Title. I saw a siggy part saying “number 1 minimod hater”. What counts as a mini mod?

Idk maybe mini mods are people who act like forum moderators like paddle

A “mini mod” is someone who attempts to moderate the forums without actually having the authority to do so. It's generally discouraged- it can come across as condescending and rude in its own right, and can get in the way of actual moderators.

However, someone saying that they hate mini mods also goes against treating everyone with respect and keeping the site friendly, and should be reported.

BigNate469 wrote:

A “mini mod” is someone who attempts to moderate the forums without actually having the authority to do so. It's generally discouraged- it can come across as condescending and rude in its own right, and can get in the way of actual moderators.

However, someone saying that they hate mini mods also goes against treating everyone with respect and keeping the site friendly, and should be reported.

not to mention, being a backseat mod makes you look like an fool/idiot/cornball no cap

BigNate469 wrote:

A “mini mod” is someone who attempts to moderate the forums without actually having the authority to do so. It's generally discouraged- it can come across as condescending and rude in its own right, and can get in the way of actual moderators.

However, someone saying that they hate mini mods also goes against treating everyone with respect and keeping the site friendly, and should be reported.

I'd like to add…
There's nothing wrong with wanting to assist and help make sure everyone is following the rules. It only becomes a problem when you start behaving in a way that others could consider condescending (etc. saying things like “I will have this thread closed!” or giving someone a warning when they lack the authority to do so.)

If you see someone breaking the Community Guidelines, simply report them and don't bring it up. Saying “I reported you!” feels like a taunt.

Even if the “mini-mod” isn't exactly disrespectful, some people consider “mini-mods” to be Scratchers who make posts like “This doesn't belong in Questions about Scratch, reporting to be moved” or posts like “Please don't make lists of suggestions.” While this is correct information — and I don't think Scratch Team action is taken against these posts — it's encouraged to just use the Report button on topics that need to be closed, rather than making a post about it. Indeed, the Scratch Team will explain why they are closing a topic if it needs to be closed, so there's no need for Scratchers to also do that.

Za-Chary wrote:

Even if the “mini-mod” isn't exactly disrespectful, some people consider “mini-mods” to be Scratchers who make posts like “This doesn't belong in Questions about Scratch, reporting to be moved” or posts like “Please don't make lists of suggestions.” While this is correct information — and I don't think Scratch Team action is taken against these posts — it's encouraged to just use the Report button on topics that need to be closed, rather than making a post about it. Indeed, the Scratch Team will explain why they are closing a topic if it needs to be closed, so there's no need for Scratchers to also do that.

It's sad that people still do it anyways.

Epicness123 wrote:

Saying “I reported you!” feels like a taunt.

I would like to add this can get you blocked by the Scratch Team.

Za-Chary wrote:

Even if the “mini-mod” isn't exactly disrespectful, some people consider “mini-mods” to be Scratchers who make posts like “This doesn't belong in Questions about Scratch, reporting to be moved” or posts like “Please don't make lists of suggestions.” While this is correct information — and I don't think Scratch Team action is taken against these posts — it's encouraged to just use the Report button on topics that need to be closed, rather than making a post about it. Indeed, the Scratch Team will explain why they are closing a topic if it needs to be closed, so there's no need for Scratchers to also do that.

I do feel like that really blurs with what I believe being helpful on the Forums is, because otherwise, why should we have them? Being disrespectful on the forums is bad, obviously. But I feel like Scratchers should be encouraged to explain how the forums work, what not to do, etc etc, because otherwise there would be way too many New Scratchers that don't know how the forums really work. I see Scratchers doing that all the time, and I was treated that way when I was new as well, and I don't have a problem with it. Saying “I reported you, don't do that” shouldn't be done, but some of the most respected Forum Helpers are made this way.

If I missed something, please tell me

CuteRobot22 wrote:

I do feel like that really blurs with what I believe being helpful on the Forums is, because otherwise, why should we have them? Being disrespectful on the forums is bad, obviously. But I feel like Scratchers should be encouraged to explain how the forums work, what not to do, etc etc, because otherwise there would be way too many New Scratchers that don't know how the forums really work. I see Scratchers doing that all the time, and I was treated that way when I was new as well, and I don't have a problem with it. Saying “I reported you, don't do that” shouldn't be done, but some of the most respected Forum Helpers are made this way.

