Today, after much feedback and evaluation, we implemented some changes to the way OSNews "moderation" works. Previously, we had a dual-purposed feedback system - an "up" vote was based on agreement, but a "down" vote was based on specific rules. We've changed the way things work around here, read more for the details. 
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Member since:2005-07-06
"2) the real weakness of the OSNews forums has been that it has not properly dealt with voting down posts. For years you could only vote a post down by trying to associate a particular post with some violation. Nonsense. People have a right to their opinion and that includes the right to vote others down."
There is a fundamental difference between a minus vote which means "I disagree" and a minus vote which means "this poster has broken the forum rules", especially when the latter is used to mean the former.
That is why I wrote that this change feels like a step in the right direction. Having said that, personally I prefer forums where there is nothing like the system here. I am and I have been a (often very respected) member of plenty of forums where you could express your consent/dissent only with a reply.
Normally such forums work very well, there is a sense of community, and a well working sense of hierarchy as well. If you have entered 2,000 useful posts you won't count the same as somebody who has entered 10 silly or trolling posts.
In such a forum a respected user can be even above an immature moderator, as it has happened to me recently.
Member since:
2005-07-06
I have been frequenting OSNews for several years now, 5 IIRC. Back some number of years ago I frequently participated and even wrote an article. The changes in the rank system over the last 1-2 years has led me to stop participating. I would love to rejoin-but unless some changes take place to return to a level playing field I doubt I will. Here are a few suggestions:
1) get rid of the exorbitant ranks- anything beyond 5 is simply absurd and means that the "default viewing level" is basically useless. Please explain why something like level 15 is even necessary.
2) the real weakness of the OSNews forums has been that it has not properly dealt with voting down posts. For years you could only vote a post down by trying to associate a particular post with some violation. Nonsense. People have a right to their opinion and that includes the right to vote others down. Make the forums self-moderating, reduce your workload, reserve "reports" for anything which is a clear violation of server standards and let people +1/-1 individual posts-scrap the accumulative point system(it is only there from POV to reward popular posters and punish those who post flame bait).
Those two issues: exorbitant rankings and the accumulative point system go hand in hand and have, for me, eliminated the feeling that there is a level playing field here.
Perhaps something could be done to allow one to choose whether they wish to contribute or moderate when they visit a topic(instead of comments link-have 2 links, participate and moderate). The maximum number of points that any one post can get (ideally 5) should be the number of moderation points for a particular topic a user visits to moderate (ideally 5). Once a user has visited a topic via the moderate link and submitted their moderation the moderate link for that topic could be disabled.
If you wish to prevent people from participating and moderating have 3 links instead of 2 -1) read 2) participate 3) moderate and once someone has moderated or participated 2 and 3 would be disabled out leaving only 1(read). As far as editing your own posts-you could have your recent posts (last 5 days) available via preferences to edit once the links have been disabled.
Additionally if you want people to be able to participate and moderate in the same thread having only the same number moderation points available as could be gained by a posting (ideally 5) makes this a level playing field. I do however understand the desire to prevent participation and moderation in same thread.
It would also be nice if when moderating if one could tag the moderation(informative, misleading, funny,etc.) and combine this with the default viewing level to exclude posts marked as misleading, or only those which are marked informative.
Please focus on a) simplicity b) a level playing field. Lately popular posters automatically get +15 even if their contribution is a 1 line rebuttal of someone else and posts which required thought and energy languish at +1. I do not post quips- when I respond I take a little time and attempt to actually write something.
Just some ideas, maybe something useful here.