[wp-forums] The "moderator" hat

[andrew nevins]

> And yes, that means we cannot be JUST ourselves when we're in the forums
because we represent a part of WordPress.

I don't understand this bit, because everyone represents a part of
WordPress regardless of whether they have powers.


On Thu, Apr 17, 2014 at 2:17 PM, Mika Epstein <ipstenu at halfelf.org> wrote:

> I have a non mod account for work (IpstenuDH) and it doesn't make any
> pretense at all. We'd have to have a totally anon account.
>
> But to that end.... Does it matter? Everyone knows Otto is Otto, and while
> he he is a core contributor, he's not a release lead like Nacin. That said,
> being a mod does give us responsibilities and powers. We should be
> reporting issues upstream, here and to make/support. We should make sure
> tickets are generated when needed and so on. And yes, that means we cannot
> be JUST ourselves when we're in the forums because we represent a part of
> WordPress.
>
> Which ... Sucks. I hate that I can't just be me, but that comes with the
> hats. I totally understand not wanting that aspect of moderation, but at
> the same time, it's a public balance of power. People see who the mods are,
> how they act, and how their actions reflect in the community.
>
> Sent on my iPhone
>
> > On Apr 17, 2014, at 1:13 AM, andrew nevins <andrew.nevins.misc at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > 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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