Hi Champ,

There's only one rule: The forum admin makes the rules. I changed many rules in my stint as forum admin. Most of them were unwritten. And I did not hold myself to them. I changed them as needed. We had cases where moderators tried to make rules without my approval, or interpret approval to hide one post as a general rule to hide all similar posts. Sometimes I let those rules stand, other times I didn't.

The "rule" for moderator rotation was for my benefit as admin. I posted it for informational purposes. In fact, it wasn't even a rule, it was a policy. As forum admin, Fred is able to change that policy without notice to anyone but himself. He doesn't need my approval to do so. He doesn't clear changes to the moderation crew with anyone. He could, if he wanted, fire all the moderators tomorrow and institute new ones. Or he could never rotate mods again. All of it is his call. So far I think he's doing a great job, because I'm not getting many complaints.

The goal, of course, is to maintain civil discussion on the forums. So far, things seem to going about as well as any large public forum goes. Of course with any change, there will be some dissenters. We can't possibly keep everyone happy, including former moderators.

Sorry for any confusion about who posted this. Apparently Angela was using my laptop.

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@SETIEric@qoto.org (Mastodon)

Might I suggest if Fred has the time to hide posts that state rules or policies that are no longer accurate.

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Hi Eric,

this is funny. On the boards we have written rules to follow them. I supported all your rules and followed them. Look into my posting history, you dont will find lots of hidden postings. Now you tell us, that the posted rules here was something like a suggestion? Fred can turn the rules like he wants and dont inform the posters here? I have no doubt, that Fred is doing a good job, but sometimes i cant follow administration here.

For example, he gave me a muzzle about talking something special, which is a important part of the Seti history. This part is the main part for my leaving here. There was a group about 25 persons (5 more or less?), that interrupted the boards. I have never seen a rule, which told us, that it is forbidden to talk about them.

After my leaving here, i joined an international board where i feel well suited now. There were funny and adult people from all over the world.

I would like to give the Seti boards a big huge and my best wishes for the future. Here i had a good and hard school of forum postings. I learned a lot and will keep it on for other boards.

After this posting, i have detached all my machines and deleted Boinc. Maybe, sometimes i will come back and we can chat again.

God bless you all.

champ

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Are you sure those are the current rules?

I thought the current rule was Fred's the boss and writes the rules.

That is the way it should be..and if a moderator were abusing those rules to settle personal grudges then I would assume that moderator would be removed before it caused a large amount of dissension on the boards.

I don't see any sign that a significant amount of posters have any problems with the way the moderators are enforcing peace on the boards and making it a safe place to post.

I know that in the last couple of months I have felt that things have really changed for the better and I feel safer posting. That to me is a sure sign that the moderators and ultimately the admin have got something right.

It isn't just about having rules and enforcing them to letter but about understanding that all the posters, whether a moderator likes them or not, are people and deserve some respect. It is not a moderators job to drive people away they don't like. It is a moderators job to see that all the different people can rub along, differences and all. After all, isn't that what makes the seti boards so special?

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Reality Internet Personality

Are you sure those are the current rules?

I thought the current rule was Fred's the boss and writes the rules.

That is the way it should be..and if a moderator were abusing those rules to settle personal grudges then I would assume that moderator would be removed before it caused a large amount of dissension on the boards.

I'd hope even if it was just one person complaining that abuse be stopped PDQ. And yes we are all human until we find ET.

Some wise person told me "Don't fire the volunteers."

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From my read, any decision can be applealed. I would also note that if you bug staff (or Berkley) with stuff that they should NOT have to deal with, it could easily backfire. So caution note.

Just because someone else was worse, and the moderators missed it, does not mean it is okay.

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Janice

I always thought that you couldn't post things in relation to moderator actions....

I think someone is bitterrrrrrr....

You forget WHO is in charge
mere mention of anything mod related could or will get you banished
ask me I'm proff

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I always thought that you couldn't post things in relation to moderator actions....

I think someone is bitterrrrrrr....

unless you have credentials

go CHAMP

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how about a board for open discussion
little mod intervention & censuring
Ok that's what politics was supposed to be

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Moderation Overview

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Janice

Okay a bit more of a serious and calm note.

The following are my views, not necessarily of anyone else including moderating volunteers, SETI@home staff, nor UCB.

Moderation is simple in principle. Look at the rules, understand the rules, enforce the rules. No brainer right? No one should be surprised or upset right?
Ummm.. not quite.

You have people involved. Nothing is so simple. If you are too loose and let people get away with crossing them, people get unhappy and/or leave because
it becomes a mad house. If you are too tight with them, you get blamed with censorship, being a tyrant, etc ad nauseum. The most active moderators are going to be the least loved, those that do the least will stay under the radar.
It is possible to be effective in the background, but someone has to take the blame.

There are few thank you's. Guaranteed opportunity to turn friends to (perceived) enemies, and it is only something an insane masochist should enjoy.

Now.. why would ANYONE subject themselves to that? Great rewards? Um.. no.. not there. Prestige? Uh.. yeah as much as a septic tank cleaner. To create a perfect world? Uh.. guess again. While cleaning the sewer pipes there is always someone pulling that "flush" handle upstream.

The only reason I can see why someone would want to (other than devious designs, to try to abuse it, which is bound to backfire) is simple. Because it needs done. You need to TRY to balance out what people feel they should be able to say with what is going to hurt and inflame people.. to try to find that balance between anarchy and police state. Because it is there we can find civility. The chance to disagree and yet treat each other fairly. This can not be done by one person, but only by a team of people all SEEKING that equalibrium.

And if it is perfectly executed, unanimously agreed upon, and done with everyone involved seeing and dancing together.. There is still going to be unhappy people. There are still going to be hurt feelings, still people calling for the head of this person or that person. And that.. is the ironic reward. That the grumbling and some times screaming goes on, and the project moves on. Because as varied and disagreeable as we ALL can be, we all came together for one purpose: To try and help find ET.

That is why I am here, and I hope that is why everyone is here. Beyond that,
we are just ordinary every day people. No more, and certainly no less.

/endsoapbox

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Janice

Oh, and if there is some......
Non-specific loving needed here for the mod crew.

I can give that too......

If you........

Double bonus.

Kitties have a lotta luv to give.
Can you accept?

Just don't poke, please.

"That's fine."

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Good morning.

Please keep things general. I do really hate getting up in the morning and finding other peoples messes to clean up.

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Janice

Is there a recall procedure for mods?

I happen to know one who should be.

Not being specific or anything.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster