Moderators are losing credibility

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I do agree that implementing some of these ideas on how to run the site might make it more pleasant for the general population, but keep in mind that Alex is a busy man, and since he is one of two members (?) who have administrative access to the back end of WP (i.e. the man behind the curtain a la Wizard of Oz), he's got his work cut out for him if he's aiming to please everyone.

There are some issues, but I don't think they're major enough to be considered right away. I mean, for me at least, the status quo suits me just fine.

Well, I would still like that man behind the curtain to set up a forum for us men. When is he going to do that?

Some folks might find this self-indulgent, but ... oh well.

Butterflies and I have exchanged some PMs that ultimately got us to here:

It has, apparently, been tried and abandoned due to lack of volume.

For the record, I am encouraged that the owner and moderators have these issues on their collective radar. I also respect the need for some "mods only" space in which to discuss these sorts of issues (having served as a moderator on other fora, I am all too familiar with the pitfalls).

What might be valuable is some periodic news from the moderator group, and some solicitations of input from the membership. While the WP.net discussion board is a useful tool for raising issues, it is a relatively unstructured vehicle. It might be beneficial for the mods group to put some structure around it by occasionally putting a sticky on here with "this is what we are currently talking about" info to which the membership can chime in.

Thank you for that. I promise that no matter what comes of the situation someone will be responsive to your concerns. We won't just leave everyone hanging and wondering what happened

Oops! I have been sitting here writing for so long that I did not know MidlifeAspie had posted!

Is there a specific kind of news you have in mind there? I am trying to think of what that might be, and I am coming up blank.


Since mods have no authority/power to change any site rules or policies anyway, no discussion like that ever really takes place among the mods. Mods do interact like folks in a call room leaving notes for each other and so on, but even those interactions are really not much different than those of any other WP members.

No mod can ever speak for any other, of course, and no mod ever makes any announcement until all mods have had a look and an opportunity to add a voice ... and as a simple example of that, a mod poll was recently taken behind the curtain to decide the new "Temp Sticky" now in Random Discussion.

All of that (as little as it is) to say only this:

As I understand things, mods are asked to not publicly discuss things from behind the curtain. However, a question posted here certainly could be passed amongst the mods and a response could be posted back after all mods have had a look and an opportunity to add a voice within that single response.
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Edit: Alex has just asked me to resign, and I have told him to just turn off my buttons ... but I am quite sure the WP mods will in some way respond to any question posted to them either here or anywhere.

Well, that's a pity. I think you would of been a good mod if you just got some more experience.

That is a pity and I agree with Jono's assessment.

I agree with both of you, of course, but please know I have no complaint! Each mod has his or her own approach to things, and "pariah" is the story of my life!

And now, for my memoirs ...

Concerning resources: I would suspect Alex would have as many mods as could fit behind the curtain if more people with good moderator experience or potential came to his attention.

Note: Those who might apply on their own might find it is not fruitful to apply on one's own!

Concerning transparency: There definitely is a meaningful selection process, but Alex should not be expected to post his personal notes.

Concerning consistency: Such as in keeping with the natural stark contrast between The Haven and PPR, mods mod differently in different places.

Woah, that's a bit extreme .

I better brush up on my cyrillic, I think we'll be switching over to it anytime now...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U06jlgpMtQs[/youtube]

I agree too, it is a pity Alex didn't at least try to work with you to correct the problems rather than taking the easy way out.

I think that is the core of the problem: Alex doesn't put as much attention into the site as he should, yet he is not willing to yield absolute control. Being a moderator is basically a thankless job. I would guess that at least ten people complain about the way any given one does it for every one that says “thank you”. I can think of only two reasons why one would do it; one is they love the site and want to make it work and the other is they want the power. I would be difficult to leave ones personal opinions out even if he was being paid for it; it is a lot to ask in a non-paying job.

That was actually my own fault. You have seen Alex' note to me, but you have also seen me being very involved in some of the hot issues present during a time where I was probably the only one who could have even possibly known which of my posts were those of a moderator and which were those of "just a member here", like everyone else.


In my own personal perception and opinion here: Alex puts much into WP ... and neither would I ever yield "absolute control" to anyone if I had my own site ... and I am certainly not in any way suggesting I should have one! Rather, I am meaning to convey precisely this:

In Alex' place, I would have done in relation to me exactly as he has done.


Ah maybe, but mods do share much appreciation amongst themselves!


The ones seeking power are typically the ones that apply, and Alex, in my own opinion, has too much good sense to let WP become what would/could only result in a situation like that. So, I would guess Alex simply considers mods as the need might arise and as his own time might permit.

Who has the toughest job here?

My own personal guess: Alex.

You can rest a fair deal of that blame on me. I have to clarify, we hold no grudges against lee. but I (and alex and others) feel some of his vocal opinions are counter to the core ethics of wrongplanet, I wont get into details of how and where. Otherwise lee was great.

we all put a lot of hard work into this site. I have not put nearly as much work in as those before me and those current, and I respect their efforts. We aren't keeping score of who has had it the hardest however. We just want people to enjoy the site.

I hope you dont stay too mad at us, leejosepho.