cs3602001 Posted January 28, 2005 Report Share Posted January 28, 2005 Well, recently with the new "moderation" policies I have seen things change and also have observed the change in people. Now the following passages are taken from Zimbardos famous "Simulation Study of the Psychology of Imprisonment Conducted at Stanford University" This simulation gave people an shocking insight into the psychology of life behind bars, even in a simulated setting people quickly adopted new personas often acting complately out of character and at times seemingly losing touch with reality. Now as "cyberspace" develops and we see "onlice communities" develop these "communities" develop and at some point, someone will suggest a system of "moderation" or to keep the community "guarded" Now as a little bit of fun, I have likened certain aspects of online moderation and psychology to that of the Stanford Experiment: FOR THIS PASSAGE LET'S REPLACE THE WORD "GUARDS" WITH "MODERATORS" The guards were given no specific training on how to be guards. Instead they were free, within limits, to do whatever they thought was necessary to maintain law and order in the prison and to command the respect of the prisoners. The guards made up their own set of rules, which they then carried into effect under the supervision of Warden David Jaffe, an undergraduate from Stanford University. They were warned, however, of the potential seriousness of their mission and of the possible dangers in the situation they were about to enter, as, of course, are real guards who voluntarily take such a dangerous job. FOR THIS PASSAGE LET'S REPLACE "UNIFORMS OF KHAKI" WITH 10 GOLD STARS AND THE "WHISTLE AND BILLY CLUB" WITH ADDED MODERATOR ENFORCEMENT PRIVALAGES, "MIRRORED SUNGLASSES" CAN BE REPLACES BY ANNONYMOUS MODERATION ENFORCEMENT. All guards were dressed in identical uniforms of khaki, and they carried a whistle around their neck and a billy club borrowed from the police. Guards also wore special sun-glasses, an idea I borrowed from the movie "Cool Hand Luke." Mirror sunglasses prevented anyone from seeing their eyes or reading their emotions, and thus helped to further promote their anonymity. We were, of course, studying not only the prisoners but also the guards, who found themselves in a new power-laden role. FOR THIS SECTION WE CAN TAKE GUARDS AS MODERATORS AND PRISONERS AS TF USERS. Asserting Authority The guards, too, were feeling out their new roles and were not yet sure how to assert authority over their prisoners. This was the beginning of a series of direct confrontations between the guards and prisoners. WHEN A PROBLEM AROSE GUARDS WANTED BACK UP, IN THIS PASSAGE LET'S SUBSTITUTE CALLS AS A MODERATOR GROUP MESSAGE BEING SENT OUT FOR "REINFORCEMENTS" AND THE GUARDS MEETING AS THE MOFERATOR FORUM. At first they insisted that reinforcements be called in. The three guards who were waiting on stand-by call at home came in and the night shift of guards voluntarily remained on duty to bolster the morning shift. The guards met and decided to treat force with force. Psychology of cyberspace..........what ya reckon? It's all good fun....... :twisted: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted January 28, 2005 Report Share Posted January 28, 2005 does anyone really think i hand out more or fewer beat-downs now that i got a badge and gun? in fact i probably cap FEWER ppl now that i'm SUPPOSED to be holdin chrome... now when i kill someone i gotta write a freakn report on it to the warden---errr, admin. besides my credentials for being a guard are impeccable, i know several ppl who um... spent significant time in attica. so inmates? i feel your pain. think of me as the compassionate guard, the one who understands your feelings enough to know exactly where to hit you hard without leaving you with an ugly bruise to show to the warden... and anyone who thinks i was somehow nicer and gentler before, SHARE that crack you're smokin with the GUARDS (me for example, i need a fix). now please... excuse me while i go torch a few winos (errrr thas' not politically correct)... homeless ppl.. they burn real good in this cold new york winter... ps dammit jim *i* wanted to be cartman, besides i'm fatter than u... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle Posted January 28, 2005 Report Share Posted January 28, 2005 ANARCHY ANARCHY , lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farang_subson Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 Hot Damn! I was reading that article yesterday (edge.org, right?), and my thoughts were drawn precisely to the situation at TF, what with the moderators and the moderated. Anybody who hangs out on that site has got to be pretty cool...I'm responsible for your 938th vote, and expect some reciprocal altruism. I remember 10 years ago when the internet was going to be the vehicle that would bring world peace. What really seems to have happened is now you've got a way to tell people exactly what you think without receiving a punch in the nose. Even the written "punches" have a big time delay. Crap...gotta run...more later... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomicflower Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 FOR THIS SECTION WE CAN TAKE GUARDS AS MODERATORS AND PRISONERS AS TF USERS. the difference is that it's not fully panoptical, hence the power or authority does not always comes from the top. as the users also capable in seeing/communicating to each other both inside and outside of the site. in this case the power/authority is also generated from the bottom to find the balance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farang_subson Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 Hey AtomicFlower, there's one sense in which it's actually worse... If I understand the Zimbardo study correctly, the guards and prisoners were randomly chosen. Here, though, the moderators have chosen their roles willfully. As far as I can see, they don't even get a reward for it (free "premium" membership?). So you're all the more likely to get someone who relishes the role from the very beginning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomicflower Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 once u r on duty, iu r