Forum "Moderation"

[sm=crazy.gif]Christina, I didn't mean to ignore you.
 
I am not being critical of any posters here, honestly I'm not.  But what I am saying is that the hot seat is really not a very pleasant place to be and maybe we could toss in a tiny bit of kindness along with the critical comments.
 
It's very easy to be a bit over zealous in moderating when we first start doing so.  I was, admittedly.  I don't think I still am, although others would disagree.  Fortunately, for the most part when they do NOT agree, they have the courtesy to tell me so privately rather than on the public forum....not always, but for the most part.
 
That is NOT an easy area to moderate.  Honestly when PC suggested moving CM from my area, I was ready to kiss her feet and name my first born child after her.....altho HE likely would have objected to having the same name as his future wife and it would have made Christmas gifts rather confusing......[sm=crazy.gif]
 
Nancy, during discussion about moderating, PC ASKS what areas we are interested in, what areas we often post in and what areas we feel that we would be good at moderating.  Then she makes the final decision.  So I don't *think* that she just threw Ixas to the sharks!

Yes, in the THREAD itself you saw one complaint.  What you didn't see was my INbox and there were some really unpleasant things said there.  You did NOT see what was said because I requested that those complaining NOT post what they had said to me in the thread.
 
Folks, I don't get my jollys running around editing folks or closing their threadfs.  Frankly, I'd be just as happy if you folks made my "job" unnecessary.

Glenda, IMO, your moderating style has improved considerably.  Like you said, not everyone will agree with that but that's how I see it.  Since I publicly "called you out," I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank you for backing off a little.
 
And again, you're right.  It is perhaps normal for a new moderator to be a bit over zealous.  I was wrong to chastize you in public and I apologize.

Well, as the forum's newest Mod, I am almost afraid to get into this LOL, but I will step up to the plate and say my piece.

I have been on both sides of this. Until yesterday, I had been posting on this thread as an ordinary member, concerned with the current forum atmosphere and like everyone else, formulating armchair theories about what is causing it. Now my capacity is "official", and while I still have my theories on the causes of the recent issues here, I need to attempt to be part of the solution.

As I said before, I truly think respect between the mods and the members is a 2-way street. There is, of course, going to be a slight "us vs. them" mentality on BOTH sides simply because there are 2 groups - mods and members. Having said that, when it comes down to it we are ALL working together. Mods attempt, in flawed and very human ways, to make life easier for the members. If members attempt, in those same flawed and human ways to make life easier for the mods, we might all have an easier time of things.

Every mod is going to have her (as we are currently all women) own personal style. I'm not sure that we can help that, and I don't think it would be productive if we could. Mods here are not the Borg...just ordinary people. I am quite sure I will mod in a slightly different way than Glenda, Ixas or Danehaven do. I'm OK with that as long as all of you guys are - but please, my PM box is open if you have a problem that I have somehow caused.

In NDR, where we are all just chatting, I doubt that I'll step in much to control an off-topic thread. I'm more likely to ask "is everyone happy with the new direction this thread is taking?" If yes, it can stay. If not, then a new thread gets started. No biggie, and no skin off my nose either way. In Training, I might be more likely to redirect off-topic threads because someone searching for an answer to a problem has more need of concise information there.

No one is perfect. I'm not. I doubt my fellow mods would claim to be.

I ask one thing: Anyone having an issue with a mod, and I have seen justifiable issues raised here, please do not confuse that with the moderation in general. If I make a mistake, it would be hard for me to see a complaint based on that mistake aimed at all mods, or a post saying "I hate the level of moderation here these days", because no one else should have to suffer for my mistake. Address the individual issue to the individual mod, and if that doesn't work, approach an Admin.

Well, thank you Billy.  That was very nice of you.  I suspect that you've known all along that I'm a tough old broad who can take the heat and that's why you didn't think twice about addressing your concerns publicly.

If I make a mistake, it would be hard for me to see a complaint based on that mistake aimed at all mods, or a post saying "I hate the level of moderation here these days", because no one else should have to suffer for my mistake. Address the individual issue to the individual mod, and if that doesn't work, approach an Admin.

 
On the other hand...[]
 
IMO members have to be able to discuss "the moderation" in general if only to see if they themselves are on an island...or the general feeling is in line with what they're feeling. It's easy to feel "targeted" and it helps IMO to be able to come here and ask "has anyone noticed that..." and get some feedback from other members. Expecting that to all be handled via PM is a bit much...esp when one can only PM 5 members at a time lol.
 
GENERAL discussion on moderation is beneficial because it keep people from stewing and then exploding and leaving or exploding and staying LOL. This of course is bearing in mind the constraints of the rules here....as far as rudeness. Being critical of something does not equate to rudeness unless, IMO you go out of your way to be rude.
 
IMO again some truly valid points about lack of consistency, heavy handedness, pre-emptive strikes, etc HAVE been raised in this thread, when I was modd'ing I did take those to heart. That should be considered. If mods/Admin expect respect and consideration then they also should return some and let members know, that comments made on how the forum could be run in a more peaceful manner conducive to sharing and discourse...ARE being listened to and not just dismissed as "whining".

ORIGINAL: glenmar
I'm a tough old broad

 
Once again we are only able to HALF agree.
 
[sm=bravo.gif][sm=clapping%20hands%20smiley.gif][sm=dance.gif]
 
I've STILL got it.

IMO again some truly valid points about lack of consistency, heavy handedness, pre-emptive strikes, etc HAVE been raised in this thread, when I was modd'ing I did take those to heart. That should be considered. If mods/Admin expect respect and consideration then they also should return some and let members know, that comments made on how the forum could be run in a more peaceful manner conducive to sharing and discourse...ARE being listened to and not just dismissed as "whining".

 
Perfectly stated, Ms Beagle.
 
And no, I'm not just in my own private Idaho (though I am in Idaho and yes, we are burning down).[]

IMO again some truly valid points about lack of consistency, heavy handedness, pre-emptive strikes, etc HAVE been raised in this thread, when I was modd'ing I did take those to heart. That should be considered. If mods/Admin expect respect and consideration then they also should return some and let members know, that comments made on how the forum could be run in a more peaceful manner conducive to sharing and discourse...ARE being listened to and not just dismissed as "whining".

Gina, I completely agree with your statements and you, as well as many others on this thread, bring up some excellent points.  I wanted to publicly tell you that I am sorry to see you not moderating anymore. To be totally honest, I was hesitant about your moderating in the beginning and there were times early on that I didn't agree with it. But, I must give you major props for evolving your style over time. You REALLY DID take comments to heart and changed your manner,  and in my eyes, that has earned you my respect.

  No one is perfect, we all make mistakes and will continue to do so, but it is what you do with the "lessons learned” that matter the most., and you have been a shinning example of that for me.   

ORIGINAL: nfowler

Perfectly stated, Ms Beagle.

 
But quite difficult to apply and live by. 

But quite difficult to apply and live by.

But fortunately,  not an impossible task. []

Gina, I agree with everything you said. I think productive discussion of moderation IS a great and necessary thing. My point was only that just because a member has a disagreement with a mod, that doesn't mean the moderation of the site as a whole is terrible.

Only if regress is accepted.

Only if regress is accepted.

I do not understand where your logic lies with the above statement. Would you care to elaborate a bit and clarify your view?(btw- my post here is not intended to bait.. just curious as to how one could see that when I look at the same statements Gina made and think the exact opposite). 

Maybe the Behavior section, which is generally quite animated in its discussions

(injecting humor here) --->well, after all, it is the behavior forum, it makes sense that it gets animated with all of us "animated" characters []