Okay guys, we need new moderators... - Want a job? Post here or nominate.

Josh Cryer · 2004-11-22 15:01:45

New Mars gets over 500k hits a month, it has more than a dozen regular posters, we're nearing 60k posts and 1k members. It's a big forum. Most likely the most prolific Mars-related forum on the internet. And perhaps even one of the bigger space-related forums in general (certainly it's one of the most civilized; compare to Space.com, etc). Adrian and I are kind of busy guys, Adrian himself is schooling and I'm sure his life right now is very busy. I myself could probably spend a lot of time here on a daily basis, but right now my life is kind of ferked up, so I only visit once maybe twice a day, barely enough to really see if anyone is up to anything (I caught a spammer recently by sheer luck, had I missed 'em the whole forum would've been cluttered for hours upon hours).

So, we need new moderators. That plain and simple. If you post here a lot, and think you would make a good dictator (I myself don't like dictating that much), then post your desire to become a moderator. For fun, you can nominate someone, but they should not take it seriously; moderating is a job, you have to pay attention to posts you normally would ignore.

Palomar · 2004-11-22 15:07:08

*I nominate Shaun Barrett, Cobra Commander and Robert Dyck.

--Cindy

Josh Cryer · 2004-11-22 15:18:37

Good nominations, all good people. I seem to recall Robert Dyck actually having an interest in moderating...

Rxke · 2004-11-22 15:26:46

I nominate Cindy, girl powah!

No, seriously, I noticed lately Cindy is actively trying to 'tidy up' some threads etc. We're in desperate need of that.
I've been visiting Badastronomy, and the admin (THE Bad Astronomer) is *very* strict, and sometimes that's needed, Though here it's not that bad with weirdo's, sometimes it's good to be pointed out you're posting in wrong thread or going too far offtopic.

A more 'organised' forum would add a lot to it's worth, esp. for people that do not visit daily, and newcomers.

P.S. Oh, yesss: C.C., the gentle dictator! good choice.

Can't you guys enlist an 'overabundancy' of mods? so alleviate the work pressure etc? Every potential mod listed here has its own errr... speciality, so that'd be good, you can't expect someone to watch it *all*

Josh Cryer · 2004-11-22 15:44:26

Heheh, I've been tryin' to get Cindy to moderate for a long while now, but nah, she won't, so yeah.

I would love to have a dozen or more moderators, that way we have good coverage. The more we have, though, the more we would have to adhere to our own set of standards (ie, forum rules, which we still don't really have yet).

John Creighton · 2004-11-22 15:45:06

I second Cindy but I guess she doesn't want it.

Rxke · 2004-11-22 15:54:56

Frankly, I don't think anybody is going to volunteer publicly. There ain't that many politicians visiting New Mars, heehee...
You Uebermods better invite people... By PM or organize a voting thingy or something...

Josh Cryer · 2004-11-22 15:56:39

It may come to that Rxke.

Rxke · 2004-11-22 16:00:36

By all mean, add Nader to the list to satisfy Clark

(lame referece to other thread)

Shaun Barrett · 2004-11-22 22:46:13

It's always nice to be considered for things like this but I really don't have the computer-smarts for it. I'm so primitive it's as much as I can do just to post stuff here!
I haven't even figured out how to do a custom-made icon or post a picture yet!

[But soon ... I'll learn soon!! ]

GraemeSkinner · 2004-11-22 22:56:58

I second Cindy but I guess she doesn't want it.

I'm sure with a few bribes she could be convinced to take the job on.

Graeme

GraemeSkinner · 2004-11-22 23:05:39

Perhaps somebody could do a dual role of moderator and help with the production of future issues of Ares Express.

Graeme

Josh Cryer · 2004-11-23 02:50:30

Cindy actually moderates a mailing list and stuff, among other things, so yeah, let's let her have some breathing room.

And Shaun, actually, it's not that hard to moderate, so don't be so modest.

clark · 2004-11-23 07:44:49

Why don't you just make us all moderators?

