Open Discussion on Muting!
Hi everyone!
As muting is a hot topic around here, I wanted to start an open conversation about it!
You all have been using the mute button to better curate your experience at 7 Cups! That is what the mute button was designed for. HOORAY :)
--------> Our team of dedicated mentors and moderators have the ability to execute a "moderator mute." When you receive a moderator mute, this is what should happen:
1) User is violating one of the community/chatroom guidelines
2) Depending on the nature of the comment, a moderator will give a warning to the individual. A warning should look like this:
?Hey XX, your behavior is currently in violation of chat room guidelines number X, could you go review this guideline??
3) The warning should be professional and kind.
If you are the recipient of a warning, no worries. It happens. It's all about how you react. It is okay to receive a warning, to learn from it and to grow. If you receive a warning, no big deal! Go take a look at the guidelines and come back to the chat room to continue the conversation. Accept it as a moment of growth!
4) If you continue to engage in the behavior, another warning may be given. If the behavior continues, you will be moderator muted.
5) A moderator mute will last 24 hours. Once 24 hours passes, you will be free to enter the chat rooms again.
6) You can receive up to 3 moderator mutes. Once you receive 3, you will receive a global mute, which can last up to one year.
@heather & I are constantly reviewing the mute reports & here are some helpful things you should know:
- There is no such thing as a ?hacker or troll mute?
- If a mute is unfair, we can release it.
- Overwhelmingly, our moderators are very careful with the moderator mute and use it sparingly. Incoming reports are fair.
------> What should you do if you receive a mute?
If you are muted, no big deal. It happens. Feel fortunate for the opportunity to grow and learn from your behavior. Take some time to review the chat room guidelines and try to better understand how to improve behavior in this space.
------->Moderator muting also helps to remove trolls quickly and protect the space. We are very very luck to have such a wonderful group of moderators. Please join me in thanking them for helping to keep our space safe!
------->Let's all take ownership of our own mutes and use them as personal growth moments! A mute is reflection of your personal behavior and only you are in control of that. Let's change the culture of muting.
I am muted and I can't talk in general chats, only 1-1 can work. For no reason. Why is that happening?
Imnot sure about the mutingpolicty(just watch me get muted for posting this)
When I was muted a couple months ago - I received no warning or anything and my account was just shut down for no reason. When I was FINALLY able to get ahold of someone they scolded me for not following rules and then only partially reinstated myaccount. It stilldoesntwork. I have no idea what happened or what I said that promted a mod to delete my account - but Im not pleased
Same. I was unable to use my account (405 action prohibited). It really sucks when you have regular conversations with members who need your help, that are being disrupted by being accidentally (deliberately?) blocked from the site.
Thanks for caring
Accidental mutings seem to be becoming a thing too...
I've now been muted accidentally twice on my listener account and on this account also.
Once a mod has done so, are they able to un-mute someone or is that a Laura only thing?
White Rabbit I'm going to answer this one directly because I know you have been such a great support to others on this site and have never said/done anything negative or hurtful that I have seen. Yet you've been blocked from the site/muted at least twice when I was moderating, when I did not and had no reason to moderate you at all. I think this might be a bug/glitch and I'm not sure who we should all bring it up to?
As a member I have muted the wrong person simply because the chat scrolled and the next one was under my cursor. As a member I can also unmute my error. I have no idea how a moderator mute works, I would hope they have the ability to unmutewhen an error ismade.
Muting a person can be really hurtful without a warning.
This is exactly what I wanted to read! Thanks 7 cups!
I still find it unjust that I've been mute for over a month now for no good reason, and despite my complaints, it hasn't been lifted....
Is it just me being unlucky? Because I have received personal messages saying these issues should have been fixed, but no matter how much I complain, nothing changes. I had to make a new account, which isn't too big of a problem. However, I am really upset because I lost contacts with some really great people here. I know my problem still won't be fixed, but I would like all the mods and any higher-uppers to know that some people's issues are not being fixed, despite this post stating that mutes CAN be lifted.
