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    Moderation Essentials

    Keep your InterChat community safe and welcoming with comprehensive moderation tools and best practices.

    Moderation Essentials

    Effective moderation is crucial for maintaining a healthy, welcoming community. This guide covers InterChat's powerful moderation tools and proven strategies for keeping your hub safe.

    What You'll Learn

    • Understanding InterChat's moderation hierarchy
    • How to handle reports and inappropriate content
    • Using blacklists and warnings effectively
    • Building and managing a moderation team
    • Best practices for consistent enforcement

    Understanding Moderation Roles

    Permission Hierarchy

    Full Control Over Hub

    Permissions:

    • All moderation actions
    • Add/remove managers and moderators
    • Configure all hub settings
    • Delete or transfer hub ownership
    • Access all logs and reports

    Responsibilities:

    • Set overall hub direction and policies
    • Recruit and train moderation team
    • Handle appeals and complex issues
    • Ensure hub compliance with InterChat ToS

    Best Practices:

    • Stay actively involved in the community
    • Delegate appropriately to managers
    • Be available for escalated issues
    • Regularly review hub health and growth

    Trusted Leadership Role

    Permissions:

    • All moderation actions
    • Add/remove moderators (not other managers)
    • Configure most hub settings
    • Access all logs and reports
    • Manage hub rules and welcome messages

    Responsibilities:

    • Day-to-day hub management
    • Train and support moderators
    • Handle complex moderation cases
    • Coordinate with other managers

    Best Practices:

    • Maintain consistent enforcement standards
    • Communicate regularly with the owner
    • Document important decisions
    • Support moderator development

    Frontline Community Safety

    Permissions:

    • Blacklist users and servers
    • Issue warnings to users
    • Delete inappropriate messages
    • View infractions and reports
    • Use moderation panel tools

    Responsibilities:

    • Monitor hub activity regularly
    • Respond to reports promptly
    • Enforce hub rules consistently
    • Escalate complex issues to managers

    Best Practices:

    • Be visible and approachable
    • Document moderation actions
    • Stay calm under pressure
    • Seek guidance when uncertain

    Server-Level Authority

    Permissions:

    • Full control over their server's connections
    • Can disconnect from hubs at any time
    • Cannot override hub-wide moderation actions
    • Can moderate their own server's members

    Responsibilities:

    • Ensure their server follows hub rules
    • Coordinate with hub moderators
    • Handle server-specific issues
    • Communicate hub policies to their members

    Best Practices:

    • Work collaboratively with hub staff
    • Address issues before they escalate
    • Keep hub moderators informed of problems
    • Maintain good standing in the hub community

    Handling Reports

    Understanding the Report System

    When users report content, it creates a direct line to your moderation team:

    1. User Reports Content - Right-click message → Apps → InterChat → Report Message
    2. Report Sent to Log Channel - Appears in your configured reports channel
    3. Moderator Reviews - Team member investigates the report
    4. Action Taken - Appropriate response based on violation severity

    Setting Up Report Logging

    Configure Report Channel

    /hub config logging hub:YourHubName

    Select "Configure Report Logs" and choose a private channel for reports.

    Set Up Role Mentions (Optional)

    Configure a role to be pinged when reports arrive:

    • Create a @Hub Moderators role
    • Add it to the logging configuration
    • Ensure moderators have this role

    Test the System

    Have a trusted member submit a test report to verify everything works correctly.

    Responding to Reports

    When a Report Arrives:

    1. Review Quickly - Aim to respond within 1 hour during active hours
    2. Investigate Context - Look at surrounding messages for full picture
    3. Take Appropriate Action - Use the moderation panel or commands
    4. Document Decision - Note reasoning for future reference

    Available Actions:

    Opens Moderation Panel with Options:

    • Delete Message - Remove inappropriate content
    • Warn User - Issue formal warning
    • Blacklist User - Remove user from hub
    • Blacklist Server - Remove entire server
    • View Infractions - Check user's history

    When to Use:

    • Clear rule violations
    • Inappropriate content
    • Spam or harassment
    • Repeated minor offenses

    Indicates Report Has Been Handled

    When to Use:

    • Issue was resolved through other means
    • User was contacted privately
    • Content was already removed
    • Situation de-escalated naturally

    Best Practice:

    • Add a note explaining the resolution
    • Keep records for pattern tracking

    Dismisses Reports That Don't Require Action

    When to Use:

    • False reports or misunderstandings
    • Content that doesn't violate rules
    • Personal disputes that should be handled privately
    • Duplicate reports of the same issue

    Important:

    • Still document the decision
    • Consider if rules need clarification

    Using Blacklists Effectively

    User Blacklisting

    When to Blacklist Users:

    • Repeated rule violations after warnings
    • Serious violations (harassment, hate speech, etc.)
    • Spam or malicious behavior
    • Refusal to follow moderation instructions

    How to Blacklist:

    /blacklist user hub:YourHubName user:@ProblemUser reason:"Repeated spam after warnings" duration:7d

    Duration Guidelines:

    • First offense: 1-3 days
    • Repeat offenses: 1-2 weeks
    • Serious violations: 1 month or permanent
    • Extreme cases: Permanent immediately

    Server Blacklisting

    When to Blacklist Servers:

    • Consistent rule violations from multiple members
    • Server admin refuses to address problems
    • Coordinated harassment or raiding
    • Server culture incompatible with hub values

    How to Blacklist:

    /blacklist server hub:YourHubName server:123456789012345678 reason:"Multiple members violating rules, admin unresponsive" duration:30d

    Server Blacklisting Impact: This disconnects the entire server and prevents them from rejoining. Use carefully and document thoroughly.

