great idea! Because sometimes the same people take advantage of the different mods. But, if we do get a newsletter it should be by a few select people and not everyone, the ones who want something to be said can tell those editors to include it in one post. That way there wont be a cluster of posts.
This will be essential if the site makes the mistake in hiring more group moderators. If we over-saturate the system and hire too many group moderators, it defeats the purpose, causes disorganization, and causes confusion as a smaller, more active group is ideal. We add to the team like I feel the site will do, it's just going tobe all over the place.
@Ej First of all, no one is being "hired" to be a group moderator. Last time I checked, we weren't getting paid, since this isn't a job. So any time requirements shouldn't be necessary. Also, I think that the problem you speak about won't be resolved by not adding any more group mods, but rather by working with and educating them. I don't think members/guests are intimidated by mods only, they are intimidated by listeners in general. Therefore, even if there aren't any more moderators, no one is stopping listeners from taking over the member chats.
Also, I imagine you're a human being and need sleep at times. Therefore, you probably don't know that there seems to be a shortage of moderators in, say, the morning hours in my time zone. Not adding anyone else will not solve that problem. Unless you can stay up and moderate 24/7, of course.
Aye, if you wish to address my concerns, by all means feel free. But, I do not appreciate the condescending tone. I feel no need to address this as the entire tone is inappropriate. PM me if you wish to discuss it politely. :)
@Mobbsy thanks for the input my friend. I am glad to hear it.
@Ej I guess your holier-than-thoutone provoked condescension in me, couldn't help it. My point still stands though; not a good idea, imo.
Holier-than-thou*
All I did was say we do not need a big moderation staff as many moderators voices their opposition of expansion and instead expressed stricter guidelines. This was also discussed with requiring "Group Mod Badge" in the certification process -- not one group moderator, to my knowledge, was in support of it.
I merely speak of the conversations that have taken place on this beloved forum. I am not taking moral high ground when merely suggesting this. Like I said, if you wish to attack my personal character than feel free to inbox. One again, this isn't the place for it. :)
Excuse errrors* Phone
You can raise a counter argument without a confrontational tone. I couldn't see your point because I found your tone immediately abrasive.
This is a discussion between people who want a strong and supportive 7 Cups community. We are all on the same team, so I do not understand why condescending tones would be necessary.
Hey barush, can you please stop, you come across as condecending in other places too, not because of ej.
@Ej - not totally sure about the adult side, but in the Teen Side, there are few mods who are very active, and then the rest seem like they pop in VERY occasionally... What's the point in them being mod when they never come... I know 10 (tops!) teen group mods who are active there... and to be honest, we cover the 12 hours (we don't do 24/7!)
No doubt, if and when the teens get 24/7 (do the adults?) we will need more, but then we can add mods then...
I always admire your insight.
Too many moderators will appear authoritarian in my opinion. It's already bad enough when too many moderators are on where we outnumber the members. Both teens and regular adults have an active group of members in all chat rooms where they know and appreciate the moderation staff -- have too many, and that feeling will be a disconnect. The purpose of group moderation is to make it our primary focus, not secondary, and if we allow too much of an influx then you'll have the majority of moderation..moderating as second priority.
I was actually impressed because this week I mostly took private 1-on-1 messages because we had substantial moderation on for ALL rooms.
More so, it''s important to understand the dynamic and environment of each room. Adding more moderators isn't an ideal solution in my opinion. I'd be in favor of an 8 hour minimum requirement of some sort each week. If you can't dedicate that time, then the position should be available for those able to contribute more time. It shouldn't be a candy hand-out. Needs to be closed and regulated.
Just my opinion of course. I have seen the majority of the moderation staff saying the same, but I have seen no word from the higher-ups.
No, I totally agree - I have heard that to become a group mod, you will need a required number of group chats (instead of just a number of normal chats currently!)
Luckily we don't have over-saturation teen side, but I can see why it's difficult when it is - as you said, it should be our primary concern for mods, and when lots are mods, we can't all be doing what at times is a limited amount of work...
There is actually a group schedule somewhere, but to be honest, I'm not sure how many people use it, and yeh, I think doing a minimum requirement would be a good idea - whether or not people want to be come it for the badge, I don't know - but your ideas there are great, and I feel should definitely be implemented!
@Ejan eight hour minimum per week requirement would be asking way too much from volunteers here. I know you're an intern, but for other great and talented, valuable volunteers with other obligations, dismissing their contributions, actual and potential, because they can't put in eight hours is unwise. This idea also contradictionsyour concern about an over-saturationof mods in the chatrooms; imagine if people were trying to squeeze in eight hours to maintain the badge?
Also, I often check the rooms and findno mods, something that I found lastweek. So I helped then. If there had been mods who had it covered ? as I find crunched at other times ?I would not have interfered and hope others put their time to better use on the site as well.
When I'm working with volunteers, Iassume the best in people:they care, and are looking for opportunities to help. Having a group mod badge, which volunteers have passed a test for and as of this month will already havea minimum number of groupchats per month required to maintain, creates an opportunity to help. No one's getting candy, or hired, they're just getting an ability to assist if there's a reason to (and not necessarily for acertain number of hours a week) ?like finding an unmoderatedand distressedchatroom, as I did on Christmas day. They can then step up. We organize and create guidelines so people won't inadvertently hurt insteadof helping when they do utilize theopportunity, and that's what we need to work on. The schedule we used in the initial weeks of the chatrooms was, in my opinion, a huge help, but unfortunately it's largelyfallenout ofuse.
Anyhow, I don't think limiting thenumber of mods or requiring many hours per week is helpful or healthy ? that would be a path to burnout and cause turnover in group moderating that would be counter to maintainingcoverage for our members (and the strong, communicating group you hope for), and it poses a disregard for those putting in smaller,well-timedcontributions in favor ofunnecessarily elitist requirements to maintain thevolunteer role. Schedule and trainingimprovements could help fix this, as well as some kind of moderator updates, rather than disempowering potential helpers, including new volunteers here who have the potential to become stellar mods.
If there is avolunteer here on 7 Cupswho has the group mod badge for show, who doesn't intend to help, they're likely going to lose it after this month's requirements set in anyway, if not this month then next month, andoverall it doesn't really hurt anythingexcept perhaps our feelings about the status of the badge? those of us who are interested in group moderating can still organizeand improve, regardless.Which is what this thread is supposedto be about, I think.