thread closures

[Sorcerer]

Actually back in the day that's how it was. When I became a moderator I was voted in marginally beating a few other candidates (one being Tiassa at the time) The site and the people were a lot different back then, there wasn't so many "grumpy old mehn" trolling the forums, the moderators were seen as instigators of discussion rather than just the cleaning crew brought into mop up and get abused by those that frequent here.

Over the years though a number of things changed, some people that were voted in got in and then undermined the forum in a number of ways. This caused voting people in based upon popularity to be stopped, since it was proven that some were clearly manipulative enough to get a vote and misuse it how they saw fit.

It's a shame in a way that the innocent nature of how things were done past hence became so malformed and corrupted, worse still is how people perceive the current method of operation as being that malformed and corrupted.... unfortunately the irony is the current system is what evolved from the misconduct of members and ex-moderators alike. Love it or hate it, it's not something that could have a band-aid thrown on it to fix it, that would just be a crutch. If it was to be done correctly then it would require a completely "big bang" implementation, re-inventing sciforums from the foundations up. That currently isn't however on the cards :/

I've already been told that the mods won't take my complaints seriously because of my 'attitude', the result of which is that long-time posters try to wind me up so that I'll respond in kind and get banned. Doesn't work though.

Maybe some reform from inside might work. Let's try a couple of new mods, and get rid of that Syne guy.

 

[Stryder]

Can rpenner moderate the Physics & Math section?

:shy:

Didn't he already do that at one point?

 

[Stryder]

I've already been told that the mods won't take my complaints seriously because of my 'attitude', the result of which is that long-time posters try to wind me up so that I'll respond in kind and get banned. Doesn't work though.

Maybe some reform from inside might work. Let's try a couple of new mods, and get rid of that Syne guy.

Perhaps it would make more sense to attempt some reform in regards to how things operate, not just who operates.

Moderators have never really been given a Managerial peptalk, because that isn't how the heirarchy's been. For the most part you could say it's an ad-hoc group of volunteers that concentrate for the most part on their area's of interest. This has allowed for discrepancies to occur since there is no interdepartmental inspector "calibrating" activities. That said some things have been tried, for instance James planned the whole infraction and ban system over the years, in essence it should function wonderfully.

The problem is that when a new moderator is appointed, they don't go through a "training day", they aren't assigned a senior moderator as someone to overview their activities. This means they can miss some methods or practices that might be important, they might not be akin to trying amicable solutions rather than corporal results and above all they don't have an internal appraisal to what actions they have undertook. Perhaps that's whats lacking too, a committee to overview conduct for the moderators much like the moderators attest to moderating conduct of members.

Like I said previously though, it's something that requires far more than a "band-aid" to make any significant changes.

 

[Kittamaru]

I've already been told that the mods won't take my complaints seriously because of my 'attitude', the result of which is that long-time posters try to wind me up so that I'll respond in kind and get banned. Doesn't work though.

Maybe some reform from inside might work. Let's try a couple of new mods, and get rid of that Syne guy.

Sorcerer, you have my solemn promise that anything you report to me, I shall examine without bias - I don't know you, or your history, so you can take that statement to the bank.

However, this DOES mean that if you are being a tool, and I tell you to stop being a tool, that you should stop being a tool

 

[Motor Daddy]

Sorcerer, you have my solemn promise that anything you report to me, I shall examine without bias - I don't know you, or your history, so you can take that statement to the bank.

However, this DOES mean that if you are being a tool, and I tell you to stop being a tool, that you should stop being a tool

This is not directed at you, just in principle.

Anything? Really? So hypothetically, suppose you disagree with Sorcerer over an issue and push comes to shove.....

 

[Kittamaru]

lol, you know what I mean motor

 

[Balerion]

LOL. Another asinine thread closure by your newest mod.

I step away for a few months, and the site goes to absolute shit. Delicious!

 

[Kittamaru]

Well, he did give the option of opening a new thread... *shrugs*

 

[Balerion]

Well, he did give the option of opening a new thread... *shrugs*

He didn't give any such option, since it's not his to give. We always have the option of opening a new thread.

Threads at Sciforums always deviate from the topic, branch out into new directions, and wind up back on topic. If they don't get back on topic, the off-topic posts get split into their own topic by the moderator. Instead, this clown just shuts it down and tells them to start over. Face it, you guys promoted a tyrant! Again: LOL!