    Managing Blacklists

    Review Active Blacklists:

    /blacklist list hub:YourHubName

    Remove Blacklists Early:

    /unblacklist user hub:YourHubName user:@User
/unblacklist server hub:YourHubName server:123456789012345678

    Best Practices:

    • Review temporary blacklists before they expire
    • Consider reducing sentences for good behavior
    • Document all blacklist decisions
    • Be consistent with similar violations

    Warning System

    When to Issue Warnings

    Perfect for:

    • First-time minor violations
    • Borderline behavior that needs correction
    • Educational opportunities
    • Building a paper trail for repeat offenders

    How to Warn:

    /warn user:@Username hub:YourHubName reason:"Please keep discussions on-topic per hub rules"

    Warning Best Practices

    Effective Warning Messages:

    • Be specific about the violation
    • Reference relevant rules
    • Explain expected behavior
    • Maintain a helpful tone

    Examples:

    Good Warning:

    "Please keep discussions focused on game development as outlined in our hub rules. Off-topic conversations can be moved to your server's general chat. Thanks for understanding!"

    Poor Warning:

    "Stop being off-topic."

    Escalation Path

    Typical Progression:

    1. Friendly Reminder - Informal correction
    2. Formal Warning - Official warning with documentation
    3. Temporary Blacklist - Short removal from hub
    4. Extended Blacklist - Longer removal
    5. Permanent Blacklist - Permanent removal

    Content Filtering

    Automated Protection

    Set up automated content filtering to catch issues before they become problems:

    /hub config anti-swear hub:YourHubName

    Filter Actions:

    • Block Message - Prevent message from appearing
    • Blacklist User - Automatically remove user (10 minutes)
    • Send Alert - Notify moderators of violation

    Creating Effective Filters

    Pattern Types:

    • word - Exact match only
    • word* - Matches words starting with "word"
    • *word - Matches words ending with "word"
    • *word* - Matches any word containing "word"

    Filter Strategy:

    1. Start with obvious violations
    2. Monitor for new patterns
    3. Adjust based on false positives
    4. Regular review and updates

    Pro Tip: Use the "Send Alert" action for borderline content that needs human review rather than automatic blocking.

    Building Your Moderation Team

    Recruiting Moderators

    Look for:

    • Active, respected community members
    • Good judgment and communication skills
    • Available during different time zones
    • Experience with Discord moderation (helpful but not required)

    Recruitment Process:

    1. Identify Candidates - Watch for natural leaders
    2. Private Approach - Discuss role privately first
    3. Trial Period - Start with limited permissions
    4. Full Promotion - Grant full moderator status after proving themselves

    Training New Moderators

    Essential Training Topics:

    • Hub rules and their interpretation
    • Available moderation tools and commands
    • Escalation procedures
    • Documentation requirements
    • Communication standards

    Training Resources:

    • Written moderation guidelines
    • Shadowing experienced moderators
    • Practice scenarios and role-playing
    • Regular team meetings and updates

    Team Coordination

    Communication Channels:

    • Private moderator Discord server/channel
    • Regular team meetings
    • Shared documentation (Google Docs, Notion, etc.)
    • Clear escalation procedures

    Documentation Standards:

    • Log all significant actions
    • Note reasoning for decisions
    • Track patterns and trends
    • Share insights with the team

    Moderation Best Practices

    Consistency is Key

    Establish Clear Standards:

    • Written guidelines for common violations
    • Consistent punishment scales
    • Regular team discussions about edge cases
    • Documentation of precedent decisions

    Regular Review:

    • Weekly team check-ins
    • Monthly policy reviews
    • Quarterly training updates
    • Annual comprehensive evaluation

    Communication Excellence

    With Rule Violators:

    • Stay calm and professional
    • Explain violations clearly
    • Offer guidance for improvement
    • Document all interactions

    With the Community:

    • Be visible and approachable
    • Respond to questions promptly
    • Explain decisions when appropriate
    • Maintain transparency about policies

    With Your Team:

    • Share important information quickly
    • Ask for help when needed
    • Provide feedback and support
    • Celebrate successes together

    Avoiding Burnout

    For Yourself:

    • Take regular breaks from moderation
    • Don't take violations personally
    • Seek support from team members
    • Maintain perspective on the bigger picture

    For Your Team:

    • Rotate difficult assignments
    • Provide emotional support
    • Recognize good work publicly
    • Ensure adequate team size

    Next Steps

    You're building a safer community! Continue improving with these advanced topics:

    Questions about moderation? Join our support community to connect with experienced moderators and get advice!

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