2 Weeks In Hell: A Template For Change

So, just to be clear, I sent this to the mods at the same time they opened up mod apps. It's clear they've chosen to go another way, but I put a lot of work into this so I wanted to share.

I had to leave the team because ultimately I was more of a liability than an asset due to my personal failings and relationship drama. If I were still on the team, there’s no way I would have the headspace to put this template together, so I hope that the team doesn’t feel like I am being hypocritical by presenting it as a lay-user. I obviously do not know what’s going on in each mod’s personal lives anymore or what the current state of the team is, but hopefully my experience was recent and informative enough that this will be a helpful tool for them to go forward from here.

These are the steps I believe should first be taken if the team wishes to go through this “2 Weeks of Hell” in order to get shit done and enact the change that is being called for by the userbase:

• Close down all subreddits except for r/LetterstoJNMIL and r/JustNoMIL. Allow all family and SO posts in JNMIL for the upcoming two weeks in order to consolidate the report queues and modmail channels. Allow meta posts in Letters like normal.

• During Helltime, users will not be able to expect personalized responses if a comment or post is removed or otherwise moderated because mods will need to be actively participating in team talks to effectuate the changes being called for. Canned responses will be provided for all mod actions during Helltime. If a user wishes to discuss the mod action further, it is requested that they wait until the end of Helltime unless it is an immediate and pressing issue.

• Before beginning the 2 Weeks of Hell, mods will review the template in full and take on positions for each shift as they are willing and able. Each stage takes an extended period of time, so it may be best for each position to be covered by more than one mod while team talks are happening.

• Each stage will begin with a post in Letters being crossposted and stickied to JNMIL announcing the stage and expected end goals of the stage. At the end of the stage, a stickied comment will be made to the stage’s announcement detailing what has been decided upon and enacted. Each stage announcement after the first will include a recap of the results of the previous stage.

• If goals cannot be met for a particular stage, a post will be made stating such and left open to receive feedback and suggestions until the end of Helltime. At the end of Helltime, mods will revisit the issues they were unable to resolve, and provide time estimates for resolutions.

Also, new mods will not onboard to r/JustNoMIL due to the need for a trial period before allowing them access to the biggest portion of the network. Onboard new mods to the JustNo offshoots based on what they wish to do and where their interpersonal skills will be of best use.

Anyways, here’s the timeline. I’m dividing it into chunks based on how many hours I feel each step can be reasonably achieved, given how great the amount of work needed and the fact that mods will need to communicate across all time zones.

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Positions for each stage: Modmail Answerer, Report Queue Wrangler, New Mod Solicitor, Poll Creator, Post Maker

#Stage 1

00:00-12:00 Review template, volunteer for positions for each stage of the 2 Weeks of Hell. (12 hours)

12:00-24:00 Compile list of potential mods to reach out to and create and post a poll for users to elect potential mods. Team talk about potentials and solicit any immediately-agreed-upon potential mods before phase ends. (12 hours)

Notes: The poll for users to elect potential mods will remain open for the duration of Helltime. It will be closed and reviewed during the end stage.

#Stage 2

24:00-36:00 Create post that includes poll on each rule and Wiki portion, soliciting votes and constructive criticism on all portions. Include link to post announcing Stage 1. (12 hours)

36:00-84:00 Receive feedback and team talk about modifications. Attempt to rewrite rules and Wiki. (48 hours)

84:00-96:00 Team vote on changes. (12 hours)

96:00-120:00 Create post to announce changes and allow a day to receive feedback from the userbase. (24 hours)

120:00-132:00 Revise based on feedback. (12 hours)

132:00-144:00 Final team vote on new rules and Wiki. (12 hours)

144:00-156:00 Create stickied comment in Stage 2 announcement post detailing all changes. (12 hours)

#Stage 3

156:00-168:00 Create post which announces Stage 3, recapping last stage with text from Stage 2’s stickied comment detailing that stage’s resolutions. (12 hours)

168:00-216:00 Team talk to create guidelines on how to review and moderate each type of rule violation based on the new rules. (48 hours)

216:00-228:00 Vote on guidelines. (12 hours)

228:00-252:00 Create post to announce changes and allow a day to receive feedback from the userbase. (24 hours)

252:00-264:00 Revise based on feedback. (12 hours)

264:00-276:00 Final team vote on moderation guidelines. (12 hours)

276:00-288:00 Create stickied comment in Stage 3 announcement post detailing newly crafted guidelines. (12 hours)

#Stage 4

288:00-300:00 Review user nominations for mods, team talk to choose new mods to solicit and then do so. (12 hours)

300:00-312:00 Create stage post announcing all new mods and solicit feedback on these choices. (12 hours)

312:00-324:00 Onboard approved mods. (12 hours)

324:00-336:00 Create final post announcing new mods and the reopening of all JustNo subreddits. Reopen all subreddits and begin mod training. Include link to final post in stickied comment made to Stage 4 announcement post. (12 hours)

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Feel free to discuss!