FYI on ending of the Circle Board (old IB)

[Patrick IL.]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy


I also think, again, JMO, that the days of the moderators having to 'jump-start' a board with posts are gone. It seems the boards just take a life of their own, slow, fast, whatever. In looking at the IB since March, there have only been about 25 or so threads initiated by moderators. Good ones, yes, but not needed to 'get it going'. I do recall, back almost three years ago, when I became a moderator, that was one of the 'responsibilities' of a moderator, to 'initiate conversation'. I do not really see that happening on an ongoing basis (though I must say that Snoopy does come up with some neat 'thought provokers' here on the CB).

Dan its rare I take issue with anyone on the boards. I believe Pete and his Webmasters want all thier moderators to do the best they can with in the confines of thier limits, that includes working and raising our familys. This is one massive place, much bigger then it was three years ago. It takes a combined effort to run all these boards. We do the best we can. BTW I also enjoyed going over and reading the IB.

 

[Kelsie]

Thanks Patrick!

I have hit the back button and typed about 5 responses to that post. But, I have decided it's just not worth it.




You Think The Only People Who Are People
Are The People Who Look And Think Like You
But If You Walk The Footsteps Of A Stranger
You'll Learn Things You Never Knew You Never Knew

 

[CathyCanada]

Actually Dan, you are incorrect. Part of the Moderators "job" is not to "initiate conversation" UNLESS the board is slow, (just as it is not part of a moderator's job to reply to every post). You took that out of context. While I agree that Judi does do a terrific job initiating threads, it is not her "job" to do so. She does it because she is an interesting, creative lady and she enjoys doing it.

The majority of our Moderators have full-time jobs, family responsibilities and a life outside the DIS, in addition to moderating more than one board. The ladies who moderated the board did a stellar job at trying to jump-start it, but if the interest is not there.... well I am sure they can find other ways to spend their time.

As for your analysis of why the IB was closed rather than other boards, I know you are not privvy to the entire board "view" numbers, just the numbers shown on the board and that is not indicative of the actual numbers.

I find it odd that you are concerned about this when you turned down the chance to turn the board around yourself. Ah, well I guess we'll never know, will we?

To those who asked about merging the threads, I talked to Alex this morning and that is a possibility. He will check on it when he gets home.

Cathy

 

[Nikole]

Well said Patrick!

As for the traffic and posts I'm sure the WM's and the current Mods of that site had a lot of discussions on this topic. Knowing that, I respect their decision. It will definitely be missed. I also know that the mods on that board spent a good amount of time trying to help groom that board and coming up with new ideas and new avenues to take that board when it was turned over to them and renamed. I think it is insulting to insinuate that their being there was not needed.

Kels, Bean and Robin.........your efforts were and always will be appreciated! As.............are other mods who put time into whatever board they "host".

 

[helenabear]

I would love it if there could be a way to make the IB a sub board of the CB. I do hope Alex will be able to do that for us. To say that I was upset last night to see this happen would have been more than a tiny understatement. Recently the board felt like a nice lazy summer afternoon with good thoughts and conversations... a more peaceful feel I think. Not to say that the CB doesn't have good thoughts and conversations (it's obvious that I do like it here too), the IB was just a different feel... hard to explain. Pointless post, I know, but I loved that board so much for what it was and what it turned out to be.

 

[snoopy]

Thanks, guys, for the support. I do feel its my "job" as a moderator to start interesting conversation, as well as keep the boards on track and free of *******. I'm not so good at the latter two, so I go with where my strengths lie, in starting new conversation.

That being said, when I was a mod on the IB, as I stated earlier, it was very difficult trying to start conversation when no one was answering. Discouraging. We worked hard trying to get that board to the point where people would visit, as I know the last 3 ladies who moderated it did. It just didn't work out, but I see no reason why Inspirational posts can't be a part of the CB.

 

[CathyCanada]

Elaine, I'm sorry, I didn't explain myself very well. Spago asked if we could merge the old posts and that was what I meant when I said Alex said he thought he could do it, not make another sub-board. The top of the CB looks heavy enough now...

CC

 

[mickey65]

Inspirational posts on the CB tend to fall down pretty fast. I have posted them before on the CB, and it moves off page one pretty fast. It is too bad that more people did not visit/post on the IB. I hope there is some way that we will still beable to share the kind of posts that were on the IB board.

 

[SonjaB]

Ditto, Nik, Patrick, and CC. The IB was WELL moderated, well taken care of, it just never took off in the way we had hoped, for whatever reason. My hat is off to Kels, Bean, and Robin. I'm looking forward to seeing their wit, intelligence, dedication, and heart on their new assignment boards.

Dan, you and I don't disagree all that often, but we do on this subject. I'm also a little mystified as to why you'd voice such concern after turning down the opportunity of working with the IB mods to try and make it fly yourself. It still makes me sad that you felt, please pardon my paraphrasing your words, "A pixie dust and weight loss board is wrong for me".

I'm going to miss the IB.

