I would advise against becoming a moderator.
Depending on jurisdiction, moderators are - at least in a limited extend - liable for what gets posted in a forum under their supervision.

  • Joh replied to this.

    • Joh

      • Post #10

      curious The question is which law is valid?
      USA because the server is there?
      Or Spain because the Moderator lives there?

          Free time matters.

          Joh
          Depends on whom you ask. I just would take no risks

          • Joh replied to this.

              • Joh

                • Post #13

                curious No risk No Fun. 😋

                  I think i have a workable solution. How about everyone who participates moderate themselves. You know; stop the attacks and hateful attitudes. All the self-righteous claim to know all. If this is true (as it seems to be) then you know hatred and self-seeking have never accomplished a positive goal. If everyone moderates themselves Laura will have a much easier job. In many cases this forum has shifted from a place of help and understanding for young ladies into a place of vitriol and self-righteous attacks. Can the adults act like adults and positively support the younger members? Heads up, your negative attitudes rarely help, and you can't save anyone. Remember what momma said, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Or if you must attack, attack me and give the youngsters a break.

                    plaidtoad Sounds nice in theory, but no one thinks of what they are posting as attacks, with the obvious exception of trolls who are doing it on purpose.
                    It is true that if we could get everyone to take the time to read through what they have written before posting it would make the job of moderating easier. On the other hand, who among us can really claim we do that every time? (I certainly can't)

                      Marder Which is why you would be a good moderator.

                      no, i want to keep the freedom to be uncomfortable sometimes 😂

                      Joh I got the information the requirement can Not fulfilled from a man. But @Laura should Tell us.

                      well, actually you were one of the first candidates i had in mind when i wrote that, because you can understand different positions, what would @Laura say?

                      plaidtoad How about everyone who participates moderate themselves.

                      theoretically you're right, i don't think we need anyone to crack down too hard either. my main concern is that someone sets a limit when it comes to violent arguments among users in order to maintain a peaceful climate

                      • Joh likes this.

                            PigtailSam I think that is beaus @Laura runs the server and she is in the US. That said, for a site like this the US's fairly absolutist view of free speech is probably better protection than the lack of enforcement that the sites you are talking about rely on.

                              PigtailSam It doesn't mater where the server are to point out the problem with his argument is. And frankly speaking I don't know where the server is.

                                @curious

                                as far as the legal risk is concerned, i would rather say it lies with the administrators, i see no risk with moderators

                                anyway, @Joh you seem to be the only one who is interested, would you be willing to do it and @Laura would you accept it?

                                  Angelina far

                                  Angelina as far as the legal risk is concerned, i would rather say it lies with the administrators, i see no risk with moderators

                                  Especially in Germany the risk is valid for moderators as well.
                                  In German law there is that weird concept of 'Störerhaftung'. Essentially, if there is something German prosecutors consider illegal here and as moderator you are able to remove that but don't do it, you can be charged with passively supporting that what you have not acted upon and removed.
                                  Usually prosecutors would target the owner, but if she is out of reach and moderators fall under German jurisdiction, guess what they might do.
                                  Maybe ultimately you would win arguing freedom of speech, but it could be a very long case through multiple levels of courts and being a moderator is not worth the risk.

                                        curious

                                        The US actually has some of the strongest protections in place for these situations. Companies were being hit with frivolous lawsuits in attempting to moderate content, while the "Wild West" approach was letting them off scot-free. This was making the internet far more offensive and obscene (and more importantly reducing the revenue of advertisers.) So bipartisan lawmakers under pressure from their corporate puppetmasters crafted the 1996 Communications Decency Act which holds that wesites not responsible for what their users post.

                                        https://www.npr.org/2023/02/21/1157683233/supreme-court-google-twitter-section-230

                                        There is quite a robust debate in this country on whether or not Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act should be abolished or amended.

                                            What are the expected duties and responsibilities of a moderator here?

                                            WriterAlexis
                                            I am well awate that free speech in the US has a legal standing that makes it pretty much impossible to go after forum owners or moderators.
                                            But @Joh is, according to his profile, from Germany and legal standards there are different.
                                            He would have significant legal exposure as moderator, so that warning stands.

                                                Angelina anyway, @Joh you seem to be the only one who is interested, would you be willing to do it and @Laura would you accept it?

                                                @Laue and I would first have to talk about her expectations and my tasks with framework conditions. If we come to a common denominator, I would be willing to do it.

                                                    curious Out of curiosity, is this a theoretical concern, or is it something German prosecutors have actually done in the past?