Model Horse Blab FAQ

Moderators oversee the operation of Blab, enforce rules, and assist members. Because none of the moderators can be online at every moment, users are encouraged to report posts that violate these rules. Rule enforcement is undertaken in a variety of ways, which include but are not limited to posting reminders of rules within a thread, privately contacting members, editing threads or posts, locking threads, or by other means. Moderators may be contacted by locating the "View Forum Leaders" link on the Blab Forums page.

You can report a post that you believe to be a violation of the Rules by clicking the triangle icon in the lower frame of the post. Please consult the rules before you report a post, and tell the mods specifically what rule you see being violated.

Do not address another member about a violation yourself, either through pm's or posting. Report it using the button described above, and let the moderators handle it. You will receive a pm from the mods letting you know how it was handled.

Blab's moderation principal: Blab is "lightly moderated," meaning that there aren't many restrictions on post content, and that mods are not an overbearing presence. Members have a lot of freedom and discretion in their posting. To make this work, all members must honor the rules at all times without being nannied or closely watched, and respect and follow any mod direction they receive, so there is little need of more prevalent moderating. The mods are nice people, and they aren't hard on first-time infractions and simple mistakes, made by newbies or by long-time Blab veterans. We try to be reasonable and fair - and always on behalf the entire Blab membership, as well as individual Blabbers.

In most cases - First violation (and infrequent violations generally) gets a pm (private message) guidance from a mod. Multiple violations within a year or less: Second violation is 1 week's suspension of posting privileges, with or without read-only access; a third violation may lead to a suspension. Although we have a standard violations process, we consider each case on its own merits and may make exceptions in the process for either leniency or strictness.

Blab management reserves the right to take any action it deems necessary, on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that members are expected to use self-help tools available to them in their My Panel in conjunction with moderation. For example, if a person is sending you unwanted private messages, you are responsible for placing this person on IGNORE, or using other tools at your disposal before asking moderators to assist you in correcting the problem. These features are detailed in the Features section of the FAQs. If harrassment continues through various channels, members are encouraged to report it with copies of the exact messages sent if the messages are not visible to the moderators.

We may choose to edit posted messages if those messages violate the rules. However, we do not delete posts or threads at the request of members, and do not edit them for you if you have second thoughts about what you posted. Be prepared to stand behind everything you post, hours, days and weeks after you post it. It is likely to remain visible forever. There is a 10 minute editing window to perform any edits due to typos, bad links, etc. We will not tolerate editing to change the stance of the post (depublishing).

Occasional rudeness or otherwise offensive points-of-view are not subject to moderation.

We will make an exception where other members repeatedly complain or where in our judgment a member is: (a) participating largely to provoke others (e.g., "trolling"), (b) provoking and aggravating others beyond what a member contributes, (c) causing moderators to spend an unusually high amount of time keeping the peace, (d) routinely trying to use management as a means to further disputes with others, (e) disregarding management requests, or (f) otherwise abusing Blab's resources and consuming far more moderator time than other members. Engaging in this conduct subjects the member to further action, including limitations on the member's access. Members who find posts they consider to be offensive are to use the Post Report function and leave further action to the moderators.

Management does not actively patrol for offending Blog entries or comments, or for offensive Visitor Messages. If you find a member is abusing these features, please utilize the self-help tools described in the FAQs to stop the offender's access. We will certainly take action if these measures fail to help, but we expect members to use self-help tools first. Otherwise complaints about blog content should go to the blogger.

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*** This section is intended for repeat violation of any rule, and for more egregious cases, but not for minor unintentional slips by someone without the Blab experience to know better. The vast majority of members will never need this information. :) ***
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There are 3 things you can do to quickly get kicked off Blab - doing any one can cause sudden loss of access, temporarily or, very rarely, permanently:
- intentionally violate a major rule of civil decorum, such as posting or messaging abusively, or posting porn
- ignore mod direction to do or not do something
- repeatedly violate the rules within a year or less (that includes everything from continuing to break a smaller rules, especially if told not to by the mods, to multiple temper tantrums, even if the tantrums are on the same subject on the same day.)

In general - repeatedly violating the rules means the member can't keep access to post on Blab. All members need to know what kind of content they can expect when they visit Blab. In fairness to all members, deliberate infractions, even if someone thinks it is minor or they have a good reason, can mean a quick trip to the sidelines, temporarily or permanently. Deliberately stepping on rules is unfair to the other members and can even call into question if rules are equally applied to everyone. Ignoring mod direction - such as a a note to cease arguing in a thread, or not to violate a certain rule a second time - also means the member can't keep access to post on Blab for all the same reasons. A Blab moderating principal is putting responsibility on the member to easily avoid problems by respecting the rules and the mods.
    The standard moderating process is to communicate, explain and ask for voluntary compliance. We do require quick compliance, and if that does not happen we will institute suspensions. Participating on Blab is an agreement to abide by Blab's simple rules, and the overwhelming majority of members do not find that hard to do - and Blab is for those members.
    Blab's moderating principal for more difficult cases: Blab is not staffed to continuously monitor, or engage in protracted discussions with, people who, for any reason, do not follow the few rules. We will try to work with a member having difficulties up to a point, and don't eject people for a first violation, even a second one, except in very rare cases.

Exceptions to the process may occur when, in the judgment of Blab management, the behavior is so egregious, or so thoroughly demonstrates an inability to get along with the other members or to comply with Blab's simple rules, that it is not possible to possibly see an improvement without heavier moderating of that individual. That we do not do. To keep moderating light, Blab is for members who are well able to moderate themselves.

In most cases - multiple violations within a year or less and deliberate violations:
Second violation or a deliberate violation even if it is a first one, is 1 week's suspension of posting privileges, with or without read-only access. Third violation is a long term, no-visibility suspension, usually at least a year. Bans (permanent loss of access) may be instituted for: disrespect for moderators; the member states a refusal to comply with the rules; the member demonstrates repeatedly that they can't be expected to comply with the rules regardless of their statements; the member is trolling, harrassing, bullying or in any way threatening another member(s.) In most cases, during this process the member will be advised what to do to avoid further trouble, and asked to state their agreement to abide by the rules. Exceptional, rare cases for possible quick bans may occur if a member knowingly posts inappropriate material; is egregiously disrespectful of management; states a refusal to comply with rules; or is explosive and/or threatening toward other members.

Although we have a standard violations process, we consider each case on its own merits and may make exceptions in the process for either leniency or strictness. The management maintains full discretion to institute any action at any time, on a case by case basis.

*Loss of access to Blab by a paid subscriber due to the member's own behavior is not refunded.*

[NOT CURRENTLY IN USE] Blab's infraction system tracks rules violations. Each infraction stands for 1 year, unless an additional violation is incurred within a year, in which case all earlier active infractions are extended for the 1 year period of the new infraction. If no additional infractions are incurred within a year, the infraction expires, unless in the judgment of the moderators an extension is warranted. Most infractions incur 1 point.
[NOT CURRENTLY IN USE] Moderators have the discretion to issue warnings with no points, or to add additional points for egregious violations. Consequences for cumulative points at the time of each infraction are as follows: 1 = strong warning of the consequences of the next infraction; 2 = 1 week suspension of access to Blab; 3 = indefinite suspension of access to Blab. Management reserves the right to take such additional action as is in the best interests of the forum.