Just so you can follow as we go, here’s the current link: The Rules of the Road
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Off Topic, but possibly interesting:
I’ve issued an invitation to come and take part in the conversation to someone whose comment I took exception to earlier today. Think of it as an opportunity to practice meta-commenting, rather than getting sucked into any particular argument. ;)
It will definitely be a potential discussion topic, once I’ve finished going over the RotR.
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#14 thru 17 are unambiguous, and generally not a problem for community moderation:
See the Rules of the Road for additional information on these topics
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#14: do not Post private email or private direct messages (“kosmail”) to the public site, in a story or a comment.
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#15: Do not Unpublish a story and then republish it at a later time for the purpose of getting more exposure.
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#16: do not Mess with the Pootie People!
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#17: do not Violate the politics-free zone in the IGTNT (I Got The News Today) stories.
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#18: do not Be a Jerk.
The long version is Don’t Be a Jerk (DBAJ); the original version is Don’t Be a Dick (DBAD) and a common variant is Don’t Be an Ass[hole] (DBAA). We all know it when we see it. Or at least we like to think we do–that’s what these detailed Rules of the Road are intended to clarify.
It can be very satisfying to simply type one of these and walk away. If you want it to stick, however, take the time and effort to specify what it is about the comment or diary that actually warrants the charge, especially if you are dropping a flag with the comment.
Earlier versions of the Rules began with “The one rule above all other rules is ‘Don’t Be A Dick.’” While this is still true in essence, it has been known to spark pie fights all by itself because of the inherent ambiguity of the charge. Since it is not a particularly good idea to escalate an argument in the name of moderation (even though it’s sometimes inevitable), take the time to unpack your reasoning. If necessary, get a second or third opinion on just what the problem is before you comment.
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#19: do not Threadjack – that is, divert discussion under a story to focus on a topic that other commenters do not find relevant.
Stay on topic as defined by the community, and show respect for the community when asked to let your particular angle go. At the same time, be aware that some comments that may appear to be digressions can become useful to the broader discussion.
No general discussion on this topic is going to cover all possibilities, including circumstances where the diary is generally held to be competing for Worst Diary of the Week, the Recipe Brigade comes out of hiding to soup up (*sorry*) the comments, and the rule is suspended.
If a threadjack was inadvertent, once you realize it, apologize to the diarist. If they choose to waive the rule in your favor, fine. If not, revert back to the original topic. If it’s deliberate, it’s flaggable, though discretion can be used.
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#20: do not Write dramatic stories proclaiming your aggrieved exit from the site.
Just leave! No one cares! If you do publish a so-called GBCW (for “Good Bye Cruel World”) story, your account will be banned. And you can’t possibly hope to meet, let alone top, this.
In the same vein, don’t write a dramatic diary proclaiming your temporary exit from the site in high dudgeon, because it might well end up permanent. If you’re going to be gone for a while, and don’t want people to worry, you can say so, but keep it simple.
If a diary is tagged GBCW, leave the tag alone. If it is not, and you think it should be, leave the tags alone. Report it, comment on it, suggest that tagged or not, it merits banning, but you cannot help the diarist by pulling the tag, and you will only confuse the situation for the rest of the community by adding it. This one’s an administrative decision, in the end.
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#21 do not Recommend stories or comments violating the rules above!
When you do that, you own that rule violation as well, and can suffer the same sanctions as the original perp. Also, it’s dickish to pile on with bullies, jerks, know-nothings, and assholes.
This is the best of all possible reasons for taking the time to read anything you may wish to recommend thoroughly. Six paragraphs of impeccable logic and citation plus one bigoted sidebar gets rated for the bigoted sidebar, and not the six main paragraphs. You have the option, with a diary, of calling out the sidebar and asking that it be deleted, but a comment must stand as it is.
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#22: do not Create multiple identities (“sockpuppets,” or “zombies” if you have been banned).
Only one account is allowed per person. There are exceptions, but they must be approved by moderators. Use Help Desk for any such requests.
If you think you’ve spotted a sockpuppet or zombie — STOP. Right there. This falls under the rubric of “bad faith” See DO NOT#13, in case you missed it earlier. You may assemble a case against the user if you wish, to whatever extent you can, and submit it to the Help Desk. It’s an administrative call.
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#23: do not Pretend to be an Ordinary Voter if you Work for a Campaign.
Registered Daily Kos users working in paid campaign positions (or unpaid positions of authority) for candidates or ballot issues must disclose their affiliation when it is relevant to the conversation. Such identification should appear in each diary posted by the paid individual and on the individual’s profile page. Persons in such positions who are caught posting on the site without identifying their role will be banned and, in an exception to the no-outing rule, we will expose their real names publicly.
Same caution as the last — if you spot someone you think violates this rule, report it to the Help Desk. It’s an administrative call, not community.
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Here ends the tale of the DO NOTS
(finally!)
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Comments are open. For agreement and argument and everything in between — and sideways, too. Enjoy.
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Next time: The RotR, Part VI — Notes on Flagging
Tentatively, these diaries are set for Tuesday and Friday evenings at 9:00 pm Eastern time/8:00 pm Central/7:00 pm Mountain/6:00pm West Coast. If you have a topic you’d like to see discussed in one of them, leave a comment or kosmail me about it.
Anyone who wants to discuss community moderation topics is welcome. Of course, if you wish to tell us that community moderation is a failure and it’s all just an excuse for some people to set themselves up to judge others, please remember that Conspiracy Theories are not acceptable topics for discussion.
Previous diaries in this series, and a compilation of historical diaries showing the growth of Community Moderation on Daily Kos, can be found at A Guide to Community Moderation.
A caveat:
I do not speak for the Help Desk. This group does not speak for the Help Desk. In the unlikely event that any member of the Help Desk joins the group it still will not speak for the Help Desk. Kos and the rest of the Daily Kos staff, usually speaking through the Help Desk, are the ultimate authority in any and all disputes. Moving on...
Decisions about what to moderate, what to say, and how to say it, have always been individual ones. At most, it’s my hope that this group will offer advice which will make at least some parts of moderation more comfortable for more users.