Discord is a place where diverse communities are formed, and at the same time, it may be a place where new encounters and friendships arise for you as a moderator. However, as personal relationships with community members deepen, it is possible that they may affect your moderation duties. This article explains how to build interpersonal relationships as a moderator, and how to strike a balance between nurturing friendships while maintaining the health of the community.
The Depth of Interpersonal Relationships and the Difficulty of Moderation
In a Discord community, members can have connections of various levels. As a moderator, you are expected to be actively involved with the community, but you need to be careful that your personal feelings do not affect your moderation.
- Friendships: Friendships with community members are natural and not a bad thing. However, if you favor specific members or take actions that lack fairness, you may lose the trust of the entire community.
- Intimate Relationships: Deeper bonds may form through years of interaction or shared experiences. However, if a member with whom you have an intimate relationship causes a problem, it may become difficult to make objective judgments.
- Romantic Relationships: Romantic relationships can also develop within the same community. However, you need to be extremely careful to ensure that romantic feelings do not affect your moderation. In particular, if your partner causes a problem, fair action is required.
Parasocial Relationships: The Longing and Expectations for Moderators
Moderators, as individuals who maintain order in the community, may become objects of admiration and respect for some members. However, excessive expectations and dependence can be a burden for the moderators themselves and the community.
- Excessive Dependence on Moderators: There may be members who are dependent on specific moderators and are excessively influenced by their statements and actions. Moderators need to maintain an appropriate distance and provide support to resolve dependent situations, such as encouraging interaction with other members.
- Jealousy and Conflict Among Moderators: Other moderators may feel jealous or competitive towards popular moderators. It is important to value teamwork and respect each other.
Visibility: The Moderator’s Position in the Community
Moderators are members of the community, but at the same time, they are special individuals with authority. Maintaining the balance between these two roles can be a difficult challenge at times.
- Distinguishing Between Public and Private Matters: It is important to recognize that private conversations and interactions can lead to misunderstandings from other members and to clearly distinguish between public and private matters.
- Ensuring Transparency: Moderation decisions and actions should be as transparent as possible to gain the trust of members.
Responsibility as a Moderator: Maintaining Fairness and Objectivity
Moderators need to prioritize the interests of the entire community and make fair and objective judgments, without being swayed by personal feelings or relationships.
- Self-Evaluation and Reflection: Regularly reflect on your own actions and judgments and check for biases and favoritism.
- Teamwork: Collaborate with other moderators and incorporate objective viewpoints to make better judgments.
- Dealing with Difficult Situations: Even if a close member causes a problem, deal with it with a firm attitude and ask other moderators for cooperation if necessary.
Summary: For a Healthy Community
Interpersonal relationships as a moderator are an important factor in maintaining the health of the community. Refer to the points introduced in this article to build balanced interpersonal relationships and aim to create a community where everyone can enjoy themselves safely.
Moderators, let’s support each other and create a better Discord community!