Some staff restructuring

[Simetrical]

After lengthy discussion in the staff forums, we've instituted several administrative changes, which I'll summarize in this post. There are no ToS or procedural changes related to this restructuring, although we might improve the ToS in the future. If anyone has any proposed changes to the ToS, I'd recommend you provide specific proposed wording changes in a Q&S thread that you think moderators might realistically agree with, and ask a moderator to propose it internally in the staff forum.


The first change is that the Hexagon Council will begin to take a more active role in moderation again. Originally moderation was led by Hex, but over the last year or two management of moderators has ended up falling largely on the senior moderators, with little Hex input. This has created the problem that although Hex is in charge of staff, the most active and influential branch of staff has been operating without its participation, and occasionally at cross-purposes with it.

To this end, Søren and TheFirstONeill have kindly agreed to join Hex. They will continue in their current role of managing moderation, but from Hex now. For moderation purposes, senior moderators are to be considered roughly the equal of Hex members, and count as their equal in all moderation-related votes. Conversely, even Hex members who do not focus on moderation will have an equal voice in moderation-related issues, should they choose to exercise it. Hex will retain sole authority over other parts of the site as before.

For the time being, we will not promote any more senior moderators to fill the vacancies. We will try experimenting with different ratios of Hex to senior moderators and see how it goes. In the long term, it's possible that we'll merge senior moderators into Hex altogether, as they were until 2007 or so.


The second notable change is that the distinction between global and junior moderators has been abolished. They now have the same badge again (as they did until maybe a year ago), and junior moderators will be promoted to global as a matter of course after a few months' experience if they do well.


The third change is not yet apparent, but will become so over time. We have introduced a new moderator rank: Moderator Emeritus. Moderators emeritus are largely the same as normal moderators, including access to staff forums, but they have no badge or bold name, and don't appear on the forum leaders page. They have only a title beneath the badge, like CdeC members. On the other hand, moderators emeritus are not required to be active. To avoid confusion, they should not give infractions, post thread warnings, or do anything else that members expect only those with badges to do.

From now on, moderators in good standing who fall inactive will be demoted to moderator emeritus instead of member. Likewise, those who wish to resign due to inactivity may choose to become moderators emeritus instead. A moderator emeritus can choose to rejoin the ranks of regular moderators at any time. Members with a bronze mace or better can apply to be a moderator emeritus under the same conditions as usual, except that they don't have to make an activity commitment.

The goals of the moderator emeritus rank are to encourage staff members not to resign completely when they feel they need a break, and to allow policy discussions and votes in staff forums to draw on a more diverse body of opinions.


The fourth change is not really member-visible, but I'll briefly mention it anyway. Appointments of new moderators and approval of moderation branch policy changes (including ToS changes) are now conducted entirely within the lowest moderator forum, so all moderators can participate, and all can vote. Previously staff appointment was done by senior mods/Hex only, and while juniors could join in policy discussions, they couldn't vote.


The goal of these changes overall is to increase staff inclusiveness and unity, so that more people are able to productively contribute to different parts of the site. It is my personal hope that in the future we'll institute mechanisms that allow better feedback from the general membership as well, but none of those made it for this round of reforms. Nevertheless, feel free to comment on the changes here.

[Roman_Man#3]

I endorse this restucturing.

[Nikos]

Well that answers my question then! Hopefully the restructuring will succeed at what it is trying to accomplish.

[Silent Assassin]

I support this new change and hope this will improve with all of this. I would like to applause the Staff members that has come up with these changes.

[Mega Tortas de Bodemloze]

Congratulations to Søren and TheFirstONeill on their new appointments and thanks to the entire site staff for their contributions and never ending dedication
that make TWC the great community that it is....

[RaZor HeaD]

A Very well thought out and comprehensive plan Simetrical.
Another excellent example of how our TWC staff continuously adds function and form to the community.

Unfortunately, I can only sit restlessly on the side-lines and can't assist with this type of project.
Oh well...Maybe someday?

[Ferrets54]

So, if I understand it correctly the invention of "moderator emeritus" is a new function to keep the staff roles in the family, right? So that only a small and already established group of staff will ever be staff?

