Originally Posted by
essxjay
Not answering for Jen but in high volume forums such as TS/S or OMNI hundreds (or thousands, depending) RBPs received throughout the year obviate the need for additional consultation on most decisions. Mods in larger forums also receive hundreds of unsolicited PMs throughout the year some of which provide detailed feedback or deployable suggestions. Other than maintaining a forum glossary and applying the TOS, TS/S mods left it to member discretion to create the kind of content they felt was useful. During the run up to and in the aftermath of National Opt Out Day, members built and maintained databases, launch protest campaigns, collaborated on leaflet designs and on and on -- all without input, permission or interference from mods. Likewise, sometimes it makes sense for mods to make unilateral decisions about the forums they moderate. There's nothing nefarious behind such decisions.
Because they're not shy about using the RBP button or sending PMs to communicate their desires and complaints!
With respect, this proposal is about collaborative input. What you describe is mostly one way and/or one-on-one input.
Relying only on RBPs and PMs does not give posters the opportunity to build on each others' ideas. And I imagine it is overwhelmingly negative. Looking at the DL and OMNI moderation discussion threads, I see many positive contributions by posters in response to questions and complaints by other posters. That sort of collaborative effort and interaction builds bonds and a sense of forum ownership among the posters and legitimacy for the management decisions that are ultimately taken.