When a mod makes a mistake, is it better to address it publicly or handle it behind the scenes?

Sometimes the mods behave like they are kings. They delete posts, lock threads with no explanation. Then later you find out that it was a mistake. Personally, I feel if a mistake happens publicly, they need to own it publicly too. It is as simple as that. There is no need to hide behind the admin curtain. If people start feeling that moderation is not transparent again, trust will vanish very quickly and it might be the end of that forum.

It is better to handle back stage. If you try to handle publicly, you are offending them. Everyone is prone to making mistakes, no one is perfect, so do not bash your moderators publicly if they make mistakes.

I wouldn't stay in any forum where the mods or even the owner is behaving like a tyrant for one more minute. I'll leave and never come back. If posts are deleted, threads locked and members banned without any due process, that's not a place I want to be at.

Picture this: You work at a restaurant and your manager notices you make a mistake, right in front of the guests and other staff members she publicly tells you that you’ve made a mistake and shames you for it. Everything is being recorded by cameras so if anyone wants to rewatch this event all they have to do is look at the footage. How would that make you feel?

Publicly addressing a mistake is NEVER the answer. If you want to remain professional and you want staff/members to trust you and your community always deal with mistakes behind the scenes.

Now let’s say a staff member makes a mistake and it has affected other members and the forum, I would proceed by handling things with the staff member behind the scenes however, create a thread letting the community know that the issue has been addressed and going forward this is what is expected of staff and members.

I have been on forums in the past where they have handled things publicly and they have lost A LOT of valuable members, myself included. I don’t tolerate that nor do I condone it. If you have an issue with a staff member or even with a member, do it behind the scenes. Not only with that staff member/member appreciate it, so will the other members. If you start shaming people in front of others then the other members/staff will no longer feel on your community.

Personal responsibility is something I can get behind, but shaming another staff member openly is wrong. Go to them privately unless it’s something that’s already been addressed before in the staff forums, and then address it there.

Behind the scenes, unless a public address is required.

If it can be private, I say keep it private.

Otherwise, feelings might get hurt, and more drama may be the result.