Psycho-Babble Administration Thread 751905

Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

About Deputies

Posted by jammerlich on April 21, 2007, at 9:41:50

I think recent events make it pretty clear that it might be a good idea to do a little brainstorming about how this can be more workable for everyone involved. Because right now, it seems everyone is upset....."regular" posters and deputies alike.

I know not everyone will agree with the following statements, but I think most will And isn't it often a good idea to start with things about which we're in agreement? To keep this site as safe as possible, we need our deputies. But, it's a REALLY HARD job to have. By accepting the duty, deputies lose a lot of the safety they had as regular members and they risk upsetting their friends - people they really LIKE - when they have to make administrative calls. Our deputies are also people we loved, respected, and valued before they took on the administrative role.....it's largely WHY they got the administrative role......and we ALL would be losing something if they feel they can't be active outside of that role.

So, with the understanding that it's just discussion and really only Bob can do anything, why not talk about ideas to make it more workable?? Here are a couple of things I thought about last night.

What if deputies were allowed 2 posting names? The one they have now and then the same name with "Deputy" before it. It seems confusion sometimes comes when we aren't sure in what capacity a post is written. Is this from a deputy or is it not? And it also seems that sometimes our deputies get confused themselves about that (I know I probably would). Sometimes they might start a post just as an fyi and then sign it as a deputy. So, if they signed in as their "Deputy" name only for administrative posts, maybe that would help us all with the distinction.

Idea #2, which I'm sure will be more controversial, is that administrative posts from the deputies be made from a name that is JUST "Deputy," with no distinction about which person wrote it. It seems sometimes posters feel like a particular deputy might be picking on them over and over again and this might prevent some of that. And I think it might help any one deputy from being singled out. But, it could also cause problems within the group of deputies themselves because, essentially, they'd all sort of take responsibility for the post of one. That might not be an entirely bad thing, though. If there is doubt, a deputy might be more inclined to seek the opinion of another before making a post and if the deputies don't agree with a post that's been made, they might be more inclined to speak up about it. You know, a checks and balances sort of thing.

Anyway, those are just some things that came to me last night. Feel free to talk about why they may or may not work or to tweak them or whatever. And better yet, come up with other ideas! As long as you don't attack me personally, I promise I won't feel hurt or offended if you don't like what I've said. It was all meant to generate discussion. I hope our deputies will chime in, too. Their take is very important.

Jammer

 

Re: About Deputies » jammerlich

Posted by Happyflower on April 21, 2007, at 9:51:26

In reply to About Deputies, posted by jammerlich on April 21, 2007, at 9:41:50

Hi Jammer,

I just posted a similar thread 3 min. after you, I was busy writing mine, when yours was posted. We mostly agree I believe, something better needs to be done. :)

 

Re: About Deputies » jammerlich

Posted by Dinah on April 21, 2007, at 10:26:57

In reply to About Deputies, posted by jammerlich on April 21, 2007, at 9:41:50

Hi. I think they are good ideas, Jammer.

I have no real objections to the first other than purely technical ones. Anyone who has changed their name or posted from a different computer knows how easy it is to forget to change a name. And heaven knows how scatterbrained I can be. I can see posting as Deputy Dinah, going to do something, coming back and accidentally posting as Deputy Dinah elsewhere - which would cause its own confusion I think. If that could be solved, different posting names would just be a minor inconvenience that I could live with if it was in the best interests of the board.

FWIW, I'm always Poster Dinah or just plain old Dinah, unless I expressly sign my post as Dinah, acting as deputy to Dr. Bob. (Would that be too long as a posting name? :) )

The second would bother me personally. Not because I don't trust my fellow deputies, because I do. But I also believe in personal responsibility. Also, I fear that instead of diverting resentment from us, it would just spread it in a blanket fashion. And lastly, while we often use boilerplate language from the FAQ, even if we *always* did that, there are differences in communication style that would probably make who was posting clear to those who know us, and might lead to speculation among those that don't.

Which isn't to say it isn't a good idea, and I can see why it would be appealing.

I appreciate your thinking of constructive ideas to make this situation easier for everyone.

 

Re: About Deputies

Posted by Dinah on April 21, 2007, at 10:29:33

In reply to About Deputies, posted by jammerlich on April 21, 2007, at 9:41:50

Oh, I forgot to add.

Deputies already seek out the opinion of other deputies when they are in doubt. I do it whenever it isn't completely clear. And when it is completely clear, I announce it one way or another so that Dr. Bob can review my actions.

