Diversity in the mod team

[rubecube]

This isn't a criticism of the mod team, but the discussion surround the YLYL thread got me wondering if maybe there is a need for a bit more diversity in the mod team. As far as I'm aware, the current mod team is made up of something like 6-8 white, heterosexual guys, aged in the 30 - 50 bracket. Would it maybe make sense to add a couple of women, queer, or people of colour to the team? I'm not saying that moderation has been poor on this site, but that maybe posts that could be seen as offensive to some of the groups I've mentioned are often over-looked or maybe not punished as severely because quite simply it's hard to completely understand why someone else might find something offensive. At the very least, I could see it being helpful to add a different voice to the mod forum when these issues are being discussed.

I realize that there is the "report a post" function, but that still leaves the post and poster to the discretion of the all-white, all-male mod team.

Of course, this is assuming any of the posters in these groups have any desire to be part of the moderation team.

[BigNumbers]

Slippery slope. When do we start closing registration to fill a quota? Not a fan of forcing diversity like this. As affirmative action in the US shows us in hindsight, it may be a good idea in theory but it rarely works in practice.

[BigNumbers]

Further to that, I think the composition of the forum reflects the composition of the fan base, which is also reflected on the ice. Hockey is an insansely white male filled sport by it's origins. That in turn drives the composition of this board, and then it's moderation team, I would expect.

Forcing a change for the sake of change seems like it would be a superficial slap in the face of those you're attempting to include.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by BigNumbers

Further to that, I think the composition of the forum reflects the composition of the fan base, which is also reflected on the ice. Hockey is an insansely white male filled sport by it's origins. That in turn drives the composition of this board, and then it's moderation team, I would expect.

Surely this is partially a chicken and egg -thing. A more woman friendly environment might draw more women here, and towards the sport in general.

Forcing a change for the sake of change seems like it would be a superficial slap in the face of those you're attempting to include.

That's quite the assumption, and I don't see why anyone else but those people themselves would need to be voicing how they feel about it.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by BigNumbers

Slippery slope. When do we start closing registration to fill a quota? Not a fan of forcing diversity like this. As affirmative action in the US shows us in hindsight, it may be a good idea in theory but it rarely works in practice.

[BigNumbers]

Originally Posted by rubecube

All I am saying is don't try and force it. Allow the place to be all inclusive (which it very much is, for a quasi-anon message board) and minorities will feel accepted and join in numbers, and eventually they will move into mod positions. Putting the chicken before the egg and saying "HEY GUYS/GALS WE HAVE A BLACK MOD AND A LADY MOD, PLEASE JOIN" really doesn't do anything then give you warm fuzzies. There needs to be a grassroots movement where these folks feel welcome to join.

likely scattered as I am on mobile, but that's what I meant. I totally agree with making the place as inclusive as possible, but this seems premature and more gladhanding than anything of concrete effectiveness.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by BigNumbers

Slippery slope. When do we start closing registration to fill a quota? Not a fan of forcing diversity like this. As affirmative action in the US shows us in hindsight, it may be a good idea in theory but it rarely works in practice.

I know right, next they will want the vote, and to sit at the counter.....


The point of the post/thread is, in Rube's opinion, the mod team is not a close representation of the members of this board.

He might be right.

Change doesn't always happen organic, sometimes it needs to be "forced".

Originally Posted by BigNumbers

All I am saying is don't try and force it. Allow the place to be all inclusive (which it very much is, for a quasi-anon message board) and minorities will feel accepted and join in numbers, and eventually they will move into mod positions. Putting the chicken before the egg and saying "HEY GUYS/GALS WE HAVE A BLACK MOD AND A LADY MOD, PLEASE JOIN" really doesn't do anything then give you warm fuzzies. There needs to be a grassroots movement where these folks feel welcome to join.

likely scattered as I am on mobile, but that's what I meant. I totally agree with making the place as inclusive as possible, but this seems premature and more gladhanding than anything of concrete effectiveness.

Are you a middle aged white guy?


I am not sure what your problem is with moving the site towards a more inclusive mod team.

At least the discussion is warranted, if not the thread will get closed down.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by BigNumbers

All I am saying is don't try and force it. Allow the place to be all inclusive (which it very much is, for a quasi-anon message board) and minorities will feel accepted and join in numbers, and eventually they will move into mod positions. Putting the chicken before the egg and saying "HEY GUYS/GALS WE HAVE A BLACK MOD AND A LADY MOD, PLEASE JOIN" really doesn't do anything then give you warm fuzzies. There needs to be a grassroots movement where these folks feel welcome to join.

likely scattered as I am on mobile, but that's what I meant. I totally agree with making the place as inclusive as possible, but this seems premature and more gladhanding than anything of concrete effectiveness.

This isn't a campaign to entice new members. It's been born out of the fact that a number of female and other minority members have expressed displeasure with a number of posts on this site, and have admitted that it makes them feel less welcome here.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by BigNumbers

Putting the chicken before the egg and saying "HEY GUYS/GALS WE HAVE A BLACK MOD AND A LADY MOD, PLEASE JOIN" really doesn't do anything then give you warm fuzzies.