 

[Beanie]

In looking at the IB since March, there have only been about 25 or so threads initiated by moderators. Good ones, yes, but not needed to 'get it going'.

I tried my best, but obviously it wasn't good enough in some people's eyes

 

[WDWfan uk]

..... I have fond memories of the IB when it first began and as it evolved and thoroughly enjoyed doing Friday Faves ( which was originated by Brer Dragon).

We really had some fun there and at one time it was my fave board.

I got involved with the UK DIS and wasn't able to visit so often but Snoops asked me to come back and post Faves, but they really didn't get the response that they used to - and as Snoopy says, "it was very difficult trying to start conversation when no one was answering... discouraging...".

The current moderators took on a very difficult task in trying to revive the board and I'm full of admiration for them for trying.

 

[nativetxn]

Bean, I think you did a great job. You can't force people to post. Don't feel guilty about this, I know that you, Robinrs and Kelsie tried your best and did a good job.

{{{HUGS}}} sweetie

 

[CookieGVB]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy

I do recall, back almost three years ago, when I became a moderator, that was one of the 'responsibilities' of a moderator, to 'initiate conversation'.

Sounds like one of my father's speeches about "back when I was a boy..." Times, and people, do change. The "generic posters" can and often do start their very own conversations, without the help of a moderator.

Right now, apparently the time is not right and the support is not there for the IB Board. There's no reason why those posts can't be on the CB - as a matter of fact, I think there is usually a fairly large assortment of posts that probably would've done well on the IB, but have been on the CB for the "views and responses counts."

And, as I've often heard mentioned, "It's Pete's house...and also Pete's dollar(s)"!!

 

[glo]

I wasn't going to say anything, but I do feel that this has to be said. I have not been around much lately, just some stuff I am going through. That does not mean that I am not checking my email for reports to mod posts,or removing DUP posts. Things that posters do not see. No one can see what is happening in anyones life or behind the scene, or pass judgement on how they should do their VOLUNTEER posistion. There is not one person that is better than another because they post more or less, we are all equal.

I do not think that the mods on the IB should feel bad for the board not working out. Everyone did what they could, and no one has the right to pass judgement on what they think is right or wrong. To the mods who were on the IB you did what you could,(Got that Beanie?)and you have nothing to feel bad about.To those who pass judgement, if you don't do it, or wouldn't do it, then do not critisize, you don't know what is going on with people. This is an Interent board, and a volunteer position, and not our lives, just a small part of it, that should bring enjoyment.

I am sorry..JMHO..and I had a rotten day...can you tell?

 

[MeanLaureen]

(((( Beanie, Kelsie, Robin)))))

You guys did a wonderful job with the IB. Don't EVER let the opinion of someone looking in from the outside make you feel like you didn't do your job. I know the three of you have had so much going on in your personal lives in the recent past and I am in awe of how well you have handled juggling moderating with everything else.

Dan, you really need to find something more productive to do with your time than count threads started by a moderator on a board since March. That was low

 

[CRB#33]

In looking at the IB since March, there have only been about 25 or so threads initiated by moderators. Good ones, yes, but not needed to 'get it going'.

Maybe I shouldn't jump in here when I'm not sure about all the details, but I'm not sure you guys are taking this the right way. When I first read it, I thought Dan was saying that while the threads were good, the IB didn't necessarily need them to keep the board going. I think he was saying it was a responsibility in the past, but wasn't necessarily so now.

An this I'm pretty sure I'm right on... I think Dan's comments about not accepting the mod position on the IB were stated out of hurt from being thrown off the CB where he felt his family was. We all say things, right and wrong, when we've felt like we've been kicked in the gut.

JMO.

BTW, I think most of the mods here and everywhere do a pretty good, thankless job. I don't think I heard Dan say otherwise.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I do recall, back almost three years ago, when I became a moderator

Dan, did you also have to walk 10 miles uphill in the snow to post back then??

 

[vickyBaby]

When Dan was a mod, he volunteered his time and gave alot to these boards just as all the present mods do.

He might have made a comment that has fallen in "dis-favor" with the majority, but is that any reason to knock him down and then keep kicking him?

 

[kejoda]

Originally posted by CRB#33
Maybe I shouldn't jump in here when I'm not sure about all the details, but I'm not sure you guys are taking this the right way. When I first read it, I thought Dan was saying that while the threads were good, the IB didn't necessarily need them to keep the board going. I think he was saying it was a responsibility in the past, but wasn't necessarily so now.

An this I'm pretty sure I'm right on... I think Dan's comments about not accepting the mod position on the IB were stated out of hurt from being thrown off the CB where he felt his family was. We all say things, right and wrong, when we've felt like we've been kicked in the gut.

JMO.

BTW, I think most of the mods here and everywhere do a pretty good, thankless job. I don't think I heard Dan say otherwise.

I thought the same CRB

 

[CRB#33]

Well now I know that's exactly what Dan meant. (What I said)

Why do people always think the worst instead of the best? I suppose because it meets an agenda.

*sigh* No different in real life.