Helping on the forums should be constructively contributing to discussion - whether that be answering a question or sharing thoughts about a suggestion or of the sorts. Pretending you're a moderator is not constructive as all it does is derail the conversation and adds nothing of value. It's best to just let the Scratch Team deal with it; that's what they get paid to do. It's better to instead give a friendly reminder to someone on their profile by linking them with a few stickies or Wiki articles or let them know why their topic was moved, etc.

KangaCoder wrote:

CuteRobot22 wrote:

I do feel like that really blurs with what I believe being helpful on the Forums is, because otherwise, why should we have them? Being disrespectful on the forums is bad, obviously. But I feel like Scratchers should be encouraged to explain how the forums work, what not to do, etc etc, because otherwise there would be way too many New Scratchers that don't know how the forums really work. I see Scratchers doing that all the time, and I was treated that way when I was new as well, and I don't have a problem with it. Saying “I reported you, don't do that” shouldn't be done, but some of the most respected Forum Helpers are made this way.

Helping on the forums should be constructively contributing to discussion - whether that be answering a question or sharing thoughts about a suggestion or of the sorts. Pretending you're a moderator is not constructive as all it does is derail the conversation and adds nothing of value. It's best to just let the Scratch Team deal with it; that's what they get paid to do. It's better to instead give a friendly reminder to someone on their profile by linking them with a few stickies or Wiki articles or let them know why their topic was moved, etc.

As I was saying, pretending you are a Moderator shouldn't be done, but I think friendly reminders of the forums rules should be encouraged. For Example, Saying “I will have this post moved!” is absolutely disrespectful, but saying “I think this goes here actually” is not. I have seen many forumers do that and I do it myself. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

CuteRobot22 wrote:

As I was saying, pretending you are a Moderator shouldn't be done, but I think friendly reminders of the forums rules should be encouraged.

It often comes across as you're trying to be a moderator (“this should be in Questions about Scratch” or “please don't spam”), friendly or not.

CuteRobot22 wrote:

For Example, Saying “I will have this post moved!” is absolutely disrespectful, but saying “I think this goes here actually” is not.

What value does that add to the discussion? All that does is derail the topic and possibly confuse someone. Is there a reason why silently reporting the topic and asking a moderator to move it not sufficient? As I mentioned, you can let a user know on their profile as well.

CuteRobot22 wrote:

I have seen many forumers do that and I do it myself. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

Just because others do it does not mean you have to as well.

A few years ago, the forums were considered a “constructive” space, where I felt minimodding was not approved of because it adds nothing of value to discussion; after all, these are the Discussion Forums. Now, it seems like it's much more prevalent, and the forum “culture” seems to be lost - but maybe I'm just getting old. You can disagree with me, and there's certainly nothing that I can do to stop anyone from minimodding, but whenever I see it, it makes me feel disappointed.

Rosics wrote:

(#7)

Epicness123 wrote:

Saying “I reported you!” feels like a taunt.

I would like to add this can get you blocked by the Scratch Team.

sometimes i feel like i KNOW people say “reported to be closed” on purpose to scare a new forumer because of the word “report” which is uh

KangaCoder wrote:

A few years ago, the forums were considered a “constructive” space, where I felt minimodding was not approved of because it adds nothing of value to discussion; after all, these are the Discussion Forums. Now, it seems like it's much more prevalent, and the forum “culture” seems to be lost - but maybe I'm just getting old. You can disagree with me, and there's certainly nothing that I can do to stop anyone from minimodding, but whenever I see it, it makes me feel disappointed.

I don't remember minimodding being less common when I started being active – posts like “reported to be moved/closed” have been around for so long that there was already a suggestion to stop them in 2017. But I think this is something that can change, just like how the community has learned that the Suggestions forum isn't about saying “support” and “no support”.

KangaCoder wrote:

CuteRobot22 wrote:

For Example, Saying “I will have this post moved!” is absolutely disrespectful, but saying “I think this goes here actually” is not.

What value does that add to the discussion? All that does is derail the topic and possibly confuse someone. Is there a reason why silently reporting the topic and asking a moderator to move it not sufficient? As I mentioned, you can let a user know on their profile as well.

I am genuinely confused; how does that derail the topic? Please explain.
Additionally, if a user has Profile Comments disabled, what alternative is there?

CuteRobot22 wrote:

(#14)

KangaCoder wrote:

CuteRobot22 wrote:

For Example, Saying “I will have this post moved!” is absolutely disrespectful, but saying “I think this goes here actually” is not.

What value does that add to the discussion? All that does is derail the topic and possibly confuse someone. Is there a reason why silently reporting the topic and asking a moderator to move it not sufficient? As I mentioned, you can let a user know on their profile as well.

