Moderators??? We don’t need no stinking moderators!!!
Moderators are like politicians, the best ones are those who don’t want the job.
Ok, I’m trying to quit.[;)]
Well, heh heh, the Ides of March be upon us, so never underestimate anyone
I have no idea what moderators you guys are used to, but your attitudes are quite concerning…
Seems to be the same attitudes that argue with employees or police when you are asked to move off the property when you are trespassing… No one can do any wrong, and if you are corrected, darn the authority who is enforcing the rules.
I don’t think it is so much that, as it is awareness of how inflated ego’s tend to crave power. Of you ask me, anyone who really WANTS to be a moderator probably shouldn’t be allowed to be one.
Those with the ambition probably WANT to wield power over the heads of their peers…
And yeah, I’ll confess, I’d rather not have to deal with someone who is more interested in enforcing their position of “power” than in letting ALL members enjoy themselves equally.
Plus, Bergie is doing a good job the way it is. If I felt the forum needed “fixed” then I might feel different. But since I don’t see that as necessary, simply empowering some one so they can pretend to be influential offers nothing that promises to enhance my forum experiance, so I’m agin it.
I realize that is just one mans vote, but I don’t think that I am alone…
(just an example)
Maybe you have never seen the problem I refer to because you are on the “inside” of those other forums?
Typically one won’t see the harm done by a “good ol boy” network if they are a part of it, they just think it is great fun, among close friends…
The odd man out, however, can easily feel to be made the but of a dual standard.
If you find you are editing out posts by unpopular members for drifting out of strict context, but don’t feel the need is that strong when your old buddy’s do the same thing…then badda bing, badda bam , badda bong…that is exactly the type of favoritism I am talking about. And
[quote]
QUOTE: Originally posted by TheAntiGates
I don’t think it is so much that, as it is awareness of how inflated ego’s tend to crave power. Of you ask me, anyone who really WANTS to be a moderator probably shouldn’t be allowed to be one.
Those with the ambition probably WANT to wield power over the heads of their peers…
And yeah, I’ll confess, I’d rather not have to deal with someone who is more interested in enforcing their position of “power” than in letting ALL members enjoy themselves equally.
Plus, Bergie is doing a good job the way it is. If I felt the forum needed “fixed” then I might feel different. But since I don’t see that as necessary, simply empowering some one so they can pretend to be influential offers nothing that promises to enhance my forum experiance, so I’m agin it.
I realize that is just one mans vote, but I don’t think that I am alone…
(just an example)
Maybe you have never seen the problem I refer to because you are on the “inside” of those other forums?
Typically one won’t see the harm done by a “good ol boy” network if they are a part of it, they just think it is great fun, among close friends…
The odd man out, however, can easily feel to be made the but of a dual standard.
If you find you are editing out posts by unpopular members for drifting out of strict context, but don’t feel the need is that strong when your old buddy’s do the same thing…then badda bing, badda bam , badda bong…
The only thing I have to say is that it’d be nice if Trains had a “weekend moderator” so that we can report abuses when Bergie gets to enjoy some time without us (and hopefully delay those stress-grays. [:I][;)])
You know - Bergie isn’t the only one that checks the forum. If you watch the bottom closely, you will see Kathie, Mike and even an occasional name that maybe you don’t realize is Kalmbach affiliated.
We aren’t just left to our own devices and we aren’t checked on 100%. They give us some latitude to sort things out as adults. For that, I am happy.
And who would we annoint a moderator? I have some good associates on here that I would hate to see become moderator. I like a lot of them because they feel free to express themselves as they do in everyday life. They can disagree or correct me and I don’t want to throw rocks at them.
Maybe if they became moderators, I would start a collection of rocks.
Moo.
Hairballs Mookie, use hairballs…they stick better!
Ed[:D]
ACK!
On the other hand, you aren’t making outlandish posts, then taking offense when someone calls you down on them (not that some old heads don’t do that, but…). Besides, the usual troll has exactly 1 post. 40+ may not make you an old-timer, but it does indicate (along with your join date) that you’ve been around the forums and made posts without attracting undo attention for a while.
Man,
I really get nervous when people go looking for the perfect world, or perfect forum, cant find it or make it happen themselves, and then want to appoint or empower someone else to create it for them…dumping the responsibility off on anyone one else but them selves…
then whine and cry when those they just put in power shut them up too!
From what I have read in this thread, what a lot of people are really looking for is a moderator who thinks like themselves…not an objective moderator, but a person who will close off threads they personally don’t like.
Look at the debate between AntiGates, Big Z and a few others…not a flame war, but a rather heated, and passionately argued discourse over one man crews…but I bet a “member moderator” would have shut it down as too controversial…which would have been a shame, as it let the rest of us see into both AntiGates and Zardoa’s view point on the issue, both interesting, yet divergent, and both valid.
Come on folks, we are all grown ups here, we don’t need a sandbox moderator…and as Antigates pointed out, I would be very suspect of anyone who wanted the position.
As for a weekend moderator, why?
What is here that can’t wait a day or two for Bergie?
Or are some of the members so sensitive they cant take a few rude remarks by a couple of kids?
Cause if your skin is that thin, you’re in for a world of hurt out there!
We could get a dozen moderators, and there would still be the occasional flame war…and in the end, the moderators would “war” with each other to see who has the most power…so you would just create a different set of circumstances, but end up with the same results.
What we have works…not perfectly, but better than most forums which have “adults” as the majority of its members.
The more rules we add here, the less open the debates, conversations and discussions…and the less enjoyable this forum will be.
Anyone not
Mookie! You peeked!
Actually, though, you’re right. We don’t always post, but a lot of folks in the building pop in here fairly often. I can’t comment on whether we should have more moderators because it’s not my decision.
I can say, however, that from what I hear of other forums for other magazines in the building, we’ve got a very nice group of people here who really don’t require much policing. Mad props to you guys!
Kat
Well said Ed !!!
Kathi - Mea Culpa - I spelled it with an e…had my head in my moderator…
[:I]
Before I reply to those questions, let me ask you to please not take my view as a personal affront.
Because it is not intended that way, ok? I’m not trying to imply that I personally am any more fit for such the position than you. I’m not trying to stand on the hill and point my finger. I’ve just seen too many forums go into the toilette after member mods started wielding their power to enforce their personal preferences over opposed opinion, and showing favoritism to their crony’s.
with that said:
A. Exactly my point. The difference is that Bergie gets paid to do this. So, ostensibly, he has motive to remain professional and impartial. It’s not that he is unfriendly , it’s just that his first obligation is (rightfully) to Kalmbach, not to the group, or a portion therof.
B. Evidently you are not getting the point. If one is part of the “power structure”, then they ARE on the inside.
There is a “good ol boy” network here, many of whom are outstanding contributors as members. But all you have to do is watch the occassional “kangaroo court” on session here when one of the l
But Mookie, some of us need more than one forum ID. Each one of my 13 multiple personalities need their chance to speak as well. Fortunately, most of them spend a lot of their time in outer space or in different dimensions. But every once and a while when I am doing the Ouija board , POP!, out comes one of my alter-egos, and the first thing they want to do is go to the Trains forum and stir up trouble. Gee, what am I (all 13 of I) going to do now??[;)]
Sybil…is that you again?[;)]
Being schizo means never having to sleep alone…[:I]
Ed, you said it so well that no one needs to say anymore. I still think what I thought before, that this forum’s decorum is far gentler than some I’ve seen, some have no holds barred. Perhaps some of you working rails are familiar with the Underground Railroad, where everyone posts strictly anonymously. That’s diametrically opposed to what we have here.