Boards›Player Behavior

Bringing sexy back... aka Visible Moderation

ModMod Curator·10/29/2015, 8:41:04 PM·30 votes·15,021 views

Hey everyone! I’m “TheCurator” and I am one of the Boards mods. I started working with Metaverse last fall after being introduced to one of the VPs at PAX East and have been part of the moderation team for the Boards since earlier this year. For the last month, I've been heading up the Visible Moderation activities for the moderation staff. l've been hopping in to discussions to help answer a lot of the “Why’s” in regards to mod actions and help us move forward into the “How’s” in regards to making the Boards a more enjoyable experience for the community.

I’ve been participating in online communities since 2003 or so, primarily in MMOs at the start and then transitioning into MOBAs. I’ve been playing League since the end of 2010 after PAX Prime where I got my PAX Jax skin and immediately installed the game and started feeding because there was no tutorial to tell me how to play yet. Good times. When I’m not queueing up for ARAMs, I’m probably playing Witcher 3 (just finished it! time for DLC), World of Warships, catching up on the backlog of TV on my DVR, or out at the movies.

I’ll be checking up in this discussion when I can to answer any questions you have about me or the moderation of the Boards. I'll also hop in any discussions here about Boards Moderation while I fret over my Pick'em (55 pts and counting!) and cross my fingers it stays intact through the Finals.

115 Comments

Pika31011/9/2015, 2:38:03 AM4 votes

I already mentioned once here that my chosen field of studies is Criminal Justice. I realize I'm still a student, but perhaps I can still give some insight based on the two year I've already completed, to better understand and respect the responsibility that comes with the power of enforcement in general and moderation specifically.

Forum mods are essentially the law enforcement of a forum community. When the system fails to protect its citizens, it is the enforcement that is to blame. A greater man than I once said "With great power comes great responsibility." This statement holds true with the ancient concept of 'Noblesse Oblige', it is a sin to have power and choose not to use it.

Many people will be familiar with the story of that man: he had the power to stop a thief, but shirking his responsibility to stop the criminal escalated to the death of his own uncle.

More than just a story, this example is supported by the facts and statistics deduced by criminal analyzers:

  • Offenders that go unpunished are nearly guaranteed to commit repeat offenses with growing escalation
  • More than half of all offenses are committed by a repeat offender
  • The mass majority of offenders are victims that have been failed by the system
  • ~29 of every 30 people punished for offenses WILL commit more offenses
  • Only 1.4% of offenses end with incarceration, 50% of all offenses go unreported

Thus to summarize all of this, we can conclude the following:

When a poster on these forums breaks the rules without punishment, it is more likely than not by a repeat offender and either way they WILL continue to do so with increasing severity. Their unpunished actions will more likely than not lead to other players breaking the rules as well. Even after punishments, including temporary bans, offenders have a very high probability of commiting additional offenses. The actual number of reported posts only represents half of all offensive posts, as many posters are untrusting of moderation actually taking action against the offender, supported by the incredibly low infraction-to-punishment rate.

nerak2311/9/2015, 2:25:39 PM4 votes

Pika310

Wow that was fast, thanks :)

EDIT: This will be my last post on this thread concerning this. The links were interesting yes, but were lacking substance in relation to your statement. This isn't a place I'm willing to discus it :) If you decide to make a separate thread about the above and feel like it: quote my name or something so I notice and I'd be willing to talk about it. Have a nice day all.

Duro De Dawg1/21/2016, 2:53:34 PM4 votes

To be completely honest I have nothing positive to say about your staff or methods except that I think you're trying, so instead of creating new events how about you hire new staff or create a new system. Theres been so many times that I look at my "reason" and it has literally nothing offensive, directed at anyone, or just swear words in general. I even posted it on the forums, which was ignored by your staff, then I emailed you directed and the only response I was left is "I looked at your previous logs and you argued with players and they expressed their distaste." Translating to: " I understand you were not guilty this time, however, I understand that previously you were chat restricted so we are going to restrict you for the same offense, and also anything that wasn't reported that we consider toxic even though other players in the game with you don't". Then he finished up by saying "Guess we just have to agree to disagree".

