Do you think that Moderators.....

[Enchanted Tiki Bird]

I think it's fine until they start taking advantage of getting in the last word when they lock threads.

I've seen this happen a lot and it makes me hopping mad.

 

[barkley]

the only 'issues' i've ever experienced/felt were/are inappropriate are those mods who when engaging in a thread read a post that does not agree with their posting and they counter with a reply that starts 'as an x board moderator...." as though that conveys some affirmation that only their position/statement is valid. i have seen outright misinformation about disney property policies/practices/procedures posted by a mod, and when someone provides the correct information in a follow up post out comes the 'as an x board mod, i am better placed than you to disseminate information' speil repeating the same misinformation (and i've known posters who have after politely providing this accurate information) received nasty p.m.'s from the same mods threating expulsion from the boards for petty issues that while prohibited in the rules of posting, are not pursued for even removal or editing on any regular basis.

i also have an issue with mods who work for sponsors of the dis boards but are not overtly open with that fact. some will post to every thread asking about a particular travel agency stating they've had nothing but positive experiences using them for travel arrangements (implying a customer based relationship), when in reality they are the employees of that agency who if the person making the questioning post opts to use the agency-are likely to garner the financial commisssion. seems misleading and detrimental to open disclosure of information.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I think it's fine until they start taking advantage of getting in the last word when they lock threads.

Normally before a thread is locked there is at least one or two public "play nice" warnings as well as some Private Messages.

Or sometimes if a thread has been locked and someone starts a new thread that continues the locked one.

The only general exception to these may be in a forum where for some good reason only one thread is wanted on a particular subject, and then if people start a new related thread they are referred to the original and the copy locked.

And don't forget. The moderators talk to each other and the Webmasters. Also, they normally are selected because of the helpfulness shown in the past. I imagine if I try to do things such as said above I would get talked to and even removed.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

I think it's fine until they start taking advantage of getting in the last word when they lock threads.

Yes, we know you like to have the last word...I'm sure that does make you mad.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I am not exactly sure what you mean about "objectivity". Do you feel the Mods allow more liberties to those they have become friends with, and are stritcter with those that are the opposite????


I used to be a Mod(and regular poster) at a large forum, we had less registered users but more ACTIVE posters than DIS.
Complaints(with dozens of examples) arose that on POLITICAL issues where the MOD expressed his/her stance persons with the same stance were allowed to bend the rules and use profanity and insults. But whenever persons that publicly dissagreed with said mods, they better not even use the rolleyes smilie or they will be suspended.
The administration took those complaints and told anybody if they did not like it to leave, I was not a mod in the political forum and never used any mod privilages in that forum but I still found this unacceptable and decided to leave.

EDIT TO ADD
I have not seen any of these issues here at the DIS.

I left a board that was run like this - some Mods were the worst examples on the political threads. Those of us who ran counter to the prevailing attitudes were held to one standard while others, including some Mods, were allowed to all out get rude and use personal attacks.

Here on the DIS, I love hearing from the mods and having them active!!!!

I do feel the mods should set the best example for the rest.

I have been here for some time - and have no complaints so far!!!!

 

[simba928]

I think they should post and be active members. I do think, though, that when it comes to their job as moderators, they should ignore any "friendships" or "favoritisms" they have. I used to belong to one board that was horrible like that. If you were in the "in-group", you could say virtually whatever you wanted, but if you weren't, anything you said was offensive, even if it was a simple hello. You weren't allowed to post personal messages on the boards, which is how it is here and thats how it should be. However, on those boards, the "in-group" could post personal messages to eachother, even having that person's name in the title. If you weren't in the "in-group", the rules all of a sudden applied to you. I swear to you, every day at least once a day, there was a message that had "Bob" (or whatever the person the message was too) as the title and all the message said was "I sent you an e-mail". And then it would go onto 30 or 40 posts just between Bob and the OP about whatever they wanted, but since they were in the "in-group", it was perfectly fine. Everytime I posted, along with several other people, we were flamed. Even the one moderator (there was only one mod) was joining in on the nasty comments.

 

[Minnie_Moo]

I have observed that an occasional downside of having a moderator as an active participant on a thread in a "non-mod" capacity can result in other posters feeling as if they are being monitored more closely than normal (even though that clearly may not be the intent of the moderator). Particularly if there is a history between the moderator and some of the posters on a thread.

Also, moderators posting as part of the open community cannot be put on "ignore" like regular posters.

"Sorry _________ is a moderator/admin and you are not allowed to ignore him or her."
​

It seems to me that, along with their "moderator status" for the board they moderate, there should be a way for moderators to have a "regular status" for posting on other boards. Not that I've ever put anyone on ignore, but I have seen a lot of joshing on the DIS about doing so.

Just a couple thoughts on the topic . . . not intended as a criticism or slight to the generally hard working and fair moderators on the DIS.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I don't know. Good question. Not saying it happens here (and not saying it doesn't), but I find that many moderators on some boards will close a thread just because they want to, yet another thread that is just as offensive or off topic, will remain open at their discretion. It's weird.

yeah. i've noticed that too sometimes. not much you can do about it tho, huh?

