I put forwards several names of regular community members with respect to both moderating the games and/or the applications section of the comments about a month ago as I and others though it was needed, but I've just been informed that the boss isn't happy with this arrangement so moderation will remain the same. No reason was given.
Moderating the Game and Applications comments sections of the giveaway project
(27 posts) (15 voices)-
Whiterabbit-uk
Games GuruPosted 14 years ago # -
Is he saying that he's happy with the way things ARE????? That's hard to believe with all the complaints I've been reading the past few months.
Posted 14 years ago # -
GMMan, Hexadecimal Blacksmith
BlockedThat's unfortunate. However, I think it was just a measure so that people can't screw with the site by doing something... erm... wrong. After all, the more people in control of the site, the less the project team can be. Information about... secret stuff ... might be leaked. (I'm not saying I know anything secret, but it's just a thought.)
Posted 14 years ago # -
Whiterabbit-uk
Games GuruI think that's one of the reasons. I asked them to allow Wizzard to help me moderate the Game giveaway comments section last year but they said more or less the same thing as you imply. However no reason was given other than the boss wasn't happy to allow it this time.
It is a great shame as the comments have been deteriorating into something abysmal of late. also sometimes the comments aren't moderated that often; especially at weekends.
There are enough long term visitors that have show their trust over the last four years to alow them some control. Afterall these community members actually care about this site and project.
Graylox sent me (and others) details (or a web link) showing the stats from the giveaway site. I was amazed at how much the site has been valued at in US dollars. Well over 1.5 Million dollars, so I can see why they would be reticent at allowing us access to sensitive areas. I have to be very carefdul when I'm in the Game Giveaway console as I could easily make a mess of the site by accidentaly deleting things. (Don't worry I'm extremely careful when I'm in the console area of the game giveaway)
If you consider I've just deleted a load of files from my computer while trying to back them up because I was falling asleep you can see the possible problems. The owners must be aware of the value of their site now so wouldn't want it to be compromised.
Posted 14 years ago # -
That stinks. I've offered before, I've offered this time, and I'll offer again in the future. I've had both you and BuBBy put in a good word for me on both sides but still have gotten turned down. They NEED to do SOMETHING to fix their problems or their worth will eventually go down from people losing interest. I can understand about being leery of letting strangers have a little control of your cash cow, but their current setup isn't working.
Posted 14 years ago # -
4shadowm
MemberWhen sites aren't moderated properly value can go down. I'm generally not one for over moderation, but when money is at stake and developers who care are using this site I'm for a little extra care. I've felt especially bad when there have been developers here actively answering user questions and there's been a ton of useless and often unknowledgable derogatory crap posted. If people have proven their trustworthiness and dedication to the site over an extended period of time and are not trusted it says something about the ownership of the site as well...
Posted 14 years ago # -
triphammer
MemberI'm with "the boss" on this one. Too many chefs ruin the soup. When you talk of moderation you're usually talking about deletion... and it's deletion based on the moderator's point of view on the way THEY want to see things. In the process you remove free speech and someone's point of view. I'm of the opinion, that we don't need anymore of those types here. Even in the comments section. So Bravo to the boss for keeping things the way they are.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Except the fact that these comments ARE moderated and if not moderated - they don't show at all. Where's your "free speech" if there are no comments showing?
Posted 14 years ago # -
I don't know what or who is to blame for all the glitches, but I understand, that the "Boss" is afraid that a new member of the team could stir things up (even more).
What I can't understand, is the fact, that there is no way to separate the moderation from the vital parts of the site.Posted 14 years ago # -
Whiterabbit-uk
Games GuruIn answer to Triphammers opinion. I can see where you are coming from, and I agree in part to what you are saying about moderators 'forcing' their opinions onto the community (maybe force is too harsh a word, but I can't think of anything else at the moment becasue I've not slept in my bed since Friday morning (It's now early Monday morning), but overall I think you are wrong
Before I started to moderate the game giveaway comments we would only see comments getting moderated around 3 or at the most four times over the day. Comment numbers started to fall rapidly once we went to weekend games only, in part I believe because no one from the moderation team ever bothered to reply to any queries, and most were ignored by the community because by the time they were moderated most who did check the comments had already been and gone. (I'm sure anyone would stop bothering to post if their questions or opinions were ignored time and time again).
