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santosj
02-12-2005, 02:19 AM
I really can't understand where the forum administrators and moderators are coming from because I'm not in their shoes. From my point of view, some forums moderators make absolutely no sense. You just have to ask yourself, "What the hell?" Although, the only terms of action is just respect the actions of the admin and mods and walk away.

Our Rights

Quite frankly, I think forums are more of an invitation into someone's house or assembly in a public place. You won't go running around naked or in a drunken stupor or general actions that make you look like a fool. So it is within the owner's (or admin's) right to kick any one out that is causing a problem. It is the person's choice to fight back but that is looked down unless a lot of users hate the mod (which is a story for another time).

To summarize: freedom of speech is accepted within a strict boundary. All other actions are prohibited.

I like the general rule, that every mod is right even if the mod is wrong. It is better to walk away with your tail between your legs then to have the tail chopped off and fed to you.

Mods are Humans Too

I like the mods that don't give a crap and let everyone do whatever they want but like anarchy that usually isn't a good idea for a extended period of time. The usually outcome of that situation is a lot of feelings being hurt and a few people subjected to outcasts status.

Boiling points are mental inhabitation that people need to keep in mind while writing and speaking. I usually talk to people that I don't know online in a nice, tongue-in-cheek, and devoid of sarcasm manner. Sarcasm is something to watch carefully, just the other day, I had to explain a phase because it was taken as an insult. The person wasn't English or American so the phase was lost on the person.

Breaking the Mold

There comes a point, I think with everyone, that they just had enough of playing the role and lose themselves. This usually comes when someone sees something that irritates them past the boiling point and they snap. There have been a few times for myself that I had written something and had to step back and say that I probably shouldn't post that.

Things that Don't Make Sense

First rule: ask.

"Why can't I double post?"

"Why can't I flame someone on the forums that pissed me off and deserves a verbal and physical beating?"

I like what someone said on another forum and simply stated, every forum has the general forum rules but some have other rules that are unique to that forum. On the other forum, I came across something that confused me and usually when someone is confused they initially blame the person that caused the confusion.

The argument was posting in a specific forum and the mods stated that since it is a rule then the rule should be respected. On the other side, the users stated that since it was a rule then the enforcement should be hard coded in that forum and not just a plain forum. As a network administrator student, I remember (one of the few things that I actually remember) is that when making a policy, one has to set up an enforcement, not only in the rules but also disallow the said thing from ever happening in the first place.

People are naturally going to do something if they can. Even if they read the policy, they probably are going to say they forgot or didn't read that section. It is irritating because there is no way around the issue, the mods will simply state that the rule stands and the users will reply that it should also be in the permissions. It looks really bad when the users feel that the owners don't know how to use their own software.

Time Issue

Since Mods are people, they have lives (no really?) and those lives may conflict with reading every idiotic post. I have my own forum that used to have four active members so I have no idea what it is like to have hundreds of posts every hour or day nor do I. I would rather have less than a hundred active users with less than a hundred posts a day. Sure in that group, there is going to be one ***, me not included.

Grammar

Maybe I'm bringing up a taboo but I think mods, admins, and authoritative members should have good grammar skills. It really looks unprofessional when a mod posts something like, "LOL, that is col [cool], witch [which] is ya talkin about?" Should mods and admin be English majors? No, that is a unreasonable request, even one for myself. I can't ask someone to be better at English than I am but I at least try (**** it).

Conclusion

For the most part this forum is run fairly well so it feels like a functional society of diversity. I'm mostly talking about other forums and I'm sure everyone has had this problem. The reason why I don't post this on those forums is that I'll have my *** handed to me and I very much like going to those other forums to post spoilers for anime only watchers and flame members for no particular reason.

Also note that isn't a flame thread and if you are hating on someone then do it in email. Also, I would like to note how long it takes for the mods to ban me.

Seigdespair
02-12-2005, 12:53 PM
hmmm wow...thats a lot to say man....personally id like to become a mod for this website...just to help out ya kno...but i dont think those things would bother me I have a very wide patience so things dont ever bother me.

