Our Missing Moderators

[Taur]

Over in Doyle’s WTF happened to” thread, Fiver asked about our missing moderators.

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

I'd like to know what the heck happened to a third of the moderators
we started out with a year ago. Let's see, Jaade, Fluiddruid, and Helen's Eidolon...all mysteriously gone from the radar. (My radar, that is.)

I’ll admit I’ve been wondering about them too for quite some time, and this isn’t the first mention of these absentee moderators. I’d even add GIGObuster to that list.

Are we getting along fine without their direction? I suppose we are, in that we’re pretty much a self-regulating bunch where slings and arrows are concerned. But do they have the time (or the inclination) to regularly contribute to the board and the forums they moderate? Not that I can see:

• Helen’s Eidolon has 582 posts (1.19/day) and last posted 7 January 2010; on 10 November 2009 prior to that. (GBB)
  
• Fluiddruid has 175 posts (0.36/day) and last posted 4 July 2010; on 8 April 2010 prior to that. (BLTP, MC, SPORTS, GAME ROOM, PIT)
  
• GIGObuster has 288 posts (0.59/day) last posted 4 July 2010; on 21 May 2010 prior to that. JtF, PS, PPR
  
• Jaade has 1,569 posts (3.20/day) and last posted 21 January 2010; on 1 January 2010 prior to that. (A&E, BLTP. ZINE, PS)

The complete list of moderators and the forums they cover is over here, for your reference.

My thoughts are that:

1. Helen’s Eidolon, Fluiddruid, GIGObuster and Jaade are thanked for their efforts to date and be retired with the title of Moderator Emeritus; and

2. Uthrecht is made a moderator, for his constant and active presence on this board since its inception and for his consistently balanced and fair responses to posters.

There will be an inevitable reshuffling of forums to moderators, but I think we're due for a revisiting of our forum leaders, given both GIGObuster and Jaade are the only moderators of Photo Safari, and GIGObuster's absence leaves hajario alone in Just the Facts.

So, what your thoughts and have you alternate nominations?

[Kat]

I nominate DEATH. That'd keep people in line.

[Zeener Diode]

Forget the missing mods. WTF happened to my previous post???

[Taur]

It was disappeared, just the like mods. Strange coincidence? I think yes.

[Burnt Toast]

Originally Posted by Board Taurus

2. Uthrecht is made a moderator, for his constant and active presence on this board since its inception and for his consistently balanced and fair responses to posters.

I second this nomination.

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by Burnt Toast

I second this nomination.

You FOOLS! You don't know what that means!

Think: Fenris, but far more verbose.

[Taur]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

You FOOLS! You don't know what that means!

Think: Fenris, but far more verbose.

How dare he leave messages on a message board for us to respond to! The nerve, the unabashed cheek of the man.

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by Board Taurus

How dare he leave messages on a message board for us to respond to! The nerve, the unabashed cheek of the man.

I could throw feces instead.

[Random Precision]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

I could throw feces instead.

I am almost completely, but not quite totally unopposed to this hare-brained scheme.

Originally Posted by Burnt Toast

I second this nomination.

This one, too.

[Taur]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

I could throw feces instead.

It's your monitor, Zeen. :shrugs:

[Auntbeast]

What kind of crack head are you?

You don't give someone like Uthrecht power. That is how totalitarian regimes are formed. He should be placed in a steel cage, in a concrete box and buried deeper than a President during a nuclear war.

Then forgotten.

Or maybe we can make a bamboo cage and arm everyone with sharpened bamboo stakes.

For some reason, the word "moderation" and Uthrecht really don't go well together in a sentence.

Love ya Uthrect. Having said all that, I think he'd be an appropriate choice for this message board.

[hajario]

GIGO is around but more behind the scenes.

Jaade, Helen's and fluid all haven't participated in a while. This is one of the reasons that we brought on Wednesday when Vic retired. I like the idea of putting them in Emeritus status for now but not until it's discussed more with the rest of the staff.

[timbicile]

i nominate Board Taurus. Just cause she is so willing to throw Uthrect under the bus.

[Zeener Diode]

BT, I'm yerkin your burkha.

But I'm opposed to selecting mods by popular opinion or based upon ubiquitous presence during certain hours.

[Uthrecht]

Whoa, well thanks folks! I have no beef with getting tapped, but I think Giraffe's overall policy has generally been to do first, and then run it by the community to see if it pissed folks off.

I've seen GIGO around the joint. I also agree that Jaade, Helen and fluiddruid seem to have gone mostly quiet. Which is a shame, 'cause I like reading their posts. If they're not able to get in and around at the moment, a retirement might not be a bad idea, at least until they can get back. I'm probably now in a conflict of interest to get too opinionated about all that.

