RE: ADMIN: Civility and content

[eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com]

On posting limits:

<<We could always respond to the requester off-list.  Then the requester could
put together a summary post and all of the relevant responses would be in one
post, which would make it a lot easier to find useful info when going through
the archives.>>

But many don't take the time to summarize the answers. Even if they do, they may
not include interesting points on tangent problems. Then you have the problem
that the poster of the question uses up their posting limit with the summary.

I think, as another has pointed out, that Eric Ray's dissatisfaction probably
stems from being sucked into off-list nastiness and the work load imposed if
more close policing of Techwr-L policies is required.

Eric Ray already said he liked the idea of something along the lines of
Slashdot's (I think) karma rating. So why not make policing the list democratic.
Include a "Report this Post" link at the bottom of each post. This could go to a
form on the Techwr-L site with checkboxes/dropdown lists for all Techwr-L
offenses and an 'other' box. The lists would be divided between 'Warning' and
'Hanging' offenses. If a given number of people report a post for the same
offense, Eric Ray can then pass judgment an enact the penalty. Warning offenses
become the usual first is a reminder, maybe limited posts for a certain time,
then perhaps removal of posting privileges 'Hanging' offenses first get a
warning AND removal of posting privileges for a short time(day), then repeat of
offense within a given time is removal of privileges for longer, multiple
repeats is banishment.

Along with the 'Other' offenses entry, the web site could include a mechanism to
submit new offenses and the vote the escalation or demotion of importance of
offenses.

Now this does raise the specter of the little fascists to rise and register
EVERY last tiny offense. But, that is why I'd leave the human decision in
whether to apply the sanctions or not and the reason that there be a reasonable
threshold before the moderator is even informed of the reports. A given
frequency of offense reporting could be made an offense in and of itself if need
be. The sanitized statistics could make for an interesting Karma rating that
could be consulted on the website as well. Include a helpful/not helpful rating
in the mix and members could see if their posts were generating interest or not.

Just an Idea,

Eric L. Dunn



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