Scratch

There are lots of people out there who want to be moderators. Well, there can only be so many - but don't despair! Even without a cute little title, you can still help the forums out.

Here's a guide on how to do it!
Read below for the contents.

-Contents-

1. The Report button
2. How to help the forums
3. I found a problem, now what?
4. Tips
Epilogue: Non-Moderator vs. Moderator

-Chapter One-
-The Report button-

The report button is the key to helping the forums (as discussed in the next chapter) It may sound frightening, as it sends off a report to the Forum Moderators. But it can be used for good as well! All it does is let them know something.
Here's a guide on what can be done with it:

Good

• Reporting inappropriate content
• Reporting a false link
• Reporting spam
• Reporting a thread that should be closed (be careful what you report)

Bad

• Reporting a thread about a game you don't like
• Reporting inappropriately
• Reporting completely wrong threads
• Reporting users you don't like

Other uses

• Reporting your thread so it can be renamed
• Reporting your thread so it can be closed

As you can see, the last box shows that the report button isn't only for inappropriate content. You can use it to mess with your threads, but be careful - too many reports may be irritating.

One last thing: Never use the report button to hurt a user you don't like. It's not nice, and it happens sometimes; it's been mentioned that being a moderator is tiring because there are lots of boring reports. So be glad you don't have the position, and make sure you don't annoy them.

-Chapter Two-
-How to help the forums-

This is so simple that it can be written as a bunch of steps. They don't have to be done in a certain order, unless it means leaving the forums before you log in.
Read all of them!

1. Once you've checked all your messages, enter the forums.
2. Go through all the forums. It's not strictly neccessary to read every thread in the Show and Tell forum, but it's good to take a look - how else will you find stuff that needs to be reported?
3. Post your opinion on matters such as suggestions.
4. Help others in the Troubleshooting forum.
5. If a new Scratch user is having trouble, help them.
6. If someone is wondering how to program something (usually found in the All About Scratch forum), help them. It may take a week or more, but you'll be proud once it's done!
7. Check the Inspiration and More. It has lots of interesting stuff, and some good matters to discuss - but stay polite.
8. If you're all tired, have a play in the Text-Based-Games.

Use the forums thoroughly. It may help to have a set path that you get used to; but don't leave anything out.
....................................
To make sure you only report neccessary items, here's a rough guide on it:

• A thread that is no longer relevant.
   Example: A thread for suggestions for Scratch 1.4 when 1.5 is the next release.
• A thread that is hurtful to some users.
   Example: What users do you hate?
• An inappropriate post.
   Example: [no point showing because it is inappropriate]
• Swearing.
   Example: [why show it?]
• Chatrooms (not allowed)
   Example: CHATROOM FOR ALL SCRATCH USERS
      *Read this thread: Read here to learn more about chatrooms
• Spam.
   Example: ajtkejawlktjaewutawkthjwaektjhawhtiea!!!!!!!!
• A thread that should be moved.
   Example: A suggestion in the Troubleshooting forum.
• Something that is completely unrelevant.
   Example: A balkjgajktleja equals a JABBERWOCKY!!! [in the Advanced Topics forum]
• Extremely controversial threads.
   Example: Did you know that [something that may be hurtful to some users]
• A false link.
   Example: "All about Scratch" actually takes you to a bad website.

Not 100% of cases can be easily mentioned, so one thing is essential: Use your common sense. Without it, you'd need a guide to everything. What would you do without it?

-Chapter Three-
-I found a problem, now what?-

When you find a problem, you may have been moderating or you may have been browsing. Either way, you need to know what to do.

Once you find something, follow these steps.

1. Check it. Are you sure? Are you in the thread you thought you were? If you need to, click the "quote" button and read the BBCode (if it's there).
2. Click the report button. You will see these words above a typing box: "Please enter a short reason why you are reporting this post". Notice the word "short". Don't drag on for ages; I have no idea how their messaging system works, but if it runs as a message, maybe it would take a lot of space. And maybe be irritating.
3. Send the report off, and be glad.
4 (only for some cases). If the case is something small (such as spamming), type the following. It's what the moderators do, so we should follow their example, right?

Demonstration:

Hey username, please don't spam in the forums. It annoys others and takes up space.

Thanks and Scratch on!

A longer explanation is better, but you get the point. Be polite, be friendly, and be forgiving.

-Chapter Four-
-Tips-

DO NOT SKIP THIS CHAPTER.

Being a moderator (or a pretend one) can be tiring. Use these tips to make it easier, or be careful.

• If you see someone swearing, don't quote them and tell them off. Your post will have to be edited as well, unless you do it yourself!
• If someone makes a thread such as chatroom, simply tell them off in the way mentioned in the previous chapter.
• If you want to moderate thoroughly, don't just look at active threads; use the "Show new posts since last visit" button.
• To be helpful, don't just moderate. If someone is having trouble, help them.
• Report everything that has to be acted on, but be careful not to be too touchy or lenient.
• Different people have different swearing tolerance levels. To be safe, pretend to be a sensitive user if you're lenient.

-Epilogue-
-Non-Moderator vs. Moderator-

As said before, there are lots of us who want to be moderators. But like most things, it has a good and bad side.
We will now show you the sides of each!

Non-Moderator

Good
• Doesn't have to moderate regularly
• Doesn't have to answer reports from users
• Doesn't have to discuss matters with the Scratch Team
• Doesn't reach expectations of constant qualities

Bad
• Has to click "Report" and wait
• Inappropriate content may have to wait for deletion
• None of the words "Forum Moderator" under username

Moderator

Good
• Can take direct action
• Can send messages to users to tell them off
• Has additional power that can be used for convenience
• Is well-respected within the Scratch Community

Bad
• Has to moderate daily (unless is sick)
• Has to view inappropriate content to delete it
• May get bored or tired of moderating
....................................
It's a tough business. Maybe you should be glad not to have a moderator title!