It seems absurd to me that a moderator will be able to piss of at any time and Hex are a-okay with that.

I am not surprised that for a couple of months there has been quite widespread disatisfaction with the mods and nothing of substance has happened at all. The goal of these changes is to fortify the staff's hold on power even more so.

[Halie Satanus]

Hex taking back the control of moderation is good, hopefully now policy will again come from the top down rather than from the bottom up.

oh wait .. ...

The fourth change is not really member-visible, but I'll briefly mention it anyway. Appointments of new moderators and approval of moderation branch policy changes (including ToS changes) are now conducted entirely within the lowest moderator forum, so all moderators can participate, and all can vote. Previously staff appointment was done by senior mods/Hex only, and while juniors could join in policy discussions, they couldn't vote.

''We trained hard...but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing, and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.

Petronius Arbiter.''

The Emeritus idea has value, though automatic entry or entry by choice is going to cause problems at some stage. Just my opinion but I think you'd be better off making it an invite only group, and I'd restrict that to invitation by Hex only.

[absinthia]

moderator rank: Moderator Emeritus.
To avoid confusion, they should not give infractions, post thread warnings, or do anything else that members expect only those with badges to do.

so what are they supposed to do?

[Ferrets54]

so what are they supposed to do?

It's a once a moderator always a moderator button. I think the real purpose is that Simetrical will be able to draw on a pool of people already in his camp to fill any vacancies, rather than go through the process of recruiting anybody new.

[Magic Man]

Id like to take this opportunity to brown nose and congratulate people on their amazing decisions.

[Ferrets54]

Id like to take this oppurunity to brown nose and congratulate people on their amazing decisions.

I'd like to express my satisfaction of using the word "emeritus" rather grandiosely.

Because if you were ever a moderator at TWC, the only appropriate title is one usually reserved for bishops and professors.

[Magic Man]

LOL ^


But yeah in all seriousness, if Hex is supposed to govern and improve TWC; why does it insist on surrounding itself with Yes-Men?

[Ferrets54]

Well, also in all seriousness, it's because people with differing opinions are going to make it more difficult for Hex to go in one direction. Poorer quality, of course, but does means things get done easier.

[Justinian]

You guys are wholly misconstruing the moderator emeritus rank -- it is not a 'once a moderator, always a moderator' card. People who wish to be promoted to moderator emeritus will have to submit an application and be reviewed by the entirety of staff just like a normal moderator, and if they wish to make the leap from moderator emeritus to moderator they will again be subject to a review. It's not like any moderator can just resign for six months whilst maintaining some semblance of authority and then immediately come back; it's just a moderator auxiliary which allows mundane tasks like moving threads and merging double posts, and actions in extreme cases such as porn. It certainly doesn't mean that new blood will never enter staff because moderator emeriti will in general be past staff members who occasionally help out but aren't taking up space and a badge when they aren't fulfilling their duties. In general you won't even notice them.

It isn't a quick way back in for any old moderator and any past moderator is not guaranteed to be accepted into the moderator emeritus rank.

[Simetrical]

So, if I understand it correctly the invention of "moderator emeritus" is a new function to keep the staff roles in the family, right? So that only a small and already established group of staff will ever be staff?

I doubt it. We'll probably promote about as many people as before, or not too many less. Time will tell on that score.

''We trained hard...but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing, and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.

Petronius Arbiter.''

We've done things by majority vote of junior mods at some points in the past, and it's worked pretty well. In practice, anything that most junior mods support is also supported by most senior mods/Hex. However, to be safe, we did add the provision that a proposal will fail if two-thirds of senior mods + Hex oppose it, regardless of the overall tally. Additionally, Hex reserves the right to overrule moderator decisions if necessary. So I'm not worried.

The Emeritus idea has value, though automatic entry or entry by choice is going to cause problems at some stage. Just my opinion but I think you'd be better off making it an invite only group, and I'd restrict that to invitation by Hex only.

