Should Reporting Remain Anonymous?

[Supplement Four]

Just curious what the community at a whole is interested in...

When the report button is used to report a post to the moderators, should the citizen remain anonymous? Or, should it be public knowledge who did the reporting?

I want to keep this unbiased, both ways, so I won't comment more for either option until later in the thread.

The Question Is: Should reporting remain anonymous?

 

[veltyen]

The Question Is: Should reporting remain anonymous?

My opinion is that it should be a choice. Assuming reasonable moderators this should not be a problem. Despite occasional disagreements I would say that the moderators here are in general very reasonable.

 

[flykiller]

good grief, of course it should be anonymous. there's no reason to involve the entire board in any report process, this isn't politics or a court or a poll. we're welcomed guests, and if anyone doesn't act like it then the matter should be dealt with off to one side. if we have moderators then let them moderate.

 

[Supplement Four]

My opinion is that someone should stand behind their accuasions. Got a complaint? Be a man and stand behind your report.

As for making it non-anonymous, I think there should be a simple button, like on the poll above, that you can hit to see who voted for what (I made the poll above anonymous, btw ).

 

[far-trader]

To be frank some of the attitudes I've seen expressed in various "debates" and in some reasons for "open" moderation are exactly why it should remain just the way it is. Anonymous reporting and a private chamber for the moderators to discuss issues.

That said, sure, make it an option to tag your name to a report if that's doable. But how many are going to use it, really.

And I think the first offense response by moderators in many cases should be private notice of the infraction, second offense should be public notice and a vacation. If I was feeling particularly hard-assed about it, third offense would feel the big boot. With a reasonable reset time on the count so the odd offense doesn't get one booted, just the rapid repeat offenders who don't seem to get the message.

But, I'm not a moderator here, it's not my forum, and I'm not usually feeling hard-assed about anything.

I will say in my experience on this and other boards, personal advise to cool it from other merely mortal posters rarely if ever works. And some people don't even get "it" when hit with the big boot.

 

[Rhialto the Marvelous]

I think reporting should be anonymous, but I also think it shouldn't be practised nearly as often as it apparently is.

My main hang-out place on the web is a nearly unmoderated forum. Report people? Short of openly advocating for the KKK, nothing's considered report-worthy there. CotI by contrast is where I go to relax because it's so very civil by comparison. Think about it--this place is pretty pleasant.

Also, this poll should really be in that website issues forum, assuming polls can be put there.

 

[far-trader]

I think reporting should be anonymous, but I also think it shouldn't be practiced nearly as often as it apparently is.

I don't think it is. It sounds more like the perception of a vocal few.

Also, this poll should really be in that website issues forum, assuming polls can be put there.

I was thinking the same thing, but no, polls can only be conducted here I think (mods might be able to create polls anywhere but I'm not sure). I don't see a big problem with it though. Not sure it'll really serve a purpose beyond satisfying some curiosity either though

 

[flykiller]

Be a man and stand behind your report.

what, the board is an arena for proving manhood? it's for traveller. anything else should be somewhere else.

 

[Supplement Four]

what, the board is an arena for proving manhood? it's for traveller. anything else should be somewhere else.

That's fine by me.

So...why not have the reporters out in the open? Why allow them to hide?

 

[Kaveman Koder]

Who runs this place? The Moderators.

Any complaint, comments, suggestions or any other correspondence with the moderators must be confidential. Why, because it's a private conversation! Then it is up to the moderators to decide, how any matter will be dealt with and if it should be public, that's their job. I certainly don't see this process as "hiding", we all know how it works.

As to being a man, or fronting people, sounds like macho BS to me. No good would come from that sort of attitude, it just upsets people. Then people leave. In a public place like this forum, it is not about being RIGHT, it is about being FUN. I'm sure we've all meet people who are always "right" but no one wants to play with them because they're no fun.

It's up to the Mods to make sure we ALL have fun, and it's up to us to play nice.

 

[Icosahedron]

Hmm, I have mixed feelings about this one. I can certainly see S4's angle that someone should stand behind their accusations, but OTOH I can see that this would probably lead to all-out war!

My favoured solution would be to have no reporting at all. As I have stated elsewhere, there are enough competent Moderators to keep this site relatively clean without having covert or overt spies in the background. I just don't think it's necessary and it's obviously a source of ill-will.

Having said that, even if you remove the 'Report' button or attach a 'name and shame' function to it, you can't prevent people privately emailing their gripes to Moderators.

Much depends on the integrity of the Moderators. If there are certain people who are constantly telling tales, or victimising certain posters, a lenient Moderator will note this and probably pay less attention to them. However, a harsh Moderator may welcome the supply of information. I think the Moderators here are pretty good guys, though of course I could just be naive.

 

[Supplement Four]

Hmm, I have mixed feelings about this one. I can certainly see S4's angle that someone should stand behind their accusations, but OTOH I can see that this would probably lead to all-out war!

Why is that?

If anything "happens" after being reported, then that's what the moderators are for. You want to get yourself banned, then just go ahead and screw with the guy who rightfully reported you.

OTOH, I think it might lend itself to better behavior on the forum. First off, you'll have reporters thinking twice before they report. It won't be this easy thing.

Second, imagine...you make an inflamatory post, and then you see three PMs in your mailbox--automated messages saying "So-and-So reported you for post X".

If I had that, I'd re-look at my post, and change it, not wanting to cause waves.

I think this would be a better system than what we have now.

And, it would eliminate tattletells, leaving behind the legitimate reports of infractions.

 

[far-trader]

And, it would eliminate tattletells, leaving behind the legitimate reports of infractions.

I'm curious where you get the idea that reporters are all tattletells? And where then legitimate reports of infractions will come from? Just the moderators? Who not being omniscient will miss some?

Reporting is working fine as is. The moderators know who reports what and I'm sure have and will deal with any abuses. If it aint broke (and you've failed to make the case it is imo) you don't "fix" it.

 

[Supplement Four]

Reporting is working fine as is. The moderators know who reports what and I'm sure have and will deal with any abuses. If it aint broke (and you've failed to make the case it is imo) you don't "fix" it.

As the lone "No" in the poll, I think it's obvious that, so far, I've failed to make a case.

 

[Darley51]

Anonymous?

Is there a problem with the status quo? I think that there isn't. The Mods would petition for a change if there was change needed... and since they haven't...

The only person who needs to know is the Moderator who deals with the report (and those he/she determines should also be in the know). If there are any further questions, that can be handled between the Mod, the Reporter, and the Poser in question.

The Mods should be trusted to discern when Reports are inappropriate (e.g. a personal yiff between two or more citizens VS an appropriately reported post the crosses the line).

I say... support the Status Quo.

 

[Valarian]

I say... support the Status Quo.

I disagree .... they've obviously been playing the same old songs for too many years and should retire gracefully.

 

[Valarian]

Second, imagine...you make an inflamatory post, and then you see three PMs in your mailbox--automated messages saying "So-and-So reported you for post X".

If I had that, I'd re-look at my post, and change it, not wanting to cause waves.

You'd get the same effect with an anonymous automated PM saying: "Your post X has been reported for violations of board policy"

 

[Colin]

Just shut up already

And, it would eliminate tattletells, leaving behind the legitimate reports of infractions.

Oh for God's sake, you just can't leave this go, can you? For the record the infractions I've handed to you have not been because of a report, but because I was keeping an eye on the thread in question, and I had a problem with what you wrote. As it is, I'm not sure how you've managed to avoid being banned. For your behaviour on the Mongoose board, I would've banned you, if I could be bothered to figure out how. Three different Mods, and Hunter, have all told you to let this go, yet you keep pushing it.
You've accused people who report you of a number of things, including being tattletales, crybabies, and little girls. I have two little girls, and they would know not to carry on the way you've been. My strong suggestion to you is just to sit down and shut up.

Oh and please, report me. I'm not hard to find. That's my real name down there.

 

[Valarian]

Careful ... I got a warning and a violation notice for telling someone to shut up

 

[Supplement Four]

For your behaviour on the Mongoose board, I would've banned you, if I could be bothered to figure out how.

What the heck are you talking about? I hardly ever post on the Traveller Mongoose board.