It's a common problem on any social networking site which has curators with elevated control over user submitted content. This has often been problematic here on Voat where mods stand accused of abusing their powers after removing non-spam user submissions thereby violating the spirit of Voat's holy "free speech without exception" tenet.
Today's examples are /v/niggers and /v/chicago disputes. I don't personally have any stake in /v/niggers nor /v/chicago, but as a Voat user I (and everyone else) most certainly do have a stake whenever this tenet is broken anywhere on this website.
Unfortunately Voat does not have a good mechanism for handling disputes against mods. The only solution available now is to bring in admins to arbitrate these disputes and manually juggle mods. I figure admins have better things to do with their volunteer time like pay the bills and fix bugs in the code.
I don't personally have a technical solution myself. But I want to hear what ideas others may have on how to address and resolve mod abuse issues in some automated way without always having to call up admin support every time. A few subs that may already be useful here at least to discuss when such a dispute arises:
Sir_Ocaz ago
I feel like the second option that the admin offered would've been for the best. Let it die by itself and the users will migrate to a new sub with their scent for bullshit being better.
But the most simple thing would be to completely remove mods or to at least have a policy where mods aren't allowed to remove comments. Basically take the power away from them and only give them the bare minimum. The subs users will decide what kind of content they like and dislike through voats.
Mods are basically the government and the best government is the one that does the bare minimum necessity.
auto_turret ago
Spank them and put them in the corner.
something_went_wrong ago
That's the general idea. But how to build that as a user interactive website feature somehow is the question. As it is now, only the two volunteer admins can do that alone and manually.
auto_turret ago
It's no big deal, we'll all just grab some cases of beer and make a night of it.
something_went_wrong ago
Thanks for that. Just read through the entire thread and I think what you wrote makes an excellent site-wide policy from which to make a foundation out of. But now how to apply that policy into some website mechanism in order to streamline or automate these frequent disputes? What website function enhancement would be best to make resolving these disputes easier for users, mods, admins? What would it look like to users in the website UI.. if that question makes sense?
Owlchemy ago
The systems broke. v/space (w/34K subscribers) was just taken over by a new user with a two month old account and zero credibility in the sub. He posted just enough to put in a sub request, and was awarded it. His first act there was to post a sticky asking for mods to volunteer to help him ... which stinks of squatter. I have no beef with the transfer, it's water under the bridge ... however, that being said, in a sub with 34K subscribers, and multiple regular daily posters, there should be a system in place where the subscribers are informed that a sub request has been put in. That way it could be challenged, if necessary. As it stands now, if you don't regularly review v/subverserequests, you never know a favorite sub is on the verge of being taken over by someone with no credibility there. I put in a v/voatdev thread to address this, but not sure if it'll be considered.
blipblipbeep ago
G'day Chemy mate.
Awesome idea mate,
To expand on @Owlchemy idea, all subverse requests could be indicated in the /v/all sidebar as a number showing the total of existing unresolved requests. Hovering over the number activates a drop down that contains a list of the subverse titles being requested. Each subverse title in the drop down links to the corresponding request in /v/subverserequests. Also system sub requests should have their own drop down in the /v/all sidebar.
Further measures to insure everybody that wants a say gets a say.
When clicking submit for a system or regular subverse request, it starts a one month/week timer that is visible within the request submission and next to its corresponding /v/all drop down subverse title. Any request still counting down can't be granted. The requests that have the shortest time remaining should be at the top of the drop downs.
Breakdown of idea:
A subverse request submission starts a visible countdown timer within the submission header.
A number within the /v/all sidebar shows the total of existing unresolved subverse requests.
Hovering over the number activates a drop down that contains a list of the subverse titles and the time remaining before it can be granted.
Each subverse title in the drop down links back to the corresponding request in /v/subverserequests.
Do the same with a second drop down that only lists system subverse requests but also have any requested system subverse titles ticker/scroll across the sidebar as well.
What do you think Chemy mate? Also I hope you don't mind but I'm gonna post this as a fresh submission to /v/ideasforvoat.
All the best mate,
peace...
Owlchemy ago
Not a bad idea ... I did put in this suggestion of what I thought would be helpful, in v/voatdev My Suggestion ... but anything that would flag people to the fact that a sub has been requested would be helpful. The next thing though is that I don't think the current system takes into account any negative feedback when granting a request. If I understand the process correctly, a bot simply goes thru and if the criteria for transfer is met, the sub is handed over. so, there also needs to be a way for the people in a sub to contest a transfer ... if someone is just trying to scam the system and get a sub, as I think is the case with v/space ... the active users there should be given a say in whether that transfer is acceptable to them or not. After all, it's those who post there that make a sub, not the mod. Without dedicated posters, ya got nothing.
blipblipbeep ago
More awesome points that can be used to fine tune the idea mate :)
Can you please re-post your above comment in the comment section of the fresh discussion post here, so your new input can be used to refined the overall concept.
Then I can start to incorporate any new input and ideas into the visible post with edits.
Thanks Chemy mate,
peace...