Hi, friends.
I wrote an article on being a Mastodon moderator. I talk about the process, our mental health, the challenges of mutual aid, and more.
It leaves me a little vulnerable, but I think it’s an important story to tell.
If you like it, boosts are welcomed. If you have questions, feel free to reach out.
Okay, here goes…
markwrites.io/being-a-mastodon…
#Moderation #Moderators #Mastodon #Fediverse #MentalHealth #IAmAnxiousWritingAboutThis
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Gina
in reply to Mark Wyner Won’t Comply • • •> "There are three moderators on our team and about 185,000 accounts. About 12,000 of those are active monthly."
3 mods?! That's so little for such a big instance 😦 #Fosstodon has about 10k active users and we have a team of 20 - and believe me, it's necessary at times. Would it maybe be possible to invite some of your users to the mod team, to help with the workload?
This is an important topic, and personally relatable, thank you for sharing 💚 #Fediverse #Moderation
Pippa 🌈
in reply to Gina • • •Mark Wyner Won’t Comply
in reply to Gina • • •@Gina wow. That’s wild. I’m surprised at how different our teams are. I wonder if it has something to do with the differences in our communities and rules?
When I say our queue is manageable, I really mean it. We work across multiple timezones, and have most of a 24 hour period completely covered. So it’s almost like we’re working in shifts.
Anyway, I appreciate your weighing in. This is good community. 🫶🏻
Gina
in reply to Mark Wyner Won’t Comply • • •Mark Wyner Won’t Comply
in reply to Gina • • •@Gina the spam waves are intense. But at least they’re so obvious that we can whip through them. It’s the ones that need reflection that hold up the queue.
I appreciate your approach of spreading out a thin layer of moderation. I’m sure your team appreciates that.
We’re well taken care of, too. We look out for each other. Even when we argue intensely about a moderation decision can’t agree on. 😂
dick_turpin
in reply to Mark Wyner Won’t Comply • •I read your blog post, and I have to say it hasn't changed my opinion. I'm always saying, "The moment someone says they need a moderator, you need to tell yourself; there goes my freedom." I'm not sure how an instance can claim to be decentralised and then, with the next breath, tell users it has blocked sections of the Fediverse.
My view is that users should be responsible for their own policing. Users should block or mute accounts they dislike, disagree with or have no wish to see. A blanket ban disenfranchises the entire user base of an 'instance' the right to access material. Now I'm not stupid. Of course, anything illegal, such as child porn, should be banned, and yes, people might need someone to turn to if being harassed, but my concern is always the growth of Tribalism: "We hate Trump and we don't want any Toots about him on here!" I'm glad the post said, "It’s simply someone saying they don’t like what another person said" There are a lot of people in life looking for ways to shut other people up.
Just some personal thoughts.
#Freedom
Jake
in reply to dick_turpin • • •dick_turpin
in reply to Jake • •black6 likes this.
FediThing 🏳️🌈
in reply to dick_turpin • • •@dick_turpin @jakeyounglol
You are free to choose an instance or set up your own. No one is forcing you to go on a moderated instance if you don't want to.
But most people prefer to be on instances where moderators remove or prevent the spam, trolling, impersonations, fraudsters and horrific content that an entirely unmoderated feed consists of.
Mark Wyner Won’t Comply
in reply to FediThing 🏳️🌈 • • •@FediThing
Facts. No one is forced to be here. The Mastodon community by and large would like an enjoyable experience. And that means taking care of each other, by weeding out people who are hurtful and abusive.
@dick_turpin @jakeyounglol
Petra van Cronenburg
in reply to FediThing 🏳️🌈 • • •@FediThing 💯
@dick_turpin @jakeyounglol
SnowyCA
in reply to Jake • • •@jakeyounglol Hear, here!!
@dick_turpin
SnowyCA
in reply to dick_turpin • • •@dick_turpin
I agree, as individuals if we dislike an account blocking is our choice, however some folk get out of control with their hate and rage--are very hurtful.
I read your post and I noticed your "freedom" hashtag.
You have the freedom to say and act however you choose just as we have the freedom to rely on a group of thoughtful and kind folk like Mark to protect the most vulnerable in the fediverse community.
IMO, #Community is the word that best describes the goal of Fediverse, and that means *together* we support and protect one another.
When we signed up we agreed to the community guidelines, and if we know if we hurt a member of the community we can be banished.
Many of the folk here don't want another free for all twitter., I know I don't.
@markwyner
Mark Wyner Won’t Comply
in reply to SnowyCA • • •@SnowyCA
This. 100%. Community means solidarity. And taking care of each other, just as you mentioned.
I’d even take care of Mr. Turpin. If someone were threatening him with violence or hurling agism slurs at him, I would delete their posts. I’d do this to improve his experience and contribute to his mental health.
@dick_turpin
SnowyCA
in reply to Mark Wyner Won’t Comply • • •@dick_turpin
"’I'd even take care of Mr. Turpin. "
Exactly this.
Individuals within a community will have differences of opinion but when one is attacked we rally around and provide support.
Often I see a post begin with
"Hi, Fedi Hive Mind, What is ....?"
That's Fediverse--a beehive.
Individuals, like but not, working together --and everyone knows what happens if they disturb a beehive.
Mark Wyner Won’t Comply
in reply to dick_turpin • • •@dick_turpin
First, decentralization and moderation aren’t analogous. So…maybe read up on those terms.
Second, you just said there should NOT be moderators. But also there SHOULD be moderators, but only under the conditions you have defined.
We help protect people from racism, misogyny, and bigotry. And shield them from sexually-abusive images of children. If you think that’s “tribalism” or ways to “shut other people up,” you might be looking for Twitter or Truth Social.
dick_turpin
in reply to Mark Wyner Won’t Comply • •No, I didn't. This is how arguments often begin, with people claiming things that haven't been said. What I said was that the moment someone is appointed to oversee a group, then by definition, you give up your right to choose for yourself. That doesn't mean there shouldn't be any moderators. What it means is people should understand what they are signing up for. Having said that, if that's what people want, they're free to choose that environment.
This is my own instance, so I get to do what I like. Nobody can tell me what to post or what to host. I am also on mastodon.org.uk, which obviously has an admin/moderator, but on the whole, we all know how to behave on there.
It's any account with a .social domain you need to watch out for. 🤣
ocdtrekkie
in reply to dick_turpin • • •