01-17-2018, 11:41 PM
From what I've seen across the 'net, most discussions about moderating Internet forums are focused on "the language".
English is, obviously, not my native tongue - which is probably the reason why I'm both avoiding any "colorful expressions" myself, but also why I am quite undisturbed by the presence of the same. That said, I'll offer the following thought on moderating Internet forums in general:
To put in place rules and then moderate an Internet forum in order to steer well clear of anything approaching vulgarity is not a very difficult task. What is difficult, and what makes much more difference, is moderating with a view of striking the point of balance between presenting opposite sides of some argument with vigour and conviction, but without sinking to "ad hominem" attacks on the proponent of the opposite side. Rules there are much harder to put in place, and impartial, intelligent moderators even more difficult to find; this to the extent that Internet abounds with forums where the dictionary is pure pablum, but innumerable threads quickly deteriorate to endless ad-hominem ping-pong that is read by no-one but the two contributing fools.
English is, obviously, not my native tongue - which is probably the reason why I'm both avoiding any "colorful expressions" myself, but also why I am quite undisturbed by the presence of the same. That said, I'll offer the following thought on moderating Internet forums in general:
To put in place rules and then moderate an Internet forum in order to steer well clear of anything approaching vulgarity is not a very difficult task. What is difficult, and what makes much more difference, is moderating with a view of striking the point of balance between presenting opposite sides of some argument with vigour and conviction, but without sinking to "ad hominem" attacks on the proponent of the opposite side. Rules there are much harder to put in place, and impartial, intelligent moderators even more difficult to find; this to the extent that Internet abounds with forums where the dictionary is pure pablum, but innumerable threads quickly deteriorate to endless ad-hominem ping-pong that is read by no-one but the two contributing fools.