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Without volunteer moderators, it is impossible for an online community
to scale. Without editing by moderators, it is impossible for us to
maintain a high standard of quality. At photo.net, our moderators are
among our most important assets, overseeing thousands of daily forum
posts. This guide provides administrative guidelines and instruction
for photo.net forum moderators.
What is photo.net and why are editors needed?
Our mission statement (April 2007):
photo.net strives to be the best peer-to-peer educational system for people who wish to become better photographers.
In building out our services, we consider the needs of the
hypothetical Jane Newmother, a woman who has never previously been
interested in photography, but has recently had a baby. She wants to
take high quality photos of her new baby. She needs our help to figure
out what kind of camera to buy and then how best to use it. She will
want to obtain constructive criticism on her photos, either online or
in a face-to-face meeting of a subset of the photo.net community. She
may broaden her photographic objectives as her interest and child
grow. photo.net needs to be there for Jane before her child's first
soccer game and before the first family trip to Asia.
Jane Newmother is busy and doesn't have time to wade through off-topic
material. We want her to leave the site saying "I got four great
answers to my question", not "I found four answers to my question
among a 50-posting flame war." When people arrive at photo.net after
doing a Google search, they will have an itchy "back" button. The
first page of material that they scan from photo.net has to look and
be relevant to their query. The only way that the best and most
relevant material can bubble up to the top of a forum thread is if the
worst and least relevant material is deleted by the forum moderator.
In the most active forums, the first response to a thread will be one
of the worst, posted by someone who loves to see his own name in
print. Don't be shy about deleting the first three postings if the
fourth is a much better answer.
Supporting Chat
Regular readers come to know each other fairly well via their
interaction on photo.net and will sometimes posting chatty messages
primarily intended for their friends on the site rather than being
responsive to the original poster. If these postings are friendly and
aren't making fun of the original poster, they aren't such a bad
thing, but they should be deleted after a few days so that the
archived thread isn't cluttered with inside jokes and chat.
Threads that are primarily chat should be moved to the "Casual
Conversations" forum where threads are automatically deleted
periodically.
Shaping Behavior
People spend $25,000 on a new car and don't read the owner's
manual. Very few people will read our complete Terms of Use carefully
before posting, despite the fact that the Terms of Use are linked from
every page's footer and are written in plain language. Our most
powerful tool in shaping community member behavior to conform to the
Terms of Use is deleting postings. People post material in hopes that
others will read it. If a person posts 10 items and 8 are deleted
with an email explanation that they violate the Terms of Use, the
community member will then be highly motivated to read the Terms of
Use and change his or her behavior.
If you have some subject-area knowledge, you can help the forum serve
our mission by answering some questions yourself. Take the most naive
questions from the rawest beginners and provide a polite, helpful,
useful answer, with links to previous threads and reviews or tutorials
on photo.net. Remember that the first posting often sets the tone for
the thread. Posting something helpful will discourage show-offs from
heaping scorn on a clueless new community member.
The Moderators' Forum
All moderators have access to the private photo.net Moderators'
Forum. Don't hesitate to post questions referencing a specific thread
or community member. Please add an email alert on this forum so that
you're kept advised of problems and policy decisions. You should also
include this forum in your Unified Forum View.
Please consider using your Web browser's bookmark tools to place a
link to the forum in your "favorites" folder or on your "links"
toolbar.
Questions and answers
posted to the moderators' forum cannot be seen by readers, nor are the
Moderators' forum threads indexed by Google.
To see what is getting on readers' nerves, check the Site Feedback Forum
periodically.
What Moderators Can Do
A moderator can do the following:
Delete posts
Delete threads
Expire threads
Lock threads (through expiration)
Move threads
Suspend posters
Edit posts
Post forum policy
Set bozo (banned expression) filters
Change title and category
Add categories
Control file uploading through the photo.net mechanism
Make a thread "sticky" at the top of the forum
These actions are used to implement moderation policy, which is discussed in the next section. In this section, each of the above actions are explained. Before continuing, it is important to understand the different administration views available to the moderator.
There are two basic ways to access moderation functions.
One is through the "Administer" tab that a moderator can see on the home page of a forum. This button takes the moderator to a special page with a variety of functions, most aimed at managing the moderation functions on the forum and some links to access views of the forum.
The second method is via individual threads. At the bottom of each thread is an "Administer" link that takes the moderator to a special version of the page with moderation tasks on it. New moderators should take the time to look at both of these interfaces to gain understanding of the capabilities a moderator has. Most are obvious, but there are some subtleties that make the following explanations important.
Delete posts. A single post on a thread can be deleted, or a group of posts on a thread can be deleted. In the case of a useful thread with a number of useless posts, the best method is to use the bulk delete function. This requires checking the boxes to the right of the posts to be removed and then clicking on the [Delete Marked Messages]button at the bottom of the page. There will be no notifications and no explanations to the posters whose posts are removed.
