Originally Posted by RSSrsvp
(Post 17591110)
I have no intentions of getting into the factors that led up to the TS/S split but it was quite obvious to all that something had to be done about that forum which was a nightmare for anyone trying to post a legitimate question.
The volume and tenor of the forum was closing in on a day when it could no longer be moderated. There wasn't enough time in the day to do it properly. The choices really were to to shut it down for good or change the structure to accommodate the needs of different types of posters. We choose the bold solution (listening to our members) rather than taking easy way out (cutting and running). Why the need to second guess our judgment, the CD's and IBs at this junction is mystifying. |
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 17591282)
You seem very confident, but how can you know what is in their minds?
If you can't respect mods making inferences to the best conclusion about what's best for their forum(s) then we're back to the underlying issue of unresolved mutual mistrust. Until that's fleshed out the rest of this discussion is pointless. |
Originally Posted by RSSrsvp
(Post 17591555)
Therefore and not to open a Pandora's Box, I submit to you that any FT member could simply start a similar thread on any forum and if that board's moderators feel that it is appropriate they can simply leave it open. This would not require any action by the TB. @:-)
|
Thanks for starting this thread Kokonutz. While I don't believe that every forum needs a thread of this nature, there should be at least one thread where discussion can take place about concerns that general members have.
|
Originally Posted by RSSrsvp
(Post 17591555)
By the way, this might come as a shock to you but the DL thread we have been referencing to in many of our posts was not started by a moderator. It was started by RobertS975 a longtime member of the board. At the time the DL mods made the decision to keep the thread open even though we could have simply closed it as per the TOS.
Therefore and not to open a Pandora's Box, I submit to you that any FT member could simply start a similar thread on any forum and if that board's moderators feel that it is appropriate they can simply leave it open. This would not require any action by the TB. @:-)
Originally Posted by essxjay
(Post 17592224)
Likewise mods do not require TB sanction to initiate (or close) discussions of moderation within their own forums, viz. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/omni/...t-discuss.html.
|
Originally Posted by RSSrsvp
(Post 17592476)
kokonutz, based on the above two comments I submit to you that this topic is now a moot point. Frankly this is much to do about nothing!!!
This version is both innocuous and flexible, IMHO. It could promote valuable feedback for some forums. |
Originally Posted by essxjay
(Post 17592157)
We could ask the same of you with respect to what The Posters want. And there's the epistemological conundrum.
If you can't respect mods making inferences to the best conclusion about what's best for their forum(s) then we're back to the underlying issue of unresolved mutual mistrust. Until that's fleshed out the rest of this discussion is pointless. Or at least it should be. In koko-world it would be. That's what this proposal is all about. YMMV. |
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 17593046)
I submit that it is not the mod's forum. It is the posters' forum.
"... the forums they moderate." Better? |
Originally Posted by nsx
(Post 17592777)
FWIW, I have floated in the private TalkBoard forum the idea to mandate a non-sticky thread for discussion of moderation policy and practices in the forum excluding any discussion of specific past actions but allowing discussion of hypothetical future actions. The second part of this idea is that each forum's moderators would be allowed (as apparently they already are) to allow discussion of specific past actions to whatever extent and under whatever ground rules the forum's moderators see fit, subject to constraints, if any, set by the Community Director.
This version is both innocuous and flexible, IMHO. It could promote valuable feedback for some forums. |
Originally Posted by essxjay
(Post 17593072)
Different sense and referent. (But you knew that. ;))
"... the forums they moderate." Better? I still have not seen a down-side articulated to giving all (active) forums' posters the opportunity of using a moderation thread. |
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 17593046)
I submit that it is not the mod's forum. It is the posters' forum.
That opinion would earn you a severe reprimand in one forum that I frequent...(or that I used to frequent to be more correct). |
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 17590992)
Oy, another conspiracy theory? Really?
I am proposing a recommendation for an amendment to the TOS to be considered by the TB. As hard as it might be, can we focus on the proposal rather than the personalities (sort of ironic that *I* am the one saying this to some of the *mods* participating here! :))! Again: I have yet to see articulated or demonstrated a down-side to this proposal. What is so 'bad' about allowing posters to have collaborative input on how their favorite forums are managed on a day-to-day basis? |
Originally Posted by essxjay
(Post 17583853)
Congratulations on your windfall, Mike. I really do wish you well and hope your board continues to be a smashing success. ^
The smashing success was the manner in which the TS/S moderators managed to alienate so many of their users so quickly. And no, there was disciplinary action in regard to me -- I simply took note of the rapidly souring atmosphere (esp. the accumulating body count) and chose to quit posting there. It had reached the point where it was no longer worthy of my contribution. Travel Underground was created about three weeks later when I was informed that "It is never cool to call out a mod.". In the isolated environment that many FT moderators seem to create for themselves, over time moderation -- and what the moderators want -- becomes an end in itself at the expense of the members. I've seen this happen a number of times over the years in several forums. The only way this is ever going to be dealt with is to make the moderators answerable to TalkBoard and shine a lot more sunlight into the process. As it is, you have an elected board that is little more than another FT in-crowd. Give TalkBoard some teeth and made the moderators accountable. |
Originally Posted by Markie
(Post 17593614)
So you're not thinking of requiring the Mods in that forum to participate in that thread and to answer posters complaints?
That does not mean there would be no value to a thread discussing moderation of a particular forum (or, indeed, threads discussing moderation in general). If Poster A brings up a good point on such a forum, he will most likely be answered with at least one of the following (and perhaps all of them, depending on how many moderators are involved): 1. A respectful response to the point the poster made, either agreeing or disagreeing with him, and outlining the moderator's view of the issue. 2. A snarky response demonstrating that the moderator feels that he is way above any possible disagreement and that the poster is guilty of lese majeste for daring to question and/or disagree with him. 3. No response at all. Still, by having expressed his own opinion, Poster A will have brought up a point which other members may not have considered. That, in itself, is valuable. Moreover, the type of response that the moderator makes will reveal a lot about that particular moderator. This, too, is valuable. Indeed, a sufficient number of "I don't give a crap about you" replies from a moderator (or even lack of replies) might make whoever is responsible for moderation -- be it TB, a group of mods, or the CD -- decide that the moderator in question is not an asset to FT and should no longer continue in his positition. On a different matter which has been raised here, it is not really true that any poster can start such a thread. Yes, it was permitted on the Delta Forum, but might not be on others. In fact, by attempting to start such a thread the poster could well find himself losing his posting rights for having discussed moderation. |
Well stated, Dovster.
Originally Posted by Dovster
(Post 17593857)
On a different matter which has been raised here, it is not really true that any poster can start such a thread. Yes, it was permitted on the Delta Forum, but might not be on others. In fact, by attempting to start such a thread the poster could well find himself losing his posting rights for having discussed moderation.
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 3:02 pm. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.