becoming a mod

The_Minister

just curious (not lookin for promotion) but how does one become a mod? I've noticed one or two people who I woudn't make mods have become mods.

Gordon

Firespinner wrote:

I've noticed one or two people who I woudn't make mods have become mods.

lol

It really depends. Sometimes it's the right place at the right time, and sometimes its from putting a great deal of effort and care into a forum. And then there's the times when people complete the Amp test fully.

The_Minister

Gordon wrote:

lol
It really depends. Sometimes it's the right place at the right time, and sometimes its from putting a great deal of effort and care into a forum. And then there's the times when people complete the Amp test fully.

Whats the Amp test? I'm not bitching i just have noticed once or twice some irresponsible use of mod powers (banning people for no good reason or because they disagree with them, closing threads before they're finished etc) Most mods are fine but one or two.....

Dont be at yourself

It's not just one or two, it's all of us.

Gordon

Him in particular /\ !

There's a few ways to go about reporting a mod. The most private way is to PM an Admin or a Smod or a Catmod. However due to busy schedules you may not get an answer from them, hence it's best to post on the Help desk and report it. Otherwise you can report the post - this report will not just go to the mod of that forum but will go to a reported posts forum where all mods have access.

And remember, mods are only mods of the forums that they mod. Outside modded forums - a mod has no modding rights.

RobertFoster

Firespinner wrote:

Whats the Amp test?

http://www.boards.ie/wiki/index.php/Amp_Test

The_Minister

I'm glad i'm not a mod - all that responsibility. I'd probably just ban people that I didn't like for no reason....*begins to goosestep*

Sparky

Im probably the only mod here that has'nt banned a user yet.

Give it time

mountainyman

I would only be a mod if it was the only way to get a forum I wanted. we should be grateful to these characters that Mod 3 or 4 forums.

But some people do havea hair trigger look at references to Muppet Hunting etc. Look at the way Rozie was treated, you had a person victimised for being a victim. The forum should have been closed down.

If 'she' kills herself the moderator of that forum will be a little bit responsible.

MM

Beruthiel

mountainyman wrote:

If 'she' kills herself the moderator of that forum will be a little bit responsible.

Sorry
But that's a cop out, all of us are responsible for our own actions.
What we do with our lives is up to us, no one else can be held responsible for it.

TerrorFirmer

I would love to mod of something like....Star Wars. I like Star Wars!

I don't know how they manage as mod of something like AH though - its grand in specialised forums like 24/Star Wars, even computers and other broader ones where everything tends to be moderately civilised - but in AH its just a jungle

The_Minister

From what I heard Rozie deserved it, and the way she handled it was undignified

cuteipie246

hey want up i new here and i try to make some friends, so whats up?:)

6th

I've been thinking i'd like to become a mod of the paranormal forum, but it has good mods as it is. Maybe if i hang around long enough?

cuteipie246

what are you guys talking about? because i so confused???

cuteipie246

i bored!!!!

The_Minister

cuteipie246 wrote:

i bored!!!!

Go play in after hours.
Or alternatively what are you interested in and I will point you towards the forum

hullaballoo

Firespinner wrote:

I'm not bitching i just have noticed once or twice some irresponsible use of mod powers (banning people for no good reason or because they disagree with them, closing threads before they're finished etc) Most mods are fine but one or two.....

Anyone in particular?

The_Minister

hullaballoo wrote:

Anyone in particular?

Not you, you have been fair whenever I visited legal discussion.(never gone to spell czechs)
I won't name the Mods, since I suspect they get enough flack as it is:)
There are no Hitler's on boards, just that some let personal feelings about posters/threads in their way.

Talliesin

Firespinner wrote:

I'd probably just ban people that I didn't like for no reason....*begins to goosestep*

I won't say it isn't tempting.

To answer your original question. Mods become mods when admins make them so. Mods come to admins attention as possible mods through their posts, suggestions from people the admins know, and the recommendations of other mods (esp. if a mod is asking for a co-mod or to be replaced on a forum).

People who are both regulars in an area and walking the walk as far as being active in the community (which is to say they're both interested enough that they are spending a good bit of time here, aren't getting into conflicts too often, are posting reasonably thought-out posts rather than brain-farting all over the place) are most likely to become moderators, though some people are very well-suited to be mods in places that are already well-served, so they won't simply for that reason.

To be a moderator you have to have been around enough for there to be a chance to gauge this, though not necessarily all that long (there are a few mods that would have qualified as a newbie as far as the recent "Best Newbie" award's definition went).

IMO the following are good qualities for a moderator:

1. Ideally has an interest in the forum's subject, though you can moderate without and mostly no sort of expert knowledge is needed (though there are a few cases where it's necessary to spot some sorts of issues, I need a bit of programming knowledge to spot do-my-homework requests).
2. Understands that boards isn't all that important in the great scheme of things. As such moderators aren't all that important in the great scheme of things.
3. Contrary to that, understands that a lot of people spend a lot of time here, so if they are having problems that is important to them.
4. Has a grasp of the culture. Knows what generally hasn't been considered acceptable in the past.
5. Knows our roots are in gaming and hacking and doesn't look down on those groups (ironic disdain is ok).
6. Knows we've grown beyond those roots and isn't élitist about being a gamer or hacker.
7. Knows why boards is a dictatorship.
8. Is cool with that.
9. Grasps the aims of that dicatorship.
10. Likes boards.

The_Minister

Talliesin, thank you. That was a long, informative and well-thought out post, which showed effort on your part. Thank you.


Oh, and I totally get Boards as a dictatorship;) I can't remember who said it but

Some Guy wrote:

Domocracy is the worst way to run a country, except all the other ways

Democracy would mean rule by After Hours.

Talliesin

mountainyman wrote:

But some people do havea hair trigger look at references to Muppet Hunting etc.

Muppet hunting is spending time actively researching the behaviour of people who have been actively anti-social (spammers, porn spammers, trolls, shills, etc.)

This is done rather than just banning people on site if first appearance makes it seem like this.

mountainyman wrote:

Look at the way Rozie was treated, you had a person victimised for being a victim. The forum should have been closed down.

If 'she' kills herself the moderator of that forum will be a little bit responsible.

Either you really believe that this is a serious risk, in which case why the **** are you bringing this up again, or else you just what to troll and insult both Rozie and the mod in question (I can't recall who that was right now) over a situation neither of them are happy about..

Either way another comment like that and I will site-ban your ass faster than you can say "muppet hunt".

Tar.Aldarion

hullaballoo wrote:

Anyone in particular?

>_>

Mebbe.

<_<

Talliesin

Firespinner wrote:

I can't remember who said it but

Some Guy wrote:

Domocracy is the worst way to run a country, except all the other ways

A little-known statesman called Winston Churchill

The_Minister

Talliesin wrote:

A little-known statesman called Winston Churchill

I should have guessed, I love and know so many of his one-liners.