Keeping Our Wonderful Forum a Great Place to Be

[blarg]

I've seen too many instances where moderators have become carried away with their mandate and needlessly either spoiled a good argument, banned posters, and/or try to enforce their own viewpoints on people... and I really don't think the majority of us wants that, do you?

Of course the majority doesn't want a bad moderator. Who would?

[Sleepless_in_LM]

I'm curious as to why you thought I was being sarcastic with the word "wonderful." I wasn't at all. I DO sincerely think this is a wonderful forum.

Let me clarify this for you. I did not imply, or mean to imply any sort of sarcasm when I made the statement about this being a wonderful forum.

My point was, and still is, this has become a wonderful forum without any moderating, so what's the point?

This little exchange is exactly the reason I would vote for no moderator. CG took offense at something that wasn't intended the way she read it (who could blame her, given Rabid's propensity to have a certain edginess to his posts? ) That will always be a problem when you communicate only in writing. I for one wouldn't want to be in the position of judging everyone's intent, nor would I want someone out there judging everything I said.

As a side note, it seems two of the youngest members are the biggests proponents for a moderator. Do you suppose our perspective changes as we get older that we get more uncomfortable with someone looking over our shoulder??? Just find that an intriguing question. The only problem is that places me with the "older" crowd and I am not ready to be there yet

[blarg]

As a side note, it seems two of the youngest members are the biggests proponents for a moderator. Do you suppose our perspective changes as we get older that we get more uncomfortable with someone looking over our shoulder??? Just find that an intriguing question. The only problem is that places me with the "older" crowd and I am not ready to be there yet

Actually, I'd note that the two youngest forum members probably have the most experience with internet communication. I was downloading Mosaic 1.0 with text based FTP commands on the fledgeling internet that I connected to via my local BBS in Phonenix, AZ while in elementary school. (Go Rock Garden!!!) Internet communication is nothing new to me, and I barely remember learning how to type. I've seen forums evolve, just as I'm sure many others around here have.

Anyway, everyone here seems to think that a moderator would go to task on this place and sees that as a bad thing. I agree with everyone that wants freedom of speech, and a significant moderator presence here would be a problem, especially now. I only think a moderator would pipe up maybe once every month. The current point of view is that it's not needed because, well, we generally don't need it. You're right.

I 100% agree with people that we generally don't need it. It's just MUCH better to have policing in place AS a forum grows to handle disagreements. The day that rolls around when we really DO need a moderator, it's going to be a very painful process to roll that in. I see us at that point where we're going to be really needing it shortly, so let's have a process in place before it becomes an issue.

[roster]

...................

As a side note, it seems two of the youngest members are the biggests proponents for a moderator. Do you suppose our perspective changes as we get older that we get more uncomfortable with someone looking over our shoulder??? ................

Good observation Sleepless,

I think there are two possibilities for us older types:

1. We grew up in the rebellious sixties and don't like authority and big brother.
2. As far as name calling, we older types no longer have that youthful pride and are immune to insults.

rooster

[Linda3032]

There is one option I would like to see incorporated much more than a moderator, and that is requiring registration to avoid spammers/spambots.

That subject has be hashed and rehashed -- to no avail. So even if we all voted 100% for a moderator -- we probably wouldn't get one.

[Guest]

AMEN.

[blarg]

There is one option I would like to see incorporated much more than a moderator, and that is requiring registration to avoid spammers/spambots.

I agree entirely.

[lvwildcat]

I belong to another forum that does have moderators. I think this forum runs pretty smooth for one without a moderator. Unfortunately I think every now and then we will see some personal attacks-that's just human nature. I agree with the "disagree and shoot down the idea;not the person"

[whatrdreamsmadeof]

Well, well, well, I have so enjoyed this thread. It answered two things I've always wondered about:
1. I miss alot of underlying stuff on the forum, I guess I'm off the mark when it comes to what's really being said......I sure fail to see the issue with Will Succeed's post..........what's up with that.
2. I've always wondered if Mike Moran was as 007 suave as he looks and I was right, he is, he told on himself,.........he likes to pull over and enjoy watching stuff unfold.........Mike I mean this in the BEST way.......you always seemed a little Sean Connery to me!

Look this forum is the bomb, and if you hang around here for while you meet some great folk that you can PM and count on for support or just to bounce some crappy comments that someone made to you or about you, and get some great.
MY BUD KNOWS WHO HE IS AND I TREASURE HIS ADVICE, FRIENDSHIP
AND SENSATIONAL SENSE OF HUMOR
. roll:

[OwlCreekObserver]

Maybe I'm just too ancient to get excited about this. Or too unfeeling. Or something. But after five pages of comments, so far, I guess I might as well put in my 2.5 cents worth.

Any forum is just a group of individuals who happen to share an interest in the same subject. Just hanging out in the same place doesn't necessarily mean that everyone there will always get along. They almost certainly won't.

