While I don't think flatearther43.2's posting was any great contribution to the forum, I do think the way he was handled highlights some deficiencies in the way we do moderation. In particular, being arbitrarily banned for spamming in CN, despite that being its stated purpose, was one of my main complaints about the other site. Regardless of whether we think flatearther43.2 was acting in good faith, the fact remains that we were unclear about what the consequences of his actions would be, which is always a slippery slope to get onto.
I don't necessarily think we need amendments to the rules; we can't (and shouldn't) be trying to cover every possible case. However, I do think it's important that people know where they stand before a ban is inflicted, and the warning log indicates that he was not given any warnings. This is especially important when he
hasn't violated any particular rule.
This also isn't an isolated case; we lost Yaakov in a similar bout of inconsistent moderation (he'd had lesser punishments for more severe infractions in the past), and we're now
unnecessarily splitting posts off. I'm not saying Saddam's post added anything to the thread, but there's a point at which moderation itself becomes more disruptive than the post being moderated, and I think that's a line we crossed here.
My original vision for this forum, and something I'd still like to see upheld, is that our members (or at least, the regulars who have established themselves in the community) are treated like adults and allowed to self-moderate. Yes, this will result in the occasional off-topic post, but babying them by splitting even the most minor infractions, and hitting them with bans without warning, are both more likely to breed resentment than to produce any long-term gains.
I do think that a good first step would be
a public moderation log, although I'm currently travelling through Europe and won't have time to implement that for another few weeks. If someone else wants to have a go, feel free. Beyond that, maybe some manifesto changes are in order, but I'm really not sure of the best way to approach this.
I'm posting this in S&C (rather than the staff forum) because I'd like to open it up for public discussion right off the bat. This is everyone's community, and you should all have a say in how the forum should be run.