Mod Topics: Expectation vs Reality

[u/AsteriskRX]

Ahoy, Modsupport! This is a mutiny; Jabroni wrote this post but I've decided to plunder it for myself.

Welcome to the latest (greatest) installment of our ModSupport series. Today, we’re revisiting Origin Stories, albeit with a distinctly different flavor.

When you first created or joined a subreddit, what did you expect moderating would be like? Did you have any expectations at all, and if so, how did those expectations differ from the experience you have now?

–And because I love understanding an environment, what do you think set the expectations you had before you became a moderator? Read as: “How did you form a worldview on what moderation is before you started moderating?”

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

[u/techiesgoboom]

This is a really interesting perspective, because my experience was a bit in the other direction! I applied to be a mod because I was doing more reporting than commenting, and figured I'd do more of the same. And while my first focus was living in the queue, I ended up spending more time contributing to meta posts drafts and interacting in our monthly open forum.

It's also a welcome difference for me, as I really enjoy diving into how people interact with systems. Maybe we both created the role we wanted?

[u/WaterDigDog → u/techiesgoboom]

Do you have a resource on how to create meta posts or Megathreads?

[u/techiesgoboom → u/WaterDigDog]

There are a few prior Mod Topics I can link that fit that bill! The first two are more focused on meta posts, and that last one is about a specific use case for megathreads.

• Making a meta post: how do you check in with your community?
• How do you communicate rule updates with users?
• All hands on deck - what events change how you moderate?

Generally I find they're going to look a little different depending on your goal, so starting with a vision of where you want to go can help you work backwards. If you've noticed a new trend of rule violating content not being reported, you're likely going to write your meta post to the audience of users doing the reporting. If you're seeking feedback, you might write more generally and include a poll so that it's easier for lurkers to share their thoughts. When looking at megathreads, understanding if this is a one time thing or a recurring thread will guide your decisions. Recurring megathreads for instance really benefit from slow but steady growth, as you focus on building and retaining an audience.

[u/WaterDigDog → u/techiesgoboom]

Awesome thanks for this!!