Community
Moderating without losing every evening to it
Three written rules beat ten interventions. What to settle before you open the comments.
A paid community needs different moderation from a public space: members have paid, they figure that gives them rights, and it does.
Set the frame before you open up
- Three rules maximum, written down, visible, no exceptions.
- A stated consequence attached to each rule.
- A space where criticizing the work is explicitly welcome — otherwise it happens elsewhere anyway.
A rule nobody enforces is worse than no rule at all: it teaches the community that the rules are negotiable.
Refunds as a tool
A toxic member refunded and removed costs a few euros. The same member kept around out of comfort costs several quiet departures you'll never trace back to them.