Moderation is necessary-self policing works with reasonable people-respectful people, whomever thinks about others b/4 they open their mouth. The ones that irk me use no logic in their debate, just spiteful words. They're safe behind their fingers on the keyboard.
What makes a decent moderator? Over at BT it would probably be someone that reads enough to have a history of both the topics and the membership. While evenhanded decisions need be made, an informed moderator will certainly know the room he or she is in. Those that constantly harang others will be seen as trouble makers and dealt with one way-those that contribute their knowledge will be remembered as such and probably be treated differently.
Ever referee a game of any kind? A thankless job for sure. Even calls are the goal and they usually happen. However, pains in the asses are also figured out quickly and probably watched with a closer eye. Both could be good athletes, but sportsmanship is also part of the mix. There's varying degrees of penalties in many sports. The extreme-ejection. Sometimes your history has something to do with the decision.
What all this is going to in a round about way is that the moderators need to be part of the forum-maybe not by posting but certainly by reading so they get to know the contributors,the whiners and the trolls. There's no reason in the world to eject someone that's given years of good advice and information for one blowup. And, there's every reason in the world to send somebody packing that does nothing but bring down the game.
This is no easy task on a board of the size of BT. I guess I don't even know if the above really has anything to do with it. Moderation has to be swift. It shouldn't need a complaint to get it started, but I can understand how that could happen-you can't be everywhere all the time. Maybe certain moderators for an individual folder.
If you appoint moderator helpers they take on a sort of quisling role-the informant. That won't breed much good either.
Here it's simplified because of the small size. I had no trouble nor reserve jumping on some of the goings on here early in the Tavern boat people thread. I just got plain pissed and let the readers know it. Shortly afterwards I expected to read all sorts of whining and a large exodus of folks. Well, there was a bit of migration, but there was also a calm that fell too.
I felt a bit bad about it. But I also wasn't mad anymore either. When I rcvd a couple emails from some of those that left explaining their decision I felt relieved. They didn't condemn me, they commended my being forthright with my feelings and even thought I had been fair.
What I'm trying say I guess is that I have a better understanding of the task now. The job at BT isn't going to be easy and probably will still polarize some.
Best of luck.
-------------------- Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City
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