I am cranky and for once it's got nothing to do with software glitches, although this is an Open Thread where those can certainly be discussed as well.
I'm cranky because of HUMAN glitches that cause otherwise good people to go after each others throats on forums like DKos. Glitches that make people use words as if they were bullets, to shoot each other on sight. It's been downright ugly in some places around here lately. Those who want examples can put on hip waders and wade into the swamp that is the Hidden comments. (If you have TU status that is.)
I'm not sure where our Meteor Blades is these days, but I sure do miss his steadying hand. I hear rumors that Kos has said administrative moderation is on some kind of hold, to see how things go without it, but have no link to back that up.
What I do know is that this more decentralized model, for all it's advantages, also makes it possible for some very ugly stuff to go on under the radar of those not actively following the places where it is occurring. Trolls and bullies thrive in shadowy places where they can get by with it.
It's not at all clear yet, at least to me, what the rules are now in this new city. As far as I understand, all diaries written for any group are published for all site readers to see and participate in, so all diaries are open to anyone to read and comment, even if they aren't formally following a group or a member of the group.
In an ideal world, people would only choose read the ones they have a sincere interest in, but in the real world, we will always have folks who love to seek opportunities to fan sparks into flames, carry on old grudge matches, or try to silence those they think need silencing. That's just how it is and it's not ever going to change. (I spent many years attempting to administer/moderate a lot of different online groups, which is why you couldn't pay me enough to ever do it again!)
So now we have groups and group administrators. How much, if any moderation power or authority, do group admins have to deal with things if/when they spin out of control in group diaries? Can they or can't they ask trolls and/or deliberately disruptive people to leave their diaries? What if they don't go? If they don't have this kind of authority, who does? Where can they turn for help? And how the heck can we depend on community moderation when we're all scattered into all these different places, and when the TU system isn't up and running well yet, and how about the HR and auto ban thingie, is that working yet?
I know the main priority has been the site launch and fixing the many tech issues and bugs. But from what I'm seeing lately, there are people issues happening here that need to be moved way up the priority list for site administration to consider.
As for the techie side of things, I know there have been many improvements and more are on the way. But please feel free to tell us what is still making you cranky, and I will just hope someone who knows more than I do will come along to offer help!