First of all, how could you possibly know that?

Second, the discussion is not about enticing new members, but discussing our mod situation.

All I am saying is don't try and force it. Allow the place to be all inclusive (which it very much is, for a quasi-anon message board) and minorities will feel accepted and join in numbers, and eventually they will move into mod positions.

That to me is a rather naive perception. If the world actually worked liked that, it would kind of mean that things such as racism, sexism and heterocentrism don't exist.

And trust me, I'm the last person that wants to call our mod team racist, sexist or anything of the sort, I think overall they've been doing a very good job and are a big reason why this is such a fantastic forum. But if the mod team is indeed essentially an old boys club, I think any educated person should admit that it's likely to have some effect on the moderating in general.

[photon]

Wouldn't the act of making a woman/queer/visible minority a mod itself be an act of hate? Friends don't let friends be mods.

*ba dum tsss*

[Cheese]

I think we should rotate monthly...one month all male mod team, next month female mods, next month LBGT community....equal representation.

Silly.

[pylon]

Personally, I feel the mod team here is excellent, and extremely balanced. Any posts I have reported, have been dealt with one way or another, and not necessarily resulted in banning. But fair warning in a lot of cases. And every infraction I have received, was just and well earned. I knew I was posting on the edge with each and every one, and got smacked with fair reasoning as to why I was infracted.

The biggest plus with the mods on this site is there are zero egos. Almost every forum I frequent has a power tripping mod that is ban happy and takes things personal. I know there are a couple mods on the site that don't necessarily like what I have to say or me for that matter, but they still let me say my piece.

We have it really good here.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by pylon

Personally, I feel the mod team here is excellent, and extremely balanced. Any posts I have reported, have been dealt with one way or another, and not necessarily resulted in banning. But fair warning in a lot of cases. And every infraction I have received, was just and well earned. I knew I was posting on the edge with each and every one, and got smacked with fair reasoning as to why I was infracted.

The biggest plus with the mods on this site is there are zero egos. Almost every forum I frequent has a power tripping mod that is ban happy and takes things personal. I know there are a couple mods on the site that don't necessarily like what I have to say or me for that matter, but they still let me say my piece.

We have it really good here.

What other sites do isn't really relevant. I have very few qualms with the moderating team here, but that's not to say that having a different set of eyes and a different perspective overseeing some of the posts around here wouldn't make the place that much better. I don't really see why there would be apprehension about this.

[FanIn80]

Yeah I'm not sure what's up, but I seem to notice more people asking to be a mod lately.

Even though I have absolutely zero to do with making any of the decisions around here, I'd like to think that actually asking to be a mod would automatically disqualify someone from any serious consideration.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Yeah I'm not sure what's up, but I seem to notice more people asking to be a mod lately.

Even though I have absolutely zero to do with making any of the decisions around here, I'd like to think that actually asking to be a mod would automatically disqualify someone from any serious consideration.

What? Did you actually read the OP? I don't fit any of the categories I laid out.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Yeah I'm not sure what's up.

Try reading the thread before posting maybe?

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Yeah I'm not sure what's up, but I seem to notice more people asking to be a mod lately.

Even though I have absolutely zero to do with making any of the decisions around here, I'd like to think that actually asking to be a mod would automatically disqualify someone from any serious consideration.

Beyond what Rube and MMF already pointed out; How do you think people become mods without asking to be one or expressing interest?

Do you think they just send a PM to good posters and say "Hey bud, you're a mod now. Yeah, no I don't care how busy you are.........shhh, just stop talking, I'm making you a mod, so start moderating or I'll ban you".

[Arya Stark]

Originally Posted by rubecube

This isn't a campaign to entice new members. It's been born out of the fact that a number of female and other minority members have expressed displeasure with a number of posts on this site, and have admitted that it makes them feel less welcome here.

By this theory we should make Canuck fans and Oiler fans part of the mod team. Who cares if someone feels less welcome here if no one is breaking any rules? Or if they are, does it matter who hands out punishment?

I really don't think it takes a woman or a minority to empathize with a woman or a minority.

The reason there isn't a woman in the mod team is likely because none have expressed interest and/or they simply aren't good enough. Not to mention males likely make up 95% of the site so it is no surprise that all mods are part of the largest demographic on the site.

Making a women or a person of color a mod for the sake of "diversity" is wrong. Posters should earn that, not being given a role because they have a vagina or are of color.

I hope this doesn't paint me as a misogynist or a sexist since those are the new buzz words of the day.

[SportsJunky]

I really want to start smacking some folk around here but that would be exactly what a middle aged white man would do. Instead, I choose to give hugs to all of you weirdos. You know who you are.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Even though I have absolutely zero to do with making any of the decisions around here, I'd like to think that actually asking to be a mod would automatically disqualify someone from any serious consideration.

Was this a subtle not so subtle way of asking to be a mod?