Originally Posted by
techgirl
I'm not aware of the Mods having a list of membership criteria. In my experience, anyone can apply to be a moderator (there is a link to an application on FT) and then the senior moderators work with Randy to fill vacancies when there is one in a forum with candidates that might fit from applicants (and they work to recruit a volunteer where there is a need but no applicant).
Minor correction: one cannot become or continue to be a mod if one receives a 30 day suspension.
Originally Posted by
Punki
If the majority of FlyerTalkers want to be represented by members who have previoiusly been suspended or even banned, (and evidentally that is the the case) so be it. It is apparent that the public has spoken.
That is certainly an interesting way of looking at it. Fortunately, Randy seems a bit smarter and more pragmatic than that and I believe (among other reasons) that's why the TB is "advisory." In other words, the FT membership can elect whomever it wants, but Randy seems to be smart enough not to let the bad judgment of the electorate or the elected ruin FT. I have no doubt that the Internet Brands folks will take the same approach.
Now, the other thing that's worth noting here is there is no disclosure policy for people running for TB and absent those members that Randy has publicly suspended, it would be against the TOS for one TB candidate to point out the suspension history of another. The "public" does not actually know that it may be (and have) electing members who have multiple suspensions. Moreover, the current TB were all elected in such a way that the general populous was unable to directly debate them before the elections. If it was truly "open debate," I'm quite sure that the election results would change.
(I am of the opinion that Randy set things up that way to avoid the discussion of suspensions, if for no other reason that a nontrivial number of TB candidates have had them. I disagree with him on this but it is his sandbox).
But beyond all that, it would prove to be quite, well, entertaining to hear why the members of the TB think that they should not have to abide by the same code of conduct that the moderators have to abide by. For that reason (having to defend the position), I doubt that we will ever see a motion and vote on the subject. Which is a shame.