 

Another suggestion - About Deputies

Posted by tofuemmy on April 21, 2007, at 12:46:25

In reply to About Deputies, posted by jammerlich on April 21, 2007, at 9:41:50

If a poster is uncivil towards another poster, they should be PBC'd. I think if they are rude to a deputy, they should have an immediate one-day BLOCK.

The deputies do this for free - it's hard, it's stressful, it's aggravating - and they should be treated with respect. If they start quitting, the site is hosed, since Bob seems to have retired.

The one day is a cooling off period, and allow the poster to re-read the site rules.

emmy

 

Re: Another suggestion - About Deputies » tofuemmy

Posted by Happyflower on April 21, 2007, at 13:11:09

In reply to Another suggestion - About Deputies, posted by tofuemmy on April 21, 2007, at 12:46:25

It is a good idea except who decides what is rude and what isn't ? Can the deputy who thinks they are being treated rudely also be the one who blocks the other poster?
What about the deputy who is rude to another poster or also says things uncivil? Should their position make them exempt from the same "punishments"?

 

Re: Another suggestion - About Deputies » tofuemmy

Posted by Happyflower on April 21, 2007, at 13:29:38

In reply to Another suggestion - About Deputies, posted by tofuemmy on April 21, 2007, at 12:46:25

>
> The deputies do this for free - it's hard, it's stressful, it's aggravating - and they should be treated with respect. If they start quitting, the site is hosed, since Bob seems to have retired.

This might be a good reason to have someone who isn't personally involved with the other posters, so they can remain objective.

Maybe a T who would like to volunteer to help. They are trained on who to keep personal beliefs out of the critera for deciding on what to do about a poster. They would be more objective because they are not personally envolved with anyone on the site.

I have been told over and over again why it is a bad idea for my T to be my friend because of the power issues and duel role issues. If this is true, I can see why it is important to have someone be a deputy who isn't performing a duel role here.

 

Re: Another suggestion - About Deputies

Posted by greywolf on April 21, 2007, at 16:52:32

In reply to Re: Another suggestion - About Deputies » tofuemmy, posted by Happyflower on April 21, 2007, at 13:29:38

Here's my two cents.

I think this site works fine 95% of the time. Of course, as in other contexts, it's that last 5% that causes the most grief and takes up the most time.

It's obviously an approximation, but if you break down that probably 5% (or less) of posts that are problematic from an administrative point of view, I would bet that the majority of us would agree on the disposition of the majority of the problems handled by the deputies. So the remaining tiny percentage (in relation to total overall posts) are those "grey area" judgment calls where it is tough to find a consensus no matter how the deputy may have handled the situation (and if we got rid of the Politics board altogether, half of the civility problem posts would disappear). I've posted my disagreement with other people's blocks in some of those situations.

I suggest that the deputies and Dr. Bob deserve a break. The vast majority of the time, the site is administered wonderfully, and the vast majority of problem posts are handled appropriately. I don't think you can reasonably expect more of a system operated by humans for the benefit of other humans.

I know--it's easy for me to say that if I'm not the subject of an unwarranted block. And on those infrequent occasions where a block truly is not justified, I'm sure it's very frustrating. But, overall I think the site runs pretty darn smoothly, in no small part because the deputies take the time to think carefully about what they're doing.

 

DNP to me Happyflower

Posted by tofuemmy on April 21, 2007, at 17:00:32

In reply to Re: Another suggestion - About Deputies » tofuemmy, posted by Happyflower on April 21, 2007, at 13:11:09

I thought I had done this already following your posts to me on 6/28/06 and the associated Babblemail. I looked through the archives and couldn't find one. I guess I didn't bother since you were blocked following the posts.

However late, I would still like to make this request. Please DNP, and DN Babblemail me.

Please don't be upset by this - I think it's best for both of us.

Thank you.

Emmy

 

Request noted » tofuemmy

Posted by Racer on April 21, 2007, at 19:22:09

In reply to DNP to me Happyflower, posted by tofuemmy on April 21, 2007, at 17:00:32

Hi, TofuEmmy,

This is just a brief note to say that your request has been noted by the deputies for enforcement. If you feel that the request has not been honored, please use the notification system to let us know.

Racer, acting as deputy

 

posted recepit of DNP requests? good dep. policy! (nm)

Posted by zenhussy on April 22, 2007, at 10:57:30

In reply to Request noted » tofuemmy, posted by Racer on April 21, 2007, at 19:22:09


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