I like “sunshine regiment” as an acknowledgement that it’s a fundamentally combative activity, and accepted as a necessity for goodness. It’s more Orwellian to call them “moderators”, as if they somehow made people less extreme. And while it’d be honest to call them “censors”, I’d rather have the reminder that they’re supposed to be cheerful and positive about it.
an acknowledgement that it’s a fundamentally combative activity, and accepted as a necessity for goodness
This is why they should be called the “Trolling Regiment” or “Legion of Trolls”. (And yes, this is a serious proposal!) Yes, they’re supposed to be trolling for goodness, but we all know that, right? And of course every troll pursues their own personal version of “goodness” as they see it!
I don’t agree that moderators who enforce discourse standards are a necessity for goodness. I’ve run forums without that for a long time, using other methods like setting an example for discourse standards, establishing an group ethos, and being rather tolerant of some low quality comments (it’s no big deal to have some).
I like “sunshine regiment” as an acknowledgement that it’s a fundamentally combative activity, and accepted as a necessity for goodness. It’s more Orwellian to call them “moderators”, as if they somehow made people less extreme. And while it’d be honest to call them “censors”, I’d rather have the reminder that they’re supposed to be cheerful and positive about it.
It’s no more combative than weeding a garden.
The Orwellian part is “sunshine”. “Regiment” merely implies readiness to do what you are ordered to without thinking too much about it.
This is why they should be called the “Trolling Regiment” or “Legion of Trolls”. (And yes, this is a serious proposal!) Yes, they’re supposed to be trolling for goodness, but we all know that, right? And of course every troll pursues their own personal version of “goodness” as they see it!
I don’t agree that moderators who enforce discourse standards are a necessity for goodness. I’ve run forums without that for a long time, using other methods like setting an example for discourse standards, establishing an group ethos, and being rather tolerant of some low quality comments (it’s no big deal to have some).