Personally I believe he knew there was no reason, however it's riot's policy to not remove punishments for any reason, so it'd be easier for him to say, "no we're right obviously and you are the person at fault, therefore I'm not going to allow you the right to a fair trial." Than to go through the steps and help me solve your own problems and my unfair treatment.

Emmy Cha0s11/5/2015, 7:39:12 PM3 votes

The above thread is a blatant attempt at flame-baiting. Is its continued existence another case of preferential treatment by board moderation?

As a moderator, I know that you are of course well aware of the Universal Rules and I don't need to remind you of them. Particularly paragraph 4 'Spamming/Trolling' and line 3 "Posts Designed to Bait a Reaction from Other Players."

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/player-behavior-moderation/4LgZ2EwM-universal-rules

Mus6/27/2016, 8:07:48 AM2 votes

I got the best question?

Who are all the moderators that have that sexy tag like yours? Not the non-sexy Riot tags but the Hot Green Moderator tags? Can you list them?

SmokedAlmonds11/2/2015, 8:52:56 PM2 votes

TheCurator, Would it be possible to chat in private for a few minutes sometime? I tried to add you in game but it seems that you don't actually use that account.

Athenes Lulu1/2/2016, 2:49:34 AM2 votes

Speaking of obvious spam where only the same repeated words/phrases are copy and pasted in the post...

Why is that allowed, it's so obvious that any monkey can even tell it's spam and therefore should be removed instantly. Unfortunately it doesn't get deleted instantly... why's that?

ModJikker1/9/2016, 4:00:49 PM2 votes

Hey Curator, can you explain to me why this thread naming and shaming a player we all know http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/GD/T0eeGO6G-accept-or-decline?show=flat is allowed to stay up, but a YouTube video of a guy we'll never meet taken down instantly. And yes, I've reported this thread to no affect. It doesn't seem like your rules are adding up because this is clearly naming and shaming (if you read the continued comments it's all, "yeah add him, he'll be banned anyways", "see if he's toxic to you", "lol add him see what happens rofl"). If that video counts, this counts and I believe it is very unfair for GD to be witchhunting this guy in this fashion, guilty or no.

Please help me understand. Thank you

PaladinNO4/16/2016, 8:38:48 PM2 votes

What bothers me about the mods, is how they seemingly don't judge cases in the same way. Which makes it hard ot take the rules seriously.

I was assured, unless under certain circumstances (like having to log in for age verification), all open Youtube videos was acceptable to post here. Given how they then had passed the in-house checking algorythms.

And the same video as I have posted multiple times before suddenly got...frowned upon. By someone. Yes, no name or even the slightest chance of arguing or reasoning.

SmokedAlmonds11/5/2015, 4:17:26 PM1 votes

What percentage of moderation would you say is the result of responding to reported posts vs things like proactively reading threads?

FfS6voyk5M2/24/2016, 5:13:09 PM1 votes

is a RIOT mod going to read the Player Behavior and Moderation Post?

you know many players are saying your system false banned alot of accounts with video recording/game fps boosting software

nerak2311/9/2015, 1:36:50 PM1 votes

The mass majority of offenders are victims that have been failed by the system

Quick question do you have any links for me to read up on this ? Since you went to school for it I thought you might have a good starting spot for me :) Thanks in advance !

Look10/30/2015, 2:27:47 AM1 votes

I'm surprised to see a moderator, but it's nice to see a username to place with the team. How long have you been on moderating teams or is this your first? Really curious if you were a RS forum moderator : P.

Nami in Bush6/6/2016, 1:17:06 PM1 votes

"Holding teammates random in champion select"

What does that mean?