a moderator question

[tuigirl]

Ok.. this may sound a bit dopey.. but out of sheer curiosity, what exactly does a moderator do? I mean I have this vision of you all sitting in front of your computers, drinking cups of coffee and reading all the posts we send in AND getting paid for it...is that really how it is? if so,......what a neat job :D

[Mac Fan]

I think basically, you make sure that everyone's following the rules. I think you can also ban people.

[joe]

Originally posted by tuigirl
Ok.. this may sound a bit dopey.. but out of sheer curiosity, what exactly does a moderator do? I mean I have this vision of you all sitting in front of your computers, drinking cups of coffee and reading all the posts we send in AND getting paid for it...is that really how it is? if so,......what a neat job :D

God, i'm so glad someone else felt funny about asking this cause i wasn't 100% sure myself. Thanks!!!

[joe]

Originally posted by Mac Fan
I think basically, you make sure that everyone's following the rules. I think you can also ban people.


has anyone been banned from here that we know of?

[chiliD]

Yes. Three, that I know of.

[Sorcerer386]

While I'm not a moderator here, I am a channel operator on a few channels on mIRC, and basically it's the same job. We're not like, business cubical people who sit there and read everything and etc. We're just like everyone else who's chatting, but when a problem arises, it's up to us to take care of the problem. The moderators simply try to be problem solvers and keep the board organized and clear of things. As far as them watching for people to break the rules, well, I don't think they even consider doing anything unless someone hits that "report post to moderator" button. But basically, just picture yourself sitting there as you are, and that's how the moderators are. They just do a little extra.

[Johnny Stew]

I waited to see if any of my fellow moderators would have a chance to answer this, but since no one has yet, I might as well!

Actually, Justin pretty much summed up our duties rather accurately! :)
Like I said the other day on the Lindsey forum, we all consider ourselves Ledgies, just like everyone else... it's just that this particular group of us also act as peacekeepers.

Essentially we read the boards out of fandom... but we also do so with an eye out for any trouble (fights that get out of hand, anything pornographic, etc.).
We don't necessarily read each and every thread or post (though we do our best!)... which is why we ask that if anyone sees something getting out of hand, or that they feel is objectionable, that they report the post/thread to one of us.

We take care of our respective boards, but in the interest of keeping each other abreast of what's going on, we discuss the various situations with each other.
Potential strikes and bans are always discussed as a group, and then voted upon. And trust me, we always take the matter quite seriously... nothing is decided in a flippant way.

Unfortunately there have been a few people who have been banned. Fortunately though it's only been a small handful... and off the top of my head, I can't think of exactly how many.

And no... none of us are paid for this. The costs to run the site (server fees, etc., for both The Penguin, and The Ledge) are paid, extremely generously, out of Marty's pocket... and the moderators do this as a "thank you" to him. (It's certainly not for all the glory and accolades!) :laugh:

I hope that answers all questions!
:)


Johnny Stew

[tuigirl]

Thanks for answering that Johnny, guess wer'e all a little bit wiser now :D Another equally dopey question though ( someones got to ask right, might as well be me...) How do you get picked to BE a moderator, do you volunteer? Not that I'd want to be one thankyou (I'd be banning everyone, there'd be no Ledgies left to post and we'd probably end up being an all girl gossip group, with a few "nice only" guys allowed in!..hahaha).... just curious...

[Mac Fan]

Originally posted by joe
has anyone been banned from here that we know of?

I don't know. I haven't been here that long.

[Vianna]

To answer your questions:

1. None of us gets paid=:-) I don't know about the other moderators, but I do this as a way to help Marty and to thank him for providing me with this opportunity to meet and know other Fleetwood Mac fans. Moderating is a small gift to give back to him in return for all I've learned ad all the pleasure I've gotten from having these boards exist.
2. No, I don't always read each and every post. I have a full time job that keeps me pretty busy and a long commute to and from work in the DC area. I try to read them, but don't always make it.
3. We try as a group to see to it people post according to the standards in the FAQ. If something is reported, we decide as a group what to do about it.
4. Yes, some people have been banned and others warned or give "strikes". Out of consideration for posters' privacy, we will never tell you exactly what we did about a reported post, but you can be assured we did something=:-). Considering the number of registered Ledgies(it's 800 or something like that) the number we've had to ban, warn or "strike" is very, very, small, and that is thanks to all of you out there=:-)
5. Have a Happy New Year!

[Vianna]

Don't know about the others, but I volunteered=:-)

[ShangriLaTroubl]

Like good ole Knight on the Mick Fleetwood board...hes a moderator...and according to him and his followers it's a horrible thing to MENTION a website that is not official, and your post will be deleted if you mention a Stevie/FM website that isnt official, unless you ask permission first...thank God our moderators here arent like those guys...

Chris

[Doctor Brown]

Originally posted by ShangriLaTroubl
Like good ole Knight on the Mick Fleetwood board...hes a moderator...and according to him and his followers it's a horrible thing to MENTION a website that is not official, and your post will be deleted if you mention a Stevie/FM website that isnt official, unless you ask permission first...thank God our moderators here arent like those guys...

Chris

That's not really the case Chris! Some people interpreted it that way, but I can tell you that there is still a URL posted for The Penguin, and several member's sites.

It started when a member created a chat room in hopes that Mick would use it for his next chat, and was promoting it on the site. He also suggested making tee-shirts and hats for board members.

Needless to say the admins frowned upon this type of non-official activity. They feel that it is THEIR job to set up the chat room and determine what if any, merchandise will be created and sold.

I doubt that Marty would want anyone to do this type of thing here either.

I believe that because Knight was not real specific in what non-official websites meant, that it got blown out of proportion and misinterpreted.

No posts would be deleted for mentioning a website. There was one thread that was deleted because of the use of profanity.

I hate to see this US against THEM spirit being fostered by some FM fans.

I remember asking Marty before Mick's site came online. He said that even if Mick made him an offer, proir commitments would prohibit him from developing a site for Mick.

I even sent an e-mail to Mick's people suggesting that they should make Marty an offer. Believe it or not, they actually called me and asked if I spoke for Marty. I told them that I did not.

Since Marty had just told me his position on the matter, I dropped it.

But really, I'm glad that it happened this way. There is only one Penguin, and I hope that Marty can keep it going forever.

Admittingly, Mick's site is young, and does not have the sophistication in the actual discussion of topics, and some other features that you find here, but it does have it's place. And they are not ogres there.

I've been a member and supporter here for a long time. I've never done much posting to the chat board, but I visit daily.

I'm rambling now, but I wanted to clear up that one issue.

Doc:wavey:

[ShangriLaTroubl]

Well thanks for clearing that up Doc...maybe I'm just mad still about the whole fan club rip off thing, and I'm taking it out on their site...but thats just me..

[wondergirl9847]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Johnny Stew
Like I said the other day on the Lindsey forum, we all consider ourselves Ledgies, just like everyone else... it's just that this particular group of us also act as peacekeepers.

So, Lindsey's song for the new album is about you mods!! COOL! ;) :laugh:

I am a mod for a Justin Guarini site, and when the administrator asked me to be one, I had NO CLUE what my duties were, I had to ask "What do I do, exactly?" LOL You basically clean up any "haters" (we have had problems with some on the JG boards), who are people who have nothing better to do than to log on and make rude, hateful remarks about Justin. If you get those, you delete/ban them. You also have the job of promoting your site/board, by asking other similar sites to join your links page or joining a webring. Oh, and I have a cool title...Head Guarini Mod! LMAO!! We don't get paid. My enthusiasm for Justin led the Admininstrator of the board to ask me to be a moderator.

Very cool, indeed. :thumbsup:

[Mac Fan]

Originally posted by wondergirl9847
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Johnny Stew
[B]

I am a mod for a Justin Guarini site, and when the administrator asked me to be one, I had NO CLUE what my duties were,
Very cool, indeed. :thumbsup:


I didn't either, when I asked Neil if I could be a moderator on his forum.

[wetcamelfood]

Originally posted by Doctor Brown
It started when a member created a chat room in hopes that Mick would use it for his next chat, and was promoting it on the site. He also suggested making tee-shirts and hats for board members. Needless to say the admins frowned upon this type of non-official activity. They feel that it is THEIR job to set up the chat room and determine what if any, merchandise will be created and sold. I doubt that Marty would want anyone to do this type of thing here either.

No posts would be deleted for mentioning a website. There was one thread that was deleted because of the use of profanity.

I hate to see this US against THEM spirit being fostered by some FM fans.

Admittingly, Mick's site is young, and does not have the sophistication in the actual discussion of topics, and some other features that you find here, but it does have it's place. And they are not ogres there.

I know this thread is not meant to be about Mick's site/board but I'd like to reply to this.

