PeopleWithMS.com |
Chat |
The objective of the PeopleWithMS chat is to provide support for the MS-specific medical and general life problems which impact living with MS. The primary focus should always be MS issues, and they should always take priority over non-MS issues. This is not to say that a wide gamut of other topics may come into discussion, whether as ice-breakers, distractions from someone's problems, or to generally fill the silence.
Deb and Red are the Owners/Managers for general management and day-to-day oversight of the chat. They will coordinate actions and scheduling with all the Hosts and/or Buddy Hosts.
The Chat Host's primary role is as discussion facilitator and director. Sounds like an intimidating job, but not. It's knowing and remembering regular chatter's individual trials, tribulations, and triumphs. Making new chatters feel comfortable and welcome. Towards this end, every Chat Host should have a standard welcome boilerplate which can be pasted directly into chat whenever a newcomer pops in. This should introduce themselves, as well as establish their role as overall Host for that particular chat. Probably modified when Buddy Hosts are present, so it isn't too repetitive.
The role of a Chat Host is not MS Expert. Chat Hosts don't dispense medical advice, only informed opinions, and facts as known. Information from Clinical Trials or Research Studies is far more solid that anecdotal stories from sources with unknown interests or financial objectives. And should make clear to chatters which is which. When possible, point them to authoritative sources of information like the Social Security Administration, rather than some periodical's interpretation.
The Chat Host needs to keep and eye on the direction and subject of chat. When it invariably drifts, the Chat Host must judge whether it lightens the mood, encourages comradeship, and promotes better living with MS.
Administrators are expected to take a broader and more responsible role than Hosts. Not only will they be responsible for hosting particular chats, but for observing the broader flow, subjects, and participants (and their behaviors) of chats, and across multiple chats. And making recommendations as to actions that will make chat a more effective, supportive environment.
Tracing Chatters with Sam Spade
Occasionally an unknown chatter may be suspected of being a troublemaker. To help in identification of such bogus chatters, we have written a new page on use of the program Sam Spade, to effectively identify the location of new chatters. Go to the Sam Spade page.
"Kicking" Policy *
"Kicking" can be the innocent action performed by an RA because a chatter gets stuck, has to come in under another name, and leaves a zombie twin. It should be noted that lifting a "Kicked" user can only be performed by room owners Red or Deb.
"Kicking" can also be of an unruly, annoying, lewd, or just plain rude chatter. The RA should always warn the chatter, either publicly, or via private message, that they are getting out of hand. And warn them again, that they will be Kicked. Third time, they're out for the evening. If they come back in under another name, ask them to leave, then warn them that they may be banned if they don't leave, and kick 'em again.
In any case, Room Owners Red and Deb need to be notified of the action within 48 hours. If it's a behavior problem, some detail of what justified the action is required, particularly since there's some reasonable likelihood of them doing it again,.
It's the RA's judgment call as to when the Kick ought to be lifted. The Kick will be lifted at the earliest possible moment for zombies, or when requested by the RA. Or deferred if more serious consideration is judged appropriate by the RA. Like Banning.
"Banning" Policy *
It is not our intent to ban anyone unless absolutely necessary. Inappropriate behavior may always be the result of factors unknown to any of us, some medical reaction, or simply heat-of-the-moment excess. However, if someone repeatedly offends the basic objectives of the chat, we really would not have a choice. Banning someone will be based on a consensus opinion of the Room Owners and Room Co-Managers, after discussing the incident(s) leading to the recommendation.