Mods

wolf · Tennis legend

Mods

Robin · Lower Club Player

As an avid reader but not regular poster, all or any of Coup, Indy, Paulisi and BIS seem appropriate mods if they are interested.

Shhh · Challenger level

I agree with the sentiment and also the names suggested.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I would suggest I would also suggest Insomniac Folder( up before the spam!)

steven · Tennis legend

Thanks wolf, this is a good time to bring this up. Madeline used to be the main scourge of the kitchen spammers (one of the many things she did quietly and effectively to keep the forum a fun place to be) and I've found myself deleting a lot more kitchen and other spam than I used to but I suddenly realised tonight that I hadn't been on the forum for a few days and although that's very rare, it will continue to happen from time to time, so I think we could do with at least two new mods.

The prime candidates mentioned so far look to me like they make up a decent shortlist, though I can think of one or two others too if none of those mentioned so far want to do it. It would probably be a good idea if those mentioned could pm to say:

1. Whether they would like to be a mod or not.

2. Which of the sub-forums they visit on a regular basis, if they don't frequent all of them.

I also agree that it would be useful to have a new admin set, now that Sheddie and Drew are hardly ever around (or at least not visibly so) - admin access isn't needed very often, but when it is, it's usually quite urgent. Obviously, only an admin can set up new mods too.

I'd be happy to be added to the list of admins and to provide contact details (i.e. a mobile number) to a couple of the mods in case I need to be contacted quickly if there are other times when I'm not around for a few days, though I won't be offended if Sheddie wants to ask someone else to do it.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

It would be probably good to know exactly what a mod does, and also who they are. Is there a way of adding it to their status?

Vandenburg · Futures level

We have to think about this carefully, Mad was great as she allowed freedom of speech but also was great with kitchen spam etc.

What if Paulisi and Coup, are like North Koreans and sensor even the most legit of posts.

We really need forever delayed back, he is on my fb, will ask

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Vandenburg wrote:
We have to think about this carefully, Mad was great as she allowed freedom of speech but also was great with kitchen spam etc.

What if Paulisi and Coup, are like North Koreans and sensor even the most legit of posts.

We really need forever delayed back, he is on my fb, will ask

smile smile smile

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

If being a Mod means that I can exercise some power and control over the troublemakers on this board, then all I can say is - Bob in Brazil, YOU are in deep "smelly stuff" LOL.

Seriously though, happy to help. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to ZAP some of those kitchen spammers.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Brilliant. I would very happily support Bob's 'application' !

I'm pretty technologically challenged and have no natural understanding of how websites work or whatever - I use everything in a very 'monkey see, monkey do' manner.

So, honestly, I don't think I'd make a very good mod - I'd forget how to merge threads, or whatever.

However, if you were really in a hard spot (which is unlikely), I'd obviously be happy to help out and do my best (and write everything down !). But I think you can find better than me

PS Vandenburg, I may be techno-challenged but am a VERY strong believer in free speech, no Big Brother state, personal liberty and privacy etc. etc. etc.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Under the condition he adheres to North Korean principles and moderates Vandenburg who I am certain masterminds the kitchen spam from his hold up in the equardorian Embassay. Bizarrely I have a soft spot for kitchen spam which always reminds me of Madeline.

Vandenburg · Futures level

I think we also have to be PC like the BBC, the new mods must contain/ applicant particularly welcome from:

1)Those from ethnic minorities
2)Single parents
3)Disabled people

steven · Tennis legend

Vandenburg wrote:
I think we also have to be PC like the BBC, the new mods must contain/ applicant particularly welcome from:

1)Those from ethnic minorities
2)Single parents
3)Disabled people

Applications from any of those groups are welcome, obviously, but competence, tolerance and common sense are the most valuable traits in a mod. Anyway, you can't really be biased when, with most people on the forum, you don't actually know for sure whether they fit into any of these groups or none! smile

Also, ForeverDelayed is still a mod, and obviously welcome back here any time, but the whole point of this exercise is to appoint some new mods who are naturally around a lot these days.

Oakland2002 - yes, every time I zap a bit of kitchen spam, I think of Madeline. Which doesn't mean she's only remembered for being the main scourge of the kitchen spammers, I hasten to add!

CD - I'm sure some of the existing mods will have smiled at the fact that you think an inability to remember how to merge threads would count you out. wink

Seriously, though, someone (me if necessary, though if anyone else is happy to, I'd be grateful!) should probably compile a short of list of how to carry out the basic modding functions. It certainly doesn't take much (if any) technological know-how though!

Helen40 - you can see who the mods for each sub-forum are by going to http://britishtennis.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=61841&p=1, clicking on the relevant sub-forum then looking at the bottom of the page, though most mods are mods for multiple sub-forums so this isn't a very efficient way to check. I think admins can add the fact that someone is a mod to the automatic description below a forum member's name (e.g. Pro player, Challenger level, Living legend, etc, which I believe are based only on post counts) but I think this was only done in the very early days, which is why some mods (including me) don't have it in their description.

What do mods do?

It's really just a case of deleting obvious spam and really offensive posts, merging threads if two have been created where one would be enough (often this is simply because the person starting the new thread doesn't know about the existing one), moving threads that have been created on the wrong sub-forum and generally making sure the forum rules (see http://britishtennis.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=61841&p=1) aren't flouted too much.

Personally, I prefer to take a relatively light (pro-free speech) touch unless/until individuals start taking too much advantage of this and troll the forum on a regular basis (even then, the fact that Vandenburg is still here should tell you a lot about our collective level of tolerance wink - I'm joking biggrin ) and I treat deleting/banning as a last resort, as I think most of the other existing mods tend to do too.

There are often more subtle (albeit more time-consuming) methods of modding available than deleting posts and imposing bans - they can include putting the opposing point of view when someone has said something controversial and potentially sensitive (e.g. criticising an individual player, though if it's clearly libellous, then obviously it should be zapped straight away) or having a quiet word (by private message) when things get a bit heated. Also, if there is any doubt in my mind, I would normally discuss the issue (again by pm) with at least one of the other mods and new mods, in particular, shouldn't hesitate to do this while they find their feet.

'Applications'

Can I also repeat my request for anyone pm-ing me about this to answer question 2 in my post above (i.e. "2. Which of the sub-forums they visit on a regular basis, if they don't frequent all of them."), even if it's just to say that you do tend to frequent the whole forum.

paulisi · Tennis legend

I'm happy to help if required.

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

AliBB warned recently about Bob's ever growing Clone Army, and now you suggest giving him more power! History will condemn us.

I second (third, fourth?) all names, of course including Bob's.
Close to or over 10,000 contributions each, they are the bones upon which this pleasant welcoming home is built.

Might we please also perhaps consider putting a sticky thread from one of the venerable members permanently at the top of the Andy section, saying who Madeleine was, and have it serve as a testimonial to her wonderful service, and love of Andy?