To delete a single post, clicking on the "Delete" link to the right takes the moderator to a page with a variety of deletion functions. The primary choices here are to delete the post and suspend the poster from the forum or to delete the post without suspension and send a message. There is currently no way to both suspend and send a message. When suspending, it is necessary to pick a suspension termination date and a reason. The poster will see the reason every time they try to post in the forum. They will also know the date the suspension ends.
To delete without suspension and send a message, enter the message in the box. If you want to change the address from where the message comes, change it in the box.
Delete threads. You can delete threads by clicking on the [Delete Entire Thread] link at the top of the administration page for the thread. The choices available are the same as when deleting a single post.
Expire threads. Expiration is different than deletion and the reasons for expiring are generally different than deletion. Expiration allows a thread to live for a certain number of days. At the end of the expiration period, the thread will disappear from the forum list of posts but lives on as a "zombie" of sorts. It will still be accessible through direct URL, through posting history for people who have posted to the thread, and through the New Answers page as long as the thread is new. To set an expiration date for a thread, click on the [Administer] link for the thread, enter the number of days for expiration, and hit enter/return on the computer keyboard. There is no [submit] button on the page, you must enter the number of days and then hit enter/return. Expired threads are removed from the main administration page for the forum. Click on the [Look at expired threads] link near the top and you will be taken to the expired threads page. Click on [Nuke them all] to remove all expired threads.
Threads can be "un-expired" by changing or removing the number of days. This is useful if a thread has turned out to be more relevant than it initially appeared.
Lock threads. You can "lock" a thread by setting the expiration time to 0 days. This removes the ability to add to a thread. It also has the effect of expiring a thread as explained above, so it will no longer appear in the forum listing. Threads can be "unlocked" by removing or changing the expiration time.
Move threads. Threads can be moved to another forum by clicking on the [Zap] link at the top of the administration page for a particular thread. Moderators can only move threads to forums in which they have moderation privileges. All moderators should be able to move the thread to the Casual Conversations Forum. If a thread is valuable and belongs in a different forum, it can be flagged in the Moderators' Forum so that the appropriate moderator can move it, or the moderator can be emailed. The one danger with moving threads results from the lack of moderation "history" for a thread. As a result, a thread can be potentially bounced between forums, although this is rare.
Suspend posters. This is done through the deletion process explained above.
Edit posts. Posts can be edited by clicking on the [Edit] link to the right of any post on the administration page. This allows editing the text in the post and/or correcting HTML mistakes. In addition to fixing mistakes and removing problematic text or images, the edit function can be used to add moderator comments. At the time this document is being written, it is not possible to remove an image attached to a post via the photo.net upload mechanism. If the image is offensive, inappropriate, or a copyright violation, the post must be removed. If an image is attached to a post via html, it can be removed by removing the html code.
Editing posts also allows the moderator to insert comments. This is best done using html so that the moderator's comments stand out, with bold or italic. If part of a post violates guidelines and that part is removed, the removal can be explained by the moderator if it helps followup posts.
Post forum policy. On the main administration page for the forum, there is a box called [Policy] and a box called [Discouraging Users from Posting]. Both of these are valuable for providing pre-posting moderation. The [Policy] box contains the text that appears on the home page of the forum. It lets people know what the purpose of the forum is and what is considered appropriate. Even if users ignore it when posting, it is useful when explaining post deletion. The [Discourage] box contains text that appears when a user posts a new thread (only.) The text that appears on the user posting confirmation page is fixed across all forums. To make changes to the Policy and Discourage text, edit the text in the box and make sure to click on the "Update" button near the bottom of the page. In general, moderators should contact one of the administrative staff before changing the forum's policy/discourage information.
Set bozo filters. Bozo filters are set on the forum administration page and are used for banned expressions and commonly used profanity terms. It can also be used to block spammers, particularly link spammers. It should be used carefully to ensure that valid posts are not blocked. For example, cell phone spammers could be blocked by words like "Nokia" being added, but this would block legitimate posts on cell phone cameras. To add an expression, click on the [Add] link in this section and you will get a page with a number of options.
Change title and category. These functions are at the top on the administration page of a post.
Add categories. To add new categories, on the administration page for a thread, use the pulldown on the [Set category] to go to [Define new category] and then push the [Set category] button. You will go to a page that will allow you to re-categorize that question and simultaneously add a new category. Note that currently categories cannot be deleted except by a person with site-wide privileges and that categories cannot be added from the main administration page for the forum.
Control file uploading. This is an obvious function on the forum administration page but bears highlighting because it cannot be controlled for html posts. In general, moderators should not need to use this function. If you feel a need has come up, please contact a member of the administrative staff.
Make a thread "sticky". A thread can be maintained at the top of the forum listings by clicking on the [Mark thread as urgent] button on the thread administration page. This is not used much at photo.net, but it can be good for getting administration messages across. In general, sticky threads are intended for temporary use. Please talk to the admin staff if you feel a need for a permanent sticky thread.
There are several other little-used functions on the forum administration page that are not discussed here. If one of them seems to answer a forum need for you, please contact the admin staff for help.
