When I got the idea a long time ago, it was a single person’s position and was called something like “Minister of Dissent.” The idea was that a lot of useful criticism comes in bothersome packages, and having someone with a dual role of enforcing discourse standards and improving the relevant skills of people not meeting those standards would do more to lead to good discussion than just enforcing the standards. I was quickly convinced that this would be an especially draining job, and that it was better to have a team of people, such that they could do it only sometimes / not feel like they’re always on the hook to steelman or help someone write a better comment.
I haven’t come up with a better name yet than ‘Sunshine Regiment’ for pointing at the dual functionality of the moderation team, and am open to suggestions.
Not sure why you want to find a different expression for “moderators”, but other than online I think that people with this dual role are conventionally called “reviewers” (as e.g. in the peer review context) or, maybe, “editors”.
I like “sunshine regiment” as an acknowledgement that it’s a fundamentally combative activity, and accepted as a necessity for goodness. It’s more Orwellian to call them “moderators”, as if they somehow made people less extreme. And while it’d be honest to call them “censors”, I’d rather have the reminder that they’re supposed to be cheerful and positive about it.
an acknowledgement that it’s a fundamentally combative activity, and accepted as a necessity for goodness
This is why they should be called the “Trolling Regiment” or “Legion of Trolls”. (And yes, this is a serious proposal!) Yes, they’re supposed to be trolling for goodness, but we all know that, right? And of course every troll pursues their own personal version of “goodness” as they see it!
I don’t agree that moderators who enforce discourse standards are a necessity for goodness. I’ve run forums without that for a long time, using other methods like setting an example for discourse standards, establishing an group ethos, and being rather tolerant of some low quality comments (it’s no big deal to have some).
https://www.lesserwrong.com/posts/tKTcrnKn2YSdxkxKG/frontpage-posting-and-commenting-guidelines
Calling moderators the “Sunshine Regiment” is Orwellian.
When I got the idea a long time ago, it was a single person’s position and was called something like “Minister of Dissent.” The idea was that a lot of useful criticism comes in bothersome packages, and having someone with a dual role of enforcing discourse standards and improving the relevant skills of people not meeting those standards would do more to lead to good discussion than just enforcing the standards. I was quickly convinced that this would be an especially draining job, and that it was better to have a team of people, such that they could do it only sometimes / not feel like they’re always on the hook to steelman or help someone write a better comment.
I haven’t come up with a better name yet than ‘Sunshine Regiment’ for pointing at the dual functionality of the moderation team, and am open to suggestions.
Gardeners?
Not sure why you want to find a different expression for “moderators”, but other than online I think that people with this dual role are conventionally called “reviewers” (as e.g. in the peer review context) or, maybe, “editors”.
I know! I keep telling them it’s too dystopian and they need to change it. But they don’t listen to me (or they haven’t yet).
I like “sunshine regiment” as an acknowledgement that it’s a fundamentally combative activity, and accepted as a necessity for goodness. It’s more Orwellian to call them “moderators”, as if they somehow made people less extreme. And while it’d be honest to call them “censors”, I’d rather have the reminder that they’re supposed to be cheerful and positive about it.
It’s no more combative than weeding a garden.
The Orwellian part is “sunshine”. “Regiment” merely implies readiness to do what you are ordered to without thinking too much about it.
This is why they should be called the “Trolling Regiment” or “Legion of Trolls”. (And yes, this is a serious proposal!) Yes, they’re supposed to be trolling for goodness, but we all know that, right? And of course every troll pursues their own personal version of “goodness” as they see it!
I don’t agree that moderators who enforce discourse standards are a necessity for goodness. I’ve run forums without that for a long time, using other methods like setting an example for discourse standards, establishing an group ethos, and being rather tolerant of some low quality comments (it’s no big deal to have some).