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I think if people abuse their moderator powers they should be taken away. That's not to say that they can't contribute to discussions and debates honestly but if they cause trouble for someone merely because they disagree with their viewpoints, this is being a bad moderator. I wonder what the policy on defrocking moderators is here on the DIS?

i agree

 

[irishbosoxfan]

I would like to see more impartial decisions. Like today someone started a thread about how come people were allowed to start a new thread specifically to pick on people when they were doing a good enough job of that on the original thread--And the question thread was closed but the other threads that were actually picking on people were left open
OT-LIL your box is full!

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I would like to see more impartial decisions. Like today someone started a thread about how come people were allowed to start a new thread specifically to pick on people when they were doing a good enough job of that on the original thread--And the question thread was closed but the other threads that were actually picking on people were left open
OT-LIL your box is full!

sorry i just noticed, it's fixed now!

 

[KathyTX]

I would like to see more impartial decisions. Like today someone started a thread about how come people were allowed to start a new thread specifically to pick on people when they were doing a good enough job of that on the original thread--And the question thread was closed but the other threads that were actually picking on people were left open

The other side of that question is this: did you report the thread you're asking about, the one that wasn't locked, and explain the problem with that thread? Because, if you didn't, chances are the moderators were not aware of it.

The DIS is a big forum, and the moderators simply do not/ cannot read every post or every thread. If there's a problem posted, please use the

button to let us know about it.

If you don't report it, the question is not "why do the moderators allow this?", but "has anyone let the moderators know they need to look at this?"

 

[irishbosoxfan]

The other side of that question is this: did you report the thread you're asking about, the one that wasn't locked, and explain the problem with that thread? Because, if you didn't, chances are the moderators were not aware of it.

The DIS is a big forum, and the moderators simply do not/ cannot read every post or every thread. If there's a problem posted, please use the

button to let us know about it.

If you don't report it, the question is not "why do the moderators allow this?", but "has anyone let the moderators know they need to look at this?"

I personally didn't report it but it was brought up in the question thread which came to involve a moderator--I thought that since a mod was made aware of it's existence that it would be looked into and get rid of all the threads involved---

As for me I try to lay low but sometimes trouble finds me and I know of a couple of threads I was on where it went haywire and mods were notified and as far as I can tell nothing happened---It would be nice if a thread is reported for poor treatment that the person being treated unfairly is notified by a mod that they are aware of the situation and are taking steps to improve the situation.

 

[goofy4tink]

Staying 'neutral' is what we mods strive for. Sometimes, though, it's tough. We try to make our respective boards welcoming and fun. Yes, there are going to be 'arguments' just like in any family. And yes, sometimes posters will take issue with what another poster has said. I have been notified of a particular posting in the past, but have done nothing about it. Offensiveness is sometimes in the eye of the beholder. Many times a poster will want a thread closed because they don't like the responses they get, they feel that any opposing responses are 'mean'. We try to objectively figure out what is 'mean spirited' and what is just opposing someone else's post. You have to remember that the mods are real people, just like you guys. We all have real lives, with all the same issues. We can't be on-line 24/7 and sometimes miss postings.

But, I have to say...I try not to shut down threads unless it's really, really necessary. I try to not edit other's posts...that's just rude. Just because I may not agree with them is no reason to edit them. I would hate to think that any DISers feel that the mods do this. Yes, there are troublemakers out there. We try to stay on top of the situation. Each moderator is 'chosen' because of their knowledge/attitude on a particular board. I try not to get embroiled in some threads. Sure wouldn't want anyone to think I was abusing my 'mod powers' in some of those more heated discussions!!! I even hesitated before adding anything to my signature about being a moderator. It was only after someone PMed me asking about my 'capacity' on a board after I made a comment about 'playing nicely' or risk getting the thread closed. Figured it was better to be up front about my official standing....however much it may be in my own head!!!

 

[Viki]

Great thread!

I see my role as one of sharing leadership repsponsibilities with others on the board. For example, having read something questionable, something that rings an alarm bell for me - there's one post on "my" board that has been doing that for me recently - I'll often wait for other folk to chime in, ask the right questions, make a humorous comment, diffuse the tension, challenge the poster, anything that either helps me to see there is no problem, nullifies the problem so there is nothing I have to do, or makes it clear that I should take some action.

In other words, I'm most interested in having a board community that takes repsonsibility for its own norms, boundaries, and values. That's fun.

 

[Cool-Beans]

In all of my time on the DIS, which goes further back than my little box thing shows, I have seen a mod close down a thread because people began disagreeing with her only ONCE.

I didn't think it was a big deal...I thought it was kind of funny. If it happened all the time, it might get frustrating.

Some mods take their job very seriously, almost to the point of "I'm the Mom and you all better behave as I say," and some are more laid-back, only getting involved when they absolutely must. Like all the other DISers, they have personalities! Everyone brings something to the party.

I am grateful there are people to mod in the first place. They've taken on a chore around here so that the rest of us can go on about our business.

Thanks, mods!!!!