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Invelos Software, Inc. RepresentativeKen Cole
Invelos Software
Registered: March 10, 2007
United States Posts: 4,282
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We've long considered adding some user forum moderators to help police the forums.  Time to gather some feedback on this.  If you vote yes, feel free to nominate someone.
Invelos Software, Inc. Representative
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantKFelon
Street Trash
Registered: April 7, 2007
Posts: 43
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Unless you know some people's habbit's very well I don't know if user moderator's are such a great idea. You'd need to have a strict set of guidlines for user mods to follow.

If you were going to choose one person, I think Skip would be the only obvious candidate. 
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorKevin Coed
Registered: March 14, 2007
United Kingdom Posts: 278
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User mods would be a good idea but it couldn't be any of the 'name users'. It would make the forums more volatile than they already are.
Guns don't kill people. Hammers do.
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantnuoyaxin
prev. known as ya_shin
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Taiwan, Province of China Posts: 3,436
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Quoting Kevin Coed:
Quote:
User mods would be a good idea but it couldn't be any of the 'name users'. It would make the forums more volatile than they already are.

I agree.
Achim [諾亞信; Ya-Shin//Nuo], a German in Taiwan.
Registered: May 29, 2000 (at InterVocative)
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantRifter
Reg. Jan 27, 2002
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 2,694
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Quoting Ken Cole:
Quote:
We've long considered adding some user forum moderators to help police the forums.  Time to gather some feedback on this.  If you vote yes, feel free to nominate someone.


For whatever its worth:

As someone who has been in moderated and unmoderated groups/echoes/forums (and been a moderator myself) since before the internet came along, I can say that this is one area you need to be very sure about before you take the next step.  There is nothing that can kill a forum faster than a poor moderator.

Somebody made a comment already that it CAN'T be a 'name' user.  By that I suppose he means Skip or someone equally known.  There is no correlation, necessarily, between how someone acts as a user and how they will act as a moderator.  Soon of the most infamous, draconian tyrants I've ever run across as moderators were easy going and moderate as users, and vice-versa.

A good moderator is someone who has to have lots of time to spend on it, and has to read every post in every forum regularly enough to know what the 'atmosphere' in those forums at any given time.  That will cut out 98% of those nominated right off the top.  It also has to be someone who is fair but at the same time hard core enough to back up what he says.  If you say you're going to issue three warnings and then give out a 1 month suspension, you had better follow through if you expect people to respect what you say.

You will also need a set of forum rules of conduct that spells out the dos and don'ts, as well as penalties for infractions.  Those rules need to be posted prominently on a regular basis and updated as necessary, because things will change and situations will come up that they don't cover.

The foregoing comments are based on 30 years of experience running BBSs, in Usenet, in Fidonet, and on the internet, both as a user and on several occassions as a moderator.

I have the time, and the experience, but not the inclination.  Count me out.
John

"Extremism in the defense of Liberty is no vice!" Senator Barry Goldwater, 1964
Make America Great Again!
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantTouti
Registered: March 13, 2007
Canada Posts: 582
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Quoting KFelon:
Quote:
If you were going to choose one person, I think Skip would be the only obvious candidate. 


Bad choice.  Skip is one of people here who's consistantly showed rude behavior when something doesn't go his way.  A moderator is supposed to moderate, not throw oil in the fire.  It's also not supposed to slap everybody who asks a question he/she doesn't like.

He would also become the victim of constant attacks from those who don't like him and will undoubtedly take pleasure in trying to make him be a bad moderator.

Skip, please don't take this as an insult, I simply think that you are way too involved and concerned with the program and database to be objective and remain calm as a moderator.
My 4x4 Club: Club FJ Cruiser Quebec
DVDP Français: Forum DVD Profiler Français
DVDCOL:DVD Collectors Online
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Audio: Sony DreamSystem DAVFX100W
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar Contributorlyonsden5
Hello old friends!
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Posts: 2,372
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It was brought up at IVS and a poll was created. While it was done in fun it was pretty interesting. If you're curious about the results click here.

I'm all for it personally, even with named moderators. As long as they are the right people. Someone who can put personal feelings aside and stick to moderating.

I guess you could use anonymous people. It has it's advantages and they can keep their screen name and forum persona as is.

