11:04 PM] Wintermoot 👑: And actually, that's the end of the regional news portion...now we're moving on to the Q&A, with some questions submitted by you guys.
[11:05 PM] Wintermoot 👑: First we have a question from North, which is really five questions about the activity, capabilities, expectations, and powers of the Discord op team, as well as what we plan to do to alleviate concerns in these areas.
[11:05 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: stands and claps
[11:05 PM] Wintermoot 👑: To start with, there are currently seven operators (Crushita, HannahB, Hugsim, Nox, Pengu, Wuufu, and myself), and overall the ops primary jobs are to enforce the administrative rules and guidelines (
https://wintreath.com/forums/index.php?topic=3048.0), as well as calm things down and mediate when things get heated and there’s the potential for rule-breaking. Additionally, Wuufu assists in a lot of technical stuff, especially with Zaphyr, and Hannah helps me manage the op team overall.
Administration Rules and Guidelines
Administration Rules and Guidelines
[11:05 PM] Wintermoot 👑: To be honest, I think the idea that the ops are inactive is more a perception brought on by the fact that our Discord activity has grown dramatically (from ~25k posts a month in the spring to nearly 75k in October). By comparison, it looks like they aren’t around as much, when in reality it’s just that there’s so many more posts now, and you have to remember that even when we’re around we don’t frequent all channels. For example, you won’t see me around much in #politics. And you have to remember, there’s never been a need for super-active moderation in our entire history, because we’re such a laid-back region.
[11:06 PM] Wintermoot 👑: But besides Hugsim, all the ops are regularly available on a daily basis at least. They might not be in every channel all the time, or chat all the time when they’re on, but they’re available to be called on when needed. That’s why it’s so important to use the @operator mention when you believe one is needed, so we know that something needs our attention right now. From there, we can measure how long it takes an op to respond, but it’s hard to say they’re not active ops if they’re not being called in the first place.
[11:06 PM] Wintermoot 👑: On expectations, ops should be able to mediate disputes, calm things down when things get heated, issue warnings, temp and permanent bans, and silence individuals who refuse to walk away or calm down from an altercation. To make sure all our ops know how to do those things, we will be creating a guide that ops can reference for how to do those things in Discord.
[11:06 PM] Wintermoot 👑: I believe this should answer all of North’s questions. Discussion on this topic is now open.
[11:07 PM] Wintermoot 👑: prewrote that so you guys wouldn't have to wait 30 minutes for me to type it all out.
[11:08 PM] North: Do you think the Operators should be present in the community?
[11:08 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: Oh, stop it, Moot, you totes mcgotes would've busted that out in like TWENTY-FOUR minutes
[11:08 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: :thumbsup:
[11:08 PM] Wintermoot 👑: I think most of them are present in the community
[11:08 PM] Silver: I know I've seen all but hugism around lately, even if they are just posting fish. I also don't think we can criticize them until we untilze them more, if at all needed.
[11:08 PM] bass old man: Petition for Mars to be a moderator
[11:09 PM] Chanku [She/Her/Hers]: no
[11:09 PM] North: Can you think of any time in the last month where an operator was called and failed to solve the issue at hand?
[11:09 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: Wellllllllllllllll
[11:09 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: Outside of Z-day no
[11:10 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: But that was like
[11:10 PM] bass old man: You mean in the last 31 days?
[11:10 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: Shits and gigs stuff
[11:10 PM] Chanku [She/Her/Hers]: Personally, I think Moderation is good as it is
[11:10 PM] North: Because I can think of at least one incident
[11:11 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: Deets deets
[11:11 PM] thechurchofmootan: I feel it's important to remember that our ops also have lives and it is not unreasonable for there to be a handful of instances where an op might not have been able to be there.
[11:11 PM] Marzipan💕: It seems as if a lot of the actual moderation falls on Hannah's shoulders as well. Regardless of the occasional friendly message, the burden falling on her shoulders to the level it has isn't reassuring.
[11:11 PM] Wintermoot 👑: I mean, I'm aware of the instance where someone was asked to mute a channel and wasn't able to...we've talked about that on DM.
[11:11 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: Yeah, that's true, too
[11:11 PM] Silver: Can you please elaborate North? I think I missed said incident and would like to make an informed opinion on this topic
[11:12 PM] North: I don't want to name names, suffice to say there was a heated argument, an op was called and did not do anything
[11:12 PM] Silver: I see.
[11:12 PM] North: Eventually the argument was settled by other citizens
[11:12 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: Should have at least one moderator from each major time zone imo -- or spread across them or... something. I dunno. Didn't really think this through before I started typing and I'm already all in at this point soooo enter
[11:12 PM] Wintermoot 👑: If it's some other incident than the one I mentioned, feel free to message me about it and I'll look into it further
[11:12 PM] thechurchofmootan: The op refused to do something?
[11:13 PM] Marzipan💕: My concern with that, Moot, is the is one of the most basic points of moderation. That shouldn't be an issue this late in the game. I'm glad that there will be a guide for the future.
[11:13 PM] thechurchofmootan: or did they feel that nothing had to be done?
[11:13 PM] Silver: I also agree that Hannah does seem to do most of the front end moderation, but we have no way of knowing what goes on that isn't visible to us
[11:13 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: What channel was supposed to be muted?
[11:13 PM] North: The op in question expressed a......worrying lack of familiarity with their duties and confidence in their ability
[11:13 PM] North: Would you consider removing an op, Moot? Or adding one?
11:14 PM] Chanku [She/Her/Hers]: North, if this is that much of an issue, please go into more detail so everyone participating can know what you are talking about North? So everyone here can actually express some informed nature on this, and it doesn't seem like this is coming from nowhere?
[11:14 PM] Chanku [She/Her/Hers]: Because specifics matter
[11:15 PM] North: I can't say more without breaching a confidence or without naming names, neither of which I am willing to do
[11:15 PM] thechurchofmootan: If confidence in their ability was the cause then it's more a personal issue for that op than it is an issue for moderation itself.
[11:15 PM] Wintermoot 👑: We have decided not to add another op at this time...I'm not going to comment on removing one, because that's something we would talk about internally first.
[11:15 PM] North: Why have you decided not to add another op?
[11:15 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: May I declare myself unofficial Op with no powers whatsoever, but the power of the Wintreath empire at my back if need be?
[11:16 PM] thechurchofmootan: They might not see it as necessary to add another op maybe?
[11:16 PM] Wintermoot 👑: For the reasons I told you over DM. Just so everyone knows that you already know the answer to this. :stuck_out_tongue:
[11:16 PM] thechurchofmootan: At this time anyways.
[11:16 PM] North: Which is why I asked
[11:16 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: snaps fingers
[11:16 PM] North: Because we have discussed this in private.
[11:17 PM] Wintermoot 👑: We don't believe that there's anyone readily qualified at this time.
[11:18 PM] thechurchofmootan: FYI I've been a mod in the TRR server for like two months. >_>
11:18 PM] North: This will be my final question on the topic for now
[11:18 PM] Wintermoot 👑: And it's not just looking for someone that knows how to do things in Discord...we're looking at things like people's history, activity, temperment, warn history, etc.
[11:18 PM] Marzipan💕: Well, what do y'all believe readily qualifies someone for the position? :smile:
[11:18 PM] North: But I will ask this
[11:18 PM] Marzipan💕: Ah, lag.
[11:18 PM] North: Do you really think no one in wintreath is more qualified then the people who are currently ops?
[11:19 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: Yeah, what exactly entails being a mod on here outside of knowing how to kick people, mute people and knowing everybody's little internal governing clocks?
[11:19 PM] thechurchofmootan: Knowing how to approach a given situation, for one thing.
[11:19 PM] Wintermoot 👑: We just brought on Crush and Pengu a few months back, I would consider them model prospects.
[11:20 PM] thechurchofmootan: Good judgment, level-headedness, etc.
[11:20 PM] Chanku [She/Her/Hers]: Also, generally, length of time in Wintreath
[11:20 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: Right, which is pretty much common sense
[11:20 PM] Wintermoot 👑: You guys pretty much hit it. :stuck_out_tongue:
[11:20 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: HOW DARE YOU BACKTALK TO ME?!
[11:20 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: BANNED
[11:20 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: BANNED
[11:21 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: YOU'RE COOL
11:21 PM] thechurchofmootan: You'd be surprised how many people have literally zero regard for common sense. :stuck_out_tongue:
[11:21 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: BANNED
[11:21 PM] Marzipan💕: I'd appreciate if Moot answered for himself, by himself. This is directed towards him, as the head.