Basic Moderation Problem Policy
Photo.net moderation requires keeping tabs on and removing spam,
profanity, incorrect forum policy, off-topic postings, and a number of
similar issues. Some of these, e.g., cross-posting, result from new
users' lack of understanding of forum rules. Others result from
deliberate attempts to antagonize or act out some private joke. These
are activities popularly known as flaming and trolling.
Spam. photo.net has a very high Google rank and therefore a
commercial Web publisher could derive a lot of benefit from adding a
link to his or her site from photo.net. Spam can be an obvious ad for
discount Nokia cell phones, a recently registered photographer posting
an ad for his workshop, or even a valuable member adding a "signature"
line to every posting containing the URL of his or her Web site. Only
site-wide administrators can delete a user's account or institute a
site-wide ban, so it is best to flag spam postings in the Moderators'
Forum. You can remove a spammer's posting and save a copy, then post a
message in the Moderators' Forum with the contents of the spam post
and a link to the community member page so that the account can be
removed.
Profanity. The New Yorker magazine runs
articles that contain the word "fuck", so profanity can be
appropriately expressive. But remember that New Yorker
publishes less than 1 percent of submitted content. Only about 1
percent of the time on photo.net will a posting containing profanity
be worthy of retention. The other 99 percent of the time, delete the
posting and send an email explanation asking them to choose their
words more carefully.
Racism, sexism, etc.
Racist and sexist comments incite argument and detract from the
education mission of the site. We are not here to teach people about
racism or sexism, good or bad. Our mission is to teach
photography.
Personal Attacks. Watch for the inclusion of a community
member's name in a posting. Often the name will be followed by a
compliment (technically a violation of our Terms of Use if not
educational) or a personal attack (definitely a violation of our Terms
of Use and almost never educational).
The most valuable content is an alternative perspective. Response #3
says "always use a UV filter". A useful Response #4 would be "here
are example images with and without UV filters; I never use them
myself." A direct attack on an idea is typically less useful. When
the attack extends to the author of the idea, it is almost always best
to delete the posting. After more than one or two personal attacks
are deleted, we suggest banning the poster from the forum for a few
weeks.
Trolling. The way to identify a trolling post on photo.net
is to ask yourself "Is this person sincerely curious for an answer?"
and "Does this person state a practical photographic goal?" Examples
of standard trolling posts would be "Why is Nikon so much better than
Canon?" or "Why are serious photographers sticking with film and not
going digital?" Delete the entire thread and all 50 angry responses.
People will stop trolling and stop taking the bait if they know that
their postings will be short-lived.
Off-topic Posts. Delete the thread with an email
explanation suggesting a review of the Terms of Use or the forum
policy. If it is a good question that fits another forum on photo.net,
move the thread to the proper forum.
Rumors. We have spent 14 years building a reputation for
authoritative information. We don't want to squander that with urban
legends about governments preparing to outlaw photography, or Nikon
coming out with a full-frame camera, or whatever. Be suspicious of a
thread that does not cite a manufacturer's press release or a
published newspaper or magazine article. Delete any thread that seems
to be based on rumor.
Misinformation. Most misinformation is provided sincerely.
Fortunately, most misinformation is contradicted by a more
knowledgeable follow-up posting. The moderator's job is to keep
threads sufficiently uncluttered that a reader is likely to read the
entire thread. A reader may actually learn more from reading a common
misunderstanding and then a clear explanation of the truth, so a
misguided posting that is corrected below should not necessarily be
deleted.
Feedback to posters. You will be more effective in shaping
behavior if you provide email explanations when deleting postings. If
people take offense, point them to the Terms of Use where arguing with
the moderator is prohibited. They are free to apply for the job of
moderator, but not to "stand outside the tent and piss in".
Copyright violations. We are required by law to remove
copyrighted material if the copyright holder complains. Do request
some sort of convincing evidence from the complainer if emailed
directly, e.g., the URL of the original photo on another Web site.
Our Terms of Use allow Reader B to download Reader A's photo, edit it,
and post it back to a discussion forum on our server. If a reader
wants to discuss a famous photo by a commercial photographer, it is
best for that person to include a link to the photo on the original
photographer's Web site rather than attaching the photo so that it is
served from photo.net.
High Cost Posters
Some posters become maintenance nightmares for moderators. They are
constantly at or just over the line, or they regularly email
moderators to complain about moderation decisions. At some point, it
becomes too difficult to deal with the poster, and at this point, it's
best to raise the issue in the Moderator's Forum. Other moderators may
have the same experience, or the poster may behave differently on
other forums. Regardless of the outcome, sharing the information can
help moderators and administrators make better decisions regarding any
actions that need to be taken.
If someone is a high cost poster in a particular forum, it makes sense
to suspend them if dealing with them becomes too time
consuming. Remove the poster, explain, and hope that they change on
their return. If the poster returns and immediately posts without
regard for forum guidelines, they probably should be removed
permanently.
Further help and advice
Remember that you're not alone. If in doubt, post a question in the
Moderator's Forum or email Josh Root, our Director of Community,
josh@photo.net.
