Deletions etc

[JustineMumsnet]

So we've had a get together at MNHQ and we have come up with the following set of actions/proposals, following on from the previous thread:

1. We will make more effort to be communicative and transparent. This will include the MNHQ duty person posting on the boards more to explain a deletion of a post or a thread and providing more info in cases where we have banned or suspended someone for trolling, so folks know that we are "doing something". We will also try to provide more specific message deleted info - ie more than just because it "breaks talks guidelines" (eg because it perpetuates rape myths etc) (NB this will take a bit of time because it involves tech)

1. We will aim to be quicker to delete threads that have been or seem to have been started purely to inflame/goad, even if it means we occasionally might make a mistake. This is to avoid the goady threads where an OP is deliberately inflaming, leading to a lot of deleted responses. We will also suspend those who we suspect of being out to deliberately goad and make sure our guidelines reflect this.

1. We will aim for a lighter touch approach to deletions where discussion is robust but lively and interesting and "attacks" are borderline/very slight/ 6 of one, half a dozen of the other.

1. We will make sure everyone at MNHQ is aware of looking at the bigger picture - not just focus on the reported post - and is clear on what constitutes a personal attack - ie that it's ok to attack an opinion, not ok to attack a poster.

1. Our policy on trollhunting remains not to tolerate it - so please don't do it, but please do report suspicions to us. That said, we will try to be more communicative on threads where folks suspect a troll - ie we are aware that some people have expressed doubts and we are looking into it/ we have checked this out and have no reason to believe this person is a troll/ we agree this person is not what they seem and have deleted the thread.

1. We will hold regular chats/q&as about moderation issues and policy - monthlyish? - where we can have a good debate about any particular bugbear or issue and one of us will discuss policy and why we do what we do...

Out of interest we've checked the deletions thing and surprisingly the number of deleted messages seems to have dropped not risen year on year - even though traffic is up by more than 40%
(these include messages deleted from deleted threads - so one long thread = 1000 deletions)

Jan 1st 2011 to May 29th 2011: 81884 messages
Jan 1st 2012 to May 29th 2012: 72037 messages

Nonetheless we think people have raised some good points and we hope all trying the above will make the board better - if not we'll try something else - thanks for all the input.

Please do post your thoughts/observations (disclaimer - I'm off out shortly so won't be around to respond tonight but will be back tomorrow)

Agree with BIWI, as per.

Not cricket, is it?

And look what happened to Olivia.

We broke her.

Olivia? Has she gorn?

Olivia is still here, isn't she? I just thought they were referring to her need for gin...

oh good

Olivia is still very much here, thankfully.

Olivia kept procreating to get away from us.

We're so horrible we force the HQ'ers to endure babies

Olivia, you haven't had the sex AGAIN, have you?

She promised she stop and stick around now Hully, although to be on the safe side you might want to "fix" MrOlivia.

I could do that.

Ah I knew if I went off and did RL you'd get it all sorted :)

Thanks very much Justine - that is a really measured response.

I do appreciate the way MN does take views of its members seriously. You could very easily tell us to all piss off - we on this thread are a minority of the users on MN (albeit a rather vocal minority).

And thanks for reassuring us that the apparent changes are not as a result of any commercial influence. I am aware that MN is a successful brand and thought it would have been quite likely for MN to take a view to restrict the fucks and buggers if advertisers requested it. I am glad that is not the case though.

On my thread last week Rowan very kindly took the time to post a very intelligent and thoughtful post about the troll hunting/deletions topic last week - I don't know if I thanked her (if not, thanks very much for tha tRowan).

Aw, thanks Get0rf (what's with all the zeros?)

Ahhhhh. It's becoming a love-in.

I sometimes change my name and add zeroes in places. I am not entirely sure why.

You watch out, Rowan, we'll break you soon as well ...

Just wanted to add my thanks too, Justine.

Thanks Justine

and I will respond to the message from Rebecca, I'm well busy at the mo as I'm getting married in four days - sorry to break it to you all.