This is not a democracy.

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:12 pm

One thing about a forum is it's not a democracy. Members of the forum don't really get a vote in anything that transpires here. If the topic becomes too political...........too religious..........too offensive............anything "too" which disappoints the administrator(s), then it will be (or should be) deleted, locked and abandoned. Of course, if the administrator is asleep, on vacation, or doesn't care, then nothing will happen and all the griping and moaning demonstrated by the general population will be for naught.

My attitude towards the "too" subjects is to politely make my position known.........once...........and then let the admin hear from me in a PM or e-mail if I continue to be offended by the subject. I think hashing and hacking a "too" subject to death is detrimental to the original purpose of the forum and certainly causes too many injuries among the membership. This forum has been most helpful to me. I know it has been for many others. So I go back to "what is the purpose of this forum"? If you don't like what transpires here, send a message..............to the administrator.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 8:53 pm

The forums I've run in the past have been much more aggressively policed by moderators, whose job it usually is to simply step in and say, "Come on guys, don't make me lock this thread, knock it off." and everyone goes on their merry way. If personal attacks, or just flat out inflamatory threads that accomplish nothing really come along, then they're locked and go out of existance in a matter of hours as opposed to weeks while everyone has their say.

I think it would make a lot of sense if some vetrans wanted to take a little bit more of a mentor role to ask the admins to extend moderator privelages. Of course, a bad moderator can be a big problem, but I can think of many vetran hose heads here that would make fantastic moderators.

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:14 pm

If you think Johnny is TOOOOOOOOOOO Tough try getting a word in at the ASAA forum. If you dont tow the company (DME) line you are attacked without mercy.

Thanks Johnny,

:twis ted:

ColoZZZ · Post by **ColoZZZ** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:17 pm

Agree with Blarg. I frequent a couple of other forums, one zaps posts and bans folks left and right, has lots of flaming and can be pretty frustrating. The other is one that I'm a mod on and we very seldom lock non-spam posts or ban users without some internal debate. I'm sure that some of the veteren hose-heads here would be great mods but I dont' really see much need for it here.

--Andy

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:23 pm

I'm just still recovering from Linda leaving I guess (please come back!). It's generally pretty self-policing around here.

Bones · Post by **Bones** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:31 pm

try getting a word in at the ASAA forum. If you dont tow the company (DME) line you are attacked without mercy.

Ummmmmmm....what DME would that be?

Brian

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:32 pm

One of the things that allows this forum to be as good as it is, is the open method it's run. If something offends me with my left eye, I don't stick my right into it too and cry. If you see something you don't want to live with, you don't keep coming back to it to smell it.

This deal like most was and is blown out of reason, no need to take your ball and go home, go to other posts, and take care of business. Jim

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:13 am

Just curious... what prompted this thread? I know I'm frequently obtuse; what did I miss that started this line of commentary.

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:24 am

Just a personal opinion and observation over hashing and bashing on an otherwise educational and enlightening forum.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:34 am

Goofproof wrote:One of the things that allows this forum to be as good as it is, is the open method it's run. If something offends me with my left eye, I don't stick my right into it too and cry. If you see something you don't want to live with, you don't keep coming back to it to smell it.

This deal like most was and is blown out of reason, no need to take your ball and go home, go to other posts, and take care of business. Jim

I'm 100% in agreement with Jim on this one.

- roberto

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:13 am

ditto to Jim (Goofproof) and Roberto (DreamStalker)

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:21 am

WillSucceed wrote:Just curious... what prompted this thread? I know I'm frequently obtuse; what did I miss that started this line of commentary.

You're never obtuse, sweetie-pie! You probably just yawned and skipped over most of this:
viewtopic.php?t=17076

blarg wrote:I'm just still recovering from Linda leaving I guess (please come back!). It's generally pretty self-policing around here.

What prompted blarg's comment was on page 6 of that topic. I second blarg's, "please come back" to Linda3032.

jum001 · Post by **jum001** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:43 am

WOW! I had missed that whole thread because the topic was one I consider private.

Some of the posters seem to need more sleep so they get over being mean. Hope Linda doesn't let them drive her out.

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:02 am

You're never obtuse, sweetie-pie! You probably just yawned and skipped over most of this:

I think I need to take a good look at my overnight data; clearly, I'm way too tired during the day! All of this yawning and going back to sleep is getting in the way of reading about the hair-pulling, pinching and tart-tongued remarks.

Thanks, Rested Gal! I'm still laughing at myself over this one.

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:18 am

blarg wrote:I think it would make a lot of sense if some vetrans wanted to take a little bit more of a mentor role to ask the admins to extend moderator privelages. Of course, a bad moderator can be a big problem, but I can think of many vetran hose heads here that would make fantastic moderators.

I can't stress this one strongly enough. A bad moderator is worse than no moderator. I really appreciate the extent to which all of the moderators here at CPAPTALK pretty much let us alone except in extreme cases (spam, posting of personal information of another user, etc).

I'm on a forum for authors and was recently banned from said forum because I took umbridge (y'know, as an author, I really should know how to spell that) to an insulting message he posted about me and when I objected (in typical "take no guff" Liam style), he decided that I wasn't "properly respectful" to "those in authority" and had me removed.

That sort of forum is never very successful (this particular forum in question only has about 20 active members at any given time, and now I know why).

Being an admin is about being a police officer, making sure the rules are followed and quietly resolving infractions, not about a power trip and cowing everyone into submission to your tin pot dictator fantasies.

So... while I agree it wouldn't be a bad thing to have a concept of a "senior user" or something, people with a demonstrated history of concern for the board and helpful posts (this second one being what would let me out) who had a little more power to help clean up messes, it adds a new level of policing to the job the existing moderators (our owners here at CPAPTALK.com) have to do, making sure that none of these "power users" abuse their authority or allow personal issues to dictate public use (and abuse) of power.

My two cents.

Liam, still just two cents even after 41 years of inflation.

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