Comments on: Always avoid repressing your members

By: The real purpose of forum moderators revealed » Online Community Building

The real purpose of forum moderators revealed » Online Community Building — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:32:14 +0000

[...] I have said before, you must never repress your community. You must ensure that you moderate your forum effectively – this means adopting a laissez-faire [...]

By: Martin Reed - Blog Author

Martin Reed - Blog Author — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 14:22:54 +0000

Wally – You’re right; you will often find that some members will deliberately push the boundaries to test what is and what is not acceptable. The key is to ensure you keep any disputes or disciplinary procedures hidden from the rest of your community. The last thing you want is for your members to be afraid to post!

Smiley – Keeping the lines of communication open with troublesome users is always a good idea, as is framing your demands as requests. Who knows – that member (although causing your problems now) may turn out to be your most productive and loyal.

By: Smiley

Smiley — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 14:21:34 +0000

I agree. I did this in the past, ’scold’ members publically. Not just on my site. I used to do it as a Guide on your own.

Now I’ve learnt it’s really not the best way. Back then I did it because I thought it set an example and reassured members that we want to keep the place friendly and civil.

But it kinda backfires.

Now a’days, if there’s a dispute, I’m more diplomatic about it. I don’t ’scold’ them. I keep it in PM and keep it much more polite.

More of a ‘request’ as a ‘favour’ than a ‘demand’ for them to not do whatever it is they’ve done.

I think they take it on the chin a lot more then, and carry on contributing.

By: Wally

Wally — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 20:24:47 +0000

Bah, I should proof-read my posts before I click the submit button. Doh. Excuse the grammar errors.

By: Wally

Wally — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 20:23:00 +0000

While I agree with most of what you’re saying here, internet trolls inevitably find any online community. Let’s even just say they’re not trolls but people that want to push the limits just to see where they are.

What I see a lot of forums do is create an Off Topic section where almost anything goes. The other parts of the forums are keep on topic to keep the signal to noise ratio high.