Sometimes, even really good forum members make a mistake. And, rather than confronting them in public which leads to a humiliating showdown, I take it to private message.
Most of the other forum members won't even know what went down and suddenly jumping on a forum member in public will make it seem like I'm picking on that person.
And, this is true even when I'm simply enforcing rules.
As admins and moderators, enforcing rules is our job, whatever forum we work on and whether we own the forum or not.
I just like to keep a very pleasant atmosphere, free of public drama. And, criticizing or rebuking a forum member in public over their mistakes leads to no good place. Other forum members are likely to jump in and start a war.
What is your view on publicly scolding a forum member? Would you do it to set an example for other members? Or, do you take it to private?
Only time I've done it is when an entire topic has perhaps gone off topic, or a subject is being discussed that is starting to go too far and I make a mention to refrain from continuing it further. I don't do it as a scold though, I just make a friendly note. If a specific person is doing something they shouldn't though, I message them privately instead. Public is just when a thread as a whole is going to places it shouldn't and needs a public reminder to avoid that given to everybody.
I don't see the need to publicly scold a member. The PM system is there for a reason, keep 'dirty laundry' behind closed doors so to speak. If I ever notice my members having a dispute on the public forum, they are reminded to take it to PM.
I would never scold a member in public it just would not be professional at all, pm should be used, and it gives the member the opportunity to tell his side of the story.
I would only say something publicly to calm down a topic.
that would be very harsh to do in public, I must say. 😛
I wouldn't personally do that, there are limits. Use the PM system to your advantage. If it doesn't concern the whole community, why get them involved in whats happening in the first place?
I, personally, don't like scolding people in public. I don't like being scolded in public so I don't like doing it to others. If a person breaks the rules, it is usually best to just PM them and let that be that.
Now, if a thread completely derails then that may be one thing. I may post a message in that thread (not directing it towards any particular member, of course) and just say that the message needs to get back on topic or it will be closed down (in a professional manner). But again, you aren't directing the message at anyone specifically, as it was several different people that derailed the thread.
I don't agree with it at all; treat it like you're actually in public. You won't want to scold them in front of a crowd of people, you take them to a private spot and tell them. In the end, it's less humiliating for both of you, because you don't look rude, and they don't get embarrassed
It is not nice to publicly scold a member, no matter what they have done. Much like what most of the others have said, it's what Private Messages are for. I'd much prefer to sanction them and discuss it privately and then hopefully disregard what had happened when their banning (or whatever punishment you dish out) is over. 🙂
I wouldn`t scold anyone in private, much less in public. my rule is not to do to others what you don`t wish to yourself. If someone scolds a member of this forum publicly, I think he doesn`t deserve to be in this great community
