Managing our facebook presence: Group Names, Code of Conduct, and Guidelines
Sara Wolf
Public
Seen by 29
Our current facebook image is a mess! Most of us found our way to this movement and were able to get plugged in from the fb page and it remains an important part of or public outreach. How can we keep it productive and positive? Let's put our best face forward!
Group Names
A big obstacle is that we have a LOT of forums! It's hard to keep up and be present when needed and it's hard to find or post key info, action alerts or events without them getting lost in the fray. Some name changes have happened without discussion which may further confuse matters. (Original group names are approximations.)
1. Our "Ranked Choice Voting - Portland" page was recently changed to Election Reform-PDX (inaccurate since our focus is so far specifically voting system reform)
2. Our "RCV-OR" page was changed to Ranked Choice Voting Discussion Group
3. Loomio and our website are still Ranked Choice Voting Oregon, RCV-OR or a version thereof.
4. We also have some other fb pages for subgroups and committees that are redundant with Loomio subgroups.
Please comment below with thoughts and suggestions on our group name and fb groups names.
Group Consolidation
Maybe we only need one fb main page and then Loomio for discussion? Do we really need a FB discussion group? Do we need individual fb groups for each location, such as PDX etc. or should that kind of think be included in the Oregon group, at least for now? Do we want to limit discussion and debate on our main fb page and encourage it elsewhere? Many people have expressed that they are stressed, fed up, or ready to leave due to overwhelming facebooking. Loomio was proposed to solve this and passed a general meeting vote with a consensus (pretty sure :) )
Aggressive Fb Posting
Lately our facebook groups have been inundated with postings and debates that hinge on inflammatory slander and insults or on blatantly false information. While some productive conversation has followed, I fear that this is not only exhausting to respond to and a lot of work to damage control, but also a huge turn off for prospective people interested in checking us out or getting involved! In one case in particular I know this is the intention as they openly stated (off fb) that they are out to undermine us and our work. I'm personally not comfortable letting lies and attacks stand unanswered but also feel that this not a good use of our key people's time. For this reason I've drafted a Code of Conduct:
>Code Of Conduct and Guidelines
I propose that our RCV OR fb groups needs to post some rules at the top that admin can use to help moderate and keep things focused and positive. Below is a welcome mat of sorts for the main page:
>Welcome to this RCV Oregon Facebook Group! Please read our Code of Conduct and Guidelines and get involved. We would love to have your participation! (or something to this effect!)
1. Respect: No personal insults, name calling or slander.
2. Honesty: Most ideas are debatable and differences of opinion are expected and encouraged but intentionally repeating false or misleading statements is a destructive tactic to undermine our movements and has no place here.
3. Goals: Agree to help keep us organized and focused. This main page is for welcoming new people to the movement, letting people know about meetings, action alerts and current events. Some communication here is fine but extensive debate and discussion should move on to:
- the RCV discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rcvoregon/?ref=bookmarks
- To participate in focused discussion and planning please use the Loomio group: https://www.loomio.org/g/mlgtGHuy/rcv-oregon
>+ If people don't follow these rules an admin messages them: "These are the terms we use to remove posts, can you please edit your comment/post or move it to the appropriate forum. We value your participation!"
+ If a post isn't edited/moved and admin deletes it they would message them: "Your post was deleted. These are the terms we use to remove posts. PLEASE post again following our guidelines! We value your participation!"
+ Blocking people would be an absolute LAST resort only!
Poll Created Sat 11 Mar 2017 3:00AM
Code Of Conduct and Guidelines Closed Tue 14 Mar 2017 1:00AM
I propose that our RCV OR fb groups needs to post some rules at the top that admin can use to help moderate and keep things focused and positive. Wording can be fine tuned if needed. Below is a welcome mat of sorts for the main page:
Welcome to this RCV Oregon Facebook Group! Please read our Code of Conduct and Guidelines and get involved. We would love to have your participation! (or something to this effect!)
