About a year ago we updated our Code of Conduct to reflect the values we want to uphold here on the forum, and to explain how we enforce those day to day. Our aim is always to make sure that the Monzo Community is a safe, inclusive place to post and that people enjoy their time here.
Since then weâve made a few changes to the CoC to add things that have come up. And today weâve made a change that affects what weâll do if we think youâve broken the rules.
From today, weâre no longer sending out âsecond warningsâ
Previously, weâd do a couple of things if you broke the rules -
First offence: a written warning from us Second offence: a stronger written warning Third offence: some kind of action (usually a week ban) Further offences: stronger actions (weâd usually remove you from the community)
Weâve found that having two warnings before we take an action isnât enough. Itâs meant that people whoâve repeatedly disrupted conversations got away with it for a while before we did anything. And youâve told us that you want to see us acting quicker.
So weâve removed the âsecond warningâ step. After a first warning, weâll give folks a temporary ban, and then remove them from the community if things continue. This change wonât affect 99% of you, and should make sure the forum stays a nice place for everyone.
If youâre already on two warnings, donât worry. We wonât automatically suspend you now. Just something to bear in mind in case something comes up in the future.
I hope thatâs all clear. Let me know if you have any questions below.
Whatâs a written warning? Is it the auto-PM you get when one of your posts gets flagged, or is it a more strongly-worded one thatâs from a mod specifically to the user?
It should be very clear when youâve received a warning. The message should have a red envelope mark next to it, and weâd say something like âthis is your first warningâ in the message.
So the automatic flag messages donât count. If youâre ever in doubt, let us know
There are times when a post is flagged simple due to the user (my understanding is that it only takes 3 people to flag a post before itâs automatically hidden).
We are told time and time again to read the wording, not the perceived tone, and whilst some of the flags are absolutely justified, there are some that really make no sense.
Obviously as users, we have no visibility over whose flagging what, but is anything being done about the ârepeat flaggersâ for want of a better word?
Is it even seen in the same light as the flagee? (apologies for the flag related terminologyâŚ)
Or do Monzo prefer to err on the side of caution, and donât mind the repeated flags on posts which donât break the rules (despite the user possibly breaking the rules in previous posts)?
I think in addition to this there should be a good behaviour thing where if no warnings have been issued after say 6 months of the last then your warning status should be reset
So for instance say if you are on a final warning but have been good for 6 months then that drops to a second and then after 3 months a first and then 3 months later no warnings
Great question. We can see whoâs flagging what, and also how often we agree with someoneâs flags.
So someone with a very low âagreementâ score is probably misusing flags in some way. We do get in touch to say âHey, it looks like youâre not using flags correctlyâ, and we donât tolerate using flags to retaliate against other folks. So itâs something we think about.
Iâm not sure I agree. If weâve had to remind you of the rules, that shouldnât be something that expires. If weâve reminded you of the rules ever before, itâs all the worse if you break the rules again. So I donât agree with it resetting.
Otherwise you get the troublemakers just biding their time, and there are still plenty of things you can do to stay within the rules, yet cause issuesâŚ
Yeah but we didnât pass a test to be allowed to post on the forum⌠and no-one dies if I veer onto the pavement and hit people with this forum soâŚ
I completely agree with policing the community to ensure that rules are being followed. That said, there are people who are critical of Monzo who donât follow the guidelines and there are big supporters of Monzo - in some cases this includes Coral Crew - who donât follow the guidelines. My perception - and that of many other people I believe - is that the former group are quick to be flagged/warned/suspended whereas a lot more leeway is given to the latter group.
@cookywook can you please consider this and perhaps take steps to ensure the rules are applied more consistently? The current situation tends to make the divide between supporters and critics even wider.
