BroadwayLion ONR FAN I'm a moderator on a Opticians Forum and it is a thankless job. Honestly, it's not much fun. And you couldn't see that coming?
ONR FAN I'm a moderator on a Opticians Forum and it is a thankless job. Honestly, it's not much fun.
I'm a moderator on a Opticians Forum and it is a thankless job. Honestly, it's not much fun.
And you couldn't see that coming?
Very good Lion
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
richhotrain I suppose moderators are useful, if not necessary. But, lately, we have all been pretty behaved.
I suppose moderators are useful, if not necessary.
But, lately, we have all been pretty behaved.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
richhotrain My sense is that most, if not all, of the prior moderators have not felt very gratified by their experience. Rich
My sense is that most, if not all, of the prior moderators have not felt very gratified by their experience.
Rich
And why should they be? Its darn if you do and double darn if you don't.
You got whiners that wants every thread they don't like locked or replies they don't like removed..Then you got to reel in those few moderators that wants to wear jackboots and push their authority by wanting to delete replies or lock threads they don't like and then want to lock the offending member's membership even if there's no direct rule violation.
Its not a pleasant job policing a forum because you will upset members for various reasons.
As I mention good common sense with good judgment is a must.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
LOL, I knew someone would post that.
Hi again,
The job of moderator reminds me of a front line supervisor in that you are always walking that picket fence, with angry Dobermans on either side. Or more closely, it's like a referee in sports - you may not always like them, but they need to be there.
I would ask any would be moderator a few questions........like:
- What is your dedication/experience with the Hobby?
- Do you have the tact and diplomacy to say "no" to folks?
- Will you be fair and impartial to all?
- How thick is your skin?
- How old are you? Maturity for a good moderator tends to grow with age (usually).
- Are you willing to "live" on the forum - 365 days a year?
In all seriousness, RICHHOTRAIN is one of the few folks I know well that fits all of the above parameters. Even if he doesn't weather his trains or structures, and refuses to install a staging area, he would make an absolutely outstanding moderator!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
More like a referee in a boxing match who gets a little too close to the action and ...KPOWW!!...one of the fighters gets down on his knee and counts him out.
I think Rich would be an excellent Mod. Barring personal attacks or other inappropriate behaviour, I think Rich would just let'em rumble. A hands off approach that has not always been here. Good respectful arguments can be an education for all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMANI think Rich would be an excellent Mod.
And he plays golf. In my book that certainly displays a form of bloody minded determination and a warped sense of patience, besides what ill disciplined forum member would like a seven iron wrapped round his head.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Let's face it, a lot of us, including mobilman44, Batman, and JaBear, would make good moderators, but you gotta want to do it. None of us want to, because it is a thankless task. I don't recall one former moderator saying that the experience was rewarding in any way.
That said, I hereby nominate, as co-moderators, mobilman44, Batman, and JaBear.
I can personally attest to the fact that they are all insane, a prerequisite for the job.
Alton Junction
I agree that a good debate is a good for all as long as it doesn't get out of control. Only when it starts smoking should a moderator step in.
richhotrainI don't recall one former moderator saying that the experience was rewarding in any way.
Rich, let me be the first to rebut that statement by saying that there were "times" when being a user-moderator here (for 3-1/2 years) was indeed rewarding. Personally, that primarily had to do with the relationship that I had with my online co-moderators and how we worked together as a team. I also had to do with the improvements to the moderating process that we were able to suggest and procure because of our relationship with Bergy (Eric).
As mentioned previously, early on one troll could wreak havoc on the forum for hours at a time with the moderators having little recourse other than deleting posts (as quickly as they were being posted) and cleaning up the aftermath. Once the ability to lock an account was obtained, the moderator could severely shorten the duration of the episodes. However, the loop hole was that troll could immediately sign up again under a new user name and continue the onslaught until that account was locked.
Over time Crandell, Ken, Norris, and I learned to work together very efficiently. If we ran into a situation where we needed some wisdom and guidance in a matter, we'd use the RA page to discuss that amongst each other and with Bergy. Yea, we all made mistakes in the "learning process" but that ability to hone our diplomatic skills with one another (i.e. iron sharpens iron) made us all better at our duties in the long run. THAT was what I personally found rewarding about the moderating experience.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Rich, your statement may actually be quite reasonable, my friend Tom's comment above notwithstanding.
