Do we need moderators? (1 Viewer)

[Fornatian]

It's a job - you just need the right person(s)

 

[Vassago]

Yeah, but I'm actually beginning to think that the moderator, if anyone, should be someone that doesn't answer questions all the time and doesn't post too much. If it's someone who posts a lot, they tend to abuse their power a little too much such as mission2_java's point. I've seen this person's replies and answers and she pretty much thinks everyone else is the village idiot and she is the supreme ruler. I would call her the supreme ruler of the village of idiots personally.

Basically, a moderator should be someone that Jon trusts that doesn't know anything about Access, but is mature enough to handle the responsibility of being a moderator, unlike Charlotte.

 

[harra]

I moderated another MS Access forum until I was given administrator rights (the owner was extremely busy and wanted a backup). Our main purpose was to keep the forums "clean". You know, move posts to their proper location, clean up the posts when members do a bad job in posting (i.e. forget to use vB Code tags for their supplied code). Occassionally we've had to do some policing, but that usually isn't carried out without consent from other mods. We like to confer in our private Mods Forum before we take any kind of action such as "banning" a member.

So in a nutshell, I think Mods are good for general housekeeping not to be the "law of the land". Those kind of mods need to be "demoted".

 

[Autoeng]

I like Harra's opinion of what makes a good mod. I wouldn't sign up for a position like that but it would be nice to have someone moving post to the correct location, ect..

Autoeng

 

[Vassago]

Or deleting multiple posts. That can be just as frustrating for the person asking the question as it can for the people answering the questions.

 

[Autoeng]

Or dealing with my biggest pet peave, making the post subject relate to the post. I can't stand it when someone labels their post "HELP!".

Autoeng

 

[harra]

Or dealing with my biggest pet peave, making the post subject relate to the post. I can't stand it when someone labels their post "HELP!".

Autoeng

I have to agree with that pet peave. I basically decide whether or not I read a post based on the title. With a forum as active as this one, you often have to be very selective in what posts you read because you don't have time to read them all

 

[Ally]

Yeah - Ditto! That's so annoying. I tend to ignore those too, tho sometimes just out of curiosity will have a look.

When you do a search too, you can end up with hundreds and when there's ones with a real ambiguous title, you haven't got a clue whether it's going to contain anything that may be what you're looking for.

 

[Rich]

Must be just me that finds I have a "deadline" posts annoying.
I don't meet deadlines in my own profession, sure as hell not going to meet them here

 

[Vassago]

I think this thread is getting a little off topic. None of these things would really have to do with why we need moderators. I think people just like to complain.

 

[harra]

Actually,

They are sort of on topic.

Moderators often are useful for going in an updating Thread Titles to more meaningful subject text and are used to speak on behalf of the owner of board to help convey ideas about how the members aren't a personal "Help Desk" here to ensure that you can meet deadlines.

And yes, people love to complain. I'd rather have someone complain about me than hit me .... lol

 

[Vassago]

::hits you::

 

[casey]

Sorry I only skimmed the previous posts to this thread, but I like what you said Jon...
Common FAQ's would be well advised.
Include a FORUM ETTIQUETE and require that all newbies read it.
I saw the same thing on another site and it helped me to be a more thoughtful poster. Like many newbie posters, I was clueless (it's a process) on what are valid posts, what can be searched on (including users) and the different options like searching the MS knowledge base and help for simple terms and such. Since learning about how to search more effectively, I've reduced my posting to almost nothing.

One key thing I read on that other forum's FORUM ETTIQUETE section was not to rash statements about Access. I see that many newbies do this (I'm guilty too) because they're frustrated so I understand, but it's a little annoying when a newbie states that Access is stupid or something. One tends to wonder if it's Access or the newbie.

 

[ChrisO]

Right up front.

Since I am a moderator of the same Forum that Harra (Ray) is now a current administrator, I would like to add something.

Owners of sites have to sleep; this is so obvious that is hardly needs mentioning.

