about > community guidelines > moderator guidelines

ravelry moderator guidelines

Updated February 11th, 2009

On Ravelry, the Community Guidelines (http://www.ravelry.com/about/guidelines) represent the Ravelry ideal for user behavior in the forums and treatment of other Ravelers, and all Ravelers are expected to follow them. Ravelry groups provide a fun place to meet and connect with other users who share interests and passions, and the groups should enjoy freedom and a safe atmosphere. We have outlined additional guidelines for group moderators; mods must agree to and follow these guidelines in order to moderate Ravelry groups.

Do you have questions or concerns about these guidelines?
We welcome your posts in The Mod Squad.

guide your flock

  • Be a gracious host. You can invite other Ravelers, start topics to encourage conversation, and participate in discussions. Admins can appoint additional moderators to help care for the group. Group life can be an amazing part of Ravelry and help to make us all closer.
  • Set rules for your groups! Groups on Ravelry can and should have their own tones. Let your members know what kind of language is allowed, what projects and stash are appropriate to share, and how you will moderate if group or Ravelry rules are broken.
  • Stay active! You'll be able to make sure that your group is the fun community that you set out to create if you participate.

set a good example

  • Be fair and impartial. Moderators should be objective, particularly when group issues arise. Arguing with problem posters – guests or group members – will only encourage others to do the same, and fighting back can be seen as welcoming further discussion.
  • Be nice! As the moderator of a group on Ravelry, your behavior will be held to a higher standard by your own members as well as posters who are reading your group but have not yet joined.
  • Be consistent. Don't play favorites – treat people equally. All of us are Ravelry users and deserve to be treated with respect.

work together to solve problems

  • Work with your group members and co-moderators to develop a thriving, healthy community that fits well within Ravelry's overall community.
  • Work with guest posters to resolve issues. Group issues should be dealt with by group moderators, and moderators must be seen as reliable people to go to in the event of any problems.
  • Work with us to help resolve any problems that are related to your group. If we contact you, please remember that we are fair and friendly people and we need you to work with us.

Ravelry group moderators must uphold these guidelines as well as the community guidelines of Ravelry. In exchange, we are here to help you if you have any problems inside your group or outside (but related to) your group. We can act as a liaison between group moderators if needed. Moderating a Ravelry group is a commitment, and we appreciate the work that you do every day to help keep Ravelry a fun place for all.