Is a civil war brewing at DU...moderators against posters?

[burr]

I have complete respect for the moderators and the difficult task they have before them. We have a relationship based on trust, we trust them to make good judgement calls...they trust us not to harrass them for making calls.

However just as we must be willing to allow our posts to be locked or removed if we violate DU rules, moderators must earn this trust by fairly enforcing this forum's rules. And they must be willing to at least read a personal message from any poster who objects to the judgement call. However any poster who abuses the PM feature for personal harrassment loses this trust, and must be banned. Likewise moderators must be removed from their position if they repeatly show favoritism for or against individual posters when enforcing the rules.

If this trust is removed, then a conflict shall occur over every single decision. Moderators will support each other, and say the unknown decision maker was correct. Posters will line up, and demand that they be able to participate in the decision process. If posters lose trust in the moderators, this could spell the doom of DU. I do not want this to happen, most posters do not want this to happen, and the moderators do not want this to happen.

So what are the best actions which we average posters and moderators can take or not take, in order to restore a sense of trust for both sides of this decision process?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Moderators are removed if they don't do their job properly

The fact that anyone assumes bias is often a function of their own bias. YOu do realize this will be locked because it belongs in ATA though, right?

[burr]

4. I hope not...

I am just trying to add to a discussion started by my fellow DUers. What applies to them must also apply to me.

[Melinda]

2. You know this will be locked.

And after a horrible day seemingly filled with conflict with the mods/admin of DU, I have little strength to come up with any suggestions other than saying goodbye and leaving for good.

But I am tired and perhaps tomorrow will be better - here is hoping it becomes better for us all. My apologies for offering so little.

[Guaranteed]

3. Get some rest...you'll feel better tomorrow.

I promise. :) Sleep is magic.

[burr]

6. I just woke up!!!

actually you would never believe my time schedule. I usually sleep from 4pm to 9pm, wakeup...do some writing. Then I work from 6-3 p.m., depending on who hires me. Then come back dead tired, not that any of this is relevant...:eyes:

[economic justice]

5. You're forgetting something

"So what are the best actions which we average posters and moderators can take or not take, in order to restore a sense of trust for both sides of this decision process?"

This one's easy.........


It's David Allen's board. Period. He selects his mods and runs the board. It costs you nothing to come here. You can come here or not. You can donate or not. There's nothing about any of that that is open for negotiation and nothing to "restore." Imagine that....authority that must be respected!

Or.....start your own board?

[Adjoran]

8. Exactly!

If you don't like the rules, or how they are enforced, register a complaint in channels. If you don't like the outcome, and think you could do a better job, start your own board. You can start one for free, you won't have to lay out cash until you grow.

Or, stick around, and accept that individual posters don't get a vote on these things.

[burr]

9. where does authority come from?

most democrats believe that authority springs from the consent of the governed. This is why our nation broke its bond with the crown, and why our party first came into existance.

As I stated earlier, it is in the interest of the moderators not to lose the trust of the majority of posters. Otherwise this venture would have little purpose IMHO.

[Forkboy]

7. uh...no

[Moderator]

10. Locking.

If you have questions or comments about DU policy or moderator actions, please post them in the Ask the Administrators Forum.

DU Moderator