20 Comments

  1. It’s a pretty good list. I’d also add SQL backups and patch installation, even though it’s more admin.

    It is important someone does it though.

    Cheers,
    DD.

  2. I think it is all about content and making sure you focus on keeping the forum reputable. Make it easy for users to signup and create.

  3. Hi Laurel, thankyou for sharing. This is valuable. How detailed do you think you need to be on the type of content….specifically ensuring that the content drives knowledge sharing and not an opportunity for irrelevant spamming or of course completely inappropriate material? Do you believe it is important to spell out what is OK and what is not? Interested in your feedback…..

    Thanks again for another great post! Michelle

  4. Great tips here. I must pass them onto some of our forum moderators – lots of things we could all learn.

    Something like this for real life events and the moderators/chairpeople there would also be smashing.

  5. Actually Colin that is an etiquette statement, otherwise known as a code of conduct, otherwise rather cynically known as Rules of Engagement. It should be written by the host and faces out to the community. Or written by the community and enforced by the host.

    Here’s mine for this blog (top right of blog)

    This How to moderate a forum post is more how to moderate a community than specifics on how to set up an etiquette statement.

  6. Hi!

    I’m looking for a LDS online dating site. I haven’t been able to find many. I’ve found some christian dating sites,
    but I was wondering if there were any sites that were geared towards Later Day Saints religion. It’s hard to
    find a lot of other LDS online daters wanting to chat – at least, I haven’t been able to. Does anyone know of any?

    Like I said, I’ve tried some christian ones, but not really what I’m looking for. I really hope they’re out there!

    If not a dating site, perhaps any type of chat or group related to LDS.

    thanks!

  7. Hello to All the Guests and Members,
    My computer worked slowly, too much mistakes and buggs. Please, help me to fix buggs on my PC.
    My operation system is Win Vista.
    Thx,
    Spetlysuesy

  8. I would like to ask two questions, please.

    Is the vocabulary such as being “good” or “naughty” indicating these rules are geared toward an immature readership/membership?

    Why is it that anyone would consider a moderation slot on a forum/discussion board an “exalted” status?

    I will, if you’ll excuse me, post a comment about my second question. It is my view the only “exalted” member is the non-staff member. The general membership, if you will. Without them you have nothing.

    Thank you for your attention to this post.

  9. Pingback: Laurel Papworth
  10. Pingback: Laura James
  11. Pingback: Owen Jones
  12. This article is quite a good summary of what is required to well-organise a site. There is one aspect I disagree with, however.

    That is, I wouldn’t go with a big heirarchy of leaders. I’ve seen this kind of thing before and all it leads to is internal politics with people trying to gain rank. I have always had a policy that, if I can’t trust someone with the full set of moderation tools on the site, as well as (pretty much) all private discussion, then I can’t trust them as a moderator from the start.

    Dedicated and committed members who are well-liked, level-headed and are good communicators are needed to moderate. Just ONE of those can do better than half-a-dozen so-so forum leaders. Also, just as a good set of guidelines are needed for the community to function, similarly a good set of guidelines are needed for the moderators to know how to handle the many and varied issues that come up.

    The best forum owner I know of (OK, I am a moderator of his site now) actually CALLS people to talk to them on the phone — often even people he has had to moderate. Going out of his way to get in touch with many of the members, even on a huge site, has made a huge difference in the amount of respect he gets and the success of his site.

Comments are closed.