Elections!

magpie

Now I know Boards isn't a democracy, and there is a ruling junta in charge.

But how about throwing us a scrap and holding annual elections for Mods? I'd enjoy seeing people coming up with manifestos, rival 'parties' emerging etc.

It would, undisputedly, be a pain in the arse to organise, but would be a laugh.

gandalf

Muppet acquired am I clear to fire ?

magpie

Try to stay 'on topic' please.

woosaysdan

\0/ i love these threads where someone bitches about a mod a tries to get them demoted from their position!!! a mod is there cos they are trusted by the admins to do a good job!!! and its going to take more than one muppet to get them removed!!!

magpie

Sorry guys, despite your fevered mantras of 'muppet', this is a straightforward suggestion, and surely one that can be debated?

You'll notice I'm not suggesting any Mod be 'demoted'. Merely that people be given an opportunity to choose.

What's the matter? Afraid you wouldn't get in?

Johnny_the_fox

magpie wrote:

Merely that people be given an opportunity to choose.

I think you answered your own question...

magpie wrote:

Boards isn't a democracy

Rabies

magpie wrote:

What's the matter? Afraid you wouldn't get in?

Woo and Gandalf are mods.

Why the need to vote for a mod? When a new forum is suggested some people often suggest who they think would be the best mod. At the end of the day it is up to the Admins to decide.

magpie

I think you answered your own question...

Erm, no. I was talking about the Admins there, who if they so desired for their own amusement in an act of panem et circenses could allow us to elect Mods, who are lesser beings.

woosaysdan

even if there was a vote, most people would vote for the mods that are there already cos they are doing a good job as it is!!!

seamus

There'd be no point. None of the mods would bother their arse "campaigning". I know I wouldn't. If anyone knew what a moderator had to do, they'd have more sense than to waste their time campaiging the bunch of monkeys they're going to have to moderate.

billy the squid

magpie wrote:

Sorry guys, despite your fevered mantras of 'muppet', this is a straightforward suggestion, and surely one that can be debated?

You'll notice I'm not suggesting any Mod be 'demoted'. Merely that people be given an opportunity to choose.

What's the matter? Afraid you wouldn't get in?

people are given the opportunity to choose the government and looked how it turned out.

people can suggest a moderator when a board is being created or if a moderator either misbehaves or chooses to resign, but the final decision is up to the ones who are going to be spending the cashola on the site to be honest. that being the admins.

Beruthiel

I believe that the Admins have a say on who gets to be Mod and as they own this site I don't see that changing any time soon....
but thanks for playing

yes Gandie
clear

magpie

Woo and Gandalf are mods.

Exactly, and they were the first to try and crush the suggestion. Surely they should be sufficiently confident of their abilities and the good trust they have built up in their capacities as Mods to ensure election.

Or would all the people who they scream 'muppet' at just for disagreeing with them vote against them?

Perhaps we shall never know.

woosaysdan

do you want to be a mod??? is that whats its all about is it???

magpie

I believe that the Admins have a say on who gets to be Mod

the final decision is up to the ones who are going to be spending the cashola on the site to be honest. that being the admins.

Yes, I was aware of that.

This is why I am suggesting the possibility of 'elections' in the Feedback thread for them to ponder.

magpie

do you want to be a mod??? is that whats its all about is it???

No, I can categorically say I wouldn't be putting myself forward for election as a mod. From what you all say it is very, very hard work, and I don't have the time.

However I'm sure there are lots of other people who would put themselves forward.

woosaysdan

ok so which forum would you put up for election first then?*













*this place is getting to be like big brother

woosaysdan you have been evicted from your moderator status

magpie

None of the mods would bother their arse "campaigning". I know I wouldn't. If anyone knew what a moderator had to do, they'd have more sense than to waste their time campaiging the bunch of monkeys they're going to have to moderate.

So why are you all so tetchy about the suggestion of elections?

billy the squid

wouldnt it just be easier to ask beruthiel to lift your ban from PI?

magpie

ok so which forum would you put up for election first then?*

That wouldn't be up to me, would it? Do it alphabetically I suppose.

this place is getting to be like big brother

If only you could get a PC that spoke in a Geordie accent

mr_angry

My first question would be: WHY?

Boards works well enough as it is. As you said yourself, it would be a pain in the arse to organise, and the only potential benefit you can put forward is "it would be a laugh". Hardly a plea we can't ignore...

magpie

wouldnt it just be easier to ask beruthiel to lift your ban from PI?

Erm, no. This is an unrelated issue.

woosaysdan

as i said before and ill say again

a mod is there cos they are trusted by the admins to do a good job!!! and its going to take more than one muppet to get them removed!!!

give up while there is still a chance

seamus

magpie wrote:

So why are you all so tetchy about the suggestion of elections?

I'm not tetchy at all. Why are you so defensive?

magpie

My first question would be: WHY?