When I took over the moderating I was determined to moderate as ofen as I could and try to answer everyones questions with a view to getting the community back as I've always believed that we could improve things with respect to enticing new developers to the project and hence more free games if comments were moderated properly; but it's become exhausting for me to do so. When we have games I rarely get any proper sleep; for example, this weekend I've not actually slept in my bed. I was up all Friday night writing the review for Saturdays game and spent the whole of yesterday moderating comments apart from when I finally fell asleep at the keyboard this morning for a few hours. I personally think more moderators are needed. It's not fair having to basically stay up for the whole 48 hour period just so that I can make sure the comments are properly moderated, which they need to be otherwise a whole raft of rubbish would get posted.
There is someone else moderating the comments section, but only very infrequently, and I have no idea who they are becasue they never leave any comments and only moderate a few times over the day and usually only if I've fallen asleep.
W.R.
Posted 14 years ago # -
4shadowm
MemberNo one should have to work that hard - especially if it's a volunteer position. The boss endangers losing the mods he has by not trusting others who have proven themselves. He also stands to lose money when comments are posted due to there not being a mod around. Your dedication is above and beyond, W.R. Thanks for all of your hard work.
Posted 14 years ago # -
2-SHEDS
MemberIt is volunteer work though, isn't it? It is a lot of work to keep it the way you want it WR, but it is the way YOU want it. The way YOU think it should be. You volunteered to help out there, and then you changed it into something that needs maintenance and constant visiting by a moderator to keep it that way and it gets to be too much for one person (or two ppl as you said there was someone else already in there with you). Now it's to the point where you need another volunteer.
If it's too much for you, then ease up a bit. Put your initial review up like you normally do, and for the rest of the day, don't feel like you have to be the one giving the answers every time a question or comment comes up. I'm not saying it doesn't look good, or you're not doing a good job, but you are doing more than you can handle and it is you that is to blame for it.
I think there's enough moderators here already. There's enough stuff removed and deleted on a daily basis from the forums and comment section combined that to say we need more moderators or that someone else sifting through the comments is needed is almost comical.
I also wouldn't put much stock in those sites that give a value for your website. Many times that's based on site traffic and related stats. I'm sure the owner of this site would get a good laugh at what some sites value GOTD at. I know I did.
Posted 14 years ago # -
watcher13
MemberWell, 2-Sheds that's a common misconception about the moderators here. There are a number of moderators for the forums section but quite a few less that have the advanced privileges that allow them to do the comments sections. Whiterabbit is the only scheduled moderator for the Games section. If anyone else from the GOTD staff (which may be very small) does it, it's just on the spur of the moment and unscheduled. WR is not even told about it, but just comes back to the page to find out that things are different. In fact, there could be a VERY small number that actually have these privileges. Just volunteers Bubby on the main page and WR on the games page and we have no idea how many staff have the privileges, unless Bubby or one of the forum members know. It could only be the boss. In fact, no on here may have any idea even if GOTD has much of a staff. Again, it could be very small. Please don't take offense GM, but it's almost funny you should mention secrets. It seems most of what goes on at GOTD is a more closely guarded secret than anything at the Pentagon, if you will allow me a little literary license. Edit: not that I really want to know all this stuff, just that these kinds questions do occasionally come up.
It think Graylox makes quite a pertinent point here. Limited privileges, for example, are hardly a new development for web pages.
WR. I don't know if it would help you any, but, for my money. I wouldn't expect you to visit the page at any more than a 3 hour interval. Even that would be pretty rough, but at least your naps could be more intentional. I feel it's when the main page isn't moderated for 6, 8, 10, 12 hours (veterans will know I'm not really exaggerating here) that it can look pretty bad. Edit: and I would say for the last 6 hours it's probably not worth it. A good time to get some well deserved sleep.
