I think it’s helpful to have some sort of system to make sure that every comment gets read, but I think the ownership checkbox is potentially a bad way to do it. I’m mostly thinking of the incentives for moderators, here; it seems highly plausible that someone comes across a comment that feels off but they don’t really know how to handle it; this means they don’t want to say “yep, this one’s mine” (because they don’t want to handle it) but also not checking it is wrong somehow.
One of the things that I had considered when proposing the Sunshine Regiment was a ‘report’ button on every comment, available to all users, which was basically a “something about this should be handled by someone with more time and energy”—not necessarily “this post should get removed” but “oh man, I really want to see how Vaniver would respond to this comment,” or something.
I also suspect there’s something like Stack Exchange’s edit queue that could be good, where several of the important pieces are 1) multiple eyes on any particular thing and 2) tracking how much people have eyes on things and 3) tracking when people’s judgments disagree.
a ‘report’ button on every comment, available to all users, which was basically a “something about this should be handled by someone with more time and energy”
Why not just make a comment about it, as a reply to the offending post? E.g. “There seem to be some problems in this thread that a third-party could help with, but I’m not willing to do it, so don’t reply to this”. If that was an established norm, then I think it’s reasonably likely that such comment would be noticed by someone (especially since we have “recent discussion” in the home page).
Whether that would actually solve problems or just create more, is a separate question. But trying things is generally a good idea.
Why not just make a comment about it, as a reply to the offending post? E.g. “There seem to be some problems in this thread that a third-party could help with, but I’m not willing to do it, so don’t reply to this”. If that was an established norm, then I think it’s reasonably likely that such comment would be noticed by someone (especially since we have “recent discussion” in the home page).
It is generally wise to solve social problems with tech, when possible. I also think it is important here to have the someone who does the noticing be someone who actually has the relevant skills, rather than thinking they have the relevant skills (both because of overconfident bystanders and because of underconfident skilled people, who won’t feel licensed to point out such problems unless handed a literal license to do so).
I also think it is important here to have the someone who does the noticing be someone who actually has the relevant skills, <...> who won’t feel licensed to point out such problems unless handed a literal license to do so).
Yes, but giving people licenses is pretty easy. I’d be fine with you having one, for example, though I guess I don’t have the power to give it to you myself.
It is generally wise to solve social problems with tech, when possible.
The problem is that tech takes time and effort to write, so writing tech to solve problems that it may not actually solve is unwise. What I’m proposing is a temporary prototype of some sort. If that worked out, then I agree, a proper tech solution would be nice.
I think it’s helpful to have some sort of system to make sure that every comment gets read, but I think the ownership checkbox is potentially a bad way to do it. I’m mostly thinking of the incentives for moderators, here; it seems highly plausible that someone comes across a comment that feels off but they don’t really know how to handle it; this means they don’t want to say “yep, this one’s mine” (because they don’t want to handle it) but also not checking it is wrong somehow.
One of the things that I had considered when proposing the Sunshine Regiment was a ‘report’ button on every comment, available to all users, which was basically a “something about this should be handled by someone with more time and energy”—not necessarily “this post should get removed” but “oh man, I really want to see how Vaniver would respond to this comment,” or something.
I also suspect there’s something like Stack Exchange’s edit queue that could be good, where several of the important pieces are 1) multiple eyes on any particular thing and 2) tracking how much people have eyes on things and 3) tracking when people’s judgments disagree.
Why not just make a comment about it, as a reply to the offending post? E.g. “There seem to be some problems in this thread that a third-party could help with, but I’m not willing to do it, so don’t reply to this”. If that was an established norm, then I think it’s reasonably likely that such comment would be noticed by someone (especially since we have “recent discussion” in the home page).
Whether that would actually solve problems or just create more, is a separate question. But trying things is generally a good idea.
It is generally wise to solve social problems with tech, when possible. I also think it is important here to have the someone who does the noticing be someone who actually has the relevant skills, rather than thinking they have the relevant skills (both because of overconfident bystanders and because of underconfident skilled people, who won’t feel licensed to point out such problems unless handed a literal license to do so).
Yes, but giving people licenses is pretty easy. I’d be fine with you having one, for example, though I guess I don’t have the power to give it to you myself.
The problem is that tech takes time and effort to write, so writing tech to solve problems that it may not actually solve is unwise. What I’m proposing is a temporary prototype of some sort. If that worked out, then I agree, a proper tech solution would be nice.