It's true that sometimes we have moderators who are rather borderline, wait for them to resign and don't re-hire them. That will no longer be possible. But on the other hand, we might get to keep people we otherwise wouldn't. I think it's an okay tradeoff. We can revisit it in the future.

so what are they supposed to do?

It's not quite clear what role they'll have in actual moderation. We'll have to see how it works out. They can do things like move threads to the right forum, delete posts that say "Delete this, please", and so on. They can also handle blatant spam, and in the case of clear-cut offenses, they might report a post and then edit it so that the offense stays up for less time.

It's a once a moderator always a moderator button. I think the real purpose is that Simetrical will be able to draw on a pool of people already in his camp to fill any vacancies, rather than go through the process of recruiting anybody new.

I always love your conspiracy theories. Why would I ever want to ban you if you're so entertaining?

I'd like to express my satisfaction of using the word "emeritus" rather grandiosely.

Because if you were ever a moderator at TWC, the only appropriate title is one usually reserved for bishops and professors.

The term does fit with the remnants of the Roman theme we've got going, though. And it's a beautifully appropriate word: someone who's retired, but still retains their rank and some privileges.

Also, yeah, I do grandiose well.

[Ferrets54]

You guys are wholly misconstruing the moderator emeritus rank -- it is not a 'once a moderator, always a moderator' card. People who wish to be promoted to moderator emeritus will have to submit an application and be reviewed by the entirety of staff just like a normal moderator, and if they wish to make the leap from moderator emeritus to moderator they will again be subject to a review. It's not like any moderator can just resign for six months whilst maintaining some semblance of authority and then immediately come back; it's just a moderator auxiliary which allows mundane tasks like moving threads and merging double posts, and actions in extreme cases such as porn. It certainly doesn't mean that new blood will never enter staff because moderator emeriti will in general be past staff members who occasionally help out but aren't taking up space and a badge when they aren't fulfilling their duties. In general you won't even notice them.

It isn't a quick way back in for any old moderator.

Is it at all likely that a moderator emiritus (from this point on to be referred to as "spare part") will ever be turned down?

I always love your conspiracy theories. Why would I ever want to ban you if you're so entertaining?

Then what is the point of it, if not to provide spare parts? You've made no secret the past few weeks you have been encountering a small pool of potential moderators to draw from. This is not a conspiracy theory, this is putting two and two together. Simetrical wants to be able to draw from a greater pool of candiadates, so Simetrical has labeled a load of veterans to be called up when he needs.

The only other explanation is worse; Hex are devoting their time to giving their friends baubles.

[monel]

I'd like to express my satisfaction of using the word "emeritus" rather grandiosely.

Well said. By the by, were you "Curator" at some point? Because I seem to have missed the post where you called your own title "grandiose".

[Justinian]

Is it at all likely that a moderator emiritus (from this point on to be referred to as "spare part") will ever be turned down?

If they've received a warning recently, have behavioral issues, were fired from staff, or have any large negative aspect then yes. Furthermore, even if they're not, since their authority is so limited -- they can't give out infractions or post thread warnings or really do anything but mundane tasks -- they're glorified local moderators who can give a little bit of advice to moderators. I don't see how they can negatively effect TWC and can see how they can positively effect TWC (people like Ian being able to chip in their two cents without being held to any activity standards can only be a good thing).

Then what is the point of it, if not to provide spare parts? You've made no secret the past few weeks you have been encountering a small pool of potential moderators to draw from. This is not a conspiracy theory, this is putting two and two together. Simetrical wants to be able to draw from a greater pool of candiadates, so Simetrical has labeled a load of veterans to be called up when he needs.

There are currently 0 moderators emeritus. I can never see there being a significant number of them because not that many people retire and not that many people come back.

[Ferrets54]

Well said. By the by, were you "Curator" at some point? Because I seem to have missed the post where you called your own title "grandiose".

Actually I kicked up a fuss when the forum adopted latin titles, because I thought it was unecessarily complicated, so nice try, no cigar.

Justinian - that's simply not true, is it? Moderators frequently leave, come back, leave, come back. The staff are almost fully recycled already.