Of course, the ironic question is whether someone messing something up would hurt the project worse than people going over to the daily comments section and seeing that no comments have been moderated for hours or that something against the rules or offensive has gotten through. A question for which I do not have an answer. Oh well, nothing's perfect.
Edit: WR, please ignore that 3 hour comment. I feel like a slavedriver. I see no reason why, say, 6 wouldn't be just as fine. 4 times a day is still above and beyond the call of duty.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Thanks watcher, that you tried to explain the differences again, though 2-Sheds is one of the veterans here in the forums. If he is really interested in what other users have to say, he should have known the facts quite well.
I had some online/offline problems in the last few hours, therefore my late reply.
But here it is:(and I don't speak to you, watcher - LOL)
............There are all sorts of people.
Some like to help others and bring people closer together - one of them is Whiterabbit.
Some like to offend sensibilities and run down other people.
The latter only pipe up to criticise. I can not remember, that they tried to help other users.
Those pitiable beings are forced to come to http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/ to get some gifts, they otherwise won't get any, for lack of friends. It seems to me, they don't even have any mirror to see a lovely face at least once a day. So they have to spew their poisonous drivel right into our face.
How brave are those friendly neighbours in real life without their avatar?(Even my DSL cable is annoyed by so much negativity and cut the line, trying to protect me, so I have to start over.)
And then there is again the accusation:"...There's enough stuff removed and deleted on a daily basis ..."
Oh Yeah. Again...and again...
There is a log for deleted comments in the forums, and it is a routine for admins and mods to check it. I haven't seen any unfair deletion for quite a time (never?), and I didn't get any ticket by an admin for a mistake.The first deleted comment (Dec. 2006) in the log was a question for a reg.key.
1 week later the greed entered the scene: "Yeah, I posted some program ideas and no responses!! Crazy, it was 2 days ago and I really want those programs for free!!
"
1 month later I found the first spammer.
Further on I found lots of tests, duplicate posts, postings made by the GOTD Team (!!!), porn, spam, more spam, spam, slander, warez, spam, reg.keys, spam, off topic, abuse,...oh, one user made a long list with all the $$ he saved with GOTD: "I have been counting all the things given from GOTD.
These are from the software:
$39.95
$36.95
...
...
Would someone be so kind as to add these up?"Enough, my router is blinking again, time to go to bed.
Whiterabbit, thanks for your work, do it in your own pace and don't listen to those kill-joys.
graylox
Posted 14 years ago # -
aRenegade
MemberLet's not forget those people who post comments en gratis to promote some personal website; giving visitors an impression that they are endorsed by GOTD. The problem with that becomes a conflict of interest. Not to mention the potential loss of revenue to GOTD. Should some GOTD visitor follow a thread posted on the daily's to another site, then from that site they follow some other thread to a site that sets off their PC's anti-malware program, they are going turn around and say "Hey, I got here via GOTD!" That scenario has happened a number of times already. A person just the other day come back just to warn other visitors about Dot Tech.
Its also happened to me and not that long ago. I'm not trying to single anyone out, my intent is just to show how an unrelated problem can lay blame on this site where there shouldn't be any blame. That could also be partly one of the reasons about the loss of members that WR brought up. I just have a problem with wanna be reviewers because they're so bad at it. Other than WR's reviews everything else is trivial fault finding. And that can reflect poorly on GOTD.
I've seen baiting on other web sites and it can be difficult to control. What other site operators have done to maintain control of their good name was for every "wanna be Joe Pro software reviewer" an administrator posted a disclaimer. Basically saying that any comment review are personal views and are not associated with, in this case GOTD, in any official capacity. There comments do not reflect an endorsement by the site operators and warn that any thread they follow from here is out of the GOTD realm.