responsible for ur role which means u have to be ready to deal with the consequences whether or not it's by choice or by an incidence. with or without rewards attached. what i said it how it is operate, as a status quo... im not criticizing this particular event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomicflower Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 however..u r quite right, farang_subson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 Hey AtomicFlower, there's one sense in which it's actually worse... So you're all the more likely to get someone who relishes the role from the very beginning. right... so you're banned.... ******** SERIOUS ALERT******** my 5 sec of serious for today: one thing i learned today is that if i'm in the middle of a heated thread as a participant it doesnt make sense for me to attempt to moderate the thread. *********end serious alert ****** have any of you academics ever been in jail or prison, or even met a convict or prison guard? the remarkable thing is.... prison is EXACTLY like the internet :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cs3602001 Posted January 29, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 have any of you academics ever been in jail or prison, or even met a convict or prison guard? I have some limited experience with the UK's penal system, I have been in jails, prisons in one capacity or another and have on occasion interacted with Prison Guards as well as Police Officers. There are several distinct differences here in cyberspace, being a moderator or even a participant in a cyber-debate, usually does not place you in a position to be physically abused, this is reflected in some of the comments that are shared by people here who in "real life" would be much less likely to air their opinions and views to others in a similar fashion, they would be more inclined to turn their anger/resentment in on themselves. So this "commmunity" we have here is an interesting little piece of cyberspace to be watched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cs3602001 Posted January 29, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 Hey AtomicFlower, there's one sense in which it's actually worse...If I understand the Zimbardo study correctly, the guards and prisoners were randomly chosen. Here, though, the moderators have chosen their roles willfully. As far as I can see, they don't even get a reward for it (free "premium" membership?). So you're all the more likely to get someone who relishes the role from the very beginning. Yep, I also agree with this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomicflower Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 i dont think this is a hot spot or anything... im sorta just chilling out and express my perspective as it is an open forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 Hey AtomicFlower, there's one sense in which it's actually worse...If I understand the Zimbardo study correctly, the guards and prisoners were randomly chosen. Here, though, the moderators have chosen their roles willfully. As far as I can see, they don't even get a reward for it (free "premium" membership?). So you're all the more likely to get someone who relishes the role from the very beginning. Yep, I also agree with this since i know you (well sorta, online anyway), i will beat you with the nightstick, shoot your kneecaps, pee in your breakfast cereal, *then* ban you. you get the friend treatment. i am soooo relishing this.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomicflower Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 i think what we are discussing (for some is's more of questioning) iis that this is teh pace they expect to have a freedom of speech, as it is a cyberspace, which by its nature should be quite open to public discussion. but when they find themselves under survillance, they need times to accustom with it. it is also possible that they somewhat have some feeling against it. i think the origin of the whole problem is that there were some silly members who either posted something inappropriate or there were some members that have taken tyhings way too seriously. or lastly, it could be becoz some members were unable to stand the heats or didn't want to deal with the heat by themselves. that's why the MOD team were formed...to keep things in order, well function and hassle free for most. i think TFs is quite a friendly place compared to most. and ppl seem to be very nice in general, so...if you think you are one of those who were too much of something. then you'd better stop being a crybaby. 2 cents simple solution is to walk away when it is time and come back when you think this site would make you feel better, not worse. why paying for the internet connection just to upset yourself??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loburt Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 On February 6th, 2005 ... :shock: I do know who I do Vote for!! C I only wish the party you're going to vote for wins. Unfortunately, it's not gonna happen. Please vote anyway to send the sc*mbags a message. But be prepared to wee. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cs3602001 Posted January 29, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 Here is another research snippet where moderators are referred to as "wizards". The psychology of cyberspace really is becoming a hot topic of interest amongst psychologists, how online communities and interactions are playing a part in personal development, how behaviour patterns are changed, fantasises lived out, alternate personas formed..... Nazis and Bleeding Hearts Wizards have jokingly drawn a distinction between their colleagues that seem like "Nazis" and those who act like "Bleeding Hearts." Of course, these terms are parodies. Neither extreme makes for a good intervention philosophy. Wizards who discipline users out of a need to control, feel powerful, or forge some imagined "perfect" society need retraining and an honest look at their own motives. So too for overly sympathetic wizards who fear confrontation, anger (including their own), and being disliked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cs3602001 Posted January 29, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 Jay, ha ha ha ha ha....u *&^% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie36 Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 Anyone who thinks you can have sensible internet forums without moderators is naive (or possibly stupid). Now let?s see... who moderates the moderators? Let?s say you set up a website in which everyone posted stuff about themselves. Then you took the most frequent posters and made them moderators. Naturally, the new moderators would start posting threads about themselves ? the moderators. And quite naturally the moderators would reply. The end result would be threads consisting of posts made solely by moderators ? which would be totally unmoderated. Anyone who thinks you can have sensible internet forum without moderators is naive (or possibly stupid) The lunatics are running the asylum. The baby?s been thrown out with the bathwater. The fat?s all the way in the fire. Bad things are gonna happen. It is a time of great unrest as always. This is going to lead to war, mark my words. Moderators, I salute thee... (Any of you guys got a new chair for your pc? I mean one of those cool black leather ones (not too shiny), that swivels, goes up and down and has a slight spring to it when you sit down. Difficult to find but worth every penny.) Edit: Remains of post moved elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLOS4me Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 Hey prison is EXACTLY like the internet :wink: Yes! Exactly! That is why the internet in usually accessed from deep within the belly of the corporation from a place know as a 'cubical', which is corporate speak for a 'prison cell'. With the advent of broadband and wireless technologies, increases in un-employment, out sourcing, off shoring, and the addiction to the internet caused by websites such as TF.com, that 'prison cell' is rapidyly expanding to homes, hotel lobbies, coffee shops, and even cell phones and PDAs. Is there no place safe from moderation??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 *waves a magic wand at Craig*Dammit he's still here... dont worry i just turned him into a newt. wait'll he looks in the mirror... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 ... (Any of you guys got a new chair for your pc? I mean one of those cool black leather ones (not too shiny), that swivels, goes up and down and has a slight spring to it when you sit down. Difficult to find but worth every penny.) i think u can tell from the number of posts i've made that i have a really good chair... ummm. can i change my title from 'moderator' to 'excess enabler'? herman miller aeron chair actually... i bought it legitimately, didnt even steal it from an office... 2U: it's black actually, as is my entire outfit and my cowboy hat. strikingly like yul brynner in westworld. and that's 2 holsters, i'm ambidextrous.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farang_subson Posted January 30, 2005 Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 There are several distinct differences here in cyberspace, being a moderator or even a participant in a cyber-debate, usually does not place you in a position to be physically abused, No, but maybe you could reduce someone's chances of getting laid. That's pretty abusive in a biological sense. I'm no dating site aficionado, but this site differs from a couple others that I've seen in that you've got a chance to taint the "competition", if you see it that way. You could just be downright nasty, in which case you stand a chance of being deleted, be a bit more subtle, or just try to bludgeon everyone else with the sheer volume of posts you make. In reality, getting a date here is probably 99% a matter of sending e-mails to chicks/guys whose profiles appeal to you. But some may not perceive it that way. ***************** If I were a moderator...I'd let the racists, bigots, perverts, hotheads, idiots, and bloated superegos have their say. Get it out in the open, so potential friends/partners can see what you're really made of. But I'd be relentless with the digressors. Delete their asses! Really, I'm only half facetious, here...after all, almost all of the nastiness on these forums begins with digressions, don't they? People letting their little inner proclivities steer their responses away from the intended subject matter.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted January 30, 2005 Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 and that's 2 holsters, i'm ambidextrous.... Is that the one where you can live underwater or masturbate with both hands... I get confused all of the above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted January 30, 2005 Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 There are several distinct differences here in cyberspace, being a moderator or even a participant in a cyber-debate, usually does not place you in a position to be physically abused, No, but maybe you could reduce someone's chances of getting laid. That's pretty abusive in a biological sense. I'm no dating site aficionado, but this site differs from a couple others that I've seen in that you've got a chance to taint the "competition", if you see it that way. You could just be downright nasty, in which case you stand a chance of being deleted, be a bit more subtle, or just try to bludgeon everyone else with the sheer volume of posts you make. obviously i vote for 'bludgeon with sheer volume'... you're seen through my plan, i am here to steal your dates by posting more than you. at first i thought i'd try emailing the women i fancied, but quickly concluded no plan that obvious could ever work... no, i needed something far more convoluted..... it was a brilliant plan... or so i thought.... until YOU EXPOSED IT TO THE WORLD!! drat... i'll never get laid again... even rosy palmer left me. curse you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLOS4me Posted January 30, 2005 Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 drat... i'll never get laid again... even rosy palmer left me. curse you. So you were caught stealing? Off with his hand! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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