@Gargantua:
Can we call a vote?
Fortunately this is not a democracy. If it were, the site would die out in chaos.
@KurtGodel7:
@Cmdr:
In regards to your example post, I was on vacation. A certain person got me to stoop so far into the gutter trying to clean up his act, I got disgusted and needed some time off. So I missed that one.
As far as I’m concerned, no apologies are necessary. My understanding is that you and other list moderators donate your time on a volunteer basis. I certainly don’t expect every moderator to read every thread. I for one appreciate the work you and other volunteers do for this site. And I’m sure your vacation was much-deserved! :)
My earlier comment on this subject should be taken to mean that when a moderator does become aware of a personal attack, that moderator must take action of some sort if civility standards are to be maintained. At very least, the offending person should receive a warning. I’d like to thank Gargantua for bringing up a specific example in which a moderator did not take action after having become aware of personal attacks. Unfortunately, the example Gargantua referenced is part of a larger pattern.
Keep in mind that we moderators communicate with each other, at times, to ensure our behavior does not get tainted with personal vendetta. I’ve asked IL and DM a few times to review a ruling I’ve made, at least once in regards to Mr. Gargantua himself, though he never knew it, as we came to the mutual agreement that, while skirting the line that specific time, he did not cross it.
My, albeit singular, view on moderators might not be the same as for all others. Some might think those with the longest tenure on the forums should be moderators, others only personal friends of the owner should be moderators, still others only those who play the game should be moderators, or whatever. I am not going to say any of them are “right” because I don’t get to make that determination. Djensen has chosen his moderators - some are not overly active anymore but retain their rank nonetheless - some are hyper vigiliant in the cases of IL and DM. The more vigiliant the moderator (defined as closest to omnipresent on the forum) the more chance of crossing someone and earning the distinction of overly zealous. It is quite unfortunate at times, but “it is, what it is.” (A phrase I am becomming intimitely familiar with for personal reasons.)
As for what the “process” is (your term, not mine.) I disagree with number one. Djensen should envision these forums as HE wants them to be, not what his moderators want them to be, not what his public want them to be, but as HE wants them to be. Would it be wise to seek the council of those he has entrusted with power on his forums? I feel it would be. It would it both tactical and strategic of mind to seek the council of his public on what they want to see? Again, I feel it would be. Should he be required to do so? Should he even be pressured into acting in other than his own self actualization? I adamantly, and emphatically say no.
In regards to number three, I do not necessarily agree with all of Djensen’s rules, but that is not my job here. Do I feel they are functionable and for the best interests of the site? Perhaps. I’d like to see political discussion return one day, but I also remember the days of some that twisted and turned the site into a den of slandering monkeys and why all political discourse had to be ended here. I, happened, to like the KARMA system, but again, it was abused - first there was a group of 7 who made sure to log in every (and i literally mean EVERY day) day, I’d wager even if they were 5 minutes from dying they would have logged in, just to give a couple people negative karma. Then came a group who made sure to login whenever possible, to counter this attack with positive karma. Soon the entire system was destroyed. Good idea, faulty in practice. (Yes, I was one who logged in everyday to give good karma to a few people who were maliciously attacked daily. Emperor Mollari is a prime example of one who was routinely attacked without cause or provocation - he would not mind my releasing his name.)