@WR - What I said about your reviews, don't let it go to your head ;)
Posted 14 years ago # -
Whiterabbit-uk
Games Gurulol, I wont do. In all honesty I really don't think my reviews are anywhere near good. They give the facts (in a rather bland way)and are usually neutral with respect to opinion, but they don't have flair, or the language to inspire. I'd like to spend more time writing them. I'm sure I'm capable, especially those games I'm really into; but I never seem to have the time any more despite being stuck at home 24/7
Posted 14 years ago # -
watcher13
MemberWell, anyway, I think we might in danger of getting off the subject here. Looking at WR's original post, it's basically about his frustration at not being able to get some help with his moderation, although he posts later that he can understand GOTD's concerns. I think most of us were saying that we feel there's a short of, if not moderators (we don't really have any info. about that), at least of moderation, so to speak, whether they let everything through or not. As Dragonlair points out, the result of no moderation is a blank page.
I think we have a tendency many times when a GOTD subject gets frustrating to start bashing people, mainly because the comments page features plenty of what seem like - and probably are - ungrateful, idiot trollz. And we seem to have gotten into it here as a result of legitimate comments about censorship (and legitimate contrary opinions). The problem is, as worthwhile as troll bashing is - I'm not sure you could ever bash them enough - it sometimes threatens to take over a thread. Maybe we should start a thread, "Why I hate trollz", but I'm afraid the system might break down from the shear volume of posts, mine included. :)
Edit: Oh, I just saw your post WR. To put it simply - you're nuts. Your reviews are excellent. We don't just repeatedly comment you because we're nice (that certainly doesn't apply to yours truly :) ). I'm glad you're not in danger of getting a big head, but I think you're too hard on yourself sometimes. In any case, keep up the good work. As a famous American television policeman used to say, "just the facts". Nothing wrong with that. It's a game review. If I want Shakespeare, I'll download some. :)
Posted 14 years ago # -
aRenegade
MemberI think a good bashing is exactly what's need around here. Being manzy panzy these day only gets an organization or a person duped and taken advantage of. It also tends to make a site & forum boring. A good honest bashing brings out critical thinking in people; and exposes those who think they have free reign for a free ride. As well as them being smart, and us being stupid. Look if the forum posts and comments become heavily censored because one moderator is being afraid not to hurt anyone's feelings" then to that I say "Well That's Just To Bad" We're not little boys & girls (although sometimes the way certain members get so defensive I sometimes say to myself "I think ye protests a little to much! Hmmm"
Watcher what you call bashing, I call free speech and "a brutal truth". Have you ever watched a session in the British Parliament? Ask WR how well mannered those folk conduct themselves. Watcher13, a nice, nice, oooy let's not dare offend anyone attitude unfortunately went out with the Woodstock generation. However, also keep in mind at the same time the system was doing its best to suppress the opinions of those who weren't afraid to stand up and say what's going on around them is BS! Without "bashers" people can EASILY be lulled into a false sense of complacency. Thinking there is nothing really wrong here and let's not get carried away, blah, blah, blah. You've already taken and swallowed that bait, hook, line, and sinker!
Well, my friend yes there is something wrong here and it's BS, and as a long time member of this clan I can't help but notice, the intellectual level of the site has gone down hill. And people who post mindless, trivial, faultfinding cheapens the GOTD experience and contributes to the downward spiral we're now in. Think for a minute about all the regulars that are no longer regulars.
Anyway, I'll close out my radical rant by asking for some feedback about my idea of using a simple 20 -25 word disclaimer to disassociate GOTD from connivers who gratuitously use the site to drive traffic to their personal web site for the Google rankings. Gee WR, I'm surprised you never used that ploy. What a great way to make a personal game site popular! And you could do it very quickly! Why I bet your Google Ranking would just rise exponentially! Hmmm.....
Posted 14 years ago # -
watcher13
MemberRenegade, you're a valuable member of this community, you make some eloquent points, and I respect your intelligence, but, I don't understand what you're talking about.
