If you received a behavior report, would you like the reasons to be shared with the community or would you prefer to maintain privacy? Discuss.
A community discussion question -
If you received a behavior report, would you like all of the specific reasons to be shared with the community or would you prefer to maintain privacy? Discuss.
@Laura
First - while controversial, I think this is an important conversation to have.
Second - You have asked two mutually exlcusive options - but I think there is a level of detail that most people would agree with without sharing every single specific detail.
@MonBon
There is detail in the community guidelines. We clearly outline the types of behaviors that we will take action on an acct for. To attach those behaviors to individuals and then share all of that information publically is the question...imo.
I believe confidentiality is something to be protected and maintained. We are all entitled to our own privacy, even on an anonymous mental health site. To share confidential information would 1) increase rumors 2) hinder individual healing 3) hinder group team work 4) create a culture of he said / she said ...etc.
I am all for transparency when and where possible. But sharing confidential information about individuals does not align with the site values.
@Laura
I see your point, but for example let's look at member reviews:
If a listener gets flagged for sharing/requesting personal infomation, I personally believe that should be displayed on their profile. I wouldn't want to display all of the information such as who gave the review, and the exact time, and the exact phrase that was caught (sometimes they get censored for sharing their phone numbers in full, and so displaying that wouldn't be helpful) but I think members deserve to know that it happened.
@Laura
follow-up:
Are we not already in a culture of he-said/she-said? People who get reported share small details that are technically not confidential, and their friends share those small details across the community. Other people are then unable to confirm or deny the small details without breaking confidentiality, so there's a one-sided information leak that pulls a bias on the community.
@Laura i agree the details should be kept confidential but the public should know how the people making the decisions how and why they made the decision thats the transparency that people are wanting there actually is transparency and accountability on 7cups the forum moderator system of accountability each mod who edits a forum post puts their name and also the reason why the epitomy of transparency both who and why the decision was made but in other systems the who and why most importantly the why this person recieved a behavior report why the decision was made
That is a loaded question and a half! We all make mistakes and have weaknesses, some bigger and some that need a bigger consequence than others, some not as much. However, I feel that a mistake or a behavior report should not be made public no matter the "size" of the mistake or what the report insists a person doing. True or not true, letting that type of information for the community to see will just lead the listener/member feelings of shame and embarrassment. We already have issues with speculation, gossip, and triangulation, and I see this making it just that much worse. People will spread rumors about someone based off the publically announced report and the way I see how people treat others already, I can only imagine what damage they would cause with that kind of information against someone. I can only see this option being another thing used to hurt the community and separate us. I don't think that is fair to add more hurt to someone who is already hurting. Which leads to my answer, it should be kept private and confidential and how we maintain reports should be kept the same and trusted that they will be taken care of appropriately.
It seems to me there is the most value in the option "all of the specific reasons to be shared with the community" with emphasis on all and specific. This is because I want to be able to trust these reports, and I want the community to be able to trust them, and to the extent that they are vague or secret they are easy to mistrust.
The implied third option—a "level of detail" that falls short of complete transparency—seems to me to be the worst option, because people will tend to fill in the blanks by using their imaginations.
Oh, and I was wondering whether this is just for amusement, or are we trying to solve some problem? And if we are, what is the problem we are trying to solve?
@Laura
I feel you should have the option , like maybe if you recieve a behaviour report, you can click a box whether you want you it private or publi?!Then at least there is more transperancy, and if a person is disputing the report then they have the full facts in front of them.
But I also know people can mistakes and I feel they should have the option to keep it private if thats what they choose.
To add to that point I also feel if the person has the option to release that information or not, then it reassures the community left behind that the member/listener does not want it discussed further if they choose not to release the information.
@Laura I would prefer it remain private since I have had reports made about me that were clearly targeting by a person with a grudge.
@Laura
I would prefer privately, wouldn't like to feel embarrassed in the whole community..
@Laura This is a tricky question... I think that it would make sense to display the fact that person has the review on that and that kind but maybe keep it a bit general would be a better idea than saying very specific things. We should also make sure that we are protecting people that reported them, in any way possible. Even if you post it anonymously, it can be easy to understand whom from which situation gave it to the listener, so making it general might help to protect those that are reporting. As I am already aware that lots of members are afraid to report because they don't want to get in trouble
I am strongly against the idea of making reports publicly except admins, or ambassadors otherwise not even group quality mentors or SC leaders or Mentor leaders. The system works well since the first day site was buiIt up and I guess that's how the reports work, either in group or L-L mode or L-M mode.
I do not want it to be publicly :( since we do not know if they(public who can see reports) triangulate and bring each other down or humiliate each other for such things.
Please, a request to keep an open mind before any major changes in confidential matters
There's a certain level of transparency around the listener point system - but how often is it actually utilized? It seems like some situations are more likely to have it work than others. If I am in a chatroom a mod can give me a warning and that's officially a strike against me that can lead to a mute.
As a forum leader, I am being referred to as a 'mod' yet I have none of the suspension skills that a chatroom mod has. In the chatrooms, if someone is spamming they can be instantly muted there. In the forums? I can go through and delete each spam post - I have no capability to mute the person from making new posts in the forums. Much of the same also applies to the point system - I have no way to apply points to people. Also, if a report is made, the person who made the report has no clue if it was utilized or not, I think confirmation of what was done would be beneficial.
When something is done to an account, the account holder should also be informed. When a listener banned me from the site I was given zero information. I wasn't even sure if it came about from a forum post where I was stating my displeasure from a room being closed, or if it came from the listener in a 1-1 conversation. It only came about after I got my account reinstated that I was informed what was up.
In terms of discussing disciplinary measures, I think it's reasonable to be able to have a discussion about them. If the person who was disciplined wants to bring it about, I think it's reasonable for both sides to be discussed. If there's no discussion, then keep it private. We see this often with companies - people get fired without much being said. If someone is wrongfully dismissed, it can be taken to court and the details are often written about in articles.