Everyone participating in a thread has a hand in the direction and influence of a thread. The issue is, is it because they are a mod? I am saying I don't think it is.

I have been in enough debates with people that disagree with me to not think anyone is in awe of the position. Heck, speaking of "boss like"...it's my opinion that the mods work for the users.

However, you do raise a point that we do try to stress, and that point is where a mod can get in trouble. It is a fine line between coming into a thread as a mod, or as a person, and the mod should try to determine if that is clear. And we always stress to the mods that if the conversation is getting to heated or personal, they need to back out of the thread. If they can not, then there time as a mod will be limited.

Is that always perfect? Nope. Some people are more opinionated about certain things and do not mind sharing that with you. As a general rule, the mods rarely agree on anything regards to religious, political, or enviromental issues, so it's not a general perception of the monomod, but an individual.

If during participation with a thread that you feel the mod is being heavy handed BECAUSE he happens to be a mod, notify an admin or all the admins. These kinds of issues have been raised to us before and we have discussed and acted on them. Not all of them, because sometimes it's your perspective.

If youre hesitant to express your opinion because of the direction a thread has taken you have some serious confidence issues.

And Im still waiting for an example to back up your "hot topics that have died because a Mod has killed it when someone with a differing opinion tries to defend their point." accusation.

Well this, at least, is very much the truth.

No more than anyone else I would hope.

I was aggressive and argumentative before I became a mod here and I still am now. However, I do not defecate where I eat, so to speak. In other words, I do not moderate threads in which I am an active participant. The day I am told that I can no longer be the kind of member (a word open to two distinctly different interpretations) I was before I became a mod is the day I resign my position, tout de suite.

Creek Rat,

The problem I have with you"valid point" is that the moderators were given their job by being upstanding, commendable members of this community, why would you want their contributions cut off just because it says "Moderator" under the title?

I can't believe you totally stole this point from me.

<font size="1">Plagiarism bad!</font>

What is worse, I mean to include that in my above post and lamed out, so there....

Really. I was thinking, the qualities that made these peoples mods may have killed threads before they were mods.

Yes I stole your idea. Yes i'm proud of it

I have to say that I have been in several threads, where I am on the COMPLETE opposite side of an opinion of both Static Cling and Dead. Neither one of them felt the need to take any action against me or the thread as a result of this. A mod will not step in like that UNLESS the thread takes a really nasty turn and becomes more personal attacks and name calling vs. debating your position.

JustinS is usually posting threads of a mind numbing nature that if you're not ready to think about the content, don't go in there. For the most part very thought provoking.

RandyC. Well, all I can say is hide the produce! Randy you've been missed on the Farm. Hope you're back soon.

Andy and Heimer are fairly low key.

I think some of this change came about when you split mature and sports, which I don't mind at all. I think that you need a place to discuss those two exclusively. But if there are members MIA since then, see if they are in there. Personally, I stay out of those forums. Just too sticky.

However, I will say that it "appears" as thought some folks feel like they have to walk on eggshells in Other. Can't quite put my finger on it, but if I feel I can express it better, I will.

I don't believe he was trying to be funny. And I totally agree with him.

About the only influence I can see from a mod’s participation in a thread might be that folks might think twice before getting personal. I'm waiting along with jolt for an example. Just one will do.

Where else can you throw melon balls at a mod, huh??


Good to see ya again! [Wizdar gives Frankie big (manly) hug.]

Has this thread been moved yet? Has the title been changed? Why hasn't T-balls name been changed? Has the word "Idiot" been used once? What is happening to this forum?

Reminds me. A coupla weeks ago (on a Monday morning, I think), I looked in on Otter to find three locked threads and at least two that had their titles changed on the first page. And I’m thinking, “I wonder if things are getting back to normal around here?”

WooHoo, I'm an Idiot poster. I LIKE it. Don't change it.


vaporware realizes the mods will do the opposite of what he says but does like it

So, who do I have to piss off to get one o' them custom titles? Hmmm?

I had "The Black Hole Of Threads" (or something like that) for a coupla hours on the day they were "eliminated", and I kinda miss that. [sniff]

Reread this point T-Ball, it's important to explaining Randy, I can tell you that. While there are other problems, this is one. Some people just get downright nasty or take things differently than you. I agree it's fun, as does Randy, but after the 100th complaint, you get weary of it. He and I got nailed a lot from a handful of posters who didn't enjoy the stuff you did.

That said, the forum has been commoditized. Most of the personalities have been run off, for myriad reasons. The forum will never again be what it was. Maybe that's bad, maybe that's good.

I totally understand, I guess I just had to vent somewhere. "My" forum is gone.

We had a Thunderball forum? If we reopen it, I'll totally volunteer to mod that one.

I figure Jules would Mod the Thunderball Forum

maybe the fun can return. with new members and school starting again maybe it will become a wild place again

Roll Call!

I get my own forum? :swoon:

Couldn't quite figure it out till I reread my post.




Bushdog, makes you wonder why mods mod. It can't be for the money. It has to be the worst kind of "you can please some of the people some of the time" situations to be in.

Wizdar, it's the women. I go into a bar and whip out my moderator badge and the chicks hang all over me.

You guys get a badge??

Wow! Now it all makes some kinda sense.

Until I read the words "moderator badge," I thought Justin's post was going to go in an entirely different direction.

For more about why we do our job, see "What compensation do mods get?"

Seriously, I think it's just a manifestation of my "lawful good"-ish alignment. [/D&Dnerdspeak]

so...what was my point again?

I think it was, "Otter sucks 'cause I can't score, so I wanna be a mod"?




[Please, don't hit me. I'm on your side!]

I've heard that moderator badges are quite small compared to other badges, if you catch my drift.