Hi all -
As was announced several months ago, I am now one of the moderators of this list.
Some time ago, there was a discussion on this list about behavioral standards for this list. There was widespread agreement in the initial thread that it's important for this list to remain a safe space for discussion, even if that means enforcing a behavioral standard higher than is the norm on other Wikimedia mailing lists. I think that given the nature of this list, it would be especially, extraordinarily, unusually counterproductive to allow a consistently combative or consistently uncivil environment to take root here. Given the previous thread about it, and some off-list conversations I've recently had, I know I am far from the only list member to feel that way.
Given this, I'm going to change how the moderation of this list is handled a little bit moving forward. Previously, there has been no hands-on moderation of this list. From now on, there will potentially be some. It won't be draconian - and really, I hope it'll never be used at all - but I think it's important to guarantee that the atmosphere of this list remains friendly, and I wanted to announce how I will be approaching it.
If, after an initial direct request to change their behavior, anyone behaves in a way that is significantly disruptive to this list, a way that is consistently uncivil, or a way that consistently makes other list members feel uncomfortable participating on this list, I will be putting them on +moderate, which means that all of their emails will be held until I approve them - and I'll only be approving emails that don't do those things. I obviously don't mean that dissenting opinions aren't okay; I think they should always be welcomed and moderation will not be done on the basis of the opinion someone expresses. But, I do think that all opinions can be expressed in a civil way that doesn't make other list members feel uncomfortable.
We could create an enumerated list of rules trying to cover every scenario that could come up, but I don't think that would be necessary or productive. I think that most people realize when they stop over a line - and if they don't before someone else speaks up about it, they certainly should afterwards. I normally watch most traffic on this list, but I don't always (this week is finals for me :).) If you have a complaint about someone's behavior that you think needs moderator attention that has been missed, please send me a direct email. If someone else emails you asking to change your behavior or expressing discomfort in your posting style, please take a minute to step back and see if there could be something to their request. It's understandable that sometimes tensions will run high on gendergap issues and no one will be moderated unless their posts are consistently problematic even after being approached about it.
Feedback on this is welcome, although the basic idea (that members whose presence is disruptive to this list being a safe space) is unlikely to totally change.
Thanks, Kevin Gorman (user:Kevin Gorman, formerly user:kgorman-ucb)