What's wrong with "massive reporting"? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What's wrong with "massive reporting"?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Mr_Miscellany
Oct 31, 2011 0:48:32 As the title.

In a forum system where ORCs--and not users--have the authority to review content and take action against it, what difference does it make whether one person or a hundred report a post?

A side question: does anyone know if ORCs treat multiple reports as a cause for action against user content, even if the content itself isn't violating the Code of Conduct? [Edit: Dragonette answered this in another thread: ORCs look at each bit of content that is reported, and evaluate it according to the Code of Conduct and their training. 1 report or 100 reports doesn't really factor into it. Each report is taken on its own.]

#2
the_ubbergeek
Oct 31, 2011 0:51:37
As the title.

In a forum system where ORCs--and not users--have the authority to review content and take action against it, what difference does it make whether one person or a hundred report a post?

A side question: does anyone know if ORCs treat multiple reports as a cause for action against user content, even if the content itself isn't violating the Code of Conduct?

It is a form of spam in a way, and you give the ORCs-mods A CRAPLOAD of work.
#3
Mr_Miscellany
Oct 31, 2011 1:00:58
It is a form of spam in a way, and you give the ORCs-mods A CRAPLOAD of work.

Spam...hrm. I think that speaks to intent.

The system is set up so that every user has the option to report a post.

If multiple users find a post objectionable and report it, that doesn't sound like spamming to me.

However, if multiple users get together and decide to report anything and everything for the hell of it, then yeah, spam and a CoC violation.

I wonder how streamlined the system is for the ORCs. If they receive multiple reports for a single post, can they act on the first report and then mark the rest "done"?

Or do they have to go through each post....?
#4
zombie_babies
Oct 31, 2011 9:02:27 If something is a blatant CoC violation, odds are it'll generate 'massive' reporting. Cuz a lot of people that see it will report it. When one person sees a post from a member that they, say, have tried to reason with (or whatever) once before and have had little luck in the attempt that could possibly be maybe interpreted as potentially a corner case CoC violation if the report is spun the right way and then decides to PM everyone on their Friend list with a request to report the post, it becomes harassment. If, I dunno, the goal of getting one's friends together to report a post gets expanded to include, maybe, every post that could potentially maybe be interpreted as a corner case CoC violation, it most assuredly becomes harassment. And then - and let's assume the worst here - if this merry band of reporters got together to track people and report anything that may possibly be a corner case CoC violation does it because they know that the mods track member behavior and that more edited content means harsher and escalated punishment with longer duration and that more reports means more chance to get something to stick ... well, I'm sure anyone can see how that would be harassment. Because it is. The point is obviously to silence someone that the person that originated the mass-email call to report doesn't agree with. The point is to get their content removed and then to see them temp banned and, hopefully (I guess), perma banned or so frustrated at their treatment here that they leave of their own accord. And that's WRONG.

In case you're wondering, yes, I did read your blog. ;)

I should note that I'm in no way telling people not to report things. What I am saying is that gathering a group of people to follow members around and report anything that could be a CoC violation is harassment and it's sick. I've had it done to me and it's not cool. Got a problem with someone? Put 'em on 'ignore'. It's not for you to decide who can and can't have their content seen.

Oh, before anything starts, if I suddenly have content I've posted vanish in a way that's doesn't fit with how things usually work for me, I'm pretty sure I'll know what's up. ;)
#5
Jorunhast
Oct 31, 2011 11:54:11 If a certain post truly violates the CoC, and many different people report it, that's a good thing. It shows that many people want the ORCs to check out a post that each of them, individually, believes to be a genuine violation.

However, the system can be abused. One person can have multiple accounts, and report a single post from each account they have. Or a small group who dislike a particular individual, or who have been recruited by an inciter, can also mass report for inappropriate reasons. This causes unnecessary work for ORCs if it is just a personal issue and not an actual CoC violation.

Bottom line: if the goal is to harass an individual because you don't like their "tone" or because there's "negativity" BUT there's no actual CoC violation, then mass reporting with an agenda is purely and simply harassment. And oddly enough, some people think such forms of harassment are okay.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Mr_Miscellany Oct 31, 2011 0:48:32	As the title. In a forum system where ORCs--and not users--have the authority to review content and take action against it, what difference does it make whether one person or a hundred report a post? A side question: does anyone know if ORCs treat multiple reports as a cause for action against user content, even if the content itself isn't violating the Code of Conduct? [Edit: Dragonette answered this in another thread: ORCs look at each bit of content that is reported, and evaluate it according to the Code of Conduct and their training. 1 report or 100 reports doesn't really factor into it. Each report is taken on its own.]
#2 the_ubbergeek Oct 31, 2011 0:51:37	As the title. In a forum system where ORCs--and not users--have the authority to review content and take action against it, what difference does it make whether one person or a hundred report a post? A side question: does anyone know if ORCs treat multiple reports as a cause for action against user content, even if the content itself isn't violating the Code of Conduct? It is a form of spam in a way, and you give the ORCs-mods A CRAPLOAD of work.
#3 Mr_Miscellany Oct 31, 2011 1:00:58	It is a form of spam in a way, and you give the ORCs-mods A CRAPLOAD of work. Spam...hrm. I think that speaks to intent. The system is set up so that every user has the option to report a post. If multiple users find a post objectionable and report it, that doesn't sound like spamming to me. However, if multiple users get together and decide to report anything and everything for the hell of it, then yeah, spam and a CoC violation. I wonder how streamlined the system is for the ORCs. If they receive multiple reports for a single post, can they act on the first report and then mark the rest "done"? Or do they have to go through each post....?
#4 zombie_babies Oct 31, 2011 9:02:27	If something is a blatant CoC violation, odds are it'll generate 'massive' reporting. Cuz a lot of people that see it will report it. When one person sees a post from a member that they, say, have tried to reason with (or whatever) once before and have had little luck in the attempt that could possibly be maybe interpreted as potentially a corner case CoC violation if the report is spun the right way and then decides to PM everyone on their Friend list with a request to report the post, it becomes harassment. If, I dunno, the goal of getting one's friends together to report a post gets expanded to include, maybe, every post that could potentially maybe be interpreted as a corner case CoC violation, it most assuredly becomes harassment. And then - and let's assume the worst here - if this merry band of reporters got together to track people and report anything that may possibly be a corner case CoC violation does it because they know that the mods track member behavior and that more edited content means harsher and escalated punishment with longer duration and that more reports means more chance to get something to stick ... well, I'm sure anyone can see how that would be harassment. Because it is. The point is obviously to silence someone that the person that originated the mass-email call to report doesn't agree with. The point is to get their content removed and then to see them temp banned and, hopefully (I guess), perma banned or so frustrated at their treatment here that they leave of their own accord. And that's WRONG. In case you're wondering, yes, I did read your blog. ;) I should note that I'm in no way telling people not to report things. What I am saying is that gathering a group of people to follow members around and report anything that could be a CoC violation is harassment and it's sick. I've had it done to me and it's not cool. Got a problem with someone? Put 'em on 'ignore'. It's not for you to decide who can and can't have their content seen. Oh, before anything starts, if I suddenly have content I've posted vanish in a way that's doesn't fit with how things usually work for me, I'm pretty sure I'll know what's up. ;)
#5 Jorunhast Oct 31, 2011 11:54:11	If a certain post truly violates the CoC, and many different people report it, that's a good thing. It shows that many people want the ORCs to check out a post that each of them, individually, believes to be a genuine violation. However, the system can be abused. One person can have multiple accounts, and report a single post from each account they have. Or a small group who dislike a particular individual, or who have been recruited by an inciter, can also mass report for inappropriate reasons. This causes unnecessary work for ORCs if it is just a personal issue and not an actual CoC violation. Bottom line: if the goal is to harass an individual because you don't like their "tone" or because there's "negativity" BUT there's no actual CoC violation, then mass reporting with an agenda is purely and simply harassment. And oddly enough, some people think such forms of harassment are okay.