On Sun, May 6, 2012 at 2:03 PM, Kevin Gorman <
kgorman@gmail.com> wrote:
> 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.