Messages In This Thread

***Kris Kringle*** · 10-28-2014, 12:24 PM

Administration Policy

Purpose
Unlike the Moderation Policy, which outlines our expectations for how users of the forum should behave, the Administration Policy outlines internal administration and moderation policies, such as how administrators and moderators are chosen, the best ways to deal with troublemakers, how to make sure we don’t cross the line between forum administration and regional governance, etc. This is a document more for administrators and moderators than it is for the basic forum user.

Composition of the Administration Team
The Administration Team is composed of two “root administrators” and other highly trusted members of the community. The root administrators are Tsunamy and Sandaoguo, and they handle technical aspects of the forum, such as updating the software, hosting the forums, adding plugins and themes, and other things like that. All other administrators can do some of the more basic stuff, like adding emoticons, editing forums, etc. All administrators are also in charge of masking users.

Composition of the Moderation Team
The Moderation Team is the primary group of users that enforce the Moderation Policy. They do not do anything administrators do, because their purpose is fundamentally different. The Moderation Team is first composed of the elected Cabinet members, who lead moderation in their own areas. For example, the Chair of the Assembly is in charge of moderating Assembly discussions. These moderators last until they no longer hold their elected positions. The other type of moderator is called a “global moderator.” These people are chosen by the administration team to moderate the entire forum, and hold their positions until they leave or they are removed. Administrators are automatically considered "global moderators," but may not necessarily make moderation a large part of their job.

General Expectations of Administrators and Moderators
All forum staff members are expected to act professionally and fairly in undertaking their duties. This means they are patient and reserved, instead of acting rashly and emotionally when taking any action. They are objective in applying the rules, and tolerant of users they may not like very much. All administrators and moderators are responsive to reports and helpful to new players. They are not “the law” and do not wield their authority to intimidate users into submission. Administration and moderating are services given to the region, not positions of high power.

How Administrators and Moderators Are Chosen
The first step in choosing to add an administrator or a moderator to the team is whether we actually need one. Our community is not very large, so we don’t need half the community to be an administrator or a mod. Additionally, because Cabinet members moderate their own areas, there will be less of a need for global moderators. The Administration Team will announce whenever there’s an opening on the team.

The next step is the application process. The Administration Team handles all personnel matters. Applicants will send their applications to the team, and the team will review all applications and announce their decision.

When making decisions about who to bring on as an administrator or a moderator, we look for the following qualities in an applicant:

1. Trustworthiness. Above all, we must be able to trust the person. Being an administrator comes with a lot of authority over the forum, and that authority can be abused if placed in the wrong hands.
2. Cool, calm, and collected. We don’t want somebody who is prone to emotional outbursts or has a history of flaming, trolling, or baiting.
3. Technical knowledge. While not all administrators need to know what MySQL is or how to install a plugin, we do look for people who have a familiarity with forum software, particularly MyBB.
4. Dedication. We want people who put the region first in their priorities. We won’t pick somebody just because they’re administrators on 10 other forums or they’re generally seen as trustworthy. If your first priority isn’t TSP, we will likely look elsewhere. This also means that citizenship is a requirement for being an administrator.
5. Desire to help. We want people who think being an administrator or a moderator is a service, not an honor or a trophy. People who are helpful to other users without needing a title to do so are at the top of our lists.

How Moderators and Administrators Are Removed
Sadly, sometimes people just aren’t cut out for the job, or they make egregious mistakes that can’t go unaddressed. The Administration Team makes all decisions about personnel. Moderators and administrators can be removed based on a discussion and vote among the administration team, where their career is reviewed in its entirety. The moderators and administrators under review may participate in the discussions, but cannot participate in the voting. If the majority of administrators vote to remove a staff member, that decision will be announced.

Former Delegate of the South Pacific
Posts outside High Court venues should be taken as those of any other legislator.
I do not participate in the regional server, but I am happy to talk through instant messaging or on the forum.

Legal Resources:
THE MATT-DUCK Law Archive | Mavenu Diplomatic Archive | Rules of the High Court | Case Submission System | Online Rulings Consultation System