Hello new moderators. Before you get started and things get too out of hand, have a read!
#Moderating and You!
So, you've just become a mod, huh? Well, bully for you! Perhaps you were close personal friends with someone, or maybe you were nominated by someone else who was already in the system! Either way, you're a new mod now, so congratulations!
Now you may be asking yourself "Yay, I'm a mod! What do I do now?"
Well, you silly goose, that's what I'm here for! As a player, and someone who's had prior moderation experience outside these walls and as someone who's been a part of the boards ever since they were the colour of years-old parchment, I've seen it all, and I've lived it all. I've memed it all, and I've dreamed it all. I've lobbied for unbans, and for suspensions. In short, I've been around the block.
Now, what can you do to ensure that your moderation experience is a good one, and what are some things you might want to avoid when moderating?
Well, why don't we take it from the top, 'eh?
You are not above us
Just because you're a mod now (again, good job!) does not mean that you are above those that you moderate! If someone says something or does something to you that you don't like, you can't just punish them for it because you didn't like what they said or did, and you can't use your new moderator status as a means of telling someone to "Do as I say, or you're in trouble!" While yes, you are a mod and it's your job to uphold the rules, the rules you are upholding are ours, not yours. If you're not a fan of anime threads in General Discussion, you can't say "Don't post pictures with girls holding apples in anime threads!", because that would not only upset people, but those kinds of pictures in anime threads are well within the confines of what is allowed on the board. If you said "Don't post pictures with naked girls holding apples in anime threads", well that's a different story! Enforce the rules, but don't make up your own.
Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it's not OK
This is sort of a continuation of part 1. You shouldn't lock or delete threads just because you disagree with them. If someone wants to talk about how great cookies and cream is as an ice cream flavour but you really like mint chip, you can definitely let them know which flavour you support in the comments section, but you shouldn't ever delete a thread just because it advocates something you don't like yourself!
No moderator bias
No, your friends don't get special treatment and your enemies don't get worse treatment. Everyone is equal in the eyes of a chosen representative of Riot Games
You have peers for a reason
If you need to make a hard call, ask for help from your peers. You're not here to moderate alone, so don't take up the mantle all by yourself! If you need to make a tough decision, talk to those around you and think of the best way to handle it together as a team. You're a mod squad, not a mod one singular person! It's OK to be wrong and to admit you're wrong or that you don't know something, both to your peers (whom you ask for help) or to the people you're moderating over (who could potentially be able to help you are well).
Professionalism is as professionalism does
While you are not above us, you are still representing a power that is. As members of Riot Games' moderation squad, it's your responsibility to handle all matters professionally and that means that you must answer all problems calmly, cooly, and collectedly. If someone is mad, you can not get mad back at them. If they're insulting you, you must be the bigger person. You are here to set an example for what others should strive to act like.
Don't skimp the details
When you respond to a post, be sure to always address everything in turn. If you're shutting down a thread, let them know why, tell them how it could be fixed to be better, and make sure everyone leaves on good terms.
An example of a bad lock would be:
"I've discussed this with the other moderators and we think it's a good idea to shut down this thread because it's getting out of hand"
An example of a good lock would be:
"Hey everybody, I understand that you're passionate about [Topic of Heated Discussion], but let's try to be more civil for the time being. If we can't bring the topic back in check, we're going to have to lock the thread."
And if continued,
"Hey guys, we still haven't got back on track to what the thread was about, so I'm going to have to lock it for now. If you want to look into making another thread, by all means feel free to do so, but keep it clean. Thank you!"
Or something to that effect. You're there to act as a guide, not as the hammer of justice.
You are The Guardian Angel
If a user expresses distaste in being ridiculed or mocked, they're clearly being upset about it. Take care to watch over them and make sure users who continue to attack the user smarten up, otherwise they could face punishments or restrictions for continuing to pick on someone who isn't really in the mood to be picked on. If the one who expresses distaste is fighting back, make sure you pull them back in line too.
People shouldn't ask "Who's that?"
Remain active. If you become a moderator and use that time to just bail off of your duties, then you should think about turning in the badge. You're there to do the job, and if you don't want to do the job, you shouldn't be doing it.
It's a volunteer position
This is not a permanent job you're making money off of. If things get too heavy and heated, take a step back and regenerate. The last thing you want is to get overly stressed out by a job you're doing for free, so have fun with it.
That's all I have to tell you so far. If there's anything else the community would like to add to help our new moderators get more of a sense of what we expect from them, by all means feel free to comment below and I'll put the best ones up on the board. If you think I've dded some things that you don't agree with, let me know and I'll edit those out! I want to help our moderators feel like they have a sense of what they're doing and don't feel too overwhelmed.
Thanks for giving it a read =)