Gomen
02-12-2005, 02:30 PM
i kinda like Mods that are strict but friendly. They give you the warning but in a nice way and if you do it again, they take it to the next level, its all on the Mod or Admin's Personallity and what the other person is doing, but i moslty agree with what your saying.

Babbo
02-12-2005, 02:56 PM
Babbo saw you post this in NF.....as to the time issue...that's why ewe have more than one mod, course you need consistently active ones.....

Seigdespair
02-12-2005, 10:12 PM
yea and I'm active a lot so is gomen mwahahaz thats why i want to become a mod.

santosj
02-12-2005, 10:31 PM
I don't want to be a moderator because I would ban everyone. Not because they did anything wrong but just because I think it would be really funny. I would also do it on the day the RAW comes out. I also think that if you ask to be a mod then you'll never become a moderator. So what you should do is ask to not be a mod and then maybe they may consider you (I'm kidding, if you ask to not be a mod then you'll also never be a mod).

Kikintae
02-12-2005, 10:57 PM
I don't want to be a moderator because I would ban everyone. Not because they did anything wrong but just because I think it would be really funny. I would also do it on the day the RAW comes out. I also think that if you ask to be a mod then you'll never become a moderator. So what you should do is ask to not be a mod and then maybe they may consider you (I'm kidding, if you ask to not be a mod then you'll also never be a mod).

I should be a mod.

..Right. It takes too much time. That's why I admire people who are mods.

Seigdespair
02-13-2005, 12:07 AM
Well I've already asked Kon the admn and he said that I can apply if i want so hurrah!

SoulBerry
02-13-2005, 05:48 AM
Lol, I think being a mod is about keeping the peace.. I'm a senior mod in a large war3 clan and a mod on its respective forum.. usually none of us mods flex our "mod muscles".. we just enjoy whatever we're doing. Basically I have my own opinion of what is "acceptable" and what is not acceptable.. if I get complaints about a member, I investigate, and if I find he flames for no reason or whatever, I ban him (not many hers in war3.. and if it's a "her," not likely to offend anyone)..

Fairness? Unfourtunately, the world isn't fair. My life was never fair, lol. I read in the paper today about a guy who was imprisoned for 30 years for a crime he didn't commit.. well, his life is obviously not fair :p. Mods aren't fair either, but they are usually reasonable. Rules are usually reasonable. If you find a forum with unreasonable mods, it's probably a good idea not to visit, since arguing with mods isn't generally a great idea.

The rules on this forum are pretty much standard. No double posting, etc is common etiquette. I didn't know there was a no-flaming rule, though. I was flaming someone today because he/she flamed me, lol.

Babbo
02-13-2005, 04:35 PM
I don't want to be a moderator because I would ban everyone. Not because they did anything wrong but just because I think it would be really funny. I would also do it on the day the RAW comes out. I also think that if you ask to be a mod then you'll never become a moderator. So what you should do is ask to not be a mod and then maybe they may consider you (I'm kidding, if you ask to not be a mod then you'll also never be a mod).yeah, tha's true...Babbo used ask all the time when this forum first came up and almost got banned cause Babbo was so obnoxious about it.....

teferi
02-13-2005, 05:18 PM
AHHHH!!!!!!!!!! essays!!! :eek:
*runs around in cricles holding head between hands*
about teh mod thing I dont think its really all that important for them to be really good at grammar just as long as they get theyre point across. The absolute worst thing a mod can do tho' is be a grammar nazi...on one of my other forums the mod threatened to ban people for making grammar mistakes or using 1337 sp34k....then everyone stoppped posting til he said it was okay...

Seigdespair
02-13-2005, 07:38 PM
naw babbo i think u could be a good mod. I mean u do have the most posts out of us (how is that by the way?)