1. Respect: No personal insults, name calling or slander.
2. Honesty: Most ideas are debatable and differences of opinion are expected and encouraged but intentionally repeating false or misleading statements is a destructive tactic to undermine our movements and has no place here.
3. Goals: Agree to help keep us organized and focused. This main page is for welcoming new people to the movement, letting people know about meetings, action alerts and current events. Some communication here is fine but extensive debate and discussion should move on to:
- the RCV discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rcvoregon/?ref=bookmarks
- To participate in focused discussion and planning please use the Loomio group: https://www.loomio.org/g/mlgtGHuy/rcv-oregon
- If people don't follow these rules an admin messages them: "These are the terms we use to remove posts, can you please edit your comment/post or move it to the appropriate forum. We value your participation!"
- If a post isn't edited/moved and admin deletes it they would message them: "Your post was deleted. These are the terms we use to remove posts. PLEASE post again following our guidelines! We value your participation!"
- Blocking people would be an absolute LAST resort only!
This proposal is on the agenda for the structure committee meeting this Monday.
Results
| Results | Option | % of points | Voters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Agree | 50.0% | 3 |
|
| Abstain | 0.0% | 0 | ||
| Disagree | 50.0% | 3 |
|
|
| Block | 0.0% | 0 | ||
| Undecided | 0% | 34 |
|
6 of 40 people have participated (15%)
Sara Wolf
Sat 11 Mar 2017 3:13AM
Guidelines help moderators be effective, fair and impartial and allow people to self-moderate. Keeping our main page clear of discord will help prevent stress and help build our coalition, while still giving people a voice in more productive forums!
Aaron Wolf
Sat 11 Mar 2017 4:08AM
As long as every effort is made to encourage participation… codes-of-conduct actually help because they signal to people that they can participate and not get personally attacked etc.
Adam Zielinski
Sun 12 Mar 2017 3:27PM
I'm not against having a code of conduct for our Facebook groups, but I don't agree 100% with the language posted in this proposal. For starters, I don't agree that the Oregon wide group is more for discussion than the Portland group.
Adam Zielinski
Sun 12 Mar 2017 3:28PM
I'm not against having a code of conduct for our Facebook groups, but I don't agree 100% with the language posted in this proposal. For starters, I don't agree that the Oregon wide group is more for discussion than the Portland group.
George Hayduke Oliver
Mon 13 Mar 2017 2:20AM
I am not cool with tone policing and restricting free expression. I am cool with having guidelines and empowering an Admin but do we really need a principal's office for discipline now? I am neutral.
Fillard Spring-Rhyne
Mon 13 Mar 2017 8:12AM
See my comment in the discussion section associated with this proposal.
Aaron Wolf Sat 11 Mar 2017 4:09AM
For consideration, here's the Code of Conduct written for another organization I'm involved with: https://wiki.snowdrift.coop/community/conduct
Sara Wolf Sat 11 Mar 2017 8:41PM
From Aaron, who asked me to repost this here because he is short on time.
"Moderation is not about censorship, it's about productive communication. The point is that fundamentally, if you don't moderate, you let trolls or just persistent people dominate everything and others have to either self-moderate or reply or constantly post about needing to change things. It's a HELP to the very people who are trying to discuss things to have moderators who help everyone keep discussion to appropriate places."
"Good moderation can mean helping people reach a truce. Instead of me unilaterally deleting all my posts or refusing to respond (because it's excessive or inappropriate) but leaving the other person to have the last word, the moderator can delete everyone's stuff and tell them to take it to the appropriate subgroup etc. so it helps the group and doesn't hurt the participants or give any person more say than another."
George Hayduke Oliver · Sat 11 Mar 2017 3:12AM
I agree that social media face is a mess. Considering the circumstances and situation it is understandable. It sounds to me that we don't need a discuss group and need more of a page format where Admin post and greet new page likes.
When we take the freedom or liberty to be candid than we will see people disengage. I like Loomio but FB is used for various reasons and increases interaction with interested parties.