Let me quote you: "people who post mindless, trivial, faultfinding cheapens the GOTD experience and contributes to the downward spiral we're now in." That's really all Whiterabbit was intending to do. If you go to Saturday's game page, you'll see his explanation of what he's attempting to do or to this forum thread where he solicited our comments on the subject. In fact, you might want to leave your comments on the subject. I'm sure they'd be appreciated.
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/7381
I'm absolutely certain that WR's intentions are the following:
1. to block posts that violate GOTD's rules, as all moderators are expected to do, but GOTD staff don't always do.
2. to block unconstructive criticism, which I believe ONLY means, "this software sucks". After all, what are developers supposed to do with that, short of blowing their brains out? (Although, to be fair WR, by the same logic you should take out posts that only say, "this software's great". Although you may already be doing that, too.)
3. to block personal attacks: "hey a......, all your reviews suck". Something that has happened frequently on the main comments page.
I really don't believe he intends to do more than that.Also, let me point out, respectfully, that's not what this threads about. Again, and I do think people who post - I'm not singling ANYONE out, I've said this MANY times - should first read previous posts carefully. This thread's about Whiterabbit's frustration over not being allowed to have some help moderating the game page - although he feels there's some justification for this - and his belief - shared by MANY - that there simply aren't enough GOTD moderators to keep the pages looking good. Maybe we should be having this discussion about censorship in that other thread.
On the subject of bashing trolls, as satisfying as that may be, there's a problem with that. Let me repeat myself in trying to remind folks here that most people who visit the software sites NEVER come to the forums. So they NEVER see all this criticism. As insulting as it may sound, or as hard as it is to accept, a lot of times we're just talking to ourselves here. Also, "hey trolls, you suck" isn't likely to be any more effective than, "this software sucks". I'm exaggerating, but what I'm really saying is Whiterabbit's approach seems to me the only productive way to handle this situation.
As to my "ooey" approach, you forget that I'm the one who's been censored here and even asked to leave because some folks didn't like it after receiving both barrels of my "let's not dare offend anyone attitude". If you don't believe me, PM one of the moderators. But, as I've said before, one of the bad things about hammering a newbie who posts something ignorant in the forums, (or the comments) rather than politely correcting them, is that when a 3rd newbie reads a bashing, they don't know what to believe. If you politely point out the flaws in the other person's argument, the 3rd person knows who to believe and vicious rumors and other nonsense are diffused. We're able to keep that 3rd person newbie around and sometimes the ignorant newbie learns and becomes a valuable member of the community. Many of the disputes I have had with people here started out because they just HAD to vent their spleen, no matter how unproductive it was.
Yes, I have seen the British Parliament. Let's not be like them. Let's not let this escalate into an argument. Basically, I think we mostly agree here on what kind of crap just takes up space over on the comments pages and Whiterabbit's just trying to conscientiously deal with the problem.
Posted 14 years ago # -
NolafromNZ
MemberWell said, Watcher13.
Posted 14 years ago # -
2-SHEDS
MemberWell, 2-Sheds that's a common misconception about the moderators here. There are a number of moderators for the forums section but quite a few less that have the advanced privileges that allow them to do the comments sections.
Not a misconception by me. I know how it works here and who has priveliges and where. WR said there was someone else in there once in a while helping. With him, the "mystery person", and another new volunteer, that'd be three. What I'm saying is that the "mystery person" doing what they can is enough. WR is there to help because the "mystery person" (in all probability) thought help was needed. Now the help needs help?
I'm sorry but I think WR in there too much as it is. Nothing against WR but he's all over the comment section. I visit a couple times a day, and I know what's posted and what gets removed. (Not just the games comments but the software comments and here in the forums, but I'll limit this discussion to the game's comments). He's got comments here and another one there. Answering questions almost like he's having a conversation in some cases. Looks great. Good job. But it's not a forum. This is the forum. It's a comment section there.