Divine Truth
02-13-2005, 09:53 PM
naw babbo i think u could be a good mod. I mean u do have the most posts out of us (how is that by the way?)
Babbo is a mod. He's one of the few active ones.

santosj
02-13-2005, 11:12 PM
Lol, I think being a mod is about keeping the peace.. I'm a senior mod in a large war3 clan and a mod on its respective forum.. usually none of us mods flex our "mod muscles".. we just enjoy whatever we're doing. Basically I have my own opinion of what is "acceptable" and what is not acceptable.. if I get complaints about a member, I investigate, and if I find he flames for no reason or whatever, I ban him (not many hers in war3.. and if it's a "her," not likely to offend anyone)..

Fairness? Unfourtunately, the world isn't fair. My life was never fair, lol. I read in the paper today about a guy who was imprisoned for 30 years for a crime he didn't commit.. well, his life is obviously not fair :p. Mods aren't fair either, but they are usually reasonable. Rules are usually reasonable. If you find a forum with unreasonable mods, it's probably a good idea not to visit, since arguing with mods isn't generally a great idea.

The rules on this forum are pretty much standard. No double posting, etc is common etiquette. I didn't know there was a no-flaming rule, though. I was flaming someone today because he/she flamed me, lol.This is exactly what I'm talking about. I just couldn't say it without sounding like a female dog. It is true about the fact that even through a moderator may be unfair, there is nothing a person can do that won't result in a permanent ban.

The only problem I can see is when someone tries to fight back they are viewed as the person who is wrong. If the person in question flamed the mod, then yeah, the user got what he deserves but it is all about interacting with people that you can't see or meet.

In normal dialogue, the person who is listening can sense the cues that is sarcasm and joking but no such universal thing exists in the online world (Unless you are using a microphone). I don't use Smilies because it is my personal perference that they clutter the message. They do help tell people when you are joking or being sarcastic.

I suppose parts of what I write, that I meant to be a joke, comes out as a threat or flaming. Personally, I am never mean to insult anyone and when I get something, I naturally assume they mean the same. Unless they start with a bad attitude.

There are too many factors to consider when chatting with someone online. I feel that people should treat other people how they would want to be treated. No matter if they are a moderator, admin, or normal member.

It is hard to not flame people in day to day life, you just snap at some point acting unlike yourself. That one message could be the trigger that results in a lot of pain and anguish from the mod to the member.

I guess this forum is unique as it allows members to "Talk Back" about Moderators and let other moderators and members be the judge. Most places don't have and talking about a moderator is a taboo. A moderator is always right, even if the moderator is wrong. There is no way to combat this except to walk away with the tail between the legs.

For me, there comes a point where I am done talking crap and feel that I should have a voice. Is this wrong on my part? It would depend on how I state the accusation. Flames are 100% inefficient at proving a point. It is like yelling at a person at the top of your lungs while speaking gibberish. People tune it out and then lash out afterwards.

I have no problems with mods and any problems I may have had were complete misunderstandings. "Don't hate me because I'm different!" I started thinking about mods and the rights of normal members and what action members can take, if any against unfair mods. I couldn't come to any conclusion so I decided I would ask someone else. It was like a itch in my mind and I couldn't get rid of it by picking at it.

mgviperman
02-14-2005, 12:26 AM
naw babbo i think u could be a good mod. I mean u do have the most posts out of us (how is that by the way?)
oh, that's because about 1500 of my posts got deleted when a mod did some cleaning up o_O

SoulBerry
02-14-2005, 02:55 AM
Santosj: "Short and sweet" eh? XD

Yea, I feel strongly on this topic too. And you don't sound like a female dog, trust me. It's all very well organized and a good read. The flaming I was talking about is probably a misunderstanding too, in fact, I'm sure it is. I guess we shouldn't be so reactionary hmm? If people were not reactionary and misunderstandings don't happen there would be very little war in the world.

What action to take against unfair mods? I'm not sure there are any. In my clan, even if half the members complained about me, they would go and not I.. my connections to the clan owner/leader are too strong. I'm not a tyrant, of course, but the point illustrated is the same. In the real world, if people don't like a government, they can overcome the government. This is true even in a dictatorship-many more people will lose their lives, but the same result can be achieved. In a forum, trying to overrun the government is useless. It's as if the president has a bomb that could blow up the world.. if all the members rebelled, the leader could easily disband the forum (i.e. blow up that particular "world"). Not fair, but reality.