To give the loyal users of the site at least the illusion of having some input into how it's run.

And it would be something different, interesting and potentially challenging.

billy the squid

magpie wrote:

Erm, no. This is an unrelated issue.

I don't see how it is unrelated. You have a problem with a moderator in the personal issues forum, like you said in the other forum making a big bru ha ha about it rather than PM'ing the moderator is more fun.

To give the loyal users of the site at least the illusion of having some input into how it's run.

http://www.boards.ie/wiki

all you need to know about how boards is run.

magpie

I'm not tetchy at all. Why are you so defensive?

regi

Every mod is elected by admins. We use a 'one man, one vote' system. I'm often that man, and I have that vote.

woosaysdan

ok picture this, someone gets banned for posting crap in a forum, mod bans that person, and that person puts the mod up for election??? yes i can see this working really well!!!

regi

To give the loyal users of the site at least the illusion of having some input into how it's run.

Users have every input into this site. However, the suggestions are implemented on merit alone. Well made points and argument will work - rabble rousing won't

billy the squid

Regi wrote:

Every mod is elected by admins. We use a 'one man, one vote' system. I'm often that man, and I have that vote.

see mods ARE elected

gandalf

magpie wrote:

Exactly, and they were the first to try and crush the suggestion. Surely they should be sufficiently confident of their abilities and the good trust they have built up in their capacities as Mods to ensure election.

Or would all the people who they scream 'muppet' at just for disagreeing with them vote against them?

Perhaps we shall never know.

Ah no we probably posted what we did based on your previous post "asking" to be unbanned. Coupled with the fact you are banned from several forums I would discount quite alot of what you have suggested.

I also think the current system where the admins (who pay for the site in cash & time) have the final decision on who becomes a mod on whole works well.

magpie

I don't see how it is unrelated. You have a problem with a moderator in the personal issues forum, like you said in the other forum making a big bru ha ha about it rather than PM'ing the moderator is more fun.

It would be related if I was saying 'Sack the mod who runs PI'.

As it is I'm suggesting holding elections for Mods, if you can't see the difference I'm not sure how much further I can explain it.

magpie

ok picture this, someone gets banned for posting crap in a forum, mod bans that person, and that person puts the mod up for election??? yes i can see this working really well!!!

That wouldn't be the case.

What I have been suggesting all along is having elections for all Mods, once a year. A General Election if you will.

Individual users would not be allowed to 'put mods up for election' as you say.

billy the squid

magpie wrote:

It would be related if I was saying 'Sack the mod who runs PI'.

As it is I'm suggesting holding elections for Mods, if you can't see the difference I'm not sure how much further I can explain it.

what is the difference between sacking one mod and electing another.

magpie

Users have every input into this site. However, the suggestions are implemented on merit alone. Well made points and argument will work - rabble rousing won't

Which category would 'muppet acquired - permission to fire?' fall into?

billy the squid

magpie wrote:

Which category would 'muppet acquired - permission to fire?' fall into?

well if it waddles like a duck, quacks like a duck...

magpie

what is the difference between sacking one mod and electing another.

The difference is it's entirely likely the encumbant mod will be re-elected based on track record and competancy. Unless the users/electorate feel otherwise.

'Sacking' is taking a unilateral decision to remove someone.

woosaysdan

in an ideal world your suggestion might work, but this isnt the ideal world!!!

magpie

in an ideal world your suggestion might work, but this isnt the ideal world!!!

Granted, but it's worth exploring.

Right, I really must go and do some work. I shall leave this suggestion in the capable hands of the powers that be. Over and out.

woosaysdan

ok you design the software and do all the other necessary work to get this up and going and come back to us then!!!

Hobbes

magpie wrote:

Try to stay 'on topic' please.

Gandalf you appeard to have switched off your targetting computer?

... Magpie as you said its not a democracy. Mods to get remove/changed from time to time by the will of the people but it is generally the admins who have the last say.

magpie

ok you design the software

You could use a variant on the 'poll' system already in place.

Johnny_the_fox

magpie wrote:

You could use a variant on the 'poll' system already in place.

Everyone knows polls are fixed.

woosaysdan

get designing it so!!! not only are you questioning the admins choices of admins but you want them to design it aswell???

seamus

My God.

I know it's Friday, but have you people no *work* to be doing?

Agent Smith

i can see this could be a laugh.....

RuggieBear

alot of trolling going on today.....

billy the squid

RuggieBear wrote:

alot of trolling going on today.....

and this is before the drinking starts

I'm sure you'll be able to help me. What is "trolling" exactly?

oscarBravo

billy the squid wrote:

well if it waddles like a duck, quacks like a duck...

...that's what you do when you do the hucklebuck? No hangon, I'm thinking of something else...

Hobbes wrote:

Gandalf you appeard to have switched off your targetting computer?

He's using Teh Force.

It's not like he could miss a target that size...