[LA-Policies] Suggestions additions to the policy

[Scott Ferguson]

Thanks to those that developed the policy.

Firstly - would it be possible to say that moderation should be done
on-list? For the purpose of transparency and to instruct not just the
person being moderated, but also the list readers; and to reduce
distrust of the moderating process (which has happened on other lists
where moderation is kept secret from the list readers). [*1]
When that has *not* been the policy I've seen lists slide into bad
places where an "offense" is considered what someone has "taken
offense" from, promoting misuse of the complaints system - and people
have ultimately been banned as a result of reaching a set number of
moderations stemming from complaints that were "offensive",
"argumentative", and/or "flame-baiting" (attracted forum flooding by
organised special interest groups who then shower the list with
complaints); and as a result of "personal differences" between the
person being moderated and the moderator (subjects that had nothing to
do with the list e.g. work, politics etc)

Secondly - would it be possible to say that those banned will be contacted.

Thirdly - would it be possible to say that bans will be published? For
the same reasons as my first suggestion.[*1].
In this instance I've seen /that/ agreed to when the CoC was being
developed - but left out of the ratified CoC resulting in bans secret
from the list readers - banned posters not being notified, and
resulting in a situation where a community already weary of politics
and voting, has lost key members sick of the eternal lobbying, and
*changing the CoC would require a(nother) GR* - which would likely
mostly receive interest in voting on from those that are happy with a
moderation/banning process that has limited peer review.

Fourthly - would it be worthwhile adding a "vexatious" clause to the
appeals process so that the Council can limit the amount, or length of
appeals? Perhaps by setting some sort of minimum, and requiring a
majority vote by the Council.

[*1] Thanks for having the forethought to include a right to appeal to
the Council - one of the failings of other policies (CoC) I've seen is
that appeals can only be made to the person who made the
moderation/ban in the first place (which requires the sort of optimism
that triumphs over experience).

Kind regards