[wp-forums] The "moderator" hat

[andrew nevins]

I think you'll find many people drop out of being a mod if they wouldn't be
able to operate as a normal member would


On Thu, Apr 17, 2014 at 8:15 AM, bc workz <bcworks at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm afraid a simple label change is not going to cut it. Most forum users
> are not capable of parsing the subtle semantics implied by various labels.
> Apparently the general perception is anyone with more rank than member
> presumably has complete admin access to everything, is capable of directly
> modifying official core code, and can summon plague and pestilence upon
> anyone violating the rules.
>
> Because of this perception, moderators basically cannot offer any personal
> opinions because such statements will be perceived as official policy of
> the WordPress organization and possibly that of Automattic as well. The
> only ways I see around this is:
>
> 1. Anytime opinion is offered, it must be accompanied by a disclaimer along
> the lines of "The following is my personal opinion and does not represent
> official position or policy of WordPress, Automattic, it's subsidiaries,
> management, or employees." Or other such obtuse legalistic jibber jabber.
>
> Or 2. Maintain a separate account with mere member privileges from which
> one may freely exposit in any way they see fit within the forum rules just
> as they apply to anyone. Of course this means if you are logged in as such
> and see any spam or other moderator issues, you must log out then back in
> as moderator in order to do anything. Or maintain two separate browsers and
> switch between them.
>
> Ridiculously extreme? Yes. And #2 is in a way a variation of the dreaded
> sock puppet that is so vilified! Anything less will continue to confuse the
> masses.
>
> - Glenn (bcworkz)
> ---------------------------------------
> On Wed, 16 Apr 2014 00:14:45 -0600
> Drew <xoodrew at gmail.com> Wrote:
>
> What do you think about "Forum Volunteer" instead of "Volunteer Moderator"?
> I think the former may be closer to "member".
>
> Also, did anybody point this guy to the Update Control plugin?
>
>
> On Wed, Apr 16, 2014 at 12:06 AM, andrew nevins <
> andrew.nevins.misc at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > *I don't actually have a solution to this*
> >
> > I've noticed if I post in a thread about a core WordPress request/
> feedback
> > some people may be interpret me as a core developer who is saying Nay to
> > their idea.
> >
> > I've ignored this suspicion for a while until someone pointed it out
> again
> > recently,
> >
> >
>
> https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-auto-updates-please-give-us-the-option?replies=22#post-5460869
> >
> > As some of you may know I'm not keen with the "volunteer moderator" label
> > anyway because it's so different from "member" when we are not so
> > different, but I'm not sure if there's a better way of describing us.
> >
> > I'm sure a lot of thought was gone into the "volunteer moderator" label
> and
> > maybe this is the best we can do, but just wanted to raise this in case
> > anyone had some thoughts on other labels.
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