Bard spotting on Bluesky 16 November 2024

Ms. Penny Oaken, SkyWitch (@skywitches.net):

Today, for more education about Moderation,

let's talk about The Importance of William "Bill" S. Preston, Esq., and Ted "Theodore" Logan — aka Bill & Ted, aka

Be Excellent To Each Other!

Ms. Penny Oaken, SkyWitch (@skywitches.net):

A great way to think about moderation on social media - especially here on BlueSky - is to imagine a group of people sitting around a table at a restaurant or café, and they're approached by a stranger.

Does this stranger treat the group the way one would expect in a café? Or are they a jerk?

Ms. Penny Oaken, SkyWitch (@skywitches.net):

This moment — respecting or invading the boundaries of a group in public — tells us a large amount about the person's intentions. Did they search a term to find a 2 month old thread? Are they approaching a group to challenge them to "debate me!" —?

Would you put up with this behaviour in public?

Ms. Penny Oaken, SkyWitch (@skywitches.net):

Spotting these behaviours is more than half the battle.

Some folks have blocklists titled "Debate Perverts", some "Hostile Jerks", etc.

Ultimately it all ties back to a root troll behaviour — the desire to violate boundaries.

Ms. Penny Oaken, SkyWitch (@skywitches.net):

So, for better than 90% of moderation / deciding whether to "ban" an account, think in terms of,

"Is this person's intent to test or violate a personal or community boundary?"

"Are they being the best person they could be?" is one form of that.

So, Be Excellent To Each Other!