The Rules

[barron of ideas]

Rule 1.

The boss is always right.

Rule 2.

Should the boss appear to be wrong, see rule 1 above.



As an extension of my remarks, should this be necessary, it is sometimes possible to discuss the actions of which you approve, in terms that communicate your approval and thanks.

Moderators pervoform a valuable service, and like garbage collectors and editors, their efforts are not fully appreciated until that service breaks down.

Should I admit I have been banned? Oh, why not. At the time I though I was being funny, but upon reflection, see rule 2 above.

However be carefull what you wish for. The cure (discussion of moderators actions, or any other "freedom" may have unintended consequences. Put another way, if it an't broke, finxing it may be a bad idea.

I have been asking for fewer unfunny posts in the Humor & Jokes section, and sure enough, I got fewer posts.

Let the guys who know what they are doing keep doing it. I have no idea why they do it for free, and let us abuse them (sometimes) to boot. Could it be they enjoy it?

 

[G-Man]

I'm afraid I don't quite follow you....

 

[floppa21]

Yes. The mods, especially Lefty, are all hardcore, incurable masochists.

 

[CurtSibling]

Advice: do not meddle in the affairs of Mods!

For they are quick to anger and will smite you with maroon words of doom!

 

[MarineCorps]

I'm confused I lost you after the second rule. Otherwise up until then I followed you perfectly

 

[Knight-Dragon]

I am not sure what you are getting at either...

Originally posted by barron of ideas
Let the guys who know what they are doing keep doing it. I have no idea why they do it for free, and let us abuse them (sometimes) to boot. Could it be they enjoy it?

Some days, I wondered about that myself...

 

[Octavian X]

There's a new insight for a my new book on Moderator Theory.
Are all moderators really intent on taking the job despite all the pain and torture, or is it just Lefty's doing?

The research continues...

 

[Turner]

Nah. . . See, Lefty used to be 9 of 14, now he's what, 5 of 9? Anyways, the mods don't take the job because they want to, but because they've been assimilated by Lefty. . . .

 

[Perfection]

Well I can see the problem with the lack of moderator action discussion. It seems that people develop a lack of moderator trust rather than an acceptance of their ideas. Without going into any details I will say that there has been times when I've thoroughly disagreed with a mod and had a hard time communicating my frustrations for fear of bannings. These lead to anger on one side that makes the more likely to lash out (I've seen it before). Perhaps there could be a single monitered thread for moderator action discussions that is heavily moderated to remove all flames but where criticisms of specific actions can be debated. All I know is ignoring the problem is not going to work out very well.

 

[Padma]

Well, Perfection, that's why we have the system we do. You can (usually) get away with a little more "bannable" language in a PM. If you disagree with a moderator's actions, PM the mod (don't flame!). If you are not satisfied with the mod's response, you can PM/email Thunderfall.

We certainly do not want to ignore criticism of moderator actions. But we don't need a public flamefest, which is what these types of threads usually turn into. Usually there's no need for public discussion. If I receive PMs from severl people complaining about some specific action I have taken, that will be enough to clue me that either a) I screwed up, or b) the community doesn't understand the rules. Fortunately for me, the few times that I know I've screwed up, either TF or another mod has caught the problem, and things were rectified quickly.

In any case, rest assured that any actions we take are goverened by the idea of "what is best for the site", not "I don't like this poster, so I am going to screw him over".

 

[Perfection]

Well a lot of times the moderator will dismiss things without giving satisfactory explanations, and this puts me in an ackward position. I believe constructive open commentary is neccesary

 

[Lefty Scaevola]

Originally posted by floppa21
Yes. The mods, especially Lefty, are all hardcore, incurable masochists.

Ah, excuse me, I would have got here earlier, but I was busy searing my flesh with hot irons, use excess amperage on my imputs, and wathcing political speeches.

 

[barron of ideas]

Not...Political speaches!!!

taper off with ricky nelson movies.

For those that don't understand the rules, they can be summarized "Shut up and soldier, soldier."

 

[floppa21]

But who the hell is Cracker? I never see him, but for he banned me once.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Originally posted by Perfection
Well a lot of times the moderator will dismiss things without giving satisfactory explanations, and this puts me in an ackward position. I believe constructive open commentary is neccesary

If you're referring to why I closed your avatar contest thread, I thought I'd already made it clear to you that it's on sufferance, just 'cause it's your 'day'.

And no, there won't be second rounds. I'll not have the OT littered with every other poster wanting their own avatar contest, avatar discussion threads.

Happy now?

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Originally posted by floppa21
But who the hell is Cracker? I never see him, but for he banned me once.

Civ3 GOTM mod. You've to get up and get around a little more, floppa.

IIRC, it was for foul language in Site Feedback.

Remember folks, if you can get away fr one mod doesn't mean you can get away from another. And then, there're the days when mods are feeling cranky too.

 

[barron of ideas]

Some times the context makes a big difference. I am pretty sure discussing Hell on the Religion thread will most of the time not be censored. If you throw the word around in general, you may be getting close to the edge. H of a fine job is less of a problem than inviting someone to go there in a blast of flame.

This is an analogy. Take looking at the grand canyon. Some people want to go right to the edge and look down, others stay a little farther away (cause the edge could collapse) , and some (the banned), jump right in and try to find how close to the bottom they can get. These are the ones who get caught by the mods (our Park Rangers) and dragged back to the edge. Some of the Park Rangers are busyier than others, and figure the edge probably won't collape from under the guy right at the edge, so don't stop him. Others, with different experience, keep everbody a body length away. If you do what the ranger tells you you will have a nice day, and nobody gets hurt. If you Evil Kenevil and try to jump the canyon in your motorcycle, you will get stopped before you hurt someone.

I didn't say it was a great analogy.

 

[Lefty Scaevola]

Originally posted by XIII
And then, there're the days when mods are feeling cranky too.

Or in my case, centuries when I am cranky. The thread appears to be highly unfocused and spamifirous. Closed.