That being said, popular forums usually give in some way.. I wouldn't post in a forum with bad mods, for example, unless they allowed me some downloads as reward for posting. BF doesn't have bad mods, and I post for my own enjoyment. Of course, once one becomes an "old granpa," if the mods turn bad things could be discouraging :p

Seigdespair
02-14-2005, 08:32 AM
I think the best way to counter a bad mod is to discuss the topic with a good one. That way someone who is just as powerful as him will tell him to stop being stupid or unfair. Since we the little people can't do anything about it that is.

Babbo
02-14-2005, 10:56 AM
oh, that's because about 1500 of my posts got deleted when a mod did some cleaning up o_O
yeah cause all of yours were in the convo thread...Babbo posts in multiple forums:P

naw babbo i think u could be a good mod. I mean u do have the most posts out of us (how is that by the way?)
it's cause Babbo's been here since the forum started.....

mgviperman
02-14-2005, 12:10 PM
yeah cause all of yours were in the convo thread...Babbo posts in multiple forums:P

lol it was probably the most active thread at the time :D

teferi
02-14-2005, 12:31 PM
and teh waffle house! st00pid naru's guy had to edit that :( ...that was some funny sh!t...

Babbo
02-14-2005, 12:38 PM
yeah Babbo misses the waffle house:(

Seigdespair
02-14-2005, 03:36 PM
who is naru???

teferi
02-14-2005, 03:57 PM
naru's guy is a mod wh just pops in here every blue moon...

whoa! :eek: i just noticed i have 100 posts again...

mgviperman
02-14-2005, 06:20 PM
haha yea the waffle house too :D that place was awesome

Naru's Guy
02-15-2005, 12:28 AM
naru's guy is a mod wh just pops in here every blue moon...

whoa! :eek: i just noticed i have 100 posts again...
I will take away your posts if you call me stupid again :P

Seigdespair
02-15-2005, 01:28 AM
^ he never did call you stupid. Not in this thread anyways...i dont think.

Naru's Guy
02-15-2005, 01:32 AM
and teh waffle house! st00pid naru's guy had to edit that :( ...that was some funny sh!t...
Yep. He did :)

santosj
02-15-2005, 12:53 PM
Well, at least he didn't say he would ban you. I think posts are lower on the scale than banning.

Babbo
02-15-2005, 02:08 PM
beh..that's another thing, mods should be able to accept that not everyone will like them.....but still be able to act faeirly despite that.....

Gomen
02-15-2005, 08:45 PM
waffle house... why was that deleted?

mgviperman
02-15-2005, 10:40 PM
because it just died all of a sudden

santosj
02-16-2005, 04:39 AM
beh..that's another thing, mods should be able to accept that not everyone will like them.....but still be able to act faeirly despite that.....Well, in which case I have a few things I would like to say...









It is hard to judge the actions and personality of a moderator. A moderator may take a simple matter and blow it way out of proportion. It is also hard to judge the motivations behind the actions a moderator may take one day. I usually deal with Moderators like I would law enforcement.

I wouldn't start shouting at a police officer because he may just pull out his gun and shoot me. The same thing applies for mods, it may not be fair but it wouldn't be fair to be shot either. It is unlikely but I would say it was in self defense or I thought he had a weapon.

The only thing a member shouldn't do is keep annoying the moderator they may dislike or publicly display disapproval without trying to work it out with the moderator. There comes a point where enough is enough and where the line is depends on the day, the mood, and the feelings toward the member.

SoulBerry: I agree with what you said but I don't see a point of making a post that just says that. I have nothing to add so it was a great post with excellent wording.

SoulBerry
02-16-2005, 06:32 AM
Santo: Then I'll make a post just to say thanks. One more post of spam wouldn't hurt. Besides, this isn't even serious spam considered to some of the spam going on in other places :rolleyes: