enforcing standards

[Kathryn Cawte]

I've been having some yahell probs (ie getting replies *hours* before the
original message gets through etc) so forgive me if I repeat something
someone else has said - it probably means I haven't *got* that post yet.
*grumble*
X-Original-Yahoo-Groups-Redacted-From: "Kathryn Cawte" <kcawte at ...>
X-Original-Yahoo-Groups-Redacted-X-Sender: kcawte at ...
X-Original-Yahoo-Groups-Redacted-Return-Path: <kcawte at ...>

Iggy here:

Well, I've said this one in a number of direct e-mails when posts of
mine have been blocked because I'm still on moderated status...

If the standards for posting are strictly enforced (citing canon,
staying strictly on topic, etc) for those who are on moderated status,
it's unfair to not try to hold the un-moderated people to the same
standards.


K

Oh I agree. Not that I'm on moderated status (although when I first joined I
posted so rarely it too *ages* to get off it). Subject headings aren't
changed, quotes aren't attributed at all (and I don't care *how* they're
attributed as long as they are at some point), etc And more importantly than
all the technical stuff some of the posters on the main board become plain
offensive when you say something they disagree with (or worse disapprove
of). I know I've given up posting on certain threads when I've felt that I
can't face the level of rudeness that is happening on it and I know that
when I've posted on certain threads making my point and arguing back (I
admit I probably cross the line occasionally - and wouldn't object to being
called on it as long as everyone else did too, but I never have been) I've
had offlist replied from people who were too scared to stand up on list and
agree because they don't want to deal with the hassle. The main list has
become a lot less friendly recently - I don't know whether it's the sudden
influx of members post-OoP (I don't think that's entirely responsible for it
personally) or a lack of howlers being sent out but the atmosphere is
certainly changing.

You know it occurs to me that the one rule that isn't slipping is that posts
are all in decent English (ie no netspeak), I wonder why posters all feel
the need to stick to that when they ignore some of the others?


Iggy

While I know that these issues would normally be addressed in private
e-mails, I have also suggested that the admin officially re-state the
posting standards and policies on the main list, and include the request
that people try to do a little better in keeping with them.  If you also
state that it's unfair to hold the moderated members to standards that
the non-moderated ones are not.

The people who post on the lists lead by example.  The newbies learn the
standards, what's acceptable to post, and how to post it.  If the older
members don't hold to the set standards as set up by the admin, then it
will take a lot longer for the newer members to learn what's expected of
them when it comes to posting.


K

I agree. It might be an idea to send out a Special Notice to all the lists
reminding people of the rules and saying that from now on they will be more
stringently enforced. I know this is probably more work for the mods but
there's not a lot of point *having* rules if no one pays any attention to
them.






>
> Hebby Elf once more:
> > If past experience is any guide, we'll be getting a surge of new
> > posters next June when the PoA movie premieres. How should we deal
> > with it?
> >
>


K

take a deep breath and just cope I'm afraid. The influx *will* happen no
doubt but there's not a lot that can be done to cope with that - just as
long as the rule about movie discussion being on the movie list is strongly
enforced. Frankly I think that if the rules can be more strictly enforced in
the 6 months or so leading up to it then everyone will be setting a good
example for the newbies and there won't be much of a problem with them.
After all new people and extra volume isn't a problem in itself if the posts
follow the rules (and are easily identified so that if people don't want to
discuss the ins and outs of the Shrieking Shack incident for the nth time
they can skip them)

K