Moderators?
 

Okay, don't get all excited or overly passionate.

What IF FT went to moderated forums that were moderated by 1-3 persons REALLY into a particular forum topic. Maybe not all forums...but ones with a lot of posts...say the top 10-15. They would have "mission statements" or "rules of engagement". They don't have "arresting authority" but are more like "leaders" and let Randy/Michael know when something gets spun outta control.

Look, don't get excited...this is just a discussion...I (more than anyone http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif) have no power here...it is JUST a discussion.

How about...give pros AND cons?! If you go all negative...atleast give a positive!

Dorian

p.s. if this thread goes nowhere...well then we know the idea is crap! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif



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I would vote very strongly against it, unless the moderators are Randy's staff.

The reasons being personal bias of moderators. Who are the moderators? What do the moderators do? What would Randy/staff do?

Is there a real problem that is being solved? For example in the Delta thread, Randy's staff was aware of the issue, but Randy had a very busy schedule.

[This message has been edited by PG (edited 09-30-2000).]

I'd not be in favour. There would IMHO be more flaming about what the moderators did/did not do or alter than what is ever in the posts! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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~ Glen ~

This has been talked about since the earliest days of FT and the overwhelming view has been negative.

Boomer,

Sure, I have read the thread(s) (only remember 1) about it....

BUT, isn't it okay to revisit topics as things change???

Dorian



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Blondebomber's Star Alliance Comparison Chart: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html

I agree with Dorian: yes to forum moderators.

There seems to be some misunderstanding about what moderators do. They do not:
[*]alter posts[*]allow flame wars to spread[*]interject his or her own opinions[*]allow personal bias of community members to get in the way of his or her moderation duties

A good moderator is expected to remain impartial and should pretty much sit back unless or until a thread turns ugly or otherwise runs contrary to the stated guidelines (which need to be made clear in advance) of the forum.

Check out the Plane Business boards for an example of a successfully moderated board.

So what do the moderators do? What are the stated guidelines? We have often asked Randy but so far none have been received. I doubt if moderators will remain impartial.

There are other moderated boards. I visit DVD Talk forum which is moderated. I once again reiterate my preference that if there are modertors they should be from Randy's staff.

I'm also in favor of moderators. Their mission statement is only to keep the posts on-topic, and the discussion civil. A good example (prior to FT, of course), was rec.travel.air on usenet, which spawned the very informative (and moderated) misc.transport.air-industry

Excellent points regarding the nature of the moderators. This can be a VERY tough job at times just as it might be quite boring at other times.

An impartial effective moderator is a fine idea but no moderator is still better than a less than objective, ineffective one. I tend to agree with PGs' preference that if there are modertors they should perhaps be on Randy's staff and thus "official".

And again, as noted, and as I've personally asked before, the "rules of the road," so to speak, could well be clarified somewhat! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

So I, for one, can easily live rather happily, (I think) either way! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Some nice new comments. I think essxjay put some interesting pionts down which could be expanded upon.

I remember back to the days of early AOL when chat rooms often had a type of 'moderator' (most later sued AOL for no pay). They were very effective...keeping forums on track..answering and posting FAQ's about 'their' forum...etc.

Dorian



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As I've stated in the past, I'd strongly support it. I've participated on another board that went from being unmoderated to being moderated by volunteers and things got much better after the change.

The advantages I saw were:

- Less and shorter flame wars, as they got headed off at the pass.

- Fewer personal attacks.

I didn't see a single disadvantage. The moderators were well chosen, and there was rarely controversy about what they said.

I don't think Randy's staff has enough time to handle a bboard the size of FT. I bet it would take several people the better part of a day to go through all the active threads. I don't think it's realistic to even ask that.

I agree with dgolds: well-chosen, volunteer moderators is a proven method.

For example, I'd be happy to moderate the hotel or car forums. I don't have any partisanship whatsoever, and if anyone proved otherwise, I would excuse myself from moderator duties. However, I doubt that these forums need moderation, if at all.

What we're really suggesting here is moderation of some of the @Talk and Airline Programs forums. Maybe a dozen or so. I doubt the Aero California forum needs much looking after. <g>

I have posed many questions here, none of which have been answered. Should we not discuss this before we propose solutions to non existent problems.

essxjay,

good points again. i would think that forums with 5000+ posts COULD be candidates...

dorian

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pg,

moderators watch over the forum and watch for 'inappropriate' postings and the beginnings of flame wars.

the reason i brought it up....this year there have been 2 or 3 threads that have got 'out of control' (IMO)...if a moderator had been 'watching' the thread it could have been nipped in the bud so to say.

remember in the early summer that guy who joined the board and started slandering everyone and everything??? that took WAY too long for FT staff to respond...a moderator would have seen it and realized it needed FT staff intervention ASAP and could have let them know.

dorian



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Dorian's Star Alliance RTW Price Chart: http://www.informationlab.com/rtw.htm
Blondebomber's Star Alliance Comparison Chart: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html