Note: The thread currently has a limit of one post every two hours for non-mod users. Currently, this is hard-coded by the admins, but there are plans to give mods the ability to toggle it without admin intervention. After mods are given the ability to do that, the time limit may be further reduced or removed entirely.
This thread is for discussing the following topics:
- Questions and clarifications about the site's rules and policies pertaining to wiki editing, forum posting, trope launching, and so on.
- If you have an idea for a thread on another part of the forums but aren't sure if creating it would be allowed, feel free to ask here.
This thread is not for any of the following:
- Reporting complaints or concerns about specific moderation decisions (e.g. suspensions and thumps). Report these directly to the admins via the contact form
. Selecting "The Staff" sends your message to the admins only, without making it visible to moderators.
- Queries about thumps applied to your own forum posts, including contesting the validity of a thump. Reply to the relevant moderator via PM for these matters.
- Ban appeals (use the "Edit Banned" thread
in this forum).
- Reporting problems or requesting moderator action in the wiki or forums (use Ask The Tropers or Hollersnote or specialized threads such as "Locked Pages"
).
- Queries about locked On-Topic Conversations (OTC) threads or banned discussion topics. OTC has its own moderation discussion thread here
, and the latest statement on the locked US Politics thread
and other banned OTC topics is here
. Bluntly, when certain OTC threads and topics have repeatedly caused problems, we're not going to provide forum space to discuss them again until the moderation toolkit is equipped to handle those conversations.
- Cut List challenges and queries (they have their own thread here
).
- Requests for changes to the site's code or discussion about such changes, as mods cannot change the code; only the admins can do that. Please direct tech requests to Query Bugs or Tech Wishlist (for bug reports and suggestions for feature additions/changes, respectively), and take other tech-related discussion to the Changelog thread
.
- Crowner actions. Please use the holler function instead.
- Discussion about changing or implementing policies. Please use Wiki Talk for that. (Asking whether it's OK to make a specific thread is acceptable; using this thread in place of such a thread is not.)
- Asking about the whereabouts of inactive mods (or other inactive users) before they return, if they return at all. Use the Absent people thread
for discussing inactive users.
Posts that use this thread in place of the sections listed in the bulleted list above are off-topic.
We're aware that the Edit Banned thread has a Non-Indicative Name, due to it also covering non-editing suspensions. We're not sure whether the name for that thread can even be edited without breaking the special coding that keeps posting restricted to mods and suspended users, so we're leaving it alone for now, because better safe than sorry.
(Edited Mar 28 2024, adding bullet about OTC and amending layout a little)
Edited by GastonRabbit on Oct 11th 2024 at 3:20:25 AM
Fair. I can draft a thread OP post but I'll wait to see if the mods want us to move threads. Until then, let's settle down for a bit.
Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper WallI'd rather have a spin-off thread than get this one completely swamped with discussion of one topic.
This sounds very much like a "I want it because it's what I've always had" argument, and there is no end of forum software and cheap sites where it can be hosted if that's what matters.
As I've already pointed out, this isn't about the "TV Tropes community". It's abundantly clear that the YF/TG community is almost completely isolated from the wiki and media community.
Edited by Fighteer on Jan 19th 2021 at 7:47:23 AM
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Alright, we'll make a spin-off. Do you want one of us to make it?
Sure, go ahead. We can give it whatever official stamp of approval is necessary.
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"I'm just pointing out that people use forums and chatrooms for different purposes
Edited by Sixthhokage1 on Jan 19th 2021 at 6:50:26 AM
I agree. And if you want forums, there are thousands of them out there. That can't be the sole motivation.
Edit: I ask that this be put on hold until we get the topical thread created, lest the conversation split.
Edited by Fighteer on Jan 19th 2021 at 7:54:05 AM
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"We were hoping it could be stickied on Yack Fest temporarily to get people there.
Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper WallWow, a lot has happened this night. I know there's that new thread, but I don't know if I'll have anything new to post there, at least right now.
Anyway, this is something that's related to actual moderation. I suggested that the staff looking for mod candidates should potentially only worry about their "skeletons in the closet" from the last two years or so here
, but AFAIK received no response. Is there something wrong with that? As I said, a person can change a lot in two years, and it could open a pool of mod candidates.
Edited by Piterpicher on Jan 19th 2021 at 7:07:19 PM
Currently mostly inactive. An incremental game I tested: https://galaxy.click/play/176 (Gods of Incremental)I'm not sure a single hard cutoff date would be the best way to handle it. There are some transgressions worth forgetting after a week, and some worth remembering forever.
Suddenly I'm... still rotating Fallen London in my mind even though I've stopped actively playing it.![]()
There's just one problem with getting more mods: no one is interested. If there are people willing to become moderators, I haven't seen them.
I think current motivation and willingness to improve and work with the other mods should trump any past transgressions, as long as they were not too serious.
I don't know what the mods' internal process looks like, but it sounds a bit like they are being too stringent after some bad experiences in the past with new mods.
Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
It's not so much that we've had bad experiences with newer mods so much as it is that several mods, both newer and older, have basically vanished. nombretomado actually announcing her retirement is a distinct anomaly. Generally speaking, while we do have disagreements and even arguments every now and then, on the whole the mod team are all good with each other and AFAIK there was no beef that would be the reason for any of the mods that have just gone absent to do so.
Edited by Willbyr on Jan 20th 2021 at 6:59:16 AM
If I knew TV Tropes was looking for moderators, I would have volunteered a long time ago.
I don't have a ton of free time, but I could easily help out in the areas I frequent (The wiki itself, image pickin, and TLP).
If it's really just a lack of apparent volunteers...
... well, we'd still be reluctant to apply. We're not sufficiently sure we're competent and trustworthy to mod TV Tropes, and we're even less sure the current mod team would think we are.
Let's say that if you have a "last resort because we desperately need literally anyone" potential mod list, you can certainly put us on that.
Suddenly I'm... still rotating Fallen London in my mind even though I've stopped actively playing it.I could never be a mod because I don't have enough time. I prefer to work in Project threads and TRS—that's my way of helping improve the site.
Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper WallCompetency can be gained, as can trust. Everyone has to start at the bottom.
Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
What I meant was, my real life is a bit too busy to be a moderator.
I meant Catgirl, but of course not having enough time is understandable.
Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Ah, OK, I was just confused.
Anyone can ask a question, your Imperial Majesty.
Thanks. Can a mod request specific duties, or assignment to a specific part of the site?
Well, we don't "assign" anyone. Generally each moderator takes the duties that they most enjoy or feel most comfortable with. Any of us can do anything, but if there's a part of the site that's being neglected we can ask each other to fill in. We have a private mod chat that is the easiest way to allocate resources.
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"

It’s probably worth letting the mods swing in before we throw together a spin-off thread.
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran