With so many new moderators added recently, with SEEMINGLY little discussion over them being added and all that, I thought that some of the newest mods might have some questions for the more experienced mods, and also maybe some of the more experienced mods might have some suggestions and things to keep in mind for the newer mods.

Just thought there should be a thread for this kind of discussion.

One thing I would like to say regarding moderating in general, is to be wary of over moderating. You don't need to go looking for problems to fix. Don't just close threads and edit posts to be using your moderator 'powers', only do it if its necessary. Doing this will lead to accidently doing things you shouldn't, like closing threads you don't need to, which is going to severely piss someone off.

So thats just my two cents.

Maybe some of the older moderators that made some mistakes in the past can relate some stories regarding those as well, as learning from mistakes is of course, one of the most effective ways of learning something.

I advise against editing smilies onto the end of every thread title in a forum you moderate.

Apparently that makes some people angry.

Editing thread titles for fun is just like editing posts for fun. If you know the poster, or are doing it for a legitimate reason its okay.

For example, if someone posts personal information in a thread, you edit the post to get rid of the personal information. Regardless of punishment, warnings, etc etc, you have to get rid of the p ronal info.

I think editing posts shoul ONLY be done when its ABSOLUTELY necessary, though amongsts friends screwing around wi th things can be fun but theres a very fine line concerning editing posts.

I edit thread titles to remove "Official" when people start "The Official Music Piracy Thread" and other things like that. "Official" implies that its 'from totse'. If someone started a thread like that, then posted some really terrible incriminating shit like kiddy porn in it, it would be just like someone starting a kiddy porn club called "the TOTSE kiddy porn club".

Also I think editing thread titles can be useful for helping keep threads on topic. If threads have misleading titles, they can cause problems inside the threads, so editing thread titles can be useful in that sense.

But I think for new mods you should basically just NOT edit posts at all.

Its not your duty to micromanage threads, or even your forums to any real degree. I see some of the newer mods doing this, and it will just lead to prolems I promise!

I think that this is the third thread of this type so far.

Maybe you could point them out to me then, as I don't see any with any real activity in them, and it is still an important issue.

As a new mod, I have to say, moderating really isn't that difficult. Yes I'm in a low traffic forum, but it's not too hard to figure out what to close, what to move, and if I'm not 100% sure on something, I'll usually leave it.

Some people may disagree with this, but if you're doing completely stupid shit like spamming forums and "powertripping" right off the bat, should you really be a mod? Everyone makes mistakes of course, but blatant misuse of power... an indicator of things to come? I'm not pointing fingers at anyone, I only venture into a few forums regularly and don't recall ever seeing anything like that, but I'm sure it's happened.

modding a low traffic forum is easy...hell, modding every forum is easy. except SG...seriously, do not under estimate SG

Well I would agree with you to an extent. Moderating too much is a problem that, as I said, many new moderators make. The response to this should just be explaining to the moderator why its a bad idea. Blatantly 'powertripping' though, I think is a definite reason to reconsider a new moderator well, BEING a moderator!

modding a low traffic forum is easy...hell, modding every forum is easy. except SG...seriously, do not under estimate SG

Heh, SG is in a category all it's own. People going insane in there is understandable.

I think thats why the idea of a moderator 'rotation' was conceived.

Personally I think part of the problem with SG is that it doesn't have a VERY specific set of rules. If SG had a SPECIFIC set of rules, and a core of moderators who just watched out for those things, it would be easier.

It needs like 6 moderators (from all over the world to cover different time zones.) Perhaps two from North America (sorry but not South America, it would be inappropriate to have lesser humans moderating real people), two from Europe/Africa, and two from Asia or Australia (basically two from Australia, or one from New Zealand and one fro Australia).

If the rules are very specific, then MANY different moderators can work in one space.

Also perhaps SG should have its OWN moderators.


I've always believed that SG moderators dont need to moderate other forums, or more specifically, that moderators from real forumms shouldn't moderate SG - since SG would potentially have more specific rules than other forums.

I like moderating SG, personally. The people that seem to burn out the fastest are the ones who over-moderate; that just generates a tonne of extra crap to clear up. I still close, move and delete threads that need it, but only things that obviously need it.

I really enjoyed modding SG, and I thought that most people were cool with me being there.
Apparently not though.


I loev my forums and I've enough oldSkool mods to smack me if I step out of line.
I dont think I'm really stupid enough to fuck with jackketchs baby.

I'll edit threads if they're stupidly off topic. I hate it when good threads get de-railed.
Totse at times is one of the best, most sensible adult forums possible, so it really sucks when little kids come along and make this place like another fucking bombshock.

I dont think I'm really stupid enough to fuck with jackketchs baby.

...but he has three to choose from?!

My only advice, that I haven't already offered, is simple. Don't think that anybody wants to take 'your' forum away from you. If someone wants to moderate a forum, they'll say so. Simply posting regularly in a forum isn't any reason to be suspicious.

What do you mean by editing a THREAD if it gets off topic?

What do you mean by editing a THREAD if it gets off topic?

Posts, sorry. My bad.


Saying "UR A DICK" has no place in a games forum. Perhaps that's overly pedantic and I dont usually bother, but if the thread is a very popular one nothing sucks more than having a group of formerly smart people with interesting oppinions divulge into childish insults and completely random facts pulled from the anuses of cows.

OH I see.

I know.

