We've made a number of coordinated changes to the Mac Guides pages that give you information about MacRumors:
It also tells you what to do if you are subject to moderation, what types of notifications you might receive, and how your privacy is protected.
Moderation is necessary for a site like MacRumors, but we don't want it to be any harsher than necessary and we are always willing to talk to users, review moderation actions, explain rules and polices, correct errors, and resolve misunderstandings. Communication is key.
Reminders and warnings
In most cases, users who break forum rules (especially when it's the first time) are sent Private Messages to let them know about the problem. It's typically easier to gain cooperation with a Private Message than with discipline (a loss of forum privileges). The moderators reserve discipline for repeat violators or for the most serious rules violations (e.g., spamming the site with advertising).
However, sending a personal message for every incident under the rules would be too time consuming. Instead, the moderators use automated Private Messages. The moderators trigger the messages but the message itself is a customized form letter. In addition to being efficient, this ensures consistency and facilitates the recordkeeping we do for all moderation actions, in order to make oversight and reviews possible.
Problem: The standard vBulletin forum software used by MacRumors labels automated Private Messages as infractions. This word sometimes led users to believe that they were being punished when they received a message simply intended to alert them.
Solution: We have now replaced vBulletin's labeling system with one of our own. Routine automated messages about the rules are now called reminders. The moderators also have the option of labeling a message as a warning, which they do in slightly more serious cases (e.g., name-calling).
We hope none of you need to receive reminders or warnings about the forum rules, but if you do you'll find that the messages are straightforward and informative, with links to further information and instructions for those who disagree with a moderation action.
Three other changes we've made
Credits
User feedback was instrumental in guiding us through these changes. Thanks for your cooperation in keeping the MacRumors forums as useful and enjoyable for as many people as possible!
Thanks also to the moderators who helped plan and execute the changes we've now completed, and who continue to volunteer their time for your benefit.
Last but not least, we'd like to acknowledge the help of some of our forum regulars, who helped us review and test these new features prior to their announcement.
We've revised the MacRumors FAQ and Forum Rules to remove most of the information about how forum moderation is implemented.
That information is now consolidated into a new Moderation FAQ, which you are welcome to read.
The Moderation FAQ covers how to submit post reports, what happens to them, what it means if a user's title is "In Time-Out", how moderators are selected and what they do, and other information about the MacRumors moderation system.That information is now consolidated into a new Moderation FAQ, which you are welcome to read.
It also tells you what to do if you are subject to moderation, what types of notifications you might receive, and how your privacy is protected.
Moderation is necessary for a site like MacRumors, but we don't want it to be any harsher than necessary and we are always willing to talk to users, review moderation actions, explain rules and polices, correct errors, and resolve misunderstandings. Communication is key.
Reminders and warnings
In most cases, users who break forum rules (especially when it's the first time) are sent Private Messages to let them know about the problem. It's typically easier to gain cooperation with a Private Message than with discipline (a loss of forum privileges). The moderators reserve discipline for repeat violators or for the most serious rules violations (e.g., spamming the site with advertising).
However, sending a personal message for every incident under the rules would be too time consuming. Instead, the moderators use automated Private Messages. The moderators trigger the messages but the message itself is a customized form letter. In addition to being efficient, this ensures consistency and facilitates the recordkeeping we do for all moderation actions, in order to make oversight and reviews possible.
Problem: The standard vBulletin forum software used by MacRumors labels automated Private Messages as infractions. This word sometimes led users to believe that they were being punished when they received a message simply intended to alert them.
Solution: We have now replaced vBulletin's labeling system with one of our own. Routine automated messages about the rules are now called reminders. The moderators also have the option of labeling a message as a warning, which they do in slightly more serious cases (e.g., name-calling).
We hope none of you need to receive reminders or warnings about the forum rules, but if you do you'll find that the messages are straightforward and informative, with links to further information and instructions for those who disagree with a moderation action.
Three other changes we've made
- A list of a user's "infractions" used to stay visible (only to that user) on their User Profile Page and in their User Control Panel. This too is a standard feature of vBulletin. We've now changed the software so these messages are displayed for only 14 days. That doesn't mean that you no longer need to follow the rules, only that you've probably read and considered the reminder or warning by that time.
- We've anticipated common points of confusion about moderation actions and addressed them in advance in a Mac Guide we call the Rulebreaking Top 10.
- We've updated the How to contact the moderators and administrators thread with the latest information about when and how to contact the staff and volunteers who manage the MacRumors site and forums.
Credits
User feedback was instrumental in guiding us through these changes. Thanks for your cooperation in keeping the MacRumors forums as useful and enjoyable for as many people as possible!
Thanks also to the moderators who helped plan and execute the changes we've now completed, and who continue to volunteer their time for your benefit.
Last but not least, we'd like to acknowledge the help of some of our forum regulars, who helped us review and test these new features prior to their announcement.