Moderators/Ignore Functions (Read 924 times)

Jake, I think you have too much faith in people. But, I'm feeling a bit jaded today. I just stepped down as a moderator on a site that now has over 700,000 registered users and I have little faith left in people. But, it would be lovely to not have this board be like every other one on the internet. I've no doubt I've contributed to the corruption of this board because I'm used to all the others, and for that I am sorry. So the question is, do you work to maintain something that is difficult to maintain, or do you lower your expectations? I think the first is the better option, even for a cynical biddy like me. (Am I old enough to be a biddy? )

(shrug) I have enormous faith in people. And have zero faith in people on the Internet. My whole point is mostly selfish: I missed this place. It makes my running more fun. And this is now the only, and I mean only, place I visit on the World Wide Trenternet. Well, not counting Jessica Alba's fan club. So keeping it special is sort of a selfish thing for me. And I'll just never understand why, when there are literally millions (billions?) of places to go to engage in the usual sophomoric, childish, one-dimensional, shallow, useless, ill-informed arguments about the very same handful of controversial topics .... why they have to do it here. I just don't get it. The irony that kills me is that this place represents that theoretical thing a lot of people claim to look for: real diversity. The real kind. People from all walks of life here, every race and religion and political persuasion, all sharing one common interest. That's supposed to be a good thing. It's supposed to be the ideal. So why screw with it? (double shrug) It's probably hopeless. If it gets bad, I'll just retreat to the swamp and talk about boobs. Or just leave. Its just the Trenternet. The only reason I brought it up now is because in six months it'll be too late to even try. It got ugly before I left. It got uglier yesterday. So I thought I'd mention it. As a moderator of a big site, I'm sure you've seen it all. It just, well, sucks.

JK, I thought I'm the moderator for the general boards, and you guys moderate the groups. Are you saying I'm not doing my job? I'm an idealist when it comes to forums. I believe that self regulation would work if the old timers set the tone for the new comers. Most of us are smart enough to spot the trouble makers. You did an awesome job by asking everyone not to respond to a hostile post while diffusing the tension at the same time. I like what you said about staying this time to fight the nonsense. This place is special because we make it so. It doesn't have to get ugly if the active members discourage the non-sense that causes the downward spiral. There is no one solution that will keep everyone behaving properly. Should the time comes, I'll figure something out. For now I'm keeping an eye out on it. If you see anything that is inappropriate, drop me a note and I'll step in. I don't read all the threads anymore and my company actually expects me to work.

For now I'm keeping an eye out on it. If you see anything that is inappropriate, drop me a note and I'll step in. I don't read all the threads anymore and my company actually expects me to work.

Hmmm...if you let us pay some sort of membership dues you could quit your job and make managing this part of the Trenternet® your full-time job.

Hmmm...if you let us pay some sort of membership dues you could quit your job and make managing this part of the Trenternet® your full-time job.

Not that I'm hugely in favor of membership fees (unless I'm exempted, of course) ... but there might be some advantages. Besides making Eric independently wealthy, it might also keep trolls away and give people a financial incentive to keep this place cool.

JK, the next time you think about leaving this place, drop me an email first so I can have a chance to fix things. I know you want me to fix the forums now, but I can only work on one big project at a time. If only I can work on this full time, I can give 'em commercial sites a run for their money.

I'm not going anywhere. And no rush. Just thought it was worth pointing out before it became a real problem. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive here.* * If you read every thread, that line would be funny.

Now, you're a victim of your own success...

Britney, Amy Winehouse...Eric.