I am genuinely confused; how does that derail the topic? Please explain.
Additionally, if a user has Profile Comments disabled, what alternative is there?

Because the moderator who performs the action (moving, closing) does the job for you

although I gotta admit i DO do this myself when there's a necropost, but only because scratch team members usually only close with like “ Closed for necroposting” so I hurry and drop a definition of what necroposting is so a confused scratcher doesn't just leave like “what in the chocolate fudge is a necro post”

Maximouse wrote:

(#13)

KangaCoder wrote:

A few years ago, the forums were considered a “constructive” space, where I felt minimodding was not approved of because it adds nothing of value to discussion; after all, these are the Discussion Forums. Now, it seems like it's much more prevalent, and the forum “culture” seems to be lost - but maybe I'm just getting old. You can disagree with me, and there's certainly nothing that I can do to stop anyone from minimodding, but whenever I see it, it makes me feel disappointed.

I don't remember minimodding being less common when I started being active – posts like “reported to be moved/closed” have been around for so long that there was already a suggestion to stop them in 2017. But I think this is something that can change, just like how the community has learned that the Suggestions forum isn't about saying “support” and “no support”.

That's actually really true, I haven't seen anyone do support/no support recently at all anymore. On the other hand, topics from like 2012-2015 had entire pages that were just “support” “no support” “+1” “-1”

CuteRobot22 wrote:

I am genuinely confused; how does that derail the topic? Please explain.

That's the definition of derailing, whether in real life or on Scratch. As I mentioned, it adds nothing to the discussion of a topic and often leads to confusion - or even worse, offending someone.

CuteRobot22 wrote:

Additionally, if a user has Profile Comments disabled, what alternative is there?

Innovate. Try commenting on a project. If that's not viable, add it in brief to the end of your constructive post. Or, even better, report the post when asking for it to be moved/closed/dustbinned and let the moderators (whose job is to moderate) decide if they should notify the user. There's a reason the report button exists.

Maximouse wrote:

I don't remember minimodding being less common when I started being active

It's more of there was stronger opposition to minimodding back then (particularly when TFH was still a thing), and as such, a (what I see as) smaller number of minimods than today.

scratchcode1_2_3 wrote:

KangaCoder wrote:

CuteRobot22 wrote:

For Example, Saying “I will have this post moved!” is absolutely disrespectful, but saying “I think this goes here actually” is not.

What value does that add to the discussion? All that does is derail the topic and possibly confuse someone. Is there a reason why silently reporting the topic and asking a moderator to move it not sufficient? As I mentioned, you can let a user know on their profile as well.

Because the moderator who performs the action (moving, closing) does the job for you

They don't always explain why the post has been moved, and in fact, most times a post gets moved a Scratcher explains why it probably should be moved before it is. I don't see anything wrong with that.

CuteRobot22 wrote:

(#17)

scratchcode1_2_3 wrote:

KangaCoder wrote:

CuteRobot22 wrote:

For Example, Saying “I will have this post moved!” is absolutely disrespectful, but saying “I think this goes here actually” is not.

What value does that add to the discussion? All that does is derail the topic and possibly confuse someone. Is there a reason why silently reporting the topic and asking a moderator to move it not sufficient? As I mentioned, you can let a user know on their profile as well.

Because the moderator who performs the action (moving, closing) does the job for you

They don't always explain why the post has been moved, and in fact, most times a post gets moved a Scratcher explains why it probably should be moved before it is. I don't see anything wrong with that.

The problem isn't saying why it should be moved, it's people bluntly and somewhat condescendingly saying “Reported to be moved” which doesn't give any context or information

scratchcode1_2_3 wrote:

CuteRobot22 wrote:

(#17)

scratchcode1_2_3 wrote:

KangaCoder wrote:

CuteRobot22 wrote:

For Example, Saying “I will have this post moved!” is absolutely disrespectful, but saying “I think this goes here actually” is not.

What value does that add to the discussion? All that does is derail the topic and possibly confuse someone. Is there a reason why silently reporting the topic and asking a moderator to move it not sufficient? As I mentioned, you can let a user know on their profile as well.

Because the moderator who performs the action (moving, closing) does the job for you

They don't always explain why the post has been moved, and in fact, most times a post gets moved a Scratcher explains why it probably should be moved before it is. I don't see anything wrong with that.

The problem isn't saying why it should be moved, it's people bluntly and somewhat condescendingly saying “Reported to be moved” which doesn't give any context or information

I agree with this. It seemed like KangaCoder didn't understand or agree with what I was trying to say.