GraemeSkinner · 2004-11-23 11:21:54

Cindy actually moderates a mailing list and stuff, among other things, so yeah, let's let her have some breathing room.

The bribe comment was a joke But only in response to your earlier comment that you'd been trying to get her to moderate.

I agree with whoever suggested having plenty of moderators though, 12 sounds a reasonable number.

Graeme

Palomar · 2004-11-23 11:32:41

*My 2 cents' worth: A dozen (or more) moderators? ??? A dozen people is generally what we have visiting New Mars at any given time, and not all of them post daily or even frequently. I once joined a Yahoo! group where at least 2/3 of the members were moderators. To be honest, it looked ridiculous and smacked of a "mutual admiration society." They had a difficult time pulling in new members, much less retaining them. I can't speak for anyone else who joined that group (and soon exited), but is it likely they were intimidated by the strong show of authority?

I can't help thinking 5 New Mars moderators maximum would be enough, as things stand now. Probably could get by on 4 (Phobos is no longer with us, so it's just Adrian and Josh currently).

Can't help thinking of the old Japanese saying: "Too many captains might steer a ship up a mountainside."

--Cindy

P.S.: Thanks for the nominations.

GraemeSkinner · 2004-11-23 11:40:32

If the moderators are just sticking to set rules, the number does not really matter does it? The more the better in that case as there'll be a better chance that a moderator is always online. At the end of the day as long as the moderators are honest and reliable the majority of us will be happy whoever it is

Graeme

Cobra Commander · 2004-11-23 12:12:02

Since the nomination has been floated and no one has stepped up, after some consideration and a bit of prodding I suppose I'm open to it.

Anyone want to volunteer now?

clark · 2004-11-23 12:17:11

I nominate Rick Dobson.

Josh Cryer · 2004-11-23 13:21:48

Well, if this was my board, I'd make everyone a moderator and let loose the wolves. We used to do this on efnet's #lisp, everyone was automatically opped, and this was before the channel takeover measures were implemented, so it was risky. However, it's not, and that was just a psychological experiment anyway; it wouldn't work here.

Here's what moderators can "do": they can move, lock, and delete posts (there's also an ability to "prune" posts, which helps you delete a lot of spam posts). They can also "approve" topics, but we don't have strict posting on so that's unnecessary. Moderators can also "warn" users, giving them a warning level of 5 prevents them from posting entirely. (But we haven't been using the "warning level" to delete users, we just ban them from their IP or delete them from the forums altogether from the Admin Control Panel.) All of these actions can be done by a very simple table at the bottom of every topic (so it's really quite intuitive, anyone can do it).

3 is more than enough, and it seems I already have two people ready and willing. Keep on talkin'.

GraemeSkinner · 2004-11-23 13:32:09

Don't like the sound of everyone as moderators, there's some strange people about :;): I'd nominate someone like Rxke. But any of the regulars would be fine I'm sure.

Graeme

John Creighton · 2004-11-23 13:37:05

Yeah Rxke would be a good one. I second.

Josh Cryer · 2004-11-23 13:44:21

Cobra Commander and Cindy are now mods.

Palomar · 2004-11-23 13:51:59

... and Cindy are now mods.

*My god Josh...

We went from tentative discussion regarding an alternate scenario to Moderator in 20 minutes??

I'll do my best. Let me catch my breath first...

--Cindy

---------

It's okay, Josh. Just took me a bit by surprise is all.

Josh Cryer · 2004-11-23 13:58:22

Hey, when I became a mod the controls didn't even work, so maybe you guys can't even do anything. Hehehe.

And Cindy, I had to take advantage of the moment, it was the first time (in some 3 years) you said you'd be open to it, and I'm sorry, but yeah, there you go. It can always be taken away if you find it too annoying, okay? Don't feel pressured.

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Re: Okay guys, we need new moderators... - Want a job? Post here or nominate.

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Re: Okay guys, we need new moderators... - Want a job? Post here or nominate.

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