Comments like "This game rocks .. I played for hours !" is just as valid a comment as "This game sucks ! Uninstalled !". There's a judgement going on as to what's valid and what isn't. I think everyone's review should be just as valid as WR. No matter how short. No matter how immature. WR chooses to be professional, and answer questions, and make recommendations. It's far beyond a comment section now. It's WR's game editorial page. We're seeing things the way WR wants us to see the page. He's gone through and sifted through the "useful" stuff and the "garbage" and given us his creation. Which is great, but that's not what a comment section is.
I don't know what kind of argument you made to get more help in the comment section WR, but I hope it was along the lines of "Hey 'boss', if you like the way the game comment section looks, I'm going to need more help to keep it that way, because it's a lot of work", instead of "hey 'boss', I don't have the time to be in the comment section all day, we need help to delete the garbage that accumulates". I'm paraphrasing of course, but you get the idea. If it was the latter, I'm not so sure I would have been all over that idea myself. Who's garbage? Garbage as defined by who? You're talking about a section that will have a slant toward what one moderator thinks it should be, or in this case what 3 moderators think it should be. I'm not for more judgements on what should be there and what wasn't good enough for one moderator. If that's the case you should just designate writers for that section and not allow the comments at all.
@Renegade
I think about the old regulars all the time :P. I'd also agree with a good amount of what you had to say.Posted 14 years ago # -
watcher13
MemberI just didn't feel up to posting yesterday, so...
Sorry 2-Sheds, I believe I was confused by the way you put the thing. As you know, many people do think that anyone who moderates over here can do so over there. In your post you lumped the two together, "I think there's enough moderators here already. There's enough stuff removed and deleted on a daily basis from the forums and comment section combined that to say we need more moderators or that someone else sifting through the comments is needed is almost comical." I don't feel too bad that I misinterpreted you. I'm sorry, but I feel that's kind of a vague statement, and it's possible Graylox may have read it the same way because, for my money, the forums and comments sections are pretty much apples and oranges.
The main point of this post, however, is not addressed to you specifically, but is general. I don't want to seem to be speaking for Graylox on the one little point above, and I certainly don't want to speak for WR, but I believe this whole thing is a misunderstanding. I think it's just a coincidence that Whiterabbit reported his latest failure to get GOTD to agree to a 2nd SCHEDULED moderator (please note the emphasis) at the same time he announced his intention to take a more proactive approach to moderating. He didn't ask for help in the past for that reason, and I don't believe he's asking for it now for that reason. He's not asking for help to do what he wants, he's asking so he can do what you and aRenegade as well as me and a lot of others want: to make sure people's comments get out of the moderation queue and onto the page in a timely matter.
You mention that WR and the mystery moderator are enough. Are they? Can we depend on this GOTD staff member? Will this person - that they didn't even bother to tell Stephen about - continue to show up? If something - perish the thought - should happen to Whiterabbit, can we count on GOTD to moderate the page in a timely matter, to enforce their own rules, to screen out personal attacks? (IMHO a personal attack clearly violates GOTD's condition to keep comments addressed to the software. After all, what software does "your an a......" refer to?) If you look at the track record of the main page, none of these have proven to be dependable occurrences - and would be even less so if it wasn't for the conscientiousness of the only volunteer accepted over there, Bubby. No offense, but if you want to bet your paycheck that GOTD will put in more than the minimal effort - if that much - go right ahead. But I'm not throwing my money away on that one. You might remember that Bubby once said he suspected a GOTD staffer was throwing away comments for a short period of time (that Bubby rescued) for no other reason - Bubby believed - than they just didn't want to take the trouble to moderate them.
Now, to avoid the risk of being accused again of monopolizing a thread, this is my last word on the subject. But since this is the last word, I'm going to actually have my say even if that means I will again speak evil by criticizing GOTD.