[11:21 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: Doubt anyone would do that
[11:21 PM] North: Gally
[11:21 PM] North: Please, just a minute
[11:21 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: Sorry, sorry
[11:21 PM] North: I do want an answer to this
[11:21 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: sits down and sips his water quietly
[11:21 PM] Marzipan💕: Thank you Gally.
[11:22 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: tips his water bottle
[11:22 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: like the cool way
[11:22 PM] Wintermoot 👑: I've done answered the question...I feel that the current ops are mostly appropriate, with some issues that I'll take care of...mostly along the lines of what I've mentioned here. Either you like the answer or you don't like it, rephrasing it isn't going to change it.
[11:23 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: glances around the room
[11:23 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: Is anyone else imagining this like we're in the Senate Congressional Chambers? Cause I sure am.
[11:23 PM] Elbbsas 🥝: Hey, Gally? The RP might not be appropriate right now.
[11:23 PM] North: Well, then
11:23 PM] Marzipan💕: That's all that needed. Having the peanut gallery mess up the point of order isn't exactly helping keep things clear.
[11:23 PM] North: It is ultimately your choice, Moot
[11:24 PM] Wintermoot 👑: But I want to reiterate how important is is to mention in the ops if you feel a situation is brewing that warrants it, cause we can't say the ops are inactive if they aren't called to start with.
[11:24 PM] thechurchofmootan: Your question didn't specify that it was directed at Moot only. You used the word "y'all" which clearly refers to multiple people. The point of order was adhered to quite well.
[11:24 PM] Wintermoot 👑: And if there are any further specific incidents, please bring them to my attention and I'll look into the matter.
[11:25 PM] North: Did I use the word y'all?
[11:25 PM] Marzipan💕: No, I did. And I meant for North's questions as well.
[11:25 PM] thechurchofmootan: I was speaking to Marzipan, North. :stuck_out_tongue:
[11:25 PM] North: Ok then.
[11:25 PM] Wintermoot 👑: Is there anything further on this topic?
[11:25 PM] North: Not from me.
[11:25 PM] Marzipan💕: Nor me.
[11:25 PM] Elbbsas 🥝: I do have a query.
[11:27 PM] Elbbsas 🥝: I just want to check if it is appropriate to DM an op if their intervention is necessary? Because if, hypothetically, an argument does seem to be getting out of hand, having someone go "@ op" might inflame things?
[11:28 PM] Nox (she/her): You can DM me if needed. As long as it's not past 10pm pst, or during one of my classes
11:28 PM] Elbbsas 🥝: Actually I take that back, it would be near impossible for the ops to find the argument later and then there's the whole "pick your fighter" issue.
[11:28 PM] Nox (she/her): If it is, I'll just probably not answer
[11:28 PM] Wintermoot 👑: That's a good point...for me personally, sometimes it says that I'm on when I'm not really on so I wouldn't see a DM. You can do so for now, but let me get with Wuufu and see if there's a more reliable way to privately alert us.
[11:29 PM] Wintermoot 👑: I'll try to at least have some kind of answer on that by next week.
[11:29 PM] Nox (she/her): I generally go to bed around 10 on weekdays
[11:29 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: Just PM them with a timestamp?
[11:29 PM] North: Which is a lot of help in the moment.
[11:30 PM] Elbbsas 🥝: Or a snip of something close by so they could use the search function to jump to it?
[11:30 PM] Wintermoot 👑: Oh yeah, if you can definitely take screenshots too, if only so that someone can't delete what they said before an op sees it
[11:30 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: You can copy individual message ID's I just don't know if you can/how to search for those
[11:31 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: 642944210885935125
[11:31 PM] Gallynukes Got 🥕If You Got Coin: That was just mine
[11:31 PM] Wintermoot 👑: Breaking the rules and then deleting it doesn't make it alright, but we have to see what it is to mete out punishment. :stuck_out_tongue:
[11:31 PM] Chanku [She/Her/Hers]: Can I reserve the right to potentially bring this up during a future meeting?
[11:31 PM] Wintermoot 👑: You can always submit additional questions for the next meeting
[11:32 PM] Elbbsas 🥝: Thanks, Wintermoot, Nox.
[11:33 PM] Wintermoot 👑: If there's nothing else, I'm closing the floor on this topic.
