What you need to know about moderating
One notable thing within spontex is that moderation is available to everyone. A sub-forum is available to moderators, but no moderation related topic is held there. We do think that everyone has to be able to see what goes on with moderation : we hope that the seriousness of the debates taking place there will impress young fellows but also because we are always willing to recruit new moderators... and we prefer them to know what they are up to when they join us!When you visit the website, you can see several links "Comment right here", "add a new DYK right there", "insert fingers in this plug", etc. Everything that is published on the website is gonna be read by some moderator... sooner or later. For comments, moderation takes place after, that means that we publish before and discuss after wether it was worth it.
For the DYK, it works on the other way : we publish when a moderator has decided to validate it. Usually, this is to refer to holy-modeation of the DYK that we use the word "moderation" Moderation (of DYK) obeys anciant rules that no human being without serious mind desease can even try to imagine. In order to make this a little easier for you, we've been quite made to make publications anonymous. The one that submited the DYK can choose, in one of his comments or on the shoubtox for instance, to reveal himself as the author. It's quite important to get this right : even the more experienced moderators can see their so called DYK beeing revealed as horse-shit in moderation. Do not be surprised :-)
Rules that make a good DYK
Guidelines for submitting DYKs. C'est HS ici.
Do you want to join us?
New moderators are chosen on an "invite only" mode. It is therefore quite useless to come and say "select me" anywhere. But, paths exist to make your way thrue : in order to get inside the team, you just have to show that you understood the tricks of the website, that you brought much "for someone of your rank". One active participant in moderation (meaning not only on his own DYK) that is positive is almost always spotted.
- Add a new DYK
- Propose corrections to validated or moderation DYK (it's quite the only way to get good points).
- Check up information on moderation DYK
The grades
There are to date six grades on Spontex. Why that many? Because moderation is primarily based on trust, and trust is something you have to deserve! We trust people more and more, progressively. There is no jealousy to have though. Some become moderator quite rapidely because they have been followed up by the team soon enough, but for others, it might take some more time. Once you became moderator (of any grade), it is also a part of your task to detect potential new moderators.To do this, you have access to he "modo" forum group, a hidden part of the forum. This forum part is reserved for moderators and is used to discuss issues concerning our duty, possible bans or promotion of users, etc. We expect you to take part to the discussions on this group as soon as you become moderator.
Users & moderation
Moderation is opened to every non-moderator of the website. We do think that the best guy to support a DYK is its own author and enabling him to discuss is the least we could do.On the other hand, some guys take this privilege for granted and come see us to write "scum" on our space. This access to our beloved moderation is a privilege. We are actually glad that you come since, usually, it's just great. Sometimes, some random guy will show up and explain us that we know nothing about the greatness of his DYK and we should publish it as fast as possible
Let's be clear : we do know what a DYK is.
Be aware of Raph's point! Raph point is reached, like the godwin-point, when the one that posted the DYK refers to other accepted DYK to justify his proposal. This is kind of bad, don't do that...
As you can see, the moderation of submitted DYKs is accessible to non-moderators. Indeed, we think that the best person to defend a DYK is its author. So allowing him to take part to the moderation of his DYK is the less we can do.
The moderation interface is at least "light", but at worst functional. We admit that historically, the tools used for moderation do not really have a nice layout. Let's say this is almost done on purpose :-)
When you follow the link "Validation of DYKs" on the moderation page, you'll find the list of DYKS waiting for approval and the votes. "including you" indicates whether you already have voted and what you have voted.
When you click on a DYK, you find a highly coloured page (see "green and red" for Pro/Con). Before clicking like mad on all buttons, please read the DYK carefully. Did you find a spelling error or a fail? Do you find the DYK "stupid", "false" or "Bah"?
Then read the others' comments. The aim is not to simply comment the DYK but to indicate whether the source is valid or not and if the DYK is clear and true. Sometimes, a comment is needed to explain the cons: LSV's white book.
