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Moderator3 -> RE: hazing new posters (12/3/2014 3:39:55 PM)
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Dear GotSteel and Everyone else,
I'd like to address a few things because I said I would. Yes, I seemingly took my sweet time, but I really do have a full schedule here and within my home life. I was trying to be light hearted in my response hoping that the unsaid would suffice and to your credit, you weren't going to allow that. (Smile) I do understand. What you could not see was what I could not explain and I still cannot. What I can do is try to give you some assurances and then you can test me. I hope that will be of some use.
While we do have less moderation than at some other times and I must be very careful not to over-moderate, there are some guidelines that even I must go by. Some made for me and those that I have made myself and insist upon with anyone on staff here on the forum. I cannot sum up what can take a very long time to learn, but basically, we will have consistency, fairness and honesty from moderators. If I cannot trust that they will learn the objectives and go by moderation teams standards, goals and intent, then we will have to part ways.
You may not have been around or noticed, but I can be friendly, but I can also be one insistent force, protective and determined and I rarely take prisoners, I tend to do away with them. Sometimes I must step down hard, but I do not like to be put in that position. I would rather smile, joke, play and give information and even answer for myself and whatever team I have at the moment. Moderators are accountable, as am I.
Snark and adult play is allowed, we can permit tough talk, but in certain areas, I will call a quick halt to certain things and can give assurances in certain situations. If you will note the guidelines in Introductions, you just may get a feel for how things are to go with new forum posters. Introductions is a safe zone, there will be no attacks, correction, or beating up of new people. If you see it, I have missed it and no one has reported it.
In other areas of the forum, I will step in when I feel it is best. I have available more information than a member will have. I may figure, you hit first, you may get hit back. You’re an adult, you acted like an adult and other adults will respond. I am not judging the worth of someone as it may seem and in some sense could be without intending to, but I cannot and will not try to control all things. You play; you may get hurt.
We will not have groups of friends running wild on the forum that are allowed to bully other members and get away with breaking rules that others members are held to. You have my word on that and I take it seriously. This includes the staff. They will not be allowed to abuse, nor will I allow them to be abused. A member can say something about a staff member and hopefully they would be truthful and I will look into it. If it is about me, then I will answer to whomever it is that I answer to. I will not hide it or from it.
That doesn't mean that if someone believes that moderators should do things their way or that we will take being abused, hounded or harassed, etc. We cannot please everyone and some refuse to be pleased. There isn't much I can do there. I try. I do not have ultimate power and do not want it.
I have many things I must consider and the overall health of this forum is my goal. It isn't going to be good for members or the forum to allow outright bullying. Depending on where you are, if you place yourself in a Feisty section and expect me to come barging in to protect you, well you can just about count that out. If you are having a hard time dealing with what members are allowed to do there, I would recommend not posting in those areas. You have other choices and sections you can take part in.
When I said that it is a message board and things like this happen, it is my truth. My words are nether prophetic nor that powerful. Because I state that things happen with an attitude of it will be what it will be, doesn't mean that I step back and let it all be. Just ask a few around here. I am sure they would love to tattle on me. What I mean is I am not going to go hyper mod, freaking out because people are people doing what they do on a message board. I may roll my eyes, breathe deep, spill my drink, choke on my drink, and sometimes I may even get angry, but I hope to be consistent in how I respond. I want consistency, honesty, fairness and to be as transparent as we can be as staff and still offer some protections from things that have actually happened around here. No one gets to be a bully.
If we have to take action, we will. For the most part, I do not enjoy having to take action. I find no satisfaction in it. I may have failed to make myself clear or failed in some manner and I will examine it. This is my personal creed.
I know this was long but I hope that you and others will see my intent. I am open to suggestions, may not be able to take all of them, but will make happen what I can.
It is because of many regular members that stood up and said, we want this place and will stay and see what happens, that things have been turning around. When an ambulance took me away and I couldn’t get here, when trouble started, members stepped up and didn’t allow it to become what it could have been. I was so surprised and pleased. I couldn’t believe it. It is that, which keeps me going at this no matter how tired I may get.
I love ya man!
Feel free to email me. I may be slow with the mail, but I will get to you as soon as I can.
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