Glossary

The following is a glossary of terms that may be confusing or unfamiliar outside of modagogical discussion or online moderation generally.

Foundational Terms

These terms are the most used, broadest, and most important for understanding the methodologies behind modagogy.

Moderator –

Online Community –

Online Space –

Deeper Terms

These terms build on the foundational terms and provide more depth into the jargon used to describe modagogy and online moderation.

Freedom of Transmission Operation (FOTOP) – A method of staff-led culture-setting that involves behind-the-scenes coordination and "role modeling" to change community norms around certain kinds of content and behavior.

Hard Intervention – A type of enforcement action which involves explicitly asserting authority through the use of formal messaging, distinguishment, moderation tools (such as timeouts or bans), or other disruptive methods of enforcing standards.

Mercury User – Members of a space who slowly degrade the quality of discourse and the space at-large through consistently abrasive, off-putting, or toxic behavior. These users very often walk along a fine line, attempting to avoid behaviors which would give a clear reason for being removed from the community, but are still problematic for said community's long-term health.

Missing Stair – Community members who often create friction through a failure to adequately follow the norms, expectations, and/or rules of a space. This can be intentional or accidental, but the problematic behavior will remain a consistent part of their engagement with the space.

Rules Lawyering – An attempt by a member of a space to litigate the specific wording or intention of rules or policy with the intention of carving exceptions or rule changes which enable problematic behavior.

Soft Intervention – A type of enforcement action which involves approaching users informally, asking politely for behavior to change or stop, or reminding them of the server rules and norms in an assertive but conversational way.