It's a little bit like the workplace where everybody thinks that the guy in the corner cubicle is a jerk but they tolerate him because he's part of the team. Most don't take his occasional jabs personally as long as his contributions support the overall team effort.

At one time or another, each of us probably becomes the guy in the corner cube as far as others are concerned.

Sometimes moderators become necessary in these things, as in the case of watchblog.com, which is, by design, a confrontational, political free-for-all. Even there, the moderators rarely find it necessary to step in, preferring to let the participants sort it out. "Critique the message, not the messenger" is an often used phrase there.

But most groups without moderators just have the occasional dust-up. Sometimes feelings get hurt, sometimes apologies are made and life goes on. As we used to say on the playground, "No blood, no foul."

I personally have great appreciation for this forum because I've learned a great deal here, especially during my newbie (rookie, proby, beginner) period. The folks here have always been supportive when I've hit a few bumpy spots and I've tried to do the same for others. That's pretty much how it works here.

Okay, if anybody needs anything, I'll be in my cubicle over in the corner.

OCO

[rested gal]

http://redwing.hutman.net/%7Emreed/index.htm

That's been one of my favorite sites for a long time. Love that you linked to it, Moby! So funny.

[WearyOne]

I've mentioned that it really doesn't matter to me one way or the other, but I will say that the thyroid forum I'm a member of is not extremely large and has quite a few moderators and admins, but you really wouldn't know it because they rarely, if ever, post in that capacity.

Point being, just becasue you have a moderator(s) doesn't mean he/she/they will be jumping on someone every time you turn around and stifling too much of that freedom of speech.

My 3 cents.

Pam

[CollegeGirl]

This is what I've heard so far on this thread:

We don't need a moderator because:

1. We need to just put up with grouchy people, and be patient with them, because some of them just aren't getting good treatment yet.

2. People who don't have thick skin have no place on this forum.

Does anyone see the conflict in that? Some people show a lack of good treatment through being grouchy, and others - you got it - by being more emotional, and "thin-skinned." So we should support the rude people, but let the easily hurt people go off into the sunset without the help they so desperately need? This seems SO wrong to me.

We also don't need a moderator because:

1. People who are rude will cave to social pressure, if we just PM them or respond to them or post some "reminders" asking them to be nice.

2. People's consciences will guide them.

I think this is absolutely true, that MOST people who are only occasionally rude will cave under social pressure. However, the people who are the rudest are those that care LEAST about what people here think, and therefore would not be susceptible to that sort of pressure at all. Saying, "Hey! Play nice!" is only going to get a virtual raspberry from these people (actually, probably something worse). If not today, sometime soon things are going to get worse - and then, as blarg said, we will be wishing we already had a moderator in place to take care of it.

We also don't need a moderator because:

1. Things are perfect the way they are.

2. We don't want anything to change.

Things are not perfect the way they are. We have lost several valuable contributors to this forum over the last few months, and nearly lost a few more over the last two weeks. In my opinion, everyone that contributes helpful information to this forum is valuable, regardless of whether or not they happen to be "immune" to insults. Holding that up as a standard of maturity or value to the forum makes no sense at all. Some of the people who are kindest to newbies are the most sensitive, and we need those people around.

A moderator would not implement change, be constantly looking over your shoulder, or become a power-hungry tyrant. This moderator would be accountable to Johnny and cpaptalk.com, and therefore, to all of us, as Johnny would most certainly listen to any complaints we had.

I currently also frequent another forum where there are several moderators. The only time they ever step in is when there is a troll, or a regular member getting out of line with personal attacks. I've only seen them step in three times in the last six months, and this forum is MUCH bigger and busier than cpaptalk. It keeps everything a friendly environment, and it's a great place to be. And it's not some rainbows-sunshine-lollipops family-friendly forum, either - it's an adult forum where controversial topics are debated on a daily basis, quite well, and (thanks to just the KNOWN presence of the moderators) without personal attacks.

[tomjax]

Everything i s relative, I suppose,
I would hope a draconian moderator is not needed, but sometimes certain posters need a reality kick.

I somethime think a different format would help- A social lounge-
A technical lounge and an in between lounge.

There once was the speepnet site with sandman and it was very active.
He put in so many controls- no contacting anyone- no posting of anything remotely harmful. No MENTION of pressure changes, No mention of any commercial site etc etc etc.
He then put his mother in charge of monitoring it and now there is about 2 postings per day with a couple of real DODOS the experts.
Stupid replies, but they are congenial.

Let us not wish for that outcome.

[DreamStalker]

My last comment on this issue. This whole idea of moderators/censorship is for kids ... just like Trix.

If people have to have a "perfect" forum/world to live in, then those kids are in for a big surprise when they grow up. Think we have it bad on this forum ... think about living in Iraq and you will soon realize this whole topic is just plain silly.

Time to change the channel cuz I'm out'a dollars and sense