Let me explain: What is a fact is that Tom, Ken, and I could see that the forum was quickly becoming a circus with bullying and in-fighting. A very few, maybe five, users gave the rest of us a difficult time, largely because of their personalties, but also because they could! Bergie was very busy as the internet guy, and he didn't have time to deal with all the hissy fits. When Tom, I think he was the first, asked him to get the okay to appoint user moderators, Tom and others, such as me, were getting really cheesed off and desperate to get some peace out there so that we could enjoy our forum experience. Not 'my' experience, OUR experience...a shared experience. Eventually, we had Ken, me, Tom, Don Zimmerman (still lurks, I'm sure..), and Norris on the trains.com side.
When we first began, it really was a thankless task. It was interesting, of course, but there were some late sweaty nights as well. Late like [me RAing Tom at 0130 EST from where I live three hours earlier on the west coast], "Tom, I'll take the watch from here. GO TO BED!!!] Tom would hang around until he was sure we had beaten U-NO-WHO back enough that he, in Ohio, was also going to bed. I would keep a watch until near midnight my time, or 0300 EST. Also, we didn't just look after the MR forums, but over on trains.com and sometimes dipped into Gardening and even Toy Trains, the O Gauge forum. At least double the work as a result.
So, Rich, you are probably correct...we don't talk much about our experience except to say it was a bit of a bother. However....as Tom also points out, there was a huge reward in it. We got PM's from people who backed us, even when the camps were divided (as was often the case), or who just said thanks for all you do. We got to know each other well, and we respected each other immensely for our talents, intelligence, and devotion to a greater cause than our own interests. We still exchange emails regularly to say high, howzit goin'.
I think, though, that at least for me, and I'm sure for the others who volunteered back then, and since, we have changed the culture of this forum from what it was...and it wasn't pretty at times. Now, there's more humour, patience, even experience. Many talented people have moved on, but is that so different from any other forum? I doubt it. I'm spending as much time on DPReviews forums as I do here, so my interests are evolving, as do those of most of us. Meanwhile, Tom, Ken, and I established a legacy to leave, and we left before we detested our obligations and undid our legacies.
-Crandell
Tom, that was a test to see if you would say that getting to know me was rewarding.
But, alas, you chose to go in a different direction and heap praise on Crandell.
Thanks a lot, pal.
P.S. Crandell, I was in the act of making my reply, just as you made yours. LOL I still say that it is a thankless task.
Kyle I agree that a good debate is a good for all as long as it doesn't get out of control. Only when it starts smoking should a moderator step in.
Define "smoking" ?
Thats the rub, everyone's definition will be different, being a mod isn't as easy as you believe it would be. You will end up irritating 90% of the forum membership. If that's okay with you, have fun.
Geared Steam Kyle I agree that a good debate is a good for all as long as it doesn't get out of control. Only when it starts smoking should a moderator step in. Define "smoking" ? Thats the rub, everyone's definition will be different, being a mod isn't as easy as you believe it would be. You will end up irritating 90% of the forum membership. If that's okay with you, have fun.
Smoking as in before the fire starts, and the topic goes up in flames a people are arguing.
Plus if there are two camps and something happens they will either like you, or 45% will hate you, and the rest will like you. It would just be like being on of the debaters on CNN
Amen
richhotrain Geared Steam Kyle I agree that a good debate is a good for all as long as it doesn't get out of control. Only when it starts smoking should a moderator step in. Define "smoking" ? Thats the rub, everyone's definition will be different, being a mod isn't as easy as you believe it would be. You will end up irritating 90% of the forum membership. If that's okay with you, have fun. Amen
jeffrey-wimberly Not to mention the ones that'll cry in your email morning, noon and night about their thread getting locked no matter how bad it was getting.
Not to mention the ones that'll cry in your email morning, noon and night about their thread getting locked no matter how bad it was getting.
That's why Jeff liked me so much when he was moderator.
I would inevitably PM him to thank him for locking my threads.
