I just came across this story, and it is a fascinating read. This thread and OP isn't about me, by the way. It's about everyone who does the same work. The article caught my attention because of what I did with ATS and elsewhere, but I was just one person. Just one of what I counted to be 75 at one point in time, and that was just one website. I still work or volunteer with two others, and just one of a group there, too.
There are thousands of people doing the job. Unfortunately, by the very nature of the work, it is about as thankless and despised as any, all too often. The reasons for that are simple enough. The majority of people don't notice or think about website and content moderators, where they openly label who they are at all. Of those who do? A % is helped and go away with a good impression, which is rarely something people feel the need to share publicly. The other % has very negative contact, and a fair number of those very much earn the negative aspect of it. That often drives the loud chorus of negativity carried into the public, IMO. That is where moderators from AOL to ATS to Facebook get painted the same way, by the same brush, by folks who often see hate and discontent spread as a mission accomplished.
Back to the story and some interesting, and rarely talked about aspects of high tempo moderation work.
QuoteThese workers sanitise the internet for users and guard the reputation of brands and social media sites.
This story largely talks about a different type of professional moderator, but the work is largely the same work and the issues are the same issues. The line above is what struck me first for its blunt honesty (That is the base, "prime directive" of whatever site, company or organization someone is working for...true enough). It's also easily mistaken by imagining what people think a moderator does or cares about, vs. what moderators actually do. The difference can be....ugly at times. It is true to say that some things, once seen, cannot be unseen.
Quote
Given the sometimes nuanced and emotional nature of the work, moderators are almost always required to have a college education, he says.
The emotional hazards of the job, he notes, are "reviewing images depicting every type of horrible human act from child exploitation to beheadings".
However, the bulk of the work is removing libellous content or managing trolls, the people that set out to start arguments or post threatening or inflammatory messages online.
The second half of that is what makes the work interesting and almost fun at times, in my view. The "trolls" I would legitimately label that way, know who and what they are and see it as a game as much as it can become to counter it. The first half of that is what is so rarely mentioned. They cover it more here...
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Stumbling across horrific images is a professional hazard. Wendy Christie, chief production officer at Emoderation, says part of her job is to identify moderators who are suffering distress. The tell-tale signs are becoming angry, uncommunicative or physically unwell. "I've dealt with lots of tears, anger. People are angry over why there are people like this in the world. Images of children hit people the hardest."
Many companies now offer psychological support because of the nature of the material that moderators witness, Mr Nigam says.
Source (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/632d63c8-59fe-11e4-be86-00144feab7de.html#axzz3HjpoQEgS)
For what its worth, after almost 4 very intense years of learning to be a news hound, and now, working into being a professional journalist through college? I think what they describe there carries beyond just moderators, but its probably concentrated in that work because of the nature of it. I think it can come to cover a good many people who spend long periods in rough material for news or work. I really found it interesting that it's becoming recognized enough to warrant support efforts within companies for online moderation.
I'm curious what others think?
It looks like that article is only for subscribers, so I didn't read it, but from what you posted I think it really shows the "reality of being an Internet moderator". :)
I never had any big problems, but I had twice to reduce my moderating activities because I noticed that I was getting easily angry and violent in my answers to other people, but only on the Internet.
Quote from: ArMaP on October 31, 2014, 08:23:13 PM
I never had any big problems, but I had twice to reduce my moderating activities because I noticed that I was getting easily angry and violent in my answers to other people, but only on the Internet.
That was one of the main reasons I took a break... getting fed up with the same old carps :P Banning people just starts an avalanche I DID find that just deleting an account with no further ado was both very satisfying and stopped the noise That little whimper at BN didn't last long LOL
Its human nature though You won't find many videos about good cops ::)
As to the tendency to get angry... just look at what happened to GreenEyedLeo. She was a really pleasant conspiracy nut when I first met her. Either that or ATS brainwashes their mods :-X
Quote from: zorgon on November 01, 2014, 12:19:18 AM
Either that or ATS brainwashes their mods :-X
Or maybe the feeling/needing in to do your best for the company :P
Quote from: zorgon on November 01, 2014, 12:19:18 AM
Either that or ATS brainwashes their mods :-X
If they do they are not making it right. ;D
I'm a moderator on another forum. I have taken the responsibility of greeting each new member. It welcomes them to the forum, and let's the newbies know that the mods are actually active participants. It helps identify the one post wonders too. Then there are the days and posters that make me want to reach into the internet, and choke the daylights out of some people.
Shasta
Quote from: ArMaP on November 01, 2014, 12:35:33 AM
If they do they are not making it right. ;D
Brainwashing does NOT work on everyone. I could tell you stories about some mods at Avalon and a few other 'offshoots" At the time I was involved in 'saving' a few. If Dood was still kicking he could tell it better than I because he was in the thick of it. I assume he has likely passed away as he was ill and I have had no reply to emails etc
ATS has booted out many mods that couldn't be 'conditioned' :P
Quote from: ArMaP on October 31, 2014, 08:23:13 PM
I never had any big problems, but I had twice to reduce my moderating activities because I noticed that I was getting easily angry and violent in my answers to other people, but only on the Internet.
I had to take a complete break from forums because I found myself wanting to punch some of the people. I think people behave in ways they would not in person and it grated at me.
Of course it is just words and I took a break as feeling violent was completely pointless and unhealthy. It was worth it as I have a better sense of how unimportant people who are nasty on the internet are. Being a mod is far easier now. :)
FOCLMAO, , ahhhh Avalon, , , LOL
I still hold some records there for having the most reads on a thread , ,
Some call em trolls and other benign names, I call them Agents!
STDD Same Tactics, Different Day.
CONTROL the information, , , anyway they can. :(
Quote from: Norval on November 01, 2014, 02:14:14 PM
Some call em trolls and other benign names, I call them Agents!
I call them CUN*S. :o
Ouch. :o ::)