However, thanks for the thread (and the nomination), Taurus. It's good stuff to chew over.

[Jeff]

Moderator elections! Visible moderation forum! McNutty for administrator!

I feel these three points will propel us towards stardom and a brighter, better tomorrow.

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by Uthrecht

Whoa, well thanks folks! I have no beef with getting tapped, but I think Giraffe's overall policy has generally been to do first, and then run it by the community to see if it pissed folks off.

Your sound reasoning both excites and infuriates me.

[Taur]

Originally Posted by Auntbeast

What kind of crack head are you?

My car's hatchback hates me.

Originally Posted by timbicile

i nominate Board Taurus. Just cause she is so willing to throw Uthrect under the bus.

Hey, it's a Greyhound, not the short bus!

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

BT, I'm yerkin your burkha.

Admit it, you wanted a flash of cheek.

But I'm opposed to selecting mods by popular opinion or based upon ubiquitous presence during certain hours.

Oh, okay. Sooo, in what ways do you support selecting mods?

Originally Posted by hajario

GIGO is around but more behind the scenes.


Jaade, Helen's and fluid all haven't participated in a while. This is one of the reasons that we brought on Wednesday when Vic retired. I like the idea of putting them in Emeritus status for now but not until it's discussed more with the rest of the staff.

That's fair enough, thanks, and I'm looking forward to hearing how that develops.

Originally Posted by Uthrecht

However, thanks for the thread (and the nomination), Taurus.

Mi autobús es su autobús, Uthy.

It's good stuff to chew over.

Well, I just think the matter needs some thought at this point in time.

[Uthrecht]

I just ask that you stop reversing and having another go at it, Taurus.


Although I think it's helping my back...

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by Board Taurus

Oh, okay. Sooo, in what ways do you support selecting mods?

Same way it's always been done: Giraffe sneaks up behind them and gives them a full nelson until they cry, or agree to moderate.

[Dudley]

Uthrecht for Mayor!

[Taur]

Originally Posted by Uthrecht

I just ask that you have another go at it, Taurus.

HIZZONER!

[Scarlett67]

I am intrigued by your ideas and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Also, this seems as good a place as any to say that I never see Zeener Diode's handle without also thinking, "BITCH STOLE MY FISH."

That is all.

[Fenris]

Originally Posted by Board Taurus

There will be an inevitable reshuffling of forums to moderators, but I think we're due for a revisiting of our forum leaders, given both GIGObuster and Jaade are the only moderators of Photo Safari, and GIGObuster's absence leaves hajario alone in Just the Facts.

So, what your thoughts and have you alternate nominations?

The point I want to make here is that the "Forums Leader" thing really doesn't work well--pretty much mods take care of stuff where they see it. More or less mods? I'm open: I don't think we need them at the moment, but I'm not opposed to the idea. But I'd suggest that unless we're going to quadruple or quintuple our mods, forget the "forum leader" thing.

[Pencil]

Interesting - I PMd Giraffe a few days ago saying the exact same thing, including Utrecht for mod. He's not responded so I have no idea what he thinks.
I just want to make it clear that Taurus and I have not communicated this on issue. So this is not part of some campaign. Great minds think alike, I guess.

[Lungfish]

"Super Moderator" would be a better title that "Forum Leader". I don't see a need for more mods as the ones we currently have are performing their mod duties superbly.

[hajario]

Super Moderator is a VB term. All of the regular Mods are Super Mods which means that they can Moderate in any forum. We originally had it so that Mods were supposed to stick to their own forums but we effectively abandoned that because we generally agree on things and it's easier to take care of something on your own then to ask someone else to do it and then wait for them to show up.

We do have a few regular Moderators. Idle Thoughts is one in the Megapoll forum. The others take care of Mafia Game stuff. They don't do any actual moderating and don't have access to the Super Secret area but they clean things up in their area and can do things like edit threads if needed.

[hajario]

Originally Posted by Pencil

Interesting - I PMd Giraffe a few days ago saying the exact same thing, including Utrecht for mod. He's not responded so I have no idea what he thinks.
I just want to make it clear that Taurus and I have not communicated this on issue. So this is not part of some campaign. Great minds think alike, I guess.

G is on yet another one of his vacations so he's away from the 'net for a bit. I have brought this up for discussion in the Mod forum and we'll be back to you shortly.

[Roo]

Originally Posted by Pencil

Interesting - I PMd Giraffe a few days ago saying the exact same thing, including Utrecht for mod. He's not responded so I have no idea what he thinks.
I just want to make it clear that Taurus and I have not communicated this on issue. So this is not part of some campaign. Great minds think alike, I guess.

Actually, I was thinking about this a few weeks ago, and almost put up a suggestion thread about Uthrecht being moderator.

I wonder how that would have gone.

