This is what your frivolous reports wind up preventing

quirkytizzy

And whom it really harms. (I.e - not the offensive people you hope it will.)

Explicit language: The life of a Facebook Moderator

http://theinternetoffendsme.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/the-real-story-behind-facebook-moderation-and-your-petty-reports/

ihad

Chilling to hear the horrors they have to deal with.

Frustrating to see the pettiness that gets in the way.

But good to know they're on the job, trying to help...

BeachIron

A bit self important of the writer, but a very good point to make none the less. Thanks for posting.

quirkytizzy

Agreed.

I used to mod on a board populated with mostly teenagers and once I did call a poster's local police station. She'd asked me for help after running away from home. The police managed to get her into a safehouse, thank god. I remember the absolute rage I felt dealing with the rest of the reports that day, though. It's always stuck with me.

PetulantOne

That's insane.

People seem to be offended by all the wrong things...

Dark_Roast

It's unbelievably sad that a little girl has to turn to FB for help. That really makes me want to cry.

AllonsYtotheTardis

as long as there is a report button next to every single post (there is on FB, too, BTW). there will be frivolous reporting. Make it a little more work, and there will be less frivolous reporting.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Chilling to hear the horrors they have to deal with.

Frustrating to see the pettiness that gets in the way.

But good to know they're on the job, trying to help...

Yep, this.

Also, I guess I didn't realize Facebook was even moderated. Shows how much time I spend there.

UncleMac

It's unbelievably sad that a little girl has to turn to FB for help. That really makes me want to cry.

When people feel overwhelmed, the number of options they believe available to them seem to diminish. As bizarre as it sounds, I'm glad the little girl asked for help since victims often don't until it's too late.

I moderate on an automotive enthusiasts website. The majority of the users are adults and most of them are theoretically mature... yet there are times when the level of discover descends to playground sand-box level. Human nature isn't pretty. Incidentally, I've removed/banned users for CRS (chronic report syndrome) and then removed/banned the next dozen user names created by the same CRS sufferer in an attempt to get back onto the board.

quirkytizzy

When people feel overwhelmed, the number of options they believe available to them seem to diminish. As bizarre as it sounds, I'm glad the little girl asked for help since victims often don't until it's too late.

I moderate on an automotive enthusiasts website. The majority of the users are adults and most of them are theoretically mature... yet there are times when the level of discover descends to playground sand-box level. Human nature isn't pretty. Incidentally, I've removed/banned users for CRS (chronic report syndrome) and then removed/banned the next dozen user names created by the same CRS sufferer in an attempt to get back onto the board.

This is true. In my teenage years, I reached out to teachers. Had the internet been a thing then, I'm sure I would have reached out to people of authority online.

Cr01502

Chilling to hear the horrors they have to deal with.

Frustrating to see the pettiness that gets in the way.

But good to know they're on the job, trying to help...

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I think this article really puts a perspective on what report buttons are actually for.

DebbieLyn63

While I agree that the situation with the little girl was horrific, and yes mods have a difficult and taxing job, I think this particular mod might need to find a different career. Sounds like a bit of burnout going on.
Perhaps they could try being a 911 operator? But I don't think they make $30 an hour.

Not everyone is cut out for every job.

LoraF83

While I agree that the situation with the little girl was horrific, and yes mods have a difficult and taxing job, I think this particular mod might need to find a different career. Sounds like a bit of burnout going on.
Perhaps they could try being a 911 operator? But I don't think they make $30 an hour.

Not everyone is cut out for every job.

Being a 911 operator would almost be even worse. Because they actually have to talk to the people doing the frivilous reporting. People really don't have a clue what constitutes an "emergency" - even IRL.

FussyFruitbat

I really don't believe a Facebook mod wrote this.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I really don't believe a Facebook mod wrote this.

Why not? Just out of curiosity.

Ramberta

In the time it took him to write this butthurt rant, 5 acts of violence that were flagged on Facebook went unnoticed and no one 'saved them'.

