forums

[Rÿcher]

what do you like or dislike about forums?

Personally, I like friendliness, good moderators - those who don't editorialize people's posts. I like lots of topical sub-forums having to do with the interests of the group. I also like and appreciate a moderated adult forum where I can unbutton and sit back.

I like it when I see someone defending a new guy.

I don't like it when people post in spoiler tags something about a movie or an episode that's been out for years. Like this:

Spoiler: The ending of The Sixth Sense

Bruce Willis' character was a ghost

I don't like the reputation that some forums have. If I have an opinion that doesn't jive with yours, it earns me red. Who does that help? What good does it serve other than to whittle down my self esteem just that much more? I won't join such a forum.

I don't like moderators who are moderators just because they are personal friends of the forum's admins. Friends doesn't mean they're capable of being socially responsible and diplomatic and all that that a moderator should be. Moderatorship should be earned, not just bestowed upon someone because of a familial relationship. On the same note, I don't like moderators who don't moderate. Don't just have the title and just sit back and see conflict and do nothing. Step in and flex those muscles. Do some housecleaning. Do something!

I don't like it where in mostly unmoderated forums, people seem to become a-holes as if the rules if civilization suddenly vanish and they regress 10,000 years in the time it takes to press a link.

 

[Mr. B]

The vile and childish behavior afforded by the anonymity of the internet is a definite disadvantage. Paid, non-anonymous forums like The WELL seem to combat this... and certain free forums (like photo.net) are free of such trash.

The biggest advantage is the information that can be found on forums, especially with regard to subjects such as computer troubleshooting. There is so much that can be found on message boards but not on static websites. The only problem there is that some bigger forums see a need to delete older posts even though it's just text.

 

[judge alba]

i like the forums they are a nice place to have a chat to people, everyone seems friendly for the most part.
and i know this seems almost ass kissing but this one is one of the better ones i've seen it''s moderated but the mods arent over the top and theres very little porn (well mostly).

 

[Hermiod]

I don't like the reputation that some forums have. If I have an opinion that doesn't jive with yours, it earns me red. Who does that help? What good does it serve other than to whittle down my self esteem just that much more? I won't join such a forum.

That's pretty much why TrekBBS will not introduce such as system. IIRC, T'Bonz is completely against it and I can't say I disagree with her.

I don't like moderators who are moderators just because they are personal friends of the forum's admins. Friends doesn't mean they're capable of being socially responsible and diplomatic and all that that a moderator should be. Moderatorship should be earned, not just bestowed upon someone because of a familial relationship. On the same note, I don't like moderators who don't moderate. Don't just have the title and just sit back and see conflict and do nothing. Step in and flex those muscles. Do some housecleaning. Do something!

It's not just their relationships "earning" the position, it's when those relationship causes the moderators to treat posters differently.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Remember the time I banned my girlfriend?

Er, I mean ex-girlfriend.

 

[Captain Ice]

Huh RJ?

 

[think]

what do you like or dislike about forums?

Personally, I like friendliness, good moderators - those who don't editorialize people's posts. I like lots of topical sub-forums having to do with the interests of the group. I also like and appreciate a moderated adult forum where I can unbutton and sit back.

I like it when I see someone defending a new guy.

I don't like it when people post in spoiler tags something about a movie or an episode that's been out for years. Like this:

Spoiler: The ending of The Sixth Sense

Bruce Willis' character was a ghost

I don't like the reputation that some forums have. If I have an opinion that doesn't jive with yours, it earns me red. Who does that help? What good does it serve other than to whittle down my self esteem just that much more? I won't join such a forum.

I don't like moderators who are moderators just because they are personal friends of the forum's admins. Friends doesn't mean they're capable of being socially responsible and diplomatic and all that that a moderator should be. Moderatorship should be earned, not just bestowed upon someone because of a familial relationship. On the same note, I don't like moderators who don't moderate. Don't just have the title and just sit back and see conflict and do nothing. Step in and flex those muscles. Do some housecleaning. Do something!

I don't like it where in mostly unmoderated forums, people seem to become a-holes as if the rules if civilization suddenly vanish and they regress 10,000 years in the time it takes to press a link.

Spoiler: life

death

 

[RJDiogenes]

Huh RJ?

Hermiod mentioned relationships causing Mods to treat Posters differently, i.e. better. I attempted a joke implying that I don't treat anybody differently because I banned my own fictitious girlfriend, after which I was dumped for it. Apparently my attempted joke was a failure.

 

[Lord Garth]

Speaking as an ex-mod:

Sometimes it bothered me to warn posters I liked, especially early on, but I'd still warn them like anyone else if I had to. On the flip side, there was having to side with posters I didn't like who happened to be in the right.

You just have to interpret the rules as best as you can, defend your actions, give yourself permission to realize there are people who still won't agree even after the explanation, and admit -- when applicable -- if you made a mistake.

With levels of moderation, it depends on the tempo of the forum. You might not need to crack down on something in one forum where you might in another. If you crack down on every little thing though, all the time, and let the posters make you follow them through every little crack, then you'll be a prisoner to wherever you moderate.

 

[Agent Richard07]

Huh RJ?

Hermiod mentioned relationships causing Mods to treat Posters differently, i.e. better. I attempted a joke implying that I don't treat anybody differently because I banned my own fictitious girlfriend, after which I was dumped for it. Apparently my attempted joke was a failure.

I got it right away. Good one.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^ Oh, good. Thank you.

Sometimes it bothered me to warn posters I liked, especially early on, but I'd still warn them like anyone else if I had to. On the flip side, there was having to side with posters I didn't like who happened to be in the right.

Yeah, you really need to be objective and equitable at all times, and it isn't always easy.

 

[blablover5]

Huh RJ?

Hermiod mentioned relationships causing Mods to treat Posters differently, i.e. better. I attempted a joke implying that I don't treat anybody differently because I banned my own fictitious girlfriend, after which I was dumped for it. Apparently my attempted joke was a failure.

I'm sorry but now we have to ban you from ever telling a joke again.

*Stamps "BAN" on the grapes forehead*

 

[RJDiogenes]

Ow.