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Twit-arr Moderator Guidelines

Welcome to Twit-arr V3, moderator. This guide will show you the tools you'll be using to perform moderation tasks, and also gude you as to when and how to use those tools properly.

Right up front though, the Moderator purpose: Moderators will work to help the Community thrive in a positive manner.

Table of Contents:

Part 1: Twit-arr Concepts

Users

User Access Levels

Content

Content Types

Reports

Moderation Actions

Auto-Quarantine

Part 2: Considerations for Moderators

Issue Categories

The steps to address issues

Onboard Communications

"Canned" Responses

Code of Conduct

Part 1: Twit-arr Concepts

Users

Like previous Twit-arr servers, V3 requires users to provide a Registration Code when creating their account. Unlike previous versions, V3 lets users create multiple accounts, all of which are tied to their Registration Code.

User Access Levels

Unverified Account created, but no reg code. Limited access.
Banned Cannot log in.
Quarantined Can read, but not post.
Verified Most users.
Client Special access level for applications to use bulk-access APIs.
Moderator That's you.
TwitarrTeam Developers and IT support
THO (The Home Office) Designated representatives of The Home Office. Can ban users.
Admin Server admin

You will need to create an account normally with the Reg Code you received from THO, and get elevated to Moderator access by someone with THO level access. If you wish, you can create a sub-account specifically for moderator duties and get that account elevated.

As a mod, you'll be able to set a Verified user's access level to Quarantined, either temporarily or permanently. This will affect all accounts tied to that user's Reg Code.

Content

Twit-arr has multiple types of content users may create, and every publicly viewable piece of content a user can create can be reported by any other user (reported to the moderation team) and moderated by you.

Content Types

For each listed content type, verified users may create content of that type and edit the content they created. Tweets, Forum Posts, and LFG posts may also be deleted by the author. All of the above content types keep an edit trail showing every edit made to the content—users can't post something nasty and delete it 20 seconds later, hoping the mods won't see it in time.

As a mod, you can:

In most cases, you can moderate content by tapping the "Mod" button next to the content. Only Moderators will see this button. The Mod button opens a page showing the content, all previous edits to the content, users reports against the content, and controls for performing moderation actions.

Only THO and Admin level users may ban users. If you think a user should be banned you should open a thread about it in the Moderator Forum.

You should know that all actions you take that use your Mod powers get logged, and all Mods will be able to see what you've done.

Reports

Mods have access to the "Moderator Pages" section of the web client; tap on the Twit-arr header item to open the menu and Moderator Pages should be there if you have Moderator access. Inside Moderator Pages is a page that lets you view open user reports.

Users can report content they think moderators should take a look at. Being users however, they may report the wrong thing. Most often this will be users reporting on a forum when they mean to report on a particular forum post. Also, users cannot directly report other users—they can only report content other users have created.

While not necessary, while viewing reports on some content you can tap "Start Handling All" to mark the reports as in-process by you. This lets other mods know which reports are being handled and which are not-yet-handled. You may then edit the content, delete the content, quarantine the content, give the user a timeout, or take no action at all. You should hit the "Close All" button when you're done so the user reports will be marked as having been dealt with.

Moderation Actions

The Moderation page for all types of content is essentially the same, and displays the following actions:

The User Moderation page shows the user's primary account, all sub-accounts, and all reports against content the user has created, on any of their accounts. The following actions are available to moderate the user:

Step by Step

To perform any of the above moderation actions, the first step is always to bring up the moderation page for the content you want to moderate. You can get to this page by tapping the "Mod" button on any piece of content (tweets, forums, forum posts, LFGs, LFG posts, and user profiles should all have this button available to moderators). You can also get to the moderation page by tapping on a report on the Open Reports page (Twitarr Menu -> Moderator Pages, then tap "Open Reports").

A Twarrt, shown expanded, with Mod button.

The root Moderator page, showing the Open Reports cell.

The Moderator->Reports page

The Moderate Content page looks like the following figure, showing a twarrt written by user @sam, with a previous edit and a report on the twarrt (reported by @modUser) also visible.

The Moderate Content page

From here, you can perform several moderation actions:

The User Moderation page looks like the following:

The User Moderation Page

If the user has alternate accounts, you can see their names from this page. All user reports against any content that this user (or any of their alts) has created is accessible from here as well. From this page you can perform the following actions:

Questions about Moderation

If you have questions about what to do for a particular user's piece of content, you can copy the URL of the Moderation page for that content, create a new forum thread in the Moderators Only forum, and paste the link into your post along with your question. Other moderators can then see exactly what content it is that you're asking about.

Non-moderator users can't see any Moderation pages, even if they were given an URL to the page.

Auto-Quarantine

When a certain number of users report on the same piece of content, that content can become auto-quarantined. Auto-quarantine acts just like a mod-issued quarantine—the content's text is replaced with "Under Moderator Review" and all images are removed. This feature exists to help prevent offensive content from being posted with impunity late at night when the mods are asleep.