HEYOOOOOOO

...No but seriously. Whining about how he can't help people by being a mod? He's in the wrong career, plain and simple. Blaming society as a whole for humanity's crimes is not only pointless, it's just as irritating as people abusing the "report as inappropriate" function. OMG PEOPLE ARE USING A WEBSITE THE WAY THEY WANT TO. Because clearly, anyone who doesn't spend their time looking at horrors online and "trying to stop" them is a terrible person, right?

I have never reported something on Facebook in my life. Then again I have never seen pornography or violence. I suppose if I did that would be reason to report, but if I saw something truly horrifying my first thought would be "How do I contact the local authorities" and not "herpaderr, I'm gonna save this person by referring this pic to some mod who writes whiny rants."

That being said, if that line about people being paid $1 an hour is true that's fvcked up. And if that anecdote about the seven year old girl is true, then kudos to her for figuring out how to send a cry for help that would get heard at all. If this was thirty years prior, she would have absolutely no way to contact anyone outside of her immediate home area. The world has always been a terrible place-- technology just reveals more and more instances of it. We think there is more violence because we are AWARE of more violence.

Anyway, TL;DR this guy should take his own advice and get off the internet, since it seems to offend him more than anyone.

Ramberta

Also, I laughed at this example of "frivolous reporting":

“This page shared my picture without credit or permission.”

Since when is stealing someone else's photograph or created image considered a write-off? No, it's not on the same level as violence or pornography, but it's apples and oranges. Someone's intellectual property is theirs, and art / music / movie / writing theft is extremely prominent despite all the attempted crackdowns.

usmcmp

In the time it took him to write this butthurt rant, 5 acts of violence that were flagged on Facebook went unnoticed and no one 'saved them'.

So you are assuming they wrote it at work instead of when they are off the clock and at home. I'd hate for people to say I failed my work by not being on the clock 24/7. Heaven forbid that person get personal time, there are children being raped and only they can stop it.

MacMadame

My work blocked the article. I find that ironic but probably the way the author intended.

usmcmp

In the time it took him to write this butthurt rant, 5 acts of violence that were flagged on Facebook went unnoticed and no one 'saved them'.

HEYOOOOOOO

...No but seriously. Whining about how he can't help people by being a mod? He's in the wrong career, plain and simple. Blaming society as a whole for humanity's crimes is not only pointless, it's just as irritating as people abusing the "report as inappropriate" function. OMG PEOPLE ARE USING A WEBSITE THE WAY THEY WANT TO. Because clearly, anyone who doesn't spend their time looking at horrors online and "trying to stop" them is a terrible person, right?

I have never reported something on Facebook in my life. Then again I have never seen pornography or violence. I suppose if I did that would be reason to report, but if I saw something truly horrifying my first thought would be "How do I contact the local authorities" and not "herpaderr, I'm gonna save this person by referring this pic to some mod who writes whiny rants."

That being said, if that line about people being paid $1 an hour is true that's fvcked up. And if that anecdote about the seven year old girl is true, then kudos to her for figuring out how to send a cry for help that would get heard at all. If this was thirty years prior, she would have absolutely no way to contact anyone outside of her immediate home area. The world has always been a terrible place-- technology just reveals more and more instances of it. We think there is more violence because we are AWARE of more violence.

Anyway, TL;DR this guy should take his own advice and get off the internet, since it seems to offend him more than anyone.

You missed the point of the article. It was written to bring awareness to the *kitten* that report anti-religious or racist pictures because their parents didn't teach them how to suck it up and ignore.

Ramberta

Agreed.

I used to mod on a board populated with mostly teenagers and once I did call a poster's local police station. She'd asked me for help after running away from home. The police managed to get her into a safehouse, thank god. I remember the absolute rage I felt dealing with the rest of the reports that day, though. It's always stuck with me.

So... let me get this straight...

Because other people aren't exposed to / actively trying to prevent awful things from happening at any given time, now they're worthy of rage because they dared to make a "frivolous report"? This logic makes absolutely no sense to me.

You want to end frivolous reporting? Get rid of the report button. You can't control people and you can't make them care about other people, so being mad at them for not caring accomplishes nothing except making you mad.

I applaud your efforts to help that girl, but don't take out your anger on people who don't deserve it. There are plenty of people with nice, sheltered lives, and they should not be raged at because their problems aren't horrific in nature.