Published on 12, July, 2020
This is mainly for the moderators to consider.
Could we have a 'Moderator alert'. Perhaps as a 'Sticky', perhaps as an easy to find 'button' or something else.
This should be a means of alerting moderators to threats, safety, spamming, or other 'serious' issues. It would need some thought as to how it would work, but it should also include a facility to private message the moderator with words of explanation as to what the problem is.
The present 'Report as abusive' is not really fit for purpose as it does not really seem to do anything or if it does it takes days to work at times. I envisage the 'Alert' facility to get a moderator to deal with the situation within two hours if possible, and also to provide information.
There should also be a sticky to explain what is acceptable and what is not. Yes we have some rules, but these appear to be subject to interpretation and are flouted. It should perhaps explain unacceptable behaviour such as trolling, spamming, and threats and the consequences. This might also help prevent public spats on the forums.
I have been thinking about what guidelines could be issued to prevent inappropriate posting. Some suggestions would be::
- Just because a post has been made does not mean you have to comment on it. If you have nothing useful to add, think about whether your comment will help the post.
- if someone is experiencing difficulties, a post which infers that they shouldn't be having that problem and it is 'their fault' does not help. Offer help for a problem, not criticism of it.
- do not use someone elses post to talk exclusively about your problems, expecially if they go on at length. Your post should relate to the original post, not take it over.
- do not accuse someone of not being autistic. If they have been diagnosed, this is extremely offensive. And if they haven't we are not qualified to make a diagnosis especially on what has been written.
- do not go off topic and hold an off topic conversation with other people on a thread that has been opened. A bit of off topic is ok, holding lenghty off topic conversations is not. This is disrespectful and loses the purpose of the original topic. Start a different topic off instead. Remember the original poster of a topic to some extent has ownership of that topic and if they respectfully say that a post is off topic and not helpful, walk away.
- be careful with 'banter' with people you don't know. They may not understand or take offence.
- disagreeing with someone is ok. Making personal insults about the disagreement is not. Be aware that just because someone disagrees with you it is not bullying, it is that they may have a different point of view.
- report all posts that are offensive. We should have a zero tolerance to offensive posts. Never fight back offensive posts with another offensive post. If someone is being insulting, do not be insulting back.
- no trolling. (followed by a definition of trolling)
There are probably a lot more, so has anyone else got any ideas for things that have been missed. It might be said that 'rules' can get too long winded, but as recent posts have seen there are those who clearly have a disregard for good manners on the basis 'that is not in the rules'.
these are basic online norms that many forums do not need to spell out but it can be helpful to do so.
Yes indeed given that this is a forum for autistic people spelling it ut may help. On the forum i moderate we did end up having to spell up 3 basic rules because people used the lack of rules to break common sense. Ultimately it's moderators discretion.
I am of the opinion that they do need spelling out, simply because there are those who believe if is not there they can do what they want. Probably something to do with 'social misunderstanding' and misunderstanding of social norms, of which all autistic people probably suffer to some extent else I don't believe they would get a diagnosis.