By definition, auto-quarantined content will have a bunch of reports filed against it. When you look at the moderation page for that content, you'll see the Moderation State of the content set to "auto-quarantined". You should probably change the state of the content (even if it's to "quarantined") before closing the open reports.

If the reported content doesn't seem offensive (be sure to check the previous edits), it's possible clever users have teamed up to 'brigade' the content. This is where several users all report on the same non-offensive content on purpose in an attempt to get it auto-quarantined. This is when you can set the "Moderator Reviewed" state on the content. Content that is in the "Moderator Reviewed" state is immune to being auto-quarantined.

Moderator Forums

There are two forum categories that only moderators may access. "Moderators Only" is where moderators can discuss moderation activities, ask questions, elevate issues that THO needs to deal with, and plan what bar to meet at to drink wang wangs. "Mods Only Dumpster Fire" exists specifically for moving problem forum threads to a place where regular users can't see them.

Part 2: Considerations for Moderators

The task of the moderators is to ensure users are not posting content contrary to the JoCo Cruise Code of Conduct.

It's important to clarify any methods that might be used to quell the community in this type of situation. For instance, a Moderator may want to say things like, "I'm working on finding out more information," until they can actually say more.

If a Moderator is not sure about something – ask another moderator in the private moderator Seamail. If no response is received, please escalate the issue

Issue Categories

The steps to address issues

IF content is considered Possibly Mean or Possibly Offensive >

THEN alert private mod group discussion for feedback, seek to clarify the intent with the User via SeaMail. Consider adding to the thread to clarify, as well. If the User does not respond, consider locking content temporarily. Ask User to edit or delete.

IF content is considered Actively Mean or Actively Offensive >

THEN lock content, contact the User via Sea Mail, alert private mod group discussion, take it from there. Edit and/or delete as necessary.

Often a stern but reasonable request to redirect the direction of a thread is enough. If you're worried by where it might be headed, or the overall tone, it's perfectly okay to drop in and just say so. It's a good heads up to posters (who may not have realized they were going too far), a reminder that the mods are active, and means that if you do need to take more definite action, it's not an unpleasant, confusing surprise.

Thread should be locked if they are actively going astray and/or if the moderators do not want any more responses to it.

If you do delete or edit anything:

Onboard Communications

There is an account with the handle @moderator. This account may interact just as others; posting, commenting, sending and receiving SeaMail. This account may be used when addressing issues publicly by choosing "post as moderator".

When Users send SeaMail to @Moderator, all mods are alerted. All mods will be able to reply via SeaMail using @moderator.

There is a forum category named "Moderators Only" that is only viewable by Moderator level accounts. Issues may be brought up with the moderation team for discussion by creating forum threads therein. Be sure to @mention someone if you need a quick response.

There will also be a group Sea Mail discussion for all mods to be able to communicate issues privately. Unlike forum posts, posts to the group Sea Mail will notify all moderators.

ANY issues should be raised behind the scenes, if only as a 'recorded for posterity' thread. All moderators should be clear on how decisions are made and what they should do to find out what to do about something.

"Canned" Responses

Could you please clarify your intention?

Please take this conversation to SeaMail. Thank you.

The Moderation Team appreciates that members continue to keep this discussion within the guidelines of the Code of Conduct.

Please let this serve as a warning for content in violation of the Code of Conduct ( ?-ism). Please contact the Moderation Team @moderator.

This entry has been reported as a possible violation of the Code of Conduct. Please contact the Moderation Team @moderator.

This entry has been reported as a violation of the Code of Conduct and has been temporarily locked until further notice. Please contact the Moderation Team @moderator.

This entry has been investigated as a violation of the Code of Conduct and has been permanently locked. Thank you for your understanding.

Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct is available for all users to read. There are links to it on the Twit-arr Home Page, the Login Page, and every posting form.

JoCo Cruise Code of Conduct:

This application is subject to the JoCo Cruise Code of Conduct (above) and moderation rules:

  1. Don't harass others. Don't post anything that could be considered harassment. Don't personally insult or harass others. Public or private.
  2. The use of emoji's or images to convey inappropriate meaning consistent with the rules outlined above will also be moderated.
  3. Please don't raise concerns about the moderation on the app as it disrupts the flow of any discussion. Please direct any queries regarding moderation directly to moderation team @moderator.

Breaches of the moderation rules will be dealt with as follows:

Users Frequently Asked Questions

If you post something to this app which gets moderated (edited or removed), you will receive a notification via Seamail informing you of this action. You will be informed as to which of the moderation rules you are in breach of and notified as a warning.

If you disagree with a moderation decision you are able to get in touch with the moderation team by tagging @moderator or sending a SeaMail to @moderator.

All comments moderated by our moderators are done so in accordance with the moderation rules outlined above.

If you feel a comment or contribution to the app is in breach of the moderation rules outlined on this page, you are within your right to alert our moderators. Flag the post for review by clicking the Report button, or contact the mods by tagging @moderator or via Seamail at @moderator.

If you are repeatedly in breach of our moderation rules you may incur sanctions as outlined above. When a banned User attempts to log in, there is a message displayed indicating that they are banned. (We could add further instructions, if necessary.)

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