Beware: there is probably already a comment that says about the same thing that you want to say about this DYK. In this case, it is more useful to vote "I support what this person says" under that comment than to reply "+1". It helps to keep an overall high readability.
Beware: temember that all comments will be erased when validating the DYK!
Choose to write in a condensed but efficient style. For example:
Needs correction: "one fo the largest animal" --> "one of the largest animal*s*" This DYK is rather static and the source is not convincing. It needs a better source, otherwise => in the trash!
When you vote for a DYK, consider you are clicking on the button "Publish this DYK" (only almost-moderators can use this button). A comment can justify your vote. If someone stated "source needed" and you vote "pro" for the DYK, we suppose that you mean "I agree with the publication of the DYK, subject to finding a source" and that you clicked to support the comment (recommended).
Concerning the famous comment "Source ?", we remind you that almost never publish a DYK without sources. We also prefer people who provide a source than people who ask for one. :-)
Baby-Moderator
Someday, baby-moderator will become a fully functional moderator. You have been named baby-moderator because some mdoerators found your comments and contributions interesting and you earned a few "good marks". That's why we especially give attention to what and how you vote, how you take part to the validation process, etc.By naming you baby-moderator, we grant you access to the "moderators' board" and you have your say.
Teen-modo
A teen-moderator cumulates the rights of lower levels and acquires the right to validate comments and to add tags to the DYKs.Which comments may I validate and publish?
This question isn't as trivial as it sounds. Thanks for asking! A comment on a DYK is by default always shown on the site because we trust our users (or maybe just because we don't really care for comments). All new comments have to be "validated" or "deleted" (deletion is only possible by full moderators). HEre are the kind of comments we delete:
- Illegal content (pedo-nazism, illegal downloads, pronographic necrozoophilia (i.e. sex with dead animals), etc.
- B@dlY WriTtEn SMS pow@h or l33t hAx0rz speak ! We tolerate some little deviations from time to time, at the discretion of the moderators :-)
- advertising of any kind, when it's obvious, but once more, at the discretion of the moderators.
- +1 LOL, diz site rulez! (So what? We know!)
- "I found a spelling error, could you correct ... ?" In this case, an almost-moderator or higher rank will give a "good mark". Leave the comment unvalidated so he or she can see it and correct the DYK.
- "This LSV is false because ..." As above, leave this comment unvalidated untill an almost-moderator or higher rank deals with it.
- "Mansuetus iz an @$$" (see rule against nazism).
Is a moderator being asked for?
When a comment points out a problem that just a moderator can fix, the ado-moderator can call for help within the "Modo!" button: this will change the color of the comment. If he changes his mind, he can click on "validate the comment" that removes this effect. This special comment list is readable in moderation.
Almost-Modo
An almost-moderator gains the right to:Delete a comment
Give good marks (note: this will delete the comment)
When a user provides information relevant to the correction or validation of a a DYK (source, explanation, rewriting, corrections, etc.), a moderator can reward by giving the comment a "good mark". he good mark counter is shown on the user profile. The number of good marks is used to rate the contribution of the user in order to promote him or her. Sometimes, a comment will deserve a good mark, but it cannot be deleted without losing the information or the continuity of the comments, then think of using the button "this comment is worth to be read".
Validating a DYK/Sending back to moderation
Before you validate a DYK, make sure that the comments concerning the validation are deleted, that good marks have been distributed (if necessary), that the information of the DYK is true and verified and that the weather is fine today.
Validating/Sending back to moderation a DYK translation
It works the same way as for an original DYK.
Modifying DYK in validation phase
Only full moderators can modify a published DYK.
Reset the votes counter in valdiation phase
Reset the counter when the DYK has changed enough to be considered as a new submission. The moderators have to vote again, and you too of course!
Please don't overuse this button :-)
Moderators
A (full) moderator is able to:- Modify any comment posted by a user with lower ranking (i.e. not those of equally ranked moderators)
- Delete a DYK in validation phase
- Delete a comment and archive it in our anthology because it is too nice to be lost :-)