I think the bigger issue is trust. Do you trust the moderators to moderate fairly? Do you trust that when the moderators ban something for violating policy, their interpretation of the policy is correct? Do you trust that, when you disagree with the moderators, they know better than you?
If a mod team has the trust of the community, it can use whatever moderation form it likes. If it doesn’t have that trust, then any form of moderation will be called out by some as being unfair. If this sounds like politics, that’s because it is.
I don’t believe the establishment or dissipation of this trust has a lot to do with the specific form of moderation. I think it has more to do (at least in this community) with the moderators being transparent and self-critical about moderation decisions. It also requires people who are willing to stand fast in the face of public criticism without ignoring it or high-handedly proclaiming executive fiat. Policy can help here, but it is no substitute for personality. Focus on choosing people with good judgement, and the correct temperament and the policy takes care of itself. Conversely, choose people with bad judgement or the wrong kind of temperament, and no amount of formal policy will save you.
Is your point that there should be no formal policy in the first place?
Once you do have such a formal policy, the best of judgment doesn’t necessarily help you if you can’t circumvent the constraints set by these policies.
I think the bigger issue is trust. Do you trust the moderators to moderate fairly? Do you trust that when the moderators ban something for violating policy, their interpretation of the policy is correct? Do you trust that, when you disagree with the moderators, they know better than you?
If a mod team has the trust of the community, it can use whatever moderation form it likes. If it doesn’t have that trust, then any form of moderation will be called out by some as being unfair. If this sounds like politics, that’s because it is.
I don’t believe the establishment or dissipation of this trust has a lot to do with the specific form of moderation. I think it has more to do (at least in this community) with the moderators being transparent and self-critical about moderation decisions. It also requires people who are willing to stand fast in the face of public criticism without ignoring it or high-handedly proclaiming executive fiat. Policy can help here, but it is no substitute for personality. Focus on choosing people with good judgement, and the correct temperament and the policy takes care of itself. Conversely, choose people with bad judgement or the wrong kind of temperament, and no amount of formal policy will save you.
Is your point that there should be no formal policy in the first place?
Once you do have such a formal policy, the best of judgment doesn’t necessarily help you if you can’t circumvent the constraints set by these policies.