ORIGINAL: mind_messing
The optics on this are, to be candid, very bad.
See Trugrit's now closed thread for a sense of how at least some element of the community has reacted to this.
Given the light touch nature of forum moderation to date, I would have expected more than a superficial attempt to assess the situation before handing out bans. Sadly, that seems not to be the case.
I've actually spent hours assessing the situation and reading many, many threads, but I'm sure that there is more that I don't know given that I haven't been regularly active in this sub-forum.
Trugrit's perceptions in that thread are frankly not based on any facts that I recognize, but as far as I can tell on worst case assumptions based on some comments Mark made. Those are out of my control - I can only do what I did and clarify that Alfred's ban was not because of some "special" status Mark has, but because of how Alfred behaved.
Also disappointing is the inconsistent approach applied. Alfred has been banned for perceived rudeness.
What is the response for those on the forum that pass beyond rudeness and into direct attacks? Evidently none, with the expectation that Alfred will return once his ban is up and there will be a clean slate.
A poor decision given that some of the comments have been exceptionally insensitive ("psychotic tendencies", I think, passes far beyond rudeness) and to be frank, only scratch the surface.
I think it's important to note that I did warn Mark as well as others that replying to rudeness with more rudeness is only going to lead to escalation. I don't agree with the attacks back at Alfred, but I also made clear that in our moderation, we consistently look to see who cast the first stone. Going through multiple threads over past months, that is Alfred, time and time again.
As far as my expectations when Alfred returns from his ban - yes, I expect everyone look at it as if Alfred has a clean slate. I expect bygones to be bygones and I'll extend everyone the benefit of the doubt, but if the forum rules continue to be regarded as inconvenient and irrelevant, more action will follow.
Moderation standards being off the mark is one issue. Inconsistent application of said standards is a order of magnitude worse in my opinion.
That would be true if they have been applied inconsistently. Per our standards, where he who starts it is the one who gets punished and the policy is to remind others to remain civil rather than responding in kind, they've been applied consistently.
Regards,
- Erik
; Julia Child
