Moderator duties and priorities.

In the past the Flyer Talk Moderator Team has been understaffed and overworked. They have done a fabulous job, for the most part, and we are all grateful for their efforts.

Now with the expansion of the Moderator Team, one would hope that there is more time available to individual moderators. How would you like to see them use that time?

I, for one, would like to see Moderators take a little extra time to warmly welcome newbies and explain their moderation efforts in a very friendly and enabling manner on each thread that they move or close. In most instances, misposts are honest mistakes and that should be recognized as such to encourage newbies (and even oldtimers) to continue posting.

In the instance of threads that step over the line, I would like to see more moderation (or perhaps deletion) of individual offensive postings, rather than the closing down of entire threads. All too often, an otherwise intelligent and instructive thread, is shut down because flamers get out of hand. IMHO, this practice gives the bad guys (and gals, if there is such a thing) way too much power to control what is and is not discussed on FT.

What are your thoughts?


[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 01-14-2003).]

Can you give an example of what "friendly and enabling manner" is? Is that the style practised by moderators on that other board?

FewMiles..

------------------
[ FlyerTalkers' Resources on the Web ]
[ Unofficial Guide to AAdvantage ] [ Unofficial oneworld Info Desk ]

On a more serious note, I agree that offending posts should be deleted, because leaving the offending content by simply closing the thread does nothing but leave fodder for future flameouts.

FewMiles..

Yes, Few Miles I would be happy to give an example.

For instance, in this post , a moderator could write something like:

"Thank you very much rudystarnberg, for your post, and welcome to Flyer Talk. This is a truly wonderful topic and one which I believe would get a broader response on Mileage Buzz. I have, therefore, moved it to this spot .

I am confident that you will get lots of good information. Keep asking those great questions.

I hope you have as much informative fun on Flyer Talk as I have had over the years."


............or something along those lines.


[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 01-14-2003).]

I for one appreciate the moderators here and do not think for a scond that they should change in any way.

FewMiles,

You and I both know that some people are more qualified to comment on some subjects than others.

I think the Talkboard finalised the Moderator guidelines some time ago.

Yes, Scott, you are right, they were. Within those guidelines were three major goals:

1. Welcoming and supporting (assisting) new members;
2. Preventing (derailing) abuse; and
3. Shepherding posts into the right field.

Unfortunately, with the very limited number of moderators heretofore available, there wasn't enough time available to accomplish all of those goals. Now that there will be more moderators available, it is hoped that more of those initial goals can be met, or at least targeted.

Which of them do you feel should have highest priority?

IMHO: 2, 3, 1.

#1 is not really the responsibility of moderators, but something every FT member can help out with.

FewMiles..

Actually, Few Miles, if you start here and carefully read and absorb all of that information (including the links) it would appear that assisting new members is a designated Moderator role. Having said that, you are absolutely right that Flyer Talk will become an even better place when we all take on that responsibility (read joy) as our own.

Beyond that, I agree with you that "2. Preventing (derailing) abuse" is crucial to the ongoing growth and development of our cyber home.


[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 01-14-2003).]

I agree that some posts SHOULD be deleted if they are realy abusive.
The only problem with that is that one doesnt then get to find out WHERE a certain posters head is -therefore AVOIDING such flyertalker.
If I find someone to be constantly abusive I avoid posting on their threads-I know that is then lack of contribution but I do the same thing in the virtual world.
I hope I have explained it correctly.
I just think we should choose for ourselves who to associate with and who to avoid.
censorship stops that.

Punki, as you have some idea's on how to perform moderation on FT I trust you enrolled for a moderation function, I know I did and thank Randy for the recent reply to my application.

We need to be careful that we have contained expectations for moderators. Many people on FlyerTalk have full time jobs with heavy travel. Current moderators do it for the love of FlyerTalk, and future ones will do it for the same.

Civility is important from moderators, but I am not sure that it is realistic to expect them to welcome the masses of newcomers to these boards. Each of us have an individual responsibility in our posts to show respect for those who are new, and help them know that they are welcome here.

Ditto comments from me too.



------------------
~ Glen ~

Come and visit the most ** FRIENDLY FORUM ** on FlyerTalk. No flame wars, no personal abuse, no substance abuse. Not much of anything really!

Punki,

Unfortunately this is technically impossible with the UBB software. You have to move the thread to obtain the new URL. But once you move it, the original location is shut tight. You can not modify existing postings.

-------------------

Sandiego1K, Thanks for mentioning this:

Craig6z (suffering on the road in FAT!)

Craig6z ... how uncomfortable ... sitting in FAT!

I had always thought what you posted was the case - that posts could not be altered by Moderators, (only Admin staff) but FWIW the new guidelines do now say:

"All moderators can edit and delete messages that violate these guidelines".