Now, don't misunderstand me, I don't LIKE the idea of "us against them" FM fan deal either but it's hard to be on Mick's "side" when everything has been set up at that board specifically so that he doesn't have to talk about the things he doesn't want to (as evident most recently at his chat there). On the contrary, I think they are OVERLY sophisticated in this respect as they know EXACTLY what they are doing wiith the set up over there. Why do they have a problem with anyone going in to that "special" section where ONLY Mick is allowed to post? It's not like he's taking part in any threads, he's just setting up new ones (when he has his "news" or whatever it is that he has/will post(ed) there) so it shouln't really interfere with anything he does when he goes in to do his postings. Why couldn't they just do a straightforward Q & A? or have something set up like the Nicks Fix had with the "ask Stevie" setcion (surely he wouldn't get as many questions as Stevie apparently did since they had to stop her one) as they could have an "ask Mick" section)? I mean, if he suppossedly REALLY wants to "reach out" and "get involved with the fans" and all of that other hogwash they've been trying to feed us is true that is.

Naturally, there would be moderators at such events if they were to happen to make sure nothing pornographic was said/posted etc. (as stated above by Johnny Stew) but I'm sure many fans like me just want to ask innocent factual things such as, more details on say for instance, the recording of post BN and/or Bob Welch era Mac albums but as Mick and/or his people has decided to ignore that these times in FM history ever even existed in the first place, he will not answer such "innocent questions". It's not like we'd want to ask anything about the Bob Weston affair or anything (and if someone did, I personally don't care about that kind of stuff anyways so I'd be OK with it if they decided to edit those kinds of questions out).

Granted, I can see why they were upset about that person wanting to sell Mick stuff at his site and promoting it there (as we all know how much Mick loves his money and wouldn't want others getting what should be his). However, and I can't speak for Marty obviously but, well, maybe I'll just say it this way, I'd be surprised if Marty was upset with someone coming on to the ledge and saying "hey, I set up a chat at my site, here's the link and maybe I can get George Hawkins, Todd Sharp (or anyone else that has done Q & A's here at The Penguin) to come over and join in". Maybe I'm wrong, and if so, I am sorry Marty as I admit, I'm not sure of all the policies as to what is "fair game" for sites etc. but I can't see why that would be upsetting to them. Perhaps he should have asked Knight in a PM if Mick would come over at some point rather than just say that on the board but since it was a "chat" and Mick ignored the things he didn't want to answer at his own chat then why should that one be any different, it's the same as other ones he had done recently (like the one he had done with the UK newspaper "The Sun", etc. and I KNOW those were "selective" questions because he didn't answer any of the "innocent" ones I had submitted to those "chats" and I'd be surprised if I was the only one to ask about non PG/BN era FM related topics, I know they are not considered as "popular" as the PG/BN ones but come on, at least give me that!).

If Mick wants us to be on his "side" then all he has to do is ACTUALLY get involved and not put up an allusion on his site that he's genuinely interested in "getting involved". I guess I just perfer the more direct approach of if he really DOESN'T want to get involved that he would just say so, then fine, we'd know where we stand but what's the point of wasting everyone's time by trying to get them to believe that he wants to "get us what we want" when we know (or it sure is pretty obvious) that it's not what he wants.

I visit his site less and less now so I'm not going to play games of placing "hey here's the url for fleetwoodmac.net come on over and check it out" posts to see if they will delete them or not but if anyone else has time to do this then please do post this stuff there and let us know if it does get deleted or not as I'd be interested to see if they would or not as I'd have to go by the philosophy of "I'll believe it when I see it" if they don't take out a "direct plug of an unofficial site" like that as OK, I'm sure there are links to The Penguin and other FM related sites there but I doubt many of us have time to weed through golfing posts to find them (as them being "buried" like that are probably the only reason they still exist in there but hopefully a glimmer of light will come through if someone does go there and post a "direct plug" thread there and they leave it alone, I hope they will. :)

I don't say any of this to try and get anyone to "think like me" as I probably am in the minority as it does seem that many do like the the site/board/club etc. (the last time I was there I noticed that many "people" that had posted that they like the idea of the fan club and have no problem with the price (or that "it is steep but" they will "save up" for it "because they love Mick (etc.)") all only have only like 1 or 2 posts each. Could it be that Mick's people are going in as "different people" and saying they are fans and that they like all of this stuff to try to get "actual" people to think that they should think positively about this? Just an idea) but as positive feelings about Mick and his site/board have been expressed here, I just wanted to say my feelings. I am glad for those of you that are happy with his site/board/club but I just personally don't think they are being very understanding to FM's blue collar fans who live "from check to check" and are simply not (and will never be) in the financial position to "save up" for a "steep" fan club for which there is a CHANCE they will get "good" tickets for a show, a Mojo CD that will eventually come out in some other form (as I was told by Knight in a PM) anyways and not much else to speak of. As I say though, I'm glad some of you are happy with his site/board/club etc., my "negative" thoughts aren't meant as persuasive, it's JMHO. :)

John