This site goes worldwide, to all different time zones, so someone needs to be awake.

We might consider porn spamming as a trivial occurrence but it is not in my view, nor in the view of many others.

JasonM and I handle the night shift ie GMT + 8 to +10. Spanning both sides.
(These 'people' seem to come in under the cloak of darkness.)

Under these circumstanses, both of us have deleted replies, many of them. If we do the 'wrong thing' we will be removed from service. There is no guarantee that a moderator will do the correct thing but there is always a backup, the owner of the site. He/she holds the cattle prod… the big stick.

It is conceivable that a site, like this, could be charged with conveyancing pornographic material, if not in this Country then in others.

My thinking is; if you need more moderators then it would seem appropriate to select them, not only on their capabilities (obvious) but also, on their time zone.

And I'm certainly not putting my hand up for that job.

Regards
Chris

 

[TessB]

Well, Jon...
Given some previous criteria mentioned for moderators:
I dont' post much
I am NOT a genius as far as Access goes
I know that MANY people here know FAR more than I about Access
But I like to keep the place civil

And....my company just got bought out so I am looking for a job.
Does this moderator position pay anything? If so, I apply....

If not.... no... seriously Jon... the group has been extremely self conscious even in the Watercooler, where we have successfully bonded while avoiding inflammatory subjects.

I think you are just fine without additional moderators.

 

[mission2java_78]

O please you guys are starting to sound very lame looking for money...and praising yourself as being moderators / admins at other forums is making me sick.

This place is fine as it is...I rarely see any problems and no one complains. Lets keep it the way it is.

Jon

 

[ChrisO]

What do you think?

These are I believe the last words in this thread, so far, by the Site Owner & Administrator.

All contributors should be able to state their case, irrespective of their experience actually doing the job.

I rarely see any problems and no one complains.

But who does the work?

What do you think?

Chris.

 

[Vassago]

O please you guys are starting to sound very lame looking for money...and praising yourself as being moderators / admins at other forums is making me sick.

This place is fine as it is...I rarely see any problems and no one complains. Lets keep it the way it is.

Jon

No one was serious about pay. Of course the position more than likely doesn't pay. I don't think any of them were praising themself either. They were stating the facts on why they were chosen to be moderators and letting their point of view in as moderators of other sites just how important it is to have them. I agree with them that at most sites, moderators are probably needed. However, I agree with you and Tess that this forum has a lovely atmosphere as is and could potentially change for the worse when additional moderators are brought in. As Tess said, we have all bonded in one way or another and I find no need for additional moderators.

Jon (owner Jon)- I say only take on more moderators if the position is becoming too much for you to handle. If you find too many messages in your inbox regarding issues, then find someone else to split the burden with that is both honest and attentative, meaning they won't disappear for months on end. Probably a good idea to get someone in a different time zone as you as well, so that the burden is split pretty well, as someone previously noted. But as I said, I like the forum just the way it is and would not change a thing. This would have to be the most professional Access forum I have found, especially when looking at the more unprofessional forums such as Utter Access and Woody's Lounge, where a few of the moderators are actually a little immature and big-headed.

 

[ads]

I've been browsing these forums for a couple of weeks now, and the bitchiest thread I've seen is probably this one. I'd say this forum genuinely appears to moderate itself, and that the only reason to have an extra Admin or two, would be dependant on how much time Jon has to keep erroneous threads tidied away.

I'm honestly stunned by this forum, everyone is very friendly, and really tries hard to help those who are prepared to help themselves.

Long may it continue.

 

[mdemarte]

IMHO

Moderators: Jon, if you feel you need them, then I support the idea to bring on a few to see how it goes. I caution you to not just pick them based solely on time zone coverage, else you could run into the problems mentioned by the other forum Admin and Moderators. (Admins and Moderators -- Thanks for posting that info.)

Search: To reply to someone's post in this thread -- I have learned to search these post better and I have learned a great deal. I support an area of FAQ, that might help the newbies get started.