Re: Forum Moderators
 

Generally, if a forum starts to get more moderated, then something is wrong with it. Then again some silent cleaners can be helpful since the spam gets only more naughty.

Re: Forum Moderators
 

Right on!

Forums are best topical @ real time... after days, weeks, and months they become repetetive.

If it ain't broke, should we fix it until it is?

Unless we are under constant SPAM attacks, are deluged with foul mouthed bigots, or threads become hi-jacked for personal gain, we all seem to do an OK job of keeping this forum useful.
I don't see any need for additional moderation. :)

Re: Forum Moderators
 

I think that the best place to clean things up is after the threads have been created. Let them veer where they might, though common sense should cause a few volunteers to chime in "hey, let's create a new thread!"

Rather than create moderators, I would prefer that some people be annointed purifiers and post their distilled products in a wiki. To me, there is a difference between a cop and a helper. A cop tells you what not to do, and a helper makes things easier.

Re: Forum Moderators
 

I'm with Lardman in that I don't think additional moderating is necessary and gentle reminders.. or even just taking the initiative and taking the topic back to its main point again to get it back on track is the most appropriate thing to do. Also, what did you think of that latest Batman movie?

Please don't hurt me.. not the face.. NOT THE FACE. :)

In all seriousness, though.. I find that ignoring the veering and getting the discussion back on track with a reminder about the off-topic chat is usually enough and sometimes people don't even realize that they're going off-topic.

Re: Forum Moderators
 

I voted yes. Having the forums on-topic, polite, and spam-free is all something a good group of moderaters can achieve.

I've been a member here for only a short tiime, but have been a member, and significant contributer to 1src, another Reggie/Joel forum, for a while. And although I think they do a damn good job, it isn't enough.

Take a look at the Brighthand forums (link), this site has many mods, you can see all admins/mods by clicking "View Forum Leaders" on the main forum page of most vB forums, and is extremely clean, polite, and spam-free. A lot of the activity that happens here would never be tolerated there, and that is mostly a good thing.

Re: Forum Moderators
 

Last thing we need are a bunch of little tinpot dictators running around handing out demerits for not sugar-coating every response.

I'm in favor of a couple people to help out with the spam culling, thread sorting, merging and general administrative stuff, but we don't need a bunch of little nazis enforcing they're own concepts of "proper" behavior.

Re: Forum Moderators
 

No, we definetely don't need that^. Reprimands for not "'sugar coating" things is stupid; not tolerating blatantly rude, overly aggressive, flame war provoking, or intentionally mocking and un-helpful commentary is fine, IMO. But seriously, most moderatative tasks are more administrative in nature, like you outlined above.

Re: Forum Moderators
 

Yes... the problem comes in when person A thinks it's "not sugarcoating" and person B thinks it's Flaming and being a jerk....


BTW: Don't care about mods... either way.

Re: Forum Moderators
 

The result of this poll is potentially misleading. The pros/cons and different types of implementation are much more interesting than a mere yes/no/dont_care. A poll should be held after such discussion has been held.

Voting is also anonymous, don't have to say what you voted for ;) and you cannot see the results until the poll is closed because this influences the voter.

Users can rate and tag threads already. Users can thank for posts. This is all great for a DIY community. The users make the forum, basically. Users can also report posts. IMO a great feature, but sometimes action is a bit late.

It is difficult to get the forum data in a wiki (and move one wiki to an other) because it requires a lot of dedication (and incentive).

I think its best if some users are moderators without behaving like moderators. Without anyone to know. And all they do is move threads to the correct forum and perhaps fix a typo in a subject, or make a subject more accurate. This kind of behaviour. If a user really misbehaves they could be send a warning by PM or e-mail by the moderator team. If you keep the moderators anonymous you also keep the relations between people on a similar ground, and the bad guys won't be able to know when or who to flame/troll.

Re: Forum Moderators
 

Anonymous, subtle moderators sound like a great idea. Perfect way to eliminate spam and other small problems.

I vote yes.