COMMUNITY MODERATOR ONBOARDING AND STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP)

1. Welcome and Thank You

First — thank you.

RobotAIGeek exists because people choose to contribute their time, judgment, and curiosity. As a Community Moderator, you are helping shape a space where discussions about AI and robotics remain clear, respectful, and genuinely useful.

This role is stewardship, not authority.

You are here to guide conversations, reduce confusion, and help the community thrive — not to police, enforce aggressively, or represent the company publicly.

This should be enjoyable. We want a place where learning, debate, and curiosity feel energising, not stressful.

2. How Moderators Fit Into RobotAIGeek

2.1. What Moderators Are

• Trusted community stewards
• Conversation guides
• First eyes on tone, clarity, and direction
• Supporters of healthy discussion

2.2. What Moderators Are Not

• Employees, contractors, or agents
• Legal, technical, or professional advisors
• Public spokespersons for RobotAIGeek
• Final decision-makers on enforcement

3. Scope of the Moderator Role

3.1. What You May Do

Moderators may, on a best-efforts and light-touch basis:

• Review posts in familiar or assigned areas
• Encourage clearer titles, tags, or framing
• Ask for sources or clarification
• Add neutral clarification comments
• Redirect off-topic discussions
• Flag serious issues for escalation
• Help newcomers feel welcome

3.2. What You Are Not Expected to Do

• Monitor forums constantly
• Catch every issue
• Resolve heated disputes alone
• Take punitive action by default
• Handle legal, safety, or reputational risks

4. Time Commitment — Clear and Realistic

• A brief check-in most days (~5–10 minutes)
• Missing days or weeks is acceptable
• No quotas, schedules, or on-call expectation

5. Moderation Style and Decision Flow

• Gentle guidance: clarification, reframing, sources
• Soft controls: private message, flagging, temporary slowing
• Escalation: staff-led warnings, locking, account actions

6. Escalation and Support Path

• Community/moderation questions: Eugene (primary), Jamie (backup)
• Technical issues: escalate to Branimir

7. Safety, Legal and Risk Clarity

• Moderators are volunteers
• No employment or agency relationship
• No authority to bind RobotAIGeek
• Final decisions rest with staff

8. Learning and Background

You do not need deep AI/robotics expertise or prior moderation experience.

9. What Matters Most

• Good judgment
• Calm communication
• Willingness to learn
• Respect for neutrality

10. Relationship to the Moderator Agreement

• Moderator Voluntary Participation Agreement
• Community Guidelines
• Forum Terms of Service

If there is ever a conflict, those documents prevail.