I think:
GOTD clearly wants to have active comment pages on it's site. If not, it could just as easily just have the thumbs. But, like many small businesses, GOTD seems to not have - or be willing to spend - the resources to get what it wants. Like many small business owners - and I speak from experience - GOTD appears to be hoping it will be lucky enough to get something for next to nothing. Which is ironic considering what a great investment the 2 volunteer moderators - the best they have by far - have been for GOTD. Am I worried that, say, Wizzard of Oz will damage something. Yeah, that's on my list of worries. Probably at about position 1 billion. If that high. And, as has been said before, they could always amend the privileges so that comment moderators pretty much couldn't do anything else to the page. But that would require a time investment on GOTD's part. So I think GOTD needs more moderators for the comments page. There's enough over here, but that's partly because these folks are smart enough to realize that you need extra people for when some can't keep up with the moderation because life has interfered. Which it has a nasty habit of doing.Final thought. Often when I criticize GOTD I'm told it's their site and they can do what they want. Unfortunately from your point of view, aRenegade and 2-Sheds, that includes allowing Whiterabbit to pursue a more proactive style of moderation. But - to his credit - he has sought feedback on this issue and I'm sure he'd be happy to hear more from you on the other thread. I feel you're concerns are legitimate, but I'm not worried that the censorship your concerned about will bring about a new Hitlerian or Stalinist age. I've got bigger fish to fry. I would say, though, I believe that some people who reported being censored on the main page simply ran into another of the glitches GOTD hasn't had the time to fix. For 2-Sheds to say that the daily giveaway page is over moderated, considering the occasional 6 hour delays and the stuff that still sneaks through, is almost comical to me.
I'm out.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Archangel
MemberI've been out of state for a couple of weeks and have to go back but I had to comment WOW! Sink your teeth and don't let go. I admire the stand up guys/gals that tell it like it is instead of pussy footing around with post's that cover a 3rd of a page and really say nothing at all.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Well I've held off (or I've been too busy) to post until now. I must say some of what has been said I do agree with, but there is no need for me to repeat those points. Instead I just want to mention a few points that haven't been mentioned - the difficulty in having multiple moderators at the same time.
When moderating the pages comments, I (and I dare say WR) read through every single comment. There is a need to be aware of what has already been said, what questions have been answered, and where the direction is heading. If a second or third person steps in and starts approving or deleting comments you very quickly lose track of where you are as comments may appear that you have not seen, or as has happened to me a few times - start researching and writing a response to a comment - then publish that response only to find the original comment has been deleted.
Indeed, being a second moderator in a comment section can be like walking into a conversation mid-way and then only hearing every second sentence from then onwards. As I know how this can sometimes make the task of moderating more difficult, I leave the gaming comments to WR (quite apart from the fact that I know he always does a superb job). Also jumping from the apps page to the games page are somewhat a different mindset (and audience).
Then to extend to the foreign language comment sites (for taking action against complaints) - the conversation quickly turns to gibberish (as spoken by gibbers).
In an ideal world - I would like to see something like a private chat window - where moderators can easily just leave messages or comments to the other moderators - so there can be a level of coordination. I could leave a message that I am offline until 0800 GMT+10 so another moderator knows the cockpit is unattended. Moderators could organise times on weekends & holidays. Even a check in/check out style board so we know if someone is currently watching the comments. Moderators could post a message to other mods if there are issues related to the giveaway (or updates on when problems are going to be fixed).
It's much nicer to be an "informed" moderator - at least the show can run much more smoothly.
Oh, and WR - I think your posting guidelines are great. Especially deleting any comments that trash other users/posts. Basically constructive criticism or praise on the software - or it goes in the bin. And repetition joins the trash too. It's not interesting or helpful reading the same comment 20 times (I wish users would read existing posts before commenting).
Posted 14 years ago # -
Inas
MemberBravo to WR and Bubby - (1)for the excellent GGOTD posting guidelines (as implemented by WR) and (2) the overall GOTD moderation-improvement suggestions (as proposed by Bubby.) Hopefully, the GOTD execs will value & appreciate your ideas, and implement your suggestions as standard GOTD operating procedures, for the welfare, benefit, and good of all.
Best,
InasPosted 14 years ago #
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