Has censorship come to this board?

[FLZapped]

Chris,

It seems to me, after reading some of your replies, that closing a thread, especially one that was heading in a different direction of it's own volition, was the wrong statement to make considering what had transpired in very recent events elsewhere.

You had the option of moving it to the Off Topic forum, why not do that?

Since you wish to improve the quality, start by getting rid of this pitiful format and find something that is FAST and easier to follow. I realize that this software makes it easier on you, but it is a millstone around the necks of the users.

The vast majority of people who complain about his site and leave, complain about how slow it is and has been for many a moon - long before this format change. The second largerst compaint, I remember, is the large number of trolls that inhabited some of the forums, I distinctly remember the General forum having it's troubles. The cable forum never really seemed overly bothered by them, beyond that, I can't speak for the other forums.

Of the forums I did check occationally, this one and the general forum appeared to have the greatest activity. So I don't know why you think there is a particular problem here.

Further, one of the people who moderates at the Cable Forum at AA only comes here to use this place as his private dumping ground(which he did again very recently).....he'd never get caught dead posting the stuff there that he posts here, so why not ban him from here?

So that's my 2 cents.

-Bruce

PS - If I want to rant about how another forum is run, I believe I should be able to and alert others how they are likely to be treated! - Especially since it seems to be only one board out of many, many available. (okay, make it 3 cents)

[Mwalsdor_cscc_edu]

Chris -

You know what's different about AR and most of the other forums that use moderators? The workload is shared among many, not a few or in the case of this board, one. Or so it seems. I thought I recognized an entire group of mods but why is it that you're the only one that assumes that position? And if that is the case, it will certainly turn into a "lynch mob" mentality where whatever you say or do will be scrutinized and ridiculed by someone. There should be moderators appointed to each forum, with a "super mod" or administrator that would oversee things in they're absence or acting as arbitrator.

And if I were you I wouldn't embroil myself in a debate on the role of a moderator. The administration or each mod [if given that power] decides what is appropriate in that forum, and while that could be questioned by the readership, I wouldn't engage in a public debate. Instead you could post forum guidelines or each mod could post their own guidelines for their forum. But I wouldn't explain my actions every time they are called into question. Instead just PM the party or parties off-line to clarify matters or action taken.

Another difference I see is that most forums choose moderators from the core membership. They were well known and established before adopting the position. And I'm sure many of the regulars could assume how the "rules" would be interpreted based on prior association or observation of that person. And while they may not necessarily have been the most popular member they were respected and the bond with the forum established.

In the forum I moderate there is little argument among the regulars in how the mods govern. And the few that did eventually resigned in part because of those problems. This is not to say that mistakes aren't made or that the mods are always in agreement in how each forum administrator handles things but any disagreement is kept off-line. Once in a while mods will clash but cooler heads prevail and we "agree to disagree".

Do what you want, but I see this going in a bad direction as things stand right now. Get some help or be more discrete about engaging the members and don't feel like you need to explain yourself. I think most everyone understands how he or she should behave, they're just yanking your chain.

As I stated in an earlier post, I don't believe the Cable Forum is the proper outlet for the ongoing criticism of individuals or rival forums. Rather than axe the thread I'd have just moved it to a less specific forum [General / Off-Topic]. At the same time I wouldn't allow members from a competing forum to take pot shots at regulars here either. I realize the rancor goes with the subject matter and history isn't exactly on your side but if the forum doesn't take the high road it's little more than troll bait.

MikE

[Jim Clark]

Hi Mike, excellent points with one major problem-who wants to be a moderator? The solicitation in the feedback forum didn't exactly catch fire. Tough job, although the AR tee-shirt would be cool!

jc

[Mwalsdor_cscc_edu]

I was thinking the same thing. And I was going to suggest [still a good idea] taking the soliciting of the moderation positions a step further by asking key members if they would consider accepting. If the readership really wants to make this a better place and have a say so in what goes on then why not volunteer? Then I asked myself, "Would I be willing to do that?". No, I'm afraid I wouldn't for a number of reasons but foremost is that I just don't feel comfortable playing nurse maid to what can be a volatile forum. I don't need that.

One of reasons I pursued the mod position at AK was because of our members and being able to discuss, as host, my real passion - tube electronics. I didn't foresee any problems with what was then a rather small, close nit group of people. Now we have grown since and potential trouble is only a post away but I've been rather fortunate thus far, in that most [though not all] of the members that frequent that forum are emotionally balanced. I've never edited [except typos], deleted [knowingly] or closed a thread. I've split or moved threads but only when that was requested. And the few times I've had to separate heated combatants the issues were resolved off-line. I try my best to not publically criticize anyone in my forum or do so in a way they don't "lose face". Still we may have lost a member or two because of my intervention but that's the price you pay to keep it a fun and educational place for everyone without fear of ridicule or persecution. Which I realize can be a fine line between posing or interpreting "hard questions".

MikE