Moderation Guidelines

When you attain the privilege of being a moderator, you can make one of six comments on the discussion contribution you are moderating. Each comment raises the contribution score by one point and thereby increases the contributor's karma by one point.

Note that you may not, however, moderate a discussion to which you yourself have also contributed or will contribute. The reason is simple: you should not be an interested party in moderating.

Let us spell out each comment and what it should take to merit the comment.

Moderation Comments

Well-Argued
The contribution presents a clear, coherent argument for some conclusion. Note that the conclusion may well be that another contribution is mistaken or misguided. That is, a Well-Argued contribution may also be a critical contribution. Note that you need not agree with the point that is made. You may not even think the argument succeeds. Nevertheless, contributions that offer clear justification for a conclusion are said to be Well-Argued.

Informative

Some contributions seek to provide additional, relevant information about the topic or issue at hand. They may provide some statistics or links to studies. They may report on polls or talk about the latest theories in science. Such contributions are said to be Informative, provided that appropriate references are included.

Insightful

Alternatively, some posts put a point extremely well. They are importantly effective, in the sense that they are on topic, clearly written, and add clarity to the discussion. These contributions are said to be Insightful.

Interesting

Some contributions fascinate, perhaps by recounting a personal experience or by putting a point in a new light. Such contributions are said to be Interesting.

Funny

Everyone enjoys a bit of levity from time to time, particularly when the topics tend to be so serious. Contributions that enlighten by offering a humorous perspective are said to be Funny.

Deserves Replies

Sometimes a contribution effectively poses a problem, criticism, question, or argument in such a way as to initiate a new and intriguing thread in the discussion. Such a contribution is said to Deserve Replies. This is a particularly important moderation, since you are in effect strongly encouraging others to respond to the contribution by giving it this moderation.