The Moderators Toolbox

The Moderators' Toolbox

Moderators have several capabilities:

• Edit iBox/Update Information
• Requesting Board Name and Ticker Changes
• Managing Sticky Posts
• Manage Assistants (Applies to boards that are not stock-specific. Available to Lead Moderator and Admins Only)
• Managing Surveys
• Manage eMail List
• Deletion of Posts
• Banning Users (Premium Boards Only) & Requesting Sanctions

The Moderator's view of a board includes a Manage button between the iBox and the message list. The Manage version of a board listing is used to access the above Moderator functions.

The iBox a/k/a Intro

This is where the Board is introduced to other Users. Updating this information is pretty self-explanatory. Directions for adding charts and images can be found here.

The content of the Intro is subject to the same rules as any other Member posting. For stock-specific boards, the content should be restricted to information that is relevant to that stock. The only rules that govern the stock specific boards are the Terms of Use. Moderators should not include a set of rules in the iBox that extend, contradict or modify the Terms of Use, i.e. "this board is for those that believe in the company".

Please do not include embedded music in the Intro as it often causes browser problems for Users, places excessive demand on hosting servers, and discourages people from using the site while at work or in other public places. Please be reasonable about placing embedded images such as charts in the Intro since it increases bandwidth demands for both viewing Users and the sites that host the image files. Do not paste images directly into the Intro. Use the Image Link tool to embed the image either from a third-party hosting website, or upload the image to your iHub Image Repository and link to it from there.

No Moderator should be deleting or editing other Moderator's content in the iBox. Feel free to add any information to the Intro that adheres to the rules of this site. However, prior to deleting others' content, it should only be done with all Moderator's approval. New moderators should add their content to the bottom of the Intro; the seniority order for content in the Intro can be seen by clicking on the Moderators tab. We recommend that all moderators group and delineate their content into a section by adding a horizontal line to the top and bottom, and indicating at the top of the section, for example "This section maintained by [alias]".

When a stock specific boards loses all Moderators, then the iBox will be deleted. When a new Mod is added, then they have the option to place their own content in the Intro or to restore previous versions of the iBox. This is accomplished by clicking on Manage/Edit iBox/iBox Version History/Select a Version (click on the date to preview)/Revert to This Version.

Requesting Board Name and/or Ticker Changes

Moderators can request a board name and ticker change by clicking on Manage/Board Name-Ticker Change/Submit. Don't forget to include a link to FINRA detailing the change when it pertains to a stock-specific board.

Managing Sticky Posts

Any message posted within the last 48 hours can be stickied provided it adheres to the TOS.

On non-stock boards, Moderators can add up to six sticky posts to be highlighted at the top of the message list.

On stock-specific boards, each Moderator can add one sticky post and can only remove their own. When a moderator is removed their sticky post is automatically removed.

Managing Board Surveys

Please see FAQ:Board_Surveys for more information.

Manage Board eMail List

With this feature Moderators can send a mass email directly to people who have signed up to receive such emails on that board. Some Moderators use these to give daily wraps-ups or notify people of important information that they may want to come to the site to read and discuss. There are many reasons for sending such emails. The only people who can receive such emails are those who voluntarily enroll in them. Moderators have access to the list of subscribers but not their email addresses. However, note the email address that the Moderator uses will be visible to all recipients. If you are having problems with bounce backs, please send a PM to IH Admin asking for assistance.

Deletion of Posts

While in manage mode, Moderators will see a message that says "Click any message below to view, then remove or restore it." Clicking on a specific post will then show the option to "remove" in a box on the left. Clicking this will then provide the following options as a reason for removal: Personal Attack, Duplicate Post, Spam, Off Topic, Vulgarity, Author Asked to Remove, Violation of Privacy, Threat.

Duplicate

This is an accidental duplicate post by a single Member. This does not mean a similar message posted previously or the same content posted by a different Member.

Personal Attack

This is when someone attacks one or more members personally rather than the content of that Member's message. The post does not have to be addressed to the "target" of the attack to be considered a Personal Attack. If it attacks a messenger rather than the message, it qualifies for deletion and it is expected that Moderators will remove it.

Spam

• Posting the same or similar content to more than two (2) boards within a calendar day;
• Posting the same or almost identical post more than twice within a calendar day i.e. "where's the PR?", "anyone seen the PR?", "thought there was going to be a pr today?", "geez, is the pr coming out today or not?";
• Sending the same or similar unsolicited PM to multiple recipients More on PM spam.
• Posting statements that do not add value to the discussion (i.e. "My cat ate my homework" or "Bzinga");
• Posting excessively on one or more message board(s). The boards are for discussion not a pulpit for individual Users. If you feel someone is abusing their posting privilege in this manner, please discuss this with a Site Admin without deleting any posts that don't otherwise violate the TOS. Admin will review posting history and may, at their discretion, impose posting restrictions if deemed to be warranted.
• Spam that overlaps off-topic are posts containing content promoting other sites.
• Spam promoting other stocks/companies on a stock specific board. For example, if your board is about Ford Motor Company, a post or link suggesting someone buy stock in a pharmaceutical company is not relevant to the discussion. This does not apply to industry or trading comparisons/discussion. For example, someone comparing a stock run to a similar run on another stock is fine. It also doesn't apply if someone makes an off hand comment that they took profits on another specific stock and brought them here. The goal is to remove clear, egregious promotion of other stocks ("Get out here and take your money to XXXX", etc.).

