Conflicts with admins and moderators

[MP Guy]

All,

As the ultimate decision maker on RFF I tend to receive plenty of emails regarding the way threads are moderated. This is a big community and we have all types of indivisula personalities in the forum.

I have made it clear to everyone including the moderators that there are really a few golden rules which apply to the forum. They can be read here:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/faq.php?faq=vb_faq#faq_new_faq_item2

None the less, moderators as well as myself should not be engaging in any heated debates on the forum. We should not be responding to threads and fueling them. We should moderate, take appropriate action and leave it at that. As moderators and admin we should not get personally involved. We should just do our moderating jobs.

I am placing this message in an open forum because I have received 32 emails in the past 24 hours regarding this topic and want to let people know I am aware of the situation.

This thread will remain open for now. But do not take this thread and turn it into a sling fest. Remeber the rules.

 

[RML]

I have no idea what the fuss is all about. I guess being on the other side of the pond prevents me from running into such brush fires most of the time. 🙂

 

[jaapv]

It seems a bit silly to blame the moderators - I think they are doing a great job. But Rover - you locked a thread half a minute before I decided to delete it being the first poster- so I couldn't pull it any more🙁. This may not be the appropriate thread, but is it possible to leave the deletion feature on when locking a thread? It would give us the chance to delete it or remove any ill-considered posts.

 

[egpj]

I know that I have seen heavy baiting of the moderators (read trolling) lately. It is really a new type of threat. I say new because I had not noticed this type of thing in the past. Maybe give the moderators some canned statement for offensive behaviour. When the troll starts to show his colors the moderator replies with the canned statement and if the behaviour does not change then that person gone.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Morning Jaap,
If this happens, a PM to any of the mods will resolve it for you. 😉

Kim

But Rover - you locked a thread half a minute before I decided to delete it being the first poster- so I couldn't pull it any more🙁. This may not be the appropriate thread, but is it possible to leave the deletion feature on when locking a thread? It would give us the chance to delete it or remove any ill-considered posts.

 

[rover]

It seems a bit silly to blame the moderators - I think they are doing a great job. But Rover - you locked a thread half a minute before I decided to delete it being the first poster- so I couldn't pull it any more🙁. This may not be the appropriate thread, but is it possible to leave the deletion feature on when locking a thread? It would give us the chance to delete it or remove any ill-considered posts.

Jaap, must have been the M8 Review thread which went south. Mixed in with the other stuff, there is good info on that thread, sometimes I think closing a thread is better than deleting so that the good is saved.

That said, if this was the case/happens again, shoot me, or which ever one of us it is, a PM.

I did close that thread with the confidence that we will have many more conversations about the M8 in the very near future, so bringing that conversation to a close by no means is an attempt to stop those discussions, just the other stuff.

 

[jaapv]

I'm fine with it, Rover, it was just the coincidence of your thoughts and mine about what was happening that caught my attention 🙂

 

[rover]

Great minds think alike.

Everyone else can roll their eyes now. 😀

 

[Trius]

Mods are humans too. Hard to believe, but it's true. Not sure about the Rockers. (Obscure reference, younguns just ignore.)

 

[Pherdinand]

Yeah, and french mods can't drink.
This is yet another reference.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Mods seem to be striking the right balance so far as I've seen.

There has been an increase in baiting/trolling lately. As photo.net changes policy/format and more people migrate from the Leica forum to RFF, that is bound to happen. Something to keep in mind.

 

[sebastel]

Mods are humans too. Hard to believe, but it's true. Not sure about the Rockers. (Obscure reference, younguns just ignore.)

what about 'mockers'?

(sorry, could not resist)
sebastian

 

[markinlondon]

All I can say is that I'm glad I don't have much interest in the M8 😉

The moderation here is just fine by me but you can't please etc. etc.

 

[thanatos]

Anyone fancy a nice cuppa?

 

[JeffGreene]

I'm another who think the mods are doing a great job, and I read the M8 threads! Guess I'm just oblivious! 😱

 

[dcsang]

Moderating, in general, is a tough job - basically, by Jorge's statement, a moderator or admin is not "allowed" (for the lack of a better word) to have an opinion when it comes to any threads that may be considered "debateable".

I don't think any of the mods seem to do that here (i.e. they don't necessarily get opinionated) but then again, I tend to steer clear of any threads that get too heated.

Life is far too short for that 🙂

Dave

 

[Sparrow]

I agree that the moderators do a splendid job. We should all remember that great lesson from childhood: "Mr Policeman is Our Friend".

Ian

that is very funny,

 

[RayPA]

Moderating, in general, is a tough job - basically, by Jorge's statement, a moderator or admin is not "allowed" (for the lack of a better word) to have an opinion when it comes to any threads that may be considered "debateable".

I don't think any of the mods seem to do that here (i.e. they don't necessarily get opinionated) but then again, I tend to steer clear of any threads that get too heated.

Life is far too short for that 🙂

Dave

unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your p.o.v.) this is true. Moderating is a different form of participation. I've owned and moderated on a few Yahoo! groups and one thing I learned very quickly was that to be effective I had to stay out of the fray and remain on the periphery, ever watchful, but with minimum input and no expression of opinion. It's basically lurking, but a little more actively (if that makes sense). (I always felt a little bit like Klaatu [from The Day the Earth STood Still] 🙂 ). It sucks, really. It's a tough job, especially when you enjoy (and are passionate about) the subject. I appreciate the effort put forth by our group of moderators. Barata Nikto, guys!

🙂

 

[FrankS]

It is certainly a job I would not want. Thank you Joe, Ralph, and Kim!

 

[lynn]

that is very funny,

So funny it got deleted/censored/whatever.

I am mystified, What IGN has HAPPENED to this forum?