Backseat Moderators

Truestar · Moderator

Well, first of all, I am one. Howver it's completely unintentional and I don't notice I do it. But I'm getting better so no worries Patrick. Razz

What do you do with them? What's your opinion of them? When they do this, do you decide, "Now I'll never make them a Moderator."

I'd like to hear opinions. Smile

Triumvirate · Posted: 9/28/2005, 9:19 pm Post subject:

It depends. If it's a post made on a forum I usually remove there post and the post that broke the rules and tell them in the future to report the post to a moderator for review instead of responding. However on my site I also have a chat room available and I do encourage people there to "moderate" each other by mentioning when chat gets out of hand or something like that (assuming there is no chat room moderator on).
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Patrick · Administrator

Will tell them to report and not respond. If it persists, perhaps a serious warning. If it overlaps with other guidelines, they'll be written up for that.
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harishankar · Posted: 9/29/2005, 6:14 am Post subject:

Er... this is a sensitive issue beyond doubt. Many members on boards sort of become attached to the forum so much that they start reacting to issues like they are a part of the forum - a part of the staff... even when they are not. This leads to situations where these people sometimes pseudo-moderate or back-seat moderate as you put it.

It is a hard issue to tackle because these people might have the best intentions and if you tell them off or warn them for that, they might really get upset.

Of course, if they continue doing it over a period of time intentionally or unintentionally, then you could just offer them a friendly private warning through a PM or e-mail.
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Ex0dus · Posted: 9/29/2005, 8:22 pm Post subject:

Hmm, definitely a weird situation. Depending upon the backseat moderator handles himself and the situation ill do any range of things. If hes good at what he does, i might give him a moderator position. Obviously he has the time and energy and attachment for the place, all good qualities. However, if the guy shows lack of balance and people skills, he can expect me to kindly ask him to quit with the moderating.

Alot of times, it is all unintentional and sort of subconscious. Once they realize what theyre doing, they ususally correct themselves. Since my community is still the size that i can keep up with every topic on it within a few days of it being posted, theres ususally nothing to report, so thus no real reporting system. My members ususally know better though, then to try and act out some kind of vigilante moderation (especially since they have no real powers to stop someone)

-Ex0dus

Martin · Posted: 11/13/2005, 2:59 pm Post subject:

I simply instruct them to allow the responsible staff to handle the problem, if there even was one.

If there wasn't actually a problem, I tell said minimodder that who ever they were correcting was not out of line, or whatever.

I don't think it's a huge problem because I am capable of correcting people without coming down hard on them. And as far as whether they resent the fact that I correct them? Rules are rules. I have moderators for a reason. I'm sorry if the person can't understand that, but that is one of the more basic aspects of administration.

Carer · Posted: 1/11/2007, 5:40 am Post subject:

Backseat Moderating, something I've not come across, yet. Smile

I wonder if perhaps some of them do it by way of trying to show the Admin that they are capable and willing to do such a job, 'should there be any vacancies arise'?? Rolling Eyes

I have to say, hmmm, or maybe I'd better not Very Happy

or I may get people coming to my site from here and trying it out themselves Laughing

Seriously though, I'm pulled 2 ways on this. I've had mods in the past who disappeared or only appeared once or twice a week and didn't necessarily post anything, yet were fully active on other sites. I've had one that disappeared and never came back, no explanation. In my book,
an unreliable Mod is worse than a backseat one.

On the other hand, you can't have people just taking it on themselves to
assume authority over everyone else. However, I think you have to tread carefully if you don't want to risk losing a member who is clearly interested enough in your site to want to be 'active' on it, not to mention a potential good Moderator for the future. These people are hard enough to find, without driving away the one's you have.

Couple of other points. Those of you who have had backseat mods:
1/ Had they been 'authorised' mods, would you have considered their
judgement 'sound'? If so, isn't it really just a case of someone acting responsibly on the site by trying to keep order?
2/ Did any of the other Members, (not counting the person reprimanded),
complain about the person's 'intrusion'?
3/ Is it possible that your 'backseat' mods stepped in because your 'authorised' mods failed to act when they should have done?

These are all just some 'thoughts' on the subject, I may have others if and when I eventually have the above problems myself Rolling Eyes

Patrick · Administrator

Well, for me, a backseat moderator means someone who isn't a moderator who acts like one ("You have asked this question before. Don't post again.") or someone who publicly second guesses my moderators ("I think this should have gone in X forum, but hey, it's not my call"). Besides overstepping their bounds, they can kind of alienate/antagonize your moderators, which isn't good.

Regarding the 1 through 3. None of those really matter to me. They could be right, but they aren't authorized to deal with it - or to tell other members what to do. Complaining, in general and by itself, doesn't mean a heck of a lot. Most things are either right or wrong - whether or not people complain generally doesn't affect that. And, I could have no moderators, it still doesn't create a situation where it's appropriate to act like that. At least, not on my communities. Smile

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~HG~ · Posted: 1/17/2007, 3:21 pm Post subject:

I dont believe backseat moderators do it to show the Admin that they are "capable" of being a moderator.

I really think that in the majority of cases, they are simply pointing out the rules and regulations that apply to that forum.

Moderators are only human and they cant be online all the time, nor can the Admin.

User/Members are online a lot more and they have such faith in the community, they simply feel that if someone is out of touch with the rules then it wont hurt to let them know.

That does not only apply to forums either. It applies to all walks of life such as schools, workplaces etc etc
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Dog Cow · Posted: 3/29/2007, 5:56 pm Post subject:

I haven't had any backseat moderation activity on my forums yet (that I know of ) so I don't know how I'd react to it. I suppose just on a case-by-case basis. It can't hurt to have extra eyes looking out and reporting things.

Think of it like the police. The police are like moderators, but they also rely on the public to report crimes.
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