Off Topic

• Posts that victimize, harass, degrade, or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or disability
• Posts about or focusing on other Members or groups of people and their reasons for posting on the board (i.e. "XYZDownDaDrain" is just a basher, ignore him", "XYZToDaMoon" is a pumper", "the naysayers are very loud today", "c'mon, where did all the cheerleaders go?"). The post does not have to be addressed to a specific person. If the post is about other Users then it should be removed.
• Posts with religious or political statements should be removed as "off topic". These inevitably create an avalanche of replies that are off topic as well.
• Posts about Moderators and/or deletions are also "off topic". Issues of this nature need to be discussed with a Site Admin.

Vulgarity

• The PG13 rule is loosely used as a guideline to what is/isn't acceptable when determining whether a comment is vulgar. The theory is that if society has deemed it appropriate for a 13 year old to hear, it is unlikely that it will be offensive to the majority of Users.
• Otherwise, profanity (as explained above) is unacceptable on the stock boards, even when punctuation characters are used to "fill in the blanks" or letters are changed (f**k, azzh*le, etc.). Note that there are also "polite versions" for many acronyms and these are assumed to be the case when in doubt (i.e. "wtf?" = "what the freak?" in the polite version).
• Any form of vulgarity directed at another User is unacceptable and should be removed (i.e. "you're a sh*thead", "being an a** doesn't help your case").

Author Asked to Remove

• When a Member has specifically asked that a post be removed and has cited a valid reason for removal, such as accidentally revealing personal information. This is an occasional accommodation and is not to be used to "mask" the removal of bona fide TOS violations. If you are asked as a Moderator to remove more than 2 messages as Author Request, please send the User to discuss with Admin.
• Messages over 48 hours old are not removed, even when requested by the Author, unless there are extreme circumstances (i.e. accidentally revealing an account number).

Violation of Privacy

• Posting of what the Member believes to be any personally identifiable information (email, real name, phone, address, etc.) about another User or posting the contents of a private message is a privacy violation. For example, if a Member posts that "XYZDownDaDrain is actually Bob Smith", whether the information is accurate is irrelevant. The Member was trying to disclose personal information. This is a serious violation and can get you suspended or terminated from the site.
• Posting or referring to the contents of private messages without the author's prior consent is considered a violation of privacy and can get the User suspended or terminated from the site.

Threat

• A Member threatening any other Member in any fashion is to be removed.
• Threats or insinuations of violence or physical harm against anyone is a serious infraction and can get you suspended or terminated from the site.

If a post does not fit into any of these categories the post must not be removed.

Some posts fall into a "gray" area and are borderline depending upon the way they are read. As inclusion is favored over exclusion, please err or the side of not removing posts if they are not clear violations. Please use the "Report TOS Violation" button at the bottom of the post with your comments if the post is not egregious in nature and Site Admins will review the message.

Bottom line: Please use your best judgment in removing posts based on the above guidelines and let us know if you have any questions or need any help. And keep in mind that post removal and non-removal have to be given the same emphasis. It is not permissible, for example, to remove a post that calls someone a "pumper" while not also removing a post that calls someone a "basher". Investor sentiment, including your own, can NOT be part of the removal/non-removal decision.

More guidance about acceptable removal of posts can be found at FAQ:Deletions and Restores.

Posting on the Board as a Moderator

The way a Moderator chooses to post on the board is often perceived to be a guideline for other Users. If the Moderator frequently violates the TOS others are going to feel it is permissible for them to do so also. It is not acceptable for either the Moderator or Members. Moderators who are also Premium members should use PMs to communicate with board Members about their conduct, such as a reminder to "stay on topic." If you are unable to send PMs, please ask a Site Admin to communicate the message to the member. All Users can communicate with the Site Admins via Private Message (PM).

Moderators should never threaten other Users. For example, a public post or a PM stating "Get on topic or your posts will be deleted and you will be banned" is not healthy and usually just inflames the situation.

Moderator Disagreement on Deletions/Restores

Occasionally, Moderator's disagree on whether a message should be removed. Mods do have the ability to "overturn" another Moderator's decision and restore that post. However, if the disagreement continues beyond one or two actions, the Moderators should hit the "More" button on the post and then click on "Report TOS Violation" This will allow Admin will to make the final determination. A "mod-war" of deleting/restoring messages is not acceptable and may result in removal of the Moderators who choose to play this game.

Moderators cannot reverse an action by Mod Squad or Admin. If you are confused about why any action was taken by either of these parties, please send a PM to iHAdmin.

Deletion of Moderator Posts

Frequent or multiple deletions of a Moderator's own posts is considered abuse of Moderator privileges. Think before you post, and if it's a Terms of Use violation or you would rather it not be in the public domain, please don't post it.

Banning Posters and Requesting Sanctions

Only Site Admins can ban users from stock specific boards for TOS Violations.

Moderators can request bans from Admin on other boards in the Free Zone that are not stock specific. This request is generally honored.

Moderators on Premium Zone boards can ban users from those boards. This can be done from the Message List.

Site Administrators are frequently asked by Moderators to "do something" about a poster on a stock specific board. There are many times that a restriction, ban or suspension is the appropriate course of action. However; there are other times that this decision is not appropriate because the board has not been moderated "consistently" and/or based on the Terms of Use. When a request of this nature is received, a Site Admin reviews the Member's posts, then the posts that he/she is replying to and the replies to his/her posts. If there are other Terms of Use violations (personal attacks, etc.) still on the board, it makes it difficult to justify sanctions against one Member and not others. While no other Poster or post gives anyone the right to violate the Terms of Use, it's simply not fair or representative of the spirit of IHub when an inconsistent message is being sent regarding acceptable user conduct.

Moderators must endeavor to consistently moderate based solely upon the Terms of Use.