Mods locking threads they are involved in...

Soubrette

Would it be possible to have a guideline where board guides do not lock threads where they have become involved in the discussion?

While I appreciate that being a board guide is a difficult and often thankless job and that it is inevitable that sometimes people will disagree with any decision while others will applaud the same decision. I do think that becoming involved in a discussion then choosing to moderate it can lead to abuse, even unconsiously.

Would it be possible for a board guide to pm another board guide to ask them to look at the thread if they believe it should be locked but to take no action themselves in this instance?

I know there would still be the problem of people tending to see things from the same point of view as people they like, but I feel it would hopefully stop a guide from posting a scathing response to something they don't like and then promptly locking the thread and so denying others the right to respond. First it would give them time to cool down because they would have to wait for another board guide to give their opinion and second it gives another pair of eyes on the situation. I think it would also be helpful when someone is unconsciously justifying their actions - that second pair of eyes is more likely to catch it.

Like I said, it won't altogether solve the problem of non-impartiality (being human we all have our biases and blindspots) but it seems a simple thing to move someway towards solving it.

Many thanks

Browntoa

normally a BG will lock a thread and refer it to the abuse team for a decision

Soubrette

Browntoa wrote: »

normally a BG will lock a thread and refer it to the abuse team for a decision

It doesn't seem so hard to pm another BG to see if they think it's locked first though - possibly saving abuse a bit of work.

Nile

Soubrette wrote: »

Would it be possible for a board guide to pm another board guide to ask them to look at the thread if they believe it should be locked but to take no action themselves in this instance?

Hello Soubrette

There are some boards which only have one board guide (Loans and The Money Savers Arms for example) so they don't have a partner(s) to consult.

Whenever I post in a thread and then close/lock it, I always report it to [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL] and the Forum Team review it quickly.

Here is a quote from the Forum Rules:

IF YOU'RE UNHAPPY WITH SOMETHING A BOARD GUIDE'S DONE
Please remember the Board Guides are just ordinary forum users who've volunteered to help out the site and are doing what the MSE Team has asked them to do. They do an excellent job of keeping the forum wheels turning, but are not paid. They are not responsible for the site and have no say in policy decisions.

If you've a question about a Board Guide's choices, first read the site's Terms and Conditions and these Forum Rule FAQs. If you're still unsure why they did something or you feel the Forum Team should be aware, please report to [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]. Don't question a Board Guide on the forum or it will be removed.


Regards

Nile

Browntoa

and sometimes its the difference between moderation (done by the abuse team, not BG's) and stuff that BG's do

BOARD GUIDES
The Board Guides are volunteer users who help to keep the forum running smoothly. They do not deal with abuse - and are totally separate to the forum team.
Brief Role Description

• They focus on a few boards - not the whole forum
• Keep threads on topic and boards running smoothly (including moving non-MoneySaving related discussions to Discussion Time/MoneySaversArms where appropriate)
• Delete spam and report the poster to the Forum Team
• Help newbies find their way around
• Point site users to relevant main site guides/news stories/blogs
• Merge/link together duplicate threads
• Sticky the best threads to the top of the board
• Lock contentious threads and report to the Forum Team

Soubrette

Thanks Niles, I am aware of how to report board guide abuse though and indeed have used this facility in the past.

My suggestion was more a simple way to avoid a board guide getting into a situation either inadvertantly or deliberately where they are using their extra functionality as a way of putting one over on regular posters rather than for the smooth running of the board.

In the instance of a board that has one guide - wouldn't it be easy to ask another guide from another part of the board to have a quick look and see what they think?

Soubrette

Please note that this is a suggestion on top of the rules and guidelines already issued by moneysavingexpert.com, I am fully aware of those already although thanks for the refresher.

This is also not a blanket criticism of board guides in general, as most times a BG is involved in a discussion and then locks a thread in a very reasonable manner. Unfortunately I have also seen more than one example where a board guide had the last word on a thread, liberally insulted people who have posted before and then locked the thread. I do not have a current example to give because there are none that I am aware of, however something a BG did do recently, reminded me that I wanted to bring this issue up when it was not so 'hot'.

I know abuse will then look at any locked thread but they may feel the decision to lock the thread was the right one - should they edit the post that locked it then or just leave it as is?

An obvious solution to me is that if you are actively involved in a thread you should try not to moderate it unless it is an action of last resort, in order to avoid the possibility of abusing functionality.

Finally I have used the term moderation with regards to BGs because I can't think of a better word for the locking and moving of threads that can go on - increased functionality is the best alternative I can come up with - I'm always open to suggestion though