Whatever system you put in place needs to be monitored by you and there should be a system for reporting a moderator to you and or Gerri if they are abusing their powers.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registranttarantino
Registered: March 15, 2007
Canada Posts: 131
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I'm running a dvd forum myself and moderation is always a sensible issue.
You need to find a good balance between under moderating and over moderating

I agree with the need for user moderators, but it's probably best to assign them to non critical section, like general discussion, technical support, reports and layout.
Contribution discussion is the place where personal opinions and personal conflicts are mostly occuring and it will be difficult for moderators to stay objective, unless they set themself as non contributing users.

Another way will be to setup a 3 user moderation committee that will manage all moderation decisions.  The only "task" of moderators will be to close threads and reminding the forum rules to users.

If your goal is to cut time on moderating the forums, it could be a good idea to add "Report to moderator" function.  This way, users will be your eyes and you'll only need to read the heated discussions 
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar Contributorlyonsden5
Hello old friends!
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Posts: 2,372
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A couple of things to consider IF you do decide to use moderators.

I would suggest a moderator access only forum to communicate with him/her/them. Could be hidden from everyone else or simply limit access to mods only.

Seeing as how were are a truly worldwide community it would be a good idea to have representation from various parts of the world. Hopefully this would have a moderator accessible as close to 24/7 as you can get.

Clearly explain to the community just what the mods are responsible for and what they are capable of doing. Without this there could be some confusion as to whether or not a mod is overstepping his boundaries, or not doing enough.

Just some food for thought.


mmmmm . . . food - BRB 
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorKatatonia
Retired Profiler
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 20,111
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Quoting Kevin Coed:
Quote:
User mods would be a good idea but it couldn't be any of the 'name users'. It would make the forums more volatile than they already are.


Agreed.
Corey
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorTracer
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 951
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I imagine Ken is considering moderators to free up his time for other efforts than police the forums.  However I can say of forums that I have seen moderatored and those that were not, overall I would say most of our members do conduct themselves in a civil manner.  Even when we have some heated discussions.

I'm for named Moderators (if we have them), simply it gives members the oportunity to PM a moderator if they have a question about a forum topic or need to point out a forum topic that a moderator has missed.
Are you local?
This is a local shop the strangers you would bring would not understand us, our customs, our local ways.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorpompel9
Registered: March 13, 2007
Norway Posts: 467
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I am all for named moderators. I think it is a great idea to have people from all over the world to be moderators.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantRon
DVD Obermotz
Registered: March 13, 2007
Germany Posts: 168
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Hi Ken,  Sorry but I skipped this poll (picked option 3: doesn't matter to me either way)

I really don't think it is a bad idea to have moderators but we really don't need it.
Yes, we have some fights here......  and a lot of times it is the same people over and over.
But, we have very little negatives here, low foul mouths, no racism, no poor taste images, etc etc etc....

I think everyone here is a decent person (some more than others, but still no "major" asses).
Premium member since 29 August 2002 ----  

Proud owner of a Phillips 42PFL7862D since 27 Oct 2007 :-D
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorKevin Coed
Registered: March 14, 2007
United Kingdom Posts: 278
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Quoting Rifter:
Quote:

Somebody made a comment already that it CAN'T be a 'name' user.  By that I suppose he means Skip or someone equally known. 



That would have been me who made that comment. Seeing as it was only two posts above yours and was only the third post in this thread you seem a bit vague on it. By 'name user' I meant Skip, Hal, you etc, the people who post in the majority of threads (for the record, I think Hal would be a good mod. Skip or yourself  would be terrible choices).
Guns don't kill people. Hammers do.
 Last edited: by Kevin Coed
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorKevin
Registered March 22, 2001
Registered: March 13, 2007
Posts: 609
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If need be, I'd volunteer. I've done it before in other various places. I've owned (and still do) a few as well.

If I'm needed, I'll do it. If people don't think I can be "fair and balanced", then so be it.

Ewww... fair and balanced. Now I sound like FOX News. Guess I'll just have to make stuff up!! 
 Last edited: by Kevin
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar Contributorm.cellophane
tonight's the night...
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United States Posts: 3,480
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I think it could work, even with named moderators. We had one mod at the Unofficial Rules Review Forum that had a separate mod name, but the rest of us kept our regular names.

You can have mechanisms for moderators to talk privately so they can work out  how they respond together. That way no one moderator is too far off from the group. You also can have a means for users to report moderators. Everything can be kept in check.

Really I assume you are just talking about having extra eyes to spot things like threads that become overly attacking or making threads sticky or moving them to the right forum, things like that.

I think it can be done. Go for it.
...James

"People fake a lot of human interactions, but I feel like I fake them all, and I fake them very well. That’s my burden, I guess." ~ Dexter Morgan
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