This exact thing has happened to me. I have messaged and emailed to no avail. Really makes me question the integretiy of this site. I've been a member and listener here for 4 months and I continue to see amazing and supportive people leaving the community because of this very reason.
I really think it's a glitch because I can only speak from personal experience but I get asked why I muted/blocked someone a lot, only I didn't do it! Now I've been suspended (one on one and chats not working) for two days....and I know I didn't do that either lol.
I think this is a much needed post, and not just for the members, but for the moderators as well.
1) The warning thing, I've noticed is something that is very often ignored, and not from the member's side either. The moderator fails to give any sort of warning, in my experience, half the time. I would be chatting with someone, andI realize (After 10 minutes of sending messages, not being replied to and thinking you're being ignored) I've been muted.
Why? Idont know, BECAUSE the mods failed to warn me or even tell me.
I think this is one very sensitive area, and a lot of members are disgruntled due to it. I personally know some people who're tired of being muted without a warning/ for doing nothing wrong.
Also sometimes people are muted because the mod thinks it's triggering or not proper, whereas it might not have been at all. In that case, they just mute something without a word whatsoever which I think is a bit unfair.
2) I think being muted for saying something triggering should be more specific. For example, talking about food might not be triggering but sometimes (And I've seen it happen) the moderator makes it out to be so, and anyone discussing pancakes is muted. Personally, I think, talking about something should not be an issue as long as it is not something REALLY triggering unless someone specifically speaks out that they're uncomfortable, which, contrary to what some people might say, does happen a lot. In that case, all talks about that topic can be stopped.
3) One really important thing I've seen is that the reason you're muted (Unless you've gotten a warning) is never clear to someone. They might be muted, but the number of times I've seen someone return asa guest to express frustration over being muted for nothing is too high. Is it possible to get a notification informing us we're muted? So we know we arent just being ignored, and WHY we were muted, to be specific.
4) Question- how long does it take for a mod mute to be actually reviewed so you know it's not just a misunderstanding or something? Because if we can only be muted for 24 hours, then a mis-mute can be pretty costly, especially for regulars like me.
I hope the things I mentioned above are addressed as it's not just me, but a lot of others who've experienced this.
I agree and I have seen this happening. Being a mod myself, i am very careful about muting and warnings. In my opinion some mods use it too flippantly. They don't try to solve anything or warn or state the rules of the chat room, because we are able to mute it becomes a solution for every little thing. Muting someone should not be taken lightly, just because we have the power to use a mute, does not mean we should use it unfairly.
There are some people in the open chats who clearly just want to have conversations with their buddies and not be open to people and the concept of an open group discussion.
There are moderators who seem very good to me who get the spirit of this particular website best and there are those who don't seem particularly effective. That's certainly par for the course b/c life is like that.
I have experienced people who after telling me that what I had to say was not relevant proceeded to dominate the chat with their own stuff in something I deem "irony". You've got the same human crap to deal with online as you do in real life with people who have no concept of give or take or sharing.
Because chat is so fluid and it moves so fast, it seems difficult to find a space in certain ways for everyone to be heard. It is sort of like whoever grabs the spotlight and asks for help gets it but due to how fast the screen scrolls a lot seems to get lost in translation.
I think the open chats are very good for the most part when the room is smaller and everyone is trying to hear everybody and be respectful and caring. When the rooms get too large it is sort of b/c impossible.
My biggest issues have been with cliquishness. I have muted inappropriate people who have decided to talk sexy, be rude, or act in a way that makes me feel unsafe.
Overall I think this website does a good job but I do think the more the mods try to embrace everyone (considering the limitations of the environment) the happier everyone shall be. And it is up to everyone to try and be a good listener. There are some very good people on this site, and I have found more that is good than not in the final equation, but this website will only be as good as the intentions and willingness of those participating in it to be open, compassionate, and maintain integrity within its limitations. Nothing will ever be perfect.
Hey can you un-mute me(AntiCarnage)? I've learned my lesson!