Ask Lemmy

In all honestly, just try to talk to people. It does not always work. Some fuckwits are mods for the narcissistic idiocy. Be the change you want to see, and then push your way into the cultural discussion.

Like 90% of the time, sending a PM is more than adequate to curb behavior. Every mod action is harmful without exception, as proven by the prisoner's dilemma in game theory. Negative feedback is incapable of producing positive outcomes. Adding as little negative feedback as possible creates the best environment for everyone.

If you want to be a mod, that means sorting out flags by reading into the situation from both sides. I will not tolerate bigotry or personal attacks of any kind. However, every individual has a right to all information, a right to skepticism, a right to error, and a right to protest in nonviolent forms aka the right to offend others. No one has a right to infringe on these same rights of others.

My personal feelings are irrelevant as a mod. I will not take actions against someone if I am participating in the conversation. I will flag the issue and PM another mod. I try to remember to sign my mod log messages because I have nothing to hide and despise any coward that lacks full transparency from a position of authority. I am the janitor. I clean up the messes. I read into the details of every flag. I am just as likely to take actions against the person that flagged the issue. I usually contact both parties in a PM too.

I have experienced many bad mods, but that is my catalyst. Everyone is valid, even if unpopular. Everyone has a right to error because that is a primary way that we learn. The only scope that I will bias heavily is any issue with diversity and especially any transgender negativity because the Fediverse is a safe heaven in that regard.

Dichotomous logic is a sign of stupidity and something to avoid with self awareness. If you are unwilling to reach out and take as little action as required, you a doing it for the wrong reasons and ultimately harmful. Immediate emotional reactions are harmful. Think stuff through from all perspectives and give every benefit of the doubt as possible. Everyone has a right to have a bad day too. Don't let some halfwit reaction make their bad day worse even if you disagree strongly as a person. A good judge always separates their emotions from cognitive logic. Being a mod is not hard at all. One just has to care. The community is self regulating with flags that indicate when action is needed. Micromanagement is a mental disorder. The best communities are often those with inactive mods.