[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Zee

Where on earth did I say that? Stop being so rude.

Moderators are regular members who are given the power to control what is and isn't allowed on the forum. Sometimes people are picked for the job who aren't cut out for the reality of it and I think it's an interesting point of discussion - you can't tell if someone's going to be good at moderating until they're given the chance and if they aren't good at it, there's nothing in place to remove them from the position unless they're actively abusing the position so the admin team remove the power or the user themselves decides to step down.

Seeing the coin from both sides I agree with you completely. But yeah for those that want a kind of game out of it no, it should be more of a review made by admin.

[Kizzy]

What if a moderator becomes a nuisance? it could happen.

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

What if a moderator becomes a nuisance? it could happen.

It has happened.

[MTVN]

I actually think we regulate ourselves pretty well, more so than is maybe realised. Everything gets done by consensus or at least majority, nobody could abuse their position as a Mod or anything like that because the rest wouldn't allow it to happen. If a Mod makes a decision or gives some an infraction then the rest all see it along with the Admins and will speak up if they disagree, it's why infractions/bans/decisions do get changed or overturned sometimes because things might be seen or interpreted differently by the others. And on the same note no Mod gets so absorbed in the 'power' of their role, or take it so personally, that they wouldn't always listen to any criticism of something they've done or refuse to discuss it

[MTVN]

I don't really see why Admin need a review system either really when appointing or dismissing a Mod is a power they already have and could use at any time if they thought it justified

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by MTVN

I don't really see why Admin need a review system either really when appointing or dismissing a Mod is a power they already have and could use at any time if they thought it justified

Me personally, without naming anyone, feel as if a couple of mods just stay as mods because they are nosey and don't want to miss out on the behind the scenes/gossip of TiBB, and do as little as possible modding wise and have such a little input, which that position could be better placed with somebody who would do more. Now that can be denied but you know I have been in towers for a few years.

Again, this is not aimed at all mods, so if any of you take it personally, then yeah it probably is you. The majority of mods are fine and do their jobs.

[Kizzy]

Don't get defensive, you're safe I like you

[Kizzy]

I'm surprised that new mods have to be agreed by current ones, that should be admin really. Is that for a reason so you all get on?

[Ammi]

..I don’t believe that any moderator doesn’t do anything though, just by the characters/personalities in general of the moderating team, I can’t see that other moderators wouldn’t have something to say about that...unless it’s an inactive mod.....

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I'm surprised that new mods have to be agreed by current ones, that should be admin really. Is that for a reason so you all get on?

No, but the current mods tend to be online and have a clearer view of members than admin.

[Gstar]

Originally Posted by Zee

If people have been banned/infracted they're generally out of the running so it narrows itself down pretty quickly.

that's me out of the running

[Benjamin]

Just an observation. I would also say that the mod team has often changed over the years and adapted with the forum, but it has remained pretty static for the last 3 years with exception of me and Zee stepping down and the loss of Kerry. I think this is the longest the mod team has gone unchanged? A new TiBB record?

[MTVN]

I genuinely don't agree that there are some Mods who are active on the site who do nothing in their role, whether it be through giving out infractions, deleting and banning spammers, merging several threads, helping out users who've asked for assistance in adding a poll to their thread or to edit it in some way, locking threads that have gone off topic, moving threads to the correct section etc. etc. I don't think there is any Moderator on here who while active on the forum would just ignore doing any of those duties if they are able to do them. A good bulk of Moderating is very tedious, menial stuff that most members wouldn't necessarily realise has even been done. And all Mods weigh in on any discussions we have in the towers.

I know you were a Mod for a long time Ben, but really you seem to have a very different view and have had a different experience to what I have had.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

No, but the current mods tend to be online and have a clearer view of members than admin.

Clearer?... I wouldn't necessarily say so moderators can have differing views on members just like anyone.

[Me. I Am Salman]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

Me personally, without naming anyone, feel as if a couple of mods just stay as mods because they are nosey and don't want to miss out on the behind the scenes/gossip of TiBB, and do as little as possible modding wise and have such a little input, which that position could be better placed with somebody who would do more. Now that can be denied but you know I have been in towers for a few years.

Again, this is not aimed at all mods, so if any of you take it personally, then yeah it probably is you. The majority of mods are fine and do their jobs.

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by MTVN

I genuinely don't agree that there are some Mods who are active on the site who do nothing in their role, whether it be through giving out infractions, deleting and banning spammers, merging several threads, helping out users who've asked for assistance in adding a poll to their thread or to edit it in some way, locking threads that have gone off topic, moving threads to the correct section etc. etc. I don't think there is any Moderator on here who while active on the forum would just ignore doing any of those duties if they are able to do them. A good bulk of Moderating is very tedious, menial stuff that most members wouldn't necessarily realise has even been done. And all Mods weigh in on any discussions we have in the towers.

I know you were a Mod for a long time Ben, but really you seem to have a very different view and have had a different experience to what I have had.

I never said do nothing, I said do as little as possible. There is a huge difference.

[AnnieK]

I wonder how many people would actually want to be a mod though?

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Clearer?... I wouldn't necessarily say so moderators can have differing views on members just like anyone.

I mean they know the members a bit better than admin.

[Smithy]

A few mods definitely take advantage of their position, there's been numerous times they've made a comment that if any other member had made they'd have been I reacted for

[Z]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I'm surprised that new mods have to be agreed by current ones, that should be admin really. Is that for a reason so you all get on?

Mmm it's more like a debate than anything (which is how most major decisions are made as well, I should mention) - the list of candidates grows as people apply and the mods debate who would be good for the role but ultimately it's down to the admin to decide, I think they maybe base their decision on what the mods have said in the thread because the mods interact with members whereas admin has traditionally been a bit more aloof

[MTVN]

Me and Kerry just got handpicked last time, no need for applications

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Me and Kerry just got handpicked last time, no need for applications

That's how me, Vicky and Marc got picked too.


I will just clarify that not all mods are bad, the majority of them do their job and do it well. I don;t want everyone thinking I am against them all.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Me and Kerry just got handpicked last time, no need for applications

I was dead set against it tbh.

[Me. I Am Salman]

I know I've done my fair share of mod bashing but I don't think they deserve this much criticism, my only real problem with them is that they're so quick to hand out infractions over dumb things and some members are allowed to get away with things that others aren't, e.g. the thread Jayson created months ago was blatant spam and would have been deleted say had Apple created it and it was little mix gifs i dunno

I definitely don't agree though that they're as bad as people in here are making out to be, like this taking advantage of their role' bullcrap. Some people in this thread are getting too big for their boots imo

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Salman!

I definitely don't agree though that they're as bad as people in here are making out to be, like this taking advantage of their role' bullcrap. Some people in this thread are getting too big for their boots imo

Yeah there is very little chance to take advantage of their role, the rest of the mods and the admin can see everything.

There have been a few occasions (off the top of my head) where mods have overstepped the mark and been reprimanded for it:

* Iceman having a horrible rant at a member for no reason - got a dressing down off admin and some of the team
* Me banning a member because I hated them and was drunk - got told off, had to reverse ban and apologise
* Rory giving a member his log in details so they could snoop in towers - had has mod status revoked

These have all been dealt with and things like this have always been dealt with, so the abuse of power is a flawed argument.