h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One of the suggestions that came up in some of the h2g2c3 conversations was the idea of having a Community Editor again (we had some years ago - Peta and Abi - before staffing numbers were cut).

The Community Editors would be there to look after the community side of things (as opposed to the EG Editors)

Do you remember the Community Editors from the past? What did they do?

If we have Community Editors again:

What would they do?

How many of them should there be?

Who would like to do it? Who would *you* like to do it?

I don't think the role ever went away, did it? I'm guessing Jimster/Natalie/Sam had to take it on along with their other responsibilities.

I know it from the 'Host' role used on the other BBC Messageboards. A lady called Anna did this for Radio 4 boards for many years, possibly for the whole duration of the boards (those particular ones are due to close if they haven't already). As I understand it, she had nothing to do with the IT/Future Media function, but was a producer from another area of the BBC.

Anna would start conversations, often in response to issues raised in Radio 4 programmes (She was also a black belt at Mornington Crescent!). In addition, she would try to keep conversations on topic (this wasn't h2g2 after all), and would try to nip any antisocial behaviour in the bud.

h2g2 will be different in a number of ways. We might prefer antisocial behaviour to be dealt with by the weight of the community rather than relying on a couple of people to do it for us. Also, we embrace topic drift as part of the fabric of this site. It might be good to have people who make an effort to start new 'talking point' conversations, though. I get the impression some people are a little shy to start conversations and would rather someone else did it.

Icy, you say > We might prefer antisocial behaviour to be dealt with by the weight of the community rather than relying on a couple of people to do it for us.<

I'm not convinced about that, desirable as it is. There'll be a need for someone with a stick for use in a crisis - hopefully without calling in those who jointly carry the big stick.

This post has been removed.

Fair point, Rod, but I don't think a Community Editor should carry that stick.

OK.

In that case I'll reserve judgement until I learn more here.

ooh, someone's yikesed my post. Are we not allowed to link to public LinkedIn profiles, then?

Dunno. Mods, esp on weekends, seem mighty jumpy these days. Lots of referrals to the Eds.

Maybe it was the posting of personal information? LinkedIn isn't public access is it? So she would have okayed the people she wanted seeing that info?

I think once the staff numbers got cut the Community Editor role just got smaller and smaller. Jimster, champion of the EG that he was, is not a good example of someone looking out for the community (he came across as almost anti-community at times, albeit because of his concern and love for the EG). And I think the later Eds just didn't have the time.

I was seeing part of the CE role as being a liason between the rest of the people running the site and the community. IMO things have gone best here when there has been someone able and willing to front up and talk with the community about whatever issues, and generally be more involved and visible.

They'd also need to have a good grasp of how the community works, what's going on where, and be able to assist and be proactive with those things. To use a recent example for instance, they'd either know what functions are important during any SW upgrades, or they'd find out from the community.

Initiating convos could be part of the role, although I'm not so sure that's a problem. Hard to gauge.

Re the antisocial stuff, currently it's a mix of the community and the moderation process (where the people moderating are largely invisible. I think I agree that the CE shouldn't be the one with the big stick). There is a whole other conversation we need to have at some point about moderation post-sale and how that should be managed.

It's her public profile. If I'd searched for Radio 4 messageboard host (or similar) I probably could have found it,

Ah. To (try to) clarify my comment:

I didn't mean that the CE should carry the big stick, just a stick, to be shaken when appropriate.
It seems reasonable that someone should have some measure of authority to warn before calling in the hanging judge.

I think it makes sence to have someone who's job it is to step in and take the children to stand in the naughty corner to cool down
the problem would be finding the correct candidate

Agreed and Yes
Would that be the whole job?

Also, as I see it, there'd be a need for more than one, to provide decent cover. Preferably three - a triumvirate.

Someone in the consortium suggested five editors: 3 EG ones, and 2 community.

How would the naughty corner thing work?

Count to three then "to the naughty chair"

Warning. Warning. Warning. Premod. Suspension.
[Consultation with the big stick] ... Ban.

What's the advantage of that being done by the CE, rather then via moderation as it is now and which is anonymous?

The proposal from the consortium was to elect Editors. I'm not totally convinced on that (maybe some need to be elected and some appointed). But either way it's likely that the CEs would be people who are already well known onsite, and who have taken part in the community as researchers. Can they really wield the naughty stick?

Which brings up another issue - will Editors (both EG and CE) have to change how they are as researchers onsite?

>What's the advantage of that being done by the CE, rather then via moderation as it is now and which is anonymous?<

Hmm. Perhaps if we're bought, the owners will provide mods. If not, whoever does it won't stay anonymous for very long, methinks.

One problem at least, with the CE doing it would be similar to that of the leading rate/corporal's job - having to uphold discipline while living among all those potential (read 'actual?') offenders.

My last para there, as comment on yours, kea