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by Roo

Actually, I was thinking about this a few weeks ago, and almost put up a suggestion thread about Uthrecht being moderator.

I wonder how that would have gone.

Uthrecht would have been tied to the stake while each Raffer was gleefully given a match and a small can of lighter fluid. His corpse would then be fed to the Zombies' rats.

Good thing you kept your mouth shut on this one.

[Roo]

Originally Posted by Dudley

Good thing you kept your mouth shut on this one.

Why do you say that?

[Chacoguy]

Originally Posted by Roo

Why do you say that?

[Dragonlady]

Originally Posted by Dudley

Uthrecht would have been tied to the stake while each Raffer was gleefully given a match and a small can of lighter fluid. His corpse would then be fed to the Zombies' rats.

Which is exactly what we're preparing to do anyway.

FTFY!!

[whirlingbladesofkick]

Roo could you please restrain yourself from making this thread about you? Please?

[Roodroid]

I looooove Roo!

Supersmart and such a good communicator! Everyone understands her and she understands everything everyone says to her!

I think Roo should be a moderater.

Or better, even a administrator.

Because she's so very smart and very thoughtful and so supercool that she should be a hero of the boards.

[nonny too]

Originally Posted by Fenris

The point I want to make here is that the "Forums Leader" thing really doesn't work well--pretty much mods take care of stuff where they see it. More or less mods? I'm open: I don't think we need them at the moment, but I'm not opposed to the idea. But I'd suggest that unless we're going to quadruple or quintuple our mods, forget the "forum leader" thing.

You raise a point that I was going to ask about. Are the mods themselves feeling like moderating is becoming a burden and making the board less fun for them as posters?

[Fenris]

It's not for me and I don't think it is for the others. What I found frustrating was, when we were still doing the SDMB "Only mod in your forum" model, seeing someone who wanted a thread title change or something and not being sure if it was ok to help.

Now that we just mod wherever, I'm having a blast. Frankly, except for having more buttons to push than most people and the occasional "Let's get back on track"*, I pretty much haven't changed what I'd do around here at all.



*Plus Boxing Veb and Weds. That's always a perk

[Uthrecht]

Originally Posted by whirlingbladesofkick

Roo could you please restrain yourself from making this thread about you? Please?

It's a fair point, so let's keep this on track.

Out with the old mods, in with the me!




... too soon?

[Zombies!]

Is this where we vote for Iampunha for Iditor in Chief?

Also +1 UTHY!

[Sleeps With Butterflies]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

But I'm opposed to selecting mods by popular opinion or based upon ubiquitous presence during certain hours.

Agreed. Also, I hope that the person they choose will keep with the spirit of the moderation already here and not try to make everyone get along. There's a place for that and it's called the dope.

[wring]

Originally Posted by hajario

G is on yet another one of his vacations so he's away from the 'net for a bit.

Is he ever around?

[Steerpike]

I vote for Zombies as moderator!

[Sleeps With Butterflies]

Originally Posted by Scissorjack

I vote for Zombies as moderator!

I think that would be a good choice.

[Roo]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

But I'm opposed to selecting mods by popular opinion

Originally Posted by Sleeps With Butterflies

Agreed.

Originally Posted by Scissorjack

I vote for Zombies as moderator!

Originally Posted by Sleeps With Butterflies

I think that would be a good choice.

[maplekiwi]

I don't see the need to retire fluid & GIGO since they are around even if they don't post much.

Uthrecht would be a cool replacement.

[HongKongFooey]

I think it ain't broke so nothing needs to be changed.

However...

If change is coming than I submit that I should be given a pair of jackboots. I pledge to be an insufferable asshole drooling mad with power. My reign will be brief but tumultuous and it will take months for the admins to rescue the board from the smouldering wreckage left in the wake of my spectacular downfall.

My name is HKF and I approve this message.

[wring]

Originally Posted by Roo

Not too difficult, really. Some one can both be opposed to selection of moderators by [popular choice' and also think a particular selection would be a good choice.

[Sleeps With Butterflies]

Originally Posted by Roo

Gosh, how can I explain this to someone so dense that they apparently thought "eating you up inside" meant that their body was actually being consumed?

Oh I know! I'll break it down as if I'm talking to a literal, obnoxious, petulant child.


Widdle Roo: One can agree that someone would be a good mod without thinking there should be an election. See? Scissory said he voted for Zombies as a moderator and I said that would be a good choice. That means that I think she would be a good moderator, too! Notice I didn't say that I second the motion or anything else.


Now, you go run along and think of more things to pretend not to understand or find phrases to take literally or just hit yourself in the head with a hammer (and yes I mean literally)

On preview: What Wring said.

[wring]

Uh oh. Now folks'll think I'm your sock.

[Dudley]

fuck