Warning System vs Verbal Reminders
I'm writing this forum post to clear up some confusion surrounding when to use the warning system vs giving verbal reminders.
Back Story
The warning system was designed to enable moderators to warn individual users, whilst maintaining that person's privacy and reducing conflict in the rooms that often surrounded verbal warnings. It was also supposed to form a fairer system. Before the warning system came in, users might receive 2 warnings from a moderator and start afresh with each new moderator, allowing them to continue disturbing the room for long periods of time without ever being muted. The warning system tallies up warnings from different moderators, so even if a new moderator takes over, the existing tally will continue (until the user has 6 hours free of warnings - at this point they clear).
For a while, moderators were trained to only use the warning system for handing out warnings. More recently, we've found that it can help to give a verbal reminder to the room as a whole, before sending any warnings via the system.
So, how should this look?
Moderator enters the room and says hello. If a rule is clearly being broken when a moderator enters, the moderator should say, "Let's all remember to be kind and respectful to one another. You can review the chat room rules by clicking the button at the bottom of your chat window." If people continue to break this, or any other rule after that point, it's fine to go ahead and send warnings via the system.
Should I verbally warn individuals before sending them warnings via the system?
Nope! You should never call out a specific person in the room. Individual warnings should always be sent via the warning system.
How often do I need to send a verbal warning?
The idea is to let users know that you're a moderator and you're paying attention to what is going on. You should send a reminder to the room before sending your first warning via the system. After that point, you can use your judgment as follows:
✫ How many people are breaking rules? If it's more than 1-2 people, a verbal reminder would be beneficial.
✫ Do people realize you're still there? If the answer is possibly no, a reminder is important.
You must NEVER send a warning if you are not actively participating in the chat room. These are lurking warnings and are not permitted.
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If you have further questions or things feel unclear, please post below.
Very clearly spelt out. Thanks @Heather!
I hope the newer moderators (but also a bit experienced moderators too) can improve themselves with that!
Having freespace might lead to mistakes and by clearly getting to know the needed steps, those mistakes get prevented 
Great post @Heather ! 
Much clearer thank you :)
Thanks for this! I find though that when I give out a verbal warning, then send an actual warning when they continue to break the rules, they say "well I never saw your message" or they say "but --- is doing it too and you're not warning them!" With the latter, I say that they cannot see who is being warned so they don't know if others are actually being warned or not but the first one usually stumps me. Some seem to be using that as an excuse but a lot of the time, they're so absorbed in chatting or breaking rules, they don't read other people's messages so it's not my fault they don't see it! Also the GS room goes too fast and haywire when it gets full with rule breakers.
@Heather
@SilentSerenityy - You're doing the right thing reminding that warnings are not visible.
Verbal reminders are not warnings. They're a different thing all together - really just reminders. They don't count as warnings so if someone didn't see you remind the room about the rules, it doesn't really change anything. I wouldn't bring up the fact that you've verbally reminded people previously.
@Heather
Very informative thanks
@Heather very informative ! Thank you!
Thanks that helped