Ya see, I was often offended by what I wrote.
jeffrey-wimberlyNot to mention the ones that'll cry in your email morning, noon and night about their thread getting locked no matter how bad it was getting.
True enough and when you point out the rule violations contain in their topic that caused it to be locked they ask why you didn't remove the offending replies..
As you know that makes a bigger mess then its worth since you end up with replies that doesn't make a lick of sense.
richhotrain That said, I hereby nominate, as co-moderators, mobilman44, Batman, and JaBear. I can personally attest to the fact that they are all insane, a prerequisite for the job.
I can't speak for mobilman44 or Batman, but you are either psychic or you know me well.
Actually if I had the time to do the task justice , aaaaah the joys of being self employed, (time off when you like blah blah blah........ ) or retired, and there was a need then I would put my hand for a moderators post. Why ???? Well I tend to take the view that being allowed to participate on this forum as a privilege, not a right, and as privileges go hand in hand with responsibilities then if needs must........ As a normal ??? forum member I have the luxury of ignoring annoying threads or members, however as a moderator I fear that I would be, especially to those who did not appreciate or abused the privilege I believe we all have, then I would be like a Bear in a China Shop.
Thanks to All previous Mods.
I agree with you, JaBear.
It becomes a real balancing act for the moderator.
What may be annoying or offensive to others, may not be annoying or offensive to the moderator.
And what may be annoying or offensive to the moderator, may not be annoying or offensive to others.
Just a thought. Has Steve Otte even ask for volunteers? Maybe he thinks there are enough already or would prefer to let Volunteer Mod's go the way of the Dodo seeing as how we are all playing nice at the moment.
BATMAN Just a thought. Has Steve Otte even ask for volunteers? Maybe he thinks there are enough already or would prefer to let Volunteer Mod's go the way of the Dodo seeing as how we are all playing nice at the moment.
My thoughts, exactly.
He said "we are short on moderators at the moment." Which is why the post are taking awhile to be moderated.
richhotrain BATMAN Just a thought. Has Steve Otte even ask for volunteers? Maybe he thinks there are enough already or would prefer to let Volunteer Mod's go the way of the Dodo seeing as how we are all playing nice at the moment. My thoughts, exactly. Rich
It has been quiet.
I blame Rich.
Back in the days when I still had teeth this place was pretty rough, as were most forums. Everyone was trying to figure out how to control
Geared Steam richhotrain BATMAN Just a thought. Has Steve Otte even ask for volunteers? Maybe he thinks there are enough already or would prefer to let Volunteer Mod's go the way of the Dodo seeing as how we are all playing nice at the moment. My thoughts, exactly. Rich It has been quiet. I blame Rich. Back in the days when I still had teeth this place was pretty rough, as were most forums. Everyone was trying to figure out how to control
Look at him!
Just look at him!
Geared Steam.
Is this a guy you want as your moderator?
Toothless, unshaven, poor spoken, tactless, degenerate???
Of course it is!
Geared Steam for Moderator!
No way,
1) They wouldn't have me
2) I still have to work for a living...
Your just trying to pay me back for throwing your hat in the ring a while back.
Geared Steam Say hey, 1) I hope Steven Otte will have me 2) I am employed but I don't actually work for a living... Thanks, Rich for not throwing your hat in the ring a while back.
Say hey,
1) I hope Steven Otte will have me
2) I am employed but I don't actually work for a living...
Thanks, Rich for not throwing your hat in the ring a while back.
You're welcome GS. Good luck!
The way we behave these guys would be ideal moderators for us
Jim
Kyle BATMAN Just a thought. Has Steve Otte even ask for volunteers? Maybe he thinks there are enough already or would prefer to let Volunteer Mod's go the way of the Dodo seeing as how we are all playing nice at the moment. He said "we are short on moderators at the moment." Which is why the post are taking awhile to be moderated.
Kyle, I admire your youthful enthusiasm and wanting to take up the role as Moderator. Of course you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but I am just wondering what your ripe old age is.
I hear the penned projectiles propelled towards a Moderator can be quite colourful at times. I wonder if you are at a point in your life where they would just bounce off.
Just askin.