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3,916 Posts
We added three good moderators and things still got worse as far as our relationship with our RZR members. We are also getting smeared big time on other sites. That tells me that the techniques we have been using don't work as well as they used to, especially with our younger crowd.
We used to just ban them if they didn't do what we wanted, but now they have a few outlets available to smear our reputation. I'm sure we will see even more of these "Ranger sites" pop up over time. If we get 6-10 people bad mouthing us we can survive that. But, how about when we get 50 or 100?
We have worked too hard on our reputation to give the appearance that we are a bunch of hard cases over here.
I want you all to think PR first and enforcement second, instead of the other way around. As a police officer I have learned that there are several ways to gain compliance. Force works the fastest, but it usually comes with a whole new set of problems. In police work I have found that patience, understanding and the ability to gain compliance with education, instructive criticism, and professional applications of the law as necessary have served me best. This is a practice that I have veered from in my moderator duties over the years. I've let the years of forum trials give me an edge that alienated a lot of people.
Let's all think about the people we are dealing with. They come from a multitude of backgrounds, education levels and personalities. We need to remember this and apply flexibility when it is appropriate and firmness when necessary. Our blanket black and white techniques just don't work with everybody.
Here's some things we can try. Think "remove a post" before locking a thread when possible. A note to the poster with the reason it was removed, if not obviously apparent. Allow a little more "semi-heated discussions" as long as they are not using obscenities or seriously "bashing" each other. Edit some of the off color words and drop a suggestion to the poster that they be careful because we are family friendly here. Let's try being a little more patient with the moving of topics. If we do, post a link to where it was moved to the original forum under the same heading.
Also, let's think PR when we are visiting other sites, especially if you use the same screen name like I do on all forums. Leave the impression that we are a friendly, professional site if you talk about PRC.
Gentlemen, don't get me wrong; we WILL get tough when we have to do so to keep the peace. I just ask that the tougher, firm actions be a very last resort.
I have been trying to practice what I preach on the RZR section to bring some peace over there. I can see some improvement, but the natives will continue to challenge and we will have to continue to moderate fairly and professionally. I think we have the team put together here that can handle that challenge. We have all done some EXCELLENT work on PRC, but we have to be prepared to grow with the site in our techniques and our attitudes. Me included.
I am open to discussions. How can we improve public relations and still gain compliance?
We used to just ban them if they didn't do what we wanted, but now they have a few outlets available to smear our reputation. I'm sure we will see even more of these "Ranger sites" pop up over time. If we get 6-10 people bad mouthing us we can survive that. But, how about when we get 50 or 100?
We have worked too hard on our reputation to give the appearance that we are a bunch of hard cases over here.
I want you all to think PR first and enforcement second, instead of the other way around. As a police officer I have learned that there are several ways to gain compliance. Force works the fastest, but it usually comes with a whole new set of problems. In police work I have found that patience, understanding and the ability to gain compliance with education, instructive criticism, and professional applications of the law as necessary have served me best. This is a practice that I have veered from in my moderator duties over the years. I've let the years of forum trials give me an edge that alienated a lot of people.
Let's all think about the people we are dealing with. They come from a multitude of backgrounds, education levels and personalities. We need to remember this and apply flexibility when it is appropriate and firmness when necessary. Our blanket black and white techniques just don't work with everybody.
Here's some things we can try. Think "remove a post" before locking a thread when possible. A note to the poster with the reason it was removed, if not obviously apparent. Allow a little more "semi-heated discussions" as long as they are not using obscenities or seriously "bashing" each other. Edit some of the off color words and drop a suggestion to the poster that they be careful because we are family friendly here. Let's try being a little more patient with the moving of topics. If we do, post a link to where it was moved to the original forum under the same heading.
Also, let's think PR when we are visiting other sites, especially if you use the same screen name like I do on all forums. Leave the impression that we are a friendly, professional site if you talk about PRC.
Gentlemen, don't get me wrong; we WILL get tough when we have to do so to keep the peace. I just ask that the tougher, firm actions be a very last resort.
I have been trying to practice what I preach on the RZR section to bring some peace over there. I can see some improvement, but the natives will continue to challenge and we will have to continue to moderate fairly and professionally. I think we have the team put together here that can handle that challenge. We have all done some EXCELLENT work on PRC, but we have to be prepared to grow with the site in our techniques and our attitudes. Me included.
I am open to discussions. How can we improve public relations and still gain compliance?
], the really good ones almost never get into fights.