Just because we're (refering to new mods) new doesn't mean we're kindergartners. If people act like children with their new modship, take it away and SPANK THEM ROYALLY!

I know.

Just because we're (refering to new mods) new doesn't mean we're kindergartners. If people act like children with their new modship, take it away and SPANK THEM ROYALLY!
I think Sam makes a fair point. It's not that new mods have no clue what they're doing, it's just that there are some things about different forums that you don't really learn just by posting there. When I started modding, no one came to me and explained the little things that mods should know, so I kind of over-did it for the first week or so. It just makes it a bit easier to start out when you can get some advice from others.

I think every mod fucked up at least a little when they first started, unless they started in a forum where there wasn't really an opportunity to fuck up. Maybe there have been threads about this already, but there seem to be new mods every week, so it seems reasonable.

The only advice i'll give is to say that you should maintain a sense of humour and the ability to laugh at yourself. Most of the mistakes I've made modding (And probably in life in general) were due to my having my head too far up my own arse.

Oh and yoyo, I shall be annoyed if you don't mess with my baby. Like I said in the thread, you are expected to do things your way.

I think Sam makes a fair point. It's not that new mods have no clue what they're doing, it's just that there are some things about different forums that you don't really learn just by posting there. When I started modding, no one came to me and explained the little things that mods should know, so I kind of over-did it for the first week or so. It just makes it a bit easier to start out when you can get some advice from others.

I think every mod fucked up at least a little when they first started, unless they started in a forum where there wasn't really an opportunity to fuck up. Maybe there have been threads about this already, but there seem to be new mods every week, so it seems reasonable.

Thats sort of what I was getting at. There are just SO many mods added in recent weeks, that personally I feel we need a lot of discussion about moderating. Its the best way to keep each other in line and make sure we are doing a good job, not abusing power, not overdoing things, etc etc.

Though this IS a good point, and something to keep in mind... I think some moderators IGNORE important issues and just use humor (in many forms) to try to distract people from important discussion. Too many times I see moderators having what is essentially an important discussion, and other moderators chime in with "Serious business!" or whatever, because THEY don't find it important. Well just because it doesn't effect YOU, doesn't mean its not important to other moderators. I think its important not to judge what o ther people see as concerns.

If I see someone crying over a glass of spilled milk,, personally I think its more appropriate to actually talk about the issue as in "Are you sure you aren't making too much of a big deal out of this??" rather than using the tactic that some use too often of just dismissing it entirely.

I think Sam makes a fair point. It's not that new mods have no clue what they're doing, it's just that there are some things about different forums that you don't really learn just by posting there. When I started modding, no one came to me and explained the little things that mods should know, so I kind of over-did it for the first week or so. It just makes it a bit easier to start out when you can get some advice from others.

I think every mod fucked up at least a little when they first started, unless they started in a forum where there wasn't really an opportunity to fuck up. Maybe there have been threads about this already, but there seem to be new mods every week, so it seems reasonable.

Mandy, I've never made a mistake. Then again, I only had to close like three threads in my first year of modding Go Team, but my perfect streak remains intact.

My only advice is if you're unsure if it's on topic, don't touch it, especially for Spurious. I think some spurious mods are too quick to make sure EVERY thread is discussion oriented, but that just isn't how SG works. Discussion threads will rise to the top, and dumb threads weed themselves out.

There should be some sort of system. Of the "if you fuck up real bad in your first week, YOU'RE OUT OF THE CLUB!" sort. Has anyone ever been demodded for being a complete dipshit? I'm curious. In the past... holy shit, almost 4 years, I don't think I've seen it.

Yes (and No this message isn't too short you fascist piece of software).

There should be some sort of system. Of the "if you fuck up real bad in your first week, YOU'RE OUT OF THE CLUB!"

There is, to an extent. Allthough they like to make it seem volountary.

Yes, there have been a number, Madfast is the only one that really comes to mind right now though because I was just talking with him :p

Oh FC did a pretty good job at fucking up too.


srs lawls though.

Yes, there have been a number, Madfast is the only one that really comes to mind right now though because I was just talking with him :p
.

Really?
Tell him if he sends that shit to my mail box again I'm going to fucking hunt him down, rape him, and then shove his own dick up his ass!

I have some n00b questions:

When you move a thread that is way off-topic to your forum, what criteria do you use as far as redirection goes?

For example, if it already has responses, is it proper netiquette to leave a redirect so those who posted in it can find it easier? If no responses at all, do you just move it without a redirect?

And when deleting a thread, should a reason be posted first? Not in the moderator notes, but as a post in the thread itself.

Any tips on how you guys judge that kinda thing would be much appreciated.

There really is no reason not to leave a redirect unless it's spurious where it can get cluttered. For the small forums, I think leaving a redirect is just common courtesy/sense.

Posting a reason for deletion before you delete a thread wouldn't do a whole lot of good. I personally don't leave a reason except for "spam". If you're closing a thread, then you should post the reason in the thread before you close it.

Using your judgement on if it requires a redirect or not is sensible. If it's a quality thread and would fit better in a different forum, then a redirect is a good thing; perhaps for a span of a week or two. If it's getting sent to SG, then I wouldn't bother.

Don't send your random, or contentless, threads to HB. They don't fit there.

Leaving a reason for what you do is considerate. Although, it's quite possible to do without being considerate. :p

Just do what you think works and get used to it. People seem to have confidence in you. Run with it.