Riptide Rules of Engagement: We Feel Your Pain

"I'm a moderator on an online forum, basically for a hobby, not for an industry. The moderators have to routinely inspect and accept or reject submissions. We block spamming, crudity, libel, and a host of all sorts of other things (and we also ban online commentary on our moderating function). Our grounds. The site is owned by an individual (a journalist, by the way) who gets to set the rules. Our prime directive is that posting must be respectful; if not, it goes in the trash. If the problem persists, you might want to say something in your comment area, in as neutral language as possible, to the effect that the web site is privately owned, that you moderate its content to keep it deteriorating in the puddles of chaos that unmoderated sites do, that you welcome differing opinions, but you draw the line for reasons of disrespect, libel, bullying, violation of fair use, etc. Legally, you don't owe anything to a blogger who already has his own outlet. You respect the existence of differences of opinion, but accept that sometimes those differences cannot be bridged by reason or pharmaceuticals." (S., a corporate-blog moderator)

Comments

[todd bray]

Ha, but is there one?

[ian butler]

I propose that the "who gives a damn" community demonstrate their unity by doing nothing!

[todd bray]

With Pacifica's various communities, Art, Environment, pro business, surfing, music... there is an untapped place for a "who gives a damn" community or maybe the "give it a rest " community. Any thoughts?

[John Maybury]

Brother Underhill, your minor sins of omission are the least of my worries. Carry on!

[Dan Underhill]

FROM!

"to keep it" FROM "deteriorating in the puddles of chaos that unmoderated sites do"

You don't really need to post this. You have seen (and fixed) many of my omissions in the past. I spoze turn about is fair play.