 

[Bells]

I've already been told that the mods won't take my complaints seriously because of my 'attitude', the result of which is that long-time posters try to wind me up so that I'll respond in kind and get banned. Doesn't work though.

I don't know who told you that, but they are wrong.

I haven't posted in a while... I have been reading though. James has always been fair, as far as I have seen. Bells is Bells , and Tiassa is Tiassa. Like it or lump it. This is SF. Way too much bitching these days... Everyone is complaining about LG being banned... Funny, no one, aside from wynn ever cared about his posts... WTF happened to this place?

Hey! Welcome back.

Hope you have been well? We've missed you.

@ Aqueous

I have always enjoyed your posts and intellect and think you would be a fine moderator.

+ 1!!

He has to this point refused, even when Bells said I was no better than Anders Breivik, the psychopath who killed 77 people in Norway, but he has the ability to do so.

Welcome back to you too.. And context.. like how you leave it out.. But who needs context?

LOL. Another asinine thread closure by your newest mod.

I step away for a few months, and the site goes to absolute shit. Delicious!

Yes, it's all you.

 

[Syne]

Explanation posted for that thread closure. Explanations will be given as a courtesy, and if that provokes more complaints (than the two threads on topic closures so far) there will be little reason to make the effort to extend that courtesy in the future.

 

[Balerion]

Welcome back to you too.. And context.. like how you leave it out.. But who needs context?

Can you imagine there's a context in which your comment to me was warranted? As usual, it was another one of your rages, and I had the misfortune of stepping in your path.

Not so much as an apology from this one, note.

Yes, it's all you.

Never suggested it was. But it is a bit of irony considering that James once suggested the reason for the ill temperament of the forum was my presence.

Explanation posted for that thread closure. Explanations will be given as a courtesy, and if that provokes more complaints (than the two threads on topic closures so far) there will be little reason to make the effort to extend that courtesy in the future.

LOL! I love it!

Great hire, Jimmy.

 

[Gremmie]

Hiya Bells... Yeah, long time no hear. Thanks for the welcome back. I'll be around for a bit... Sorry. Lol. Also want to say welcome back to cosmic... Glad to see ya posting again.

 

[Captain Kremmen]

Explanation posted for that thread closure. Explanations will be given as a courtesy, and if that provokes more complaints (than the two threads on topic closures so far) there will be little reason to make the effort to extend that courtesy in the future.

Heh Heh
Where do you find these people, James?
They are straight out of some dystopian novel.

 

[Beer w/Straw]

Don't be a wuss by appealing to James.

Harangue those moderators. Pointing out their intellectual faults may help them on recovery from emotional retardation. It's up to you man. I've only really paid attention to the thread title and Syne's last post.

You can do it!

 

[Gremmie]

Not really sure what you're saying here... Please clarify. Sorry, I'm actually on meds at the moment. Not trying to be an ass... Though It comes easy to me.

 

[Captain Kremmen]

"Divide et impera"
Julius Caesar

 

[Captain Kremmen]

The secretive head of sciforums has returned after his upgrade.........................

Directive from sciforums towers.

I hope you like my new look. This cost an arm and a leg, I can tell you.

Some mods have been complaining about having to make excuses for closing threads.
If it's closed then it's closed right?
What other reasons do the bums want?
But, we must appear reasonable, I suppose.

In future, to make things easier, mods need only post this list and tick one of them.

I have closed this thread because:
a) I can, and I will.
c) Same as reason b.
d) I was being beaten in an argument.
e) Explanations will be given as a courtesy, and if that provokes more complaints there will be little reason to make the effort to extend that courtesy in the future. (classic)
f) The thread criticised a moderator/moderators, and "all has been said". Example. This thread.
g) So##y, there's b@@n a computer malfunctio^.

 

[Beer w/Straw]

Come on man.

You can harangue better than that!

 

[Beer w/Straw]

Don't be a wuss by appealing to James.

Harangue those moderators. Pointing out their intellectual faults may help them on recovery from emotional retardation. It's up to you man. I've only really paid attention to the thread title and Syne's last post.

You can do it!

Carnage, we need quality over quantity I say.