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FreeinChrist

27th July 2007, 08:15 PM

This wiki is designed for Theology staff to outline a consistent process by which we moderate these forums. Especially as we get more moderation staff, we want to all be doing the same things. Members are invited to read and discuss these procedures, but are not allowed to change this wiki.

NOTE: This protocol should not overlap or contradict the overall CF Staff Protocol for Staff Actions (http://www.christianforums.com/t5701908-staff-protocol-for-staff-actions-ie-edits-bans-deletes-fsbs-is-now-at-rev-10.html). There is where you'll find the framework for all staff actions, whereas this protocol is specific to how the Theology Team moderates.

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Theology: Moderation Protocol

General Issues Dealing with Reports

Member commentary in reports: Members are free to read the public Theology reports threads. They may comment in report threads if they have some clarification to add to the discussion about whether the posted report is a violation or not. However, further attacks, personal discussions, or continuation of the argument from the reported thread are NOT acceptable and will be deleted from the report thread at the moderator’s discretion.

Moderator Authority to Action: Moderator actions will be taken based upon team consensus (below). Moderators who act once team consensus has been reached have full authority to interact with the reported poster. The moderator is serving in an official capacity, as the representative of the entire team's decision. Therefore, the team will not comply with requests from reported posters to deal with a specific moderator, or one who shares their specific beliefs, denomination, gender, nationality, etc. This general rule, however, does not preclude a moderator who has a particular knowledge in a topic from choosing to interact with a poster who has been reported from a discussion on that topic. Such instances are at the moderators' discretion.

Moderator Discretion

Mod Hats: Moderators can place a Mod Hat post into a thread at their own discretion. These posts are used primarily to re-focus a thread that has been getting heated or straying off-topic. No report is necessary for moderators to use Mod Hats.

Moving Threads: At their own discretion, moderators may move threads which are obviously in the wrong forum or subforum of Theology. No report is necessary for moderators to move obviously misplaced threads. When a thread is moved, a permanent redirect should be used. A Mod Hat post must be placed into the moved thread stating that it has been moved, and saying which forum it was from originally, and which forum it now is in. This allows users who follow links or subscriptions to see in-thread that the thread has been moved.

Actions that need consensus: Any and all staff edits, or permanent closing or deleting of posts or threads MUST be generated by report actions. Moderators do not have the authority to edit, close, or delete posts outside of the report process. However, if a moderator sees a post that is an obvious violation of the rules, they are authorized to begin the report process by reporting the post or thread, and closing the post for review. The report will serve as the review thread. All permanent actions (keeping the post or thread closed or deleted) must be determined by moderator consensus.

Moderator Action Triggers

Unanimity: If three moderators review a report and agree on an action (below), and there are no dissenting opinions from other moderators, the third moderator should do the action.

Consensus: If there are dissenting opinions, there should be at least four opinions, and there needs to be two more of one opinion than the others to form a consensus before action can be taken. For instance, if there are four mod opinions it needs to be 3:1 to act. Five moderators would need 4:1 (3:2 would not be enough for consensus).

Senior staff determination: If consensus cannot be found by this method, a supermod or Team Leader can make a final determination among options. This option, however, is a last resort. Ideally, the team will continue discussing until consensus is found.

Timeline: Reports can be actioned for two weeks from the time of report. If consensus cannot be found in that time, chances are that the alleged violation is not grievous enough to action, and should be deemed NV and closed.

Moderator Team Actions

NV: If after review of a report three Theology mods agree that there is no violation, and there are no dissenting opinions, the third mod should close the report and move it to the archive.

Counseling PM: If after review of a report three Theology mods agree that a counseling PM should be issued, and there are no dissenting opinions, the third mod should issue the PM, post a copy of the PM into the report, then close and archive the report.

RFE: If after review of a report three Theology mods agree that a Request for Edit should be issued, and there are no dissenting opinions, the third mod should issue the RFE and put a copy of the RFE into the record. When the post is edited, a mod should post a note saying that the post has been edited, with a quote of the new text, then close and archive the report.

Refusal to edit: If the poster does not edit the post within 24 hours of viewing the PM (or 48 hours of the RFE being sent), staff should edit or delete the reported post, send the poster a PM explaining that their post has been edited or deleted, place a copy of the PM into the record, then close and archive the report.

Deleting posts: If a reported post is potentially very inflammatory, it should be deleted for staff review. If three mods agree that it should remain deleted, with no dissenting opinions, the third mod should send a PM to the poster explaining that it has been deleted and why, then close and archive the report. When a thread or post is deleted permanently, the moderator also must follow the Thread Cleanup process, below.

Deleting and restoring posts: If a reported post has been deleted for staff review and staff decide to issue an RFE rather than keeping the post deleted, the actioning mod should undelete the post, then send the poster an RFE, as above.

Closing Threads: When a thread is getting heated, moderator staff may need to close a thread for a cool-down period, or for review and potential cleanup. Closing a thread must be done in conjunction with discussion in a report thread, even if the moderator is the one who reports the thread. There must be a record of moderator discussion and consensus. When a thread is closed, the mod should post a mod hat stating why it was closed (cool down or review), and when we plan to re-open it. Cool-down periods should range in the one-two day timeframe. Review and cleanup should only take a few days more, at most. If the decision is to let the thread stay permanently closed, another mod hat to that effect must be posted in the thread, so that members are informed of the team's decision.

Off-topic: If a thread begins to veer off the topic, a moderator may post a Mod Hat to help redirect it back on topic. If it continues off-topic, the moderator should report it, so that moderator staff can discuss whether the thread should be closed as having run its course. If the team decides to close the thread for being off-topic, a moderator hat will be posted to that effect when the thread is closed.

Thread cleanup: Whenever the action is to staff edit or permanently delete a post, the moderator who does the edit/deletion must also look at the rest of the thread and clean up quoted sections of the offending post. If the post is so bad that it must be deleted, then all quotations of it must be deleted as well. This can be done by either deleting the whole post that quotes the offending post, or more preferably, by merely deleting the quoted portion. If the moderator must delete posts that quote the offending post, the explanatory note should outline that the poster who quoted has not violated the rules, but that their post has merely been edited or deleted as part of the thread clean-up. Cleaning up quoted offensive posts is the only instance in which moderators can edit or delete a member's post without sending a separate PM to them. The auto-notification, with a note from the moderator that the edit is due to thread clean-up, should suffice.

Forum Specific Bans: In the case of repeat offenders of the rules, moderators may request consideration of a two-week FSB, or Forum Specific Ban. Supermods and Team Leaders must concur on this action. Once team consensus is reached, a supermod will send the poster a PM explaining that they are under forum-specfic ban for two weeks. The PM must link to the specific report discussion, must outline the specific forum(s) they are banned from (all of Theology, or just one subforum or set of subforums), set forth the timeframe for the ban with specific dates, and outline the possible repercussions of breaking the ban. Unlike normal banning, FSBs are on the "honor system." If the user refuses to comply with the FSB, the moderator staff may seek a site suspension for the remainder of the two-week time period.

Contents of Reports

Reports should include everything pertaining to the report. Any PM sent to the poster must be included, with a note to the poster that any replies will be added to the record. Any PMs from the poster specifically pertaining to a report action also should be added to the record. Mods who close a report should state so in the record.