Bit of a thought experiment...

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

The other day I got an e-mail from a site I hadn't heard of in a really long time.

It was just a meaningless automated notification, but it gave me just about the perfect excuse to drop by for a visit.

As expected, place was a bit of a ghost town -- the thousands of regulars that had gathered in there throughout the last couple of decades had been reduced to about a dozen of users who seemed to be drawn to the place by a mixture of memories and interia, but who kept it going regardless... And you know what? I appreciate it, because this was the kind of place in which everyone felt so comfortable around each other that most of us had our actual pictures as our avatars, which is something that still blows my mind a little.

And maybe because of a combination of all of those factors, I was actually taken aback by reading about a development that had taken place in the twelve years since my last visit: moderators were now being voted by the community and served a "term" before having to run again next year.

Part of me thinks that they were only doing this because the original mod team had been the same since 2004 and none of them was still around by the time this idea got legs, but a bigger part of me believes that we truly did have the community to pull that off without turning it into a drama fest or a popularity contest. Whatever the case, elections seem to have been going strong until 2021, so it seems that the only thing stopping them was the fact that the forum itself was nearing the final curtain.

What do you think? Did this work because the community was so tight-knit that it could afford to gamble with the idea and actually make it happen or is this something you truly think would work everywhere if given a chance?

I'm beyond curious now.

 

[Cardboardtubeknight Cardboardtubeknight]

What kind of forum was it?

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

What kind of forum was it?

Fan site for a show.

 

[Stingy Perry Stingy Perry]

This might work for I know you guys could really use all the help you can get.
Aside from you guys the regular Mods/Admin we could put on a 2 or 3 more hands on deck so to speak. They were be ones who’s gonna go through some election process and will serve some few months term. Once their term ended they will be evaluated by everyone to see if he:her is fit for a term extension or a seat will be vacant prompting for someone to get nominated for said post.

 

[ZEGA ZONIC]

This might work for I know you guys could really use all the help you can get.
Aside from you guys the regular Mods/Admin we could put on a 2 or 3 more hands on deck so to speak. They were be ones who’s gonna go through some election process and will serve some few months term. Once their term ended they will be evaluated by everyone to see if he:her is fit for a term extension or a seat will be vacant prompting for someone to get nominated for said post.

This could work.

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

This might work for I know you guys could really use all the help you can get.
Aside from you guys the regular Mods/Admin we could put on a 2 or 3 more hands on deck so to speak. They were be ones who’s gonna go through some election process and will serve some few months term. Once their term ended they will be evaluated by everyone to see if he:her is fit for a term extension or a seat will be vacant prompting for someone to get nominated for said post.

A vote for me is a vote against the vile filth that pollutes this website.

 

[ZEGA ZONIC]

A vote for me is a vote against the vile filth that pollutes this website.
View attachment 98611

I could be a mod too. Let's make this a better place. Without the hentai mind you.

 

[GardeniaSky's icon GardeniaSky GardeniaSky]

That's a pretty good idea, as long as it doesn't turn into a popularity contest and it's truly based on merit.

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

I could be a mod too. Let's make this a better place. Without the hentai mind you.

you lost me with that last sentence. Im sorry Zega..

 

[Cardboardtubeknight Cardboardtubeknight]

Fan site for a show.

Well not really too off the cuff for here. It might work. I do not volunteer as tribute though

 

[Stingy Perry Stingy Perry]

You 2 can be both Mods @ZEGA ZONIC and @Nebulon_Galaxy but remember the tremendous stress this Zaku will give and once you finished you tour of duty you’ll look like this;

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

You 2 can be both Mods @ZEGA ZONIC and @Nebulon_Galaxy but remember the tremendous stress this Zaku will give and once you finished you tour of duty you’ll look like this;
View attachment 98613

nah ill look like this.

 

[ZEGA ZONIC]

View attachment 98614
nah ill look like this.

Wide Gundam.
(Also, we're going off topic)

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

This might work for I know you guys could really use all the help you can get.
Aside from you guys the regular Mods/Admin we could put on a 2 or 3 more hands on deck so to speak. They were be ones who’s gonna go through some election process and will serve some few months term. Once their term ended they will be evaluated by everyone to see if he:her is fit for a term extension or a seat will be vacant prompting for someone to get nominated for said post.

I should probably mention that this isn't something I'd be willing to try neither here nor on my own sites, but that's because I like to choose my moderators myself.

 

[ZEGA ZONIC]

Would love the other mods opinion on this.

 

[Stingy Perry Stingy Perry]

I should probably mention that this isn't something I'd be willing to try neither here nor on my own sites, but that's because I like to choose my moderators myself.

Probably you’re right sometimes we can’t just do things on a whim even though it’s a kinda good idea.
Supposed this idea got pull through those elected Mods will be like a subordinate or a deputy to you Sheriffs and not as an equal.

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

While the idea sounds appealing on paper, I'd personally think mods should be vetted on more then just popularity. Just because someone is extremely well liked in casual conversation doesn't necessarily mean they have the proper mindset to moderate a site or mediate problems.

It could work if it doesn't just become a popularity contest but one on user's merits for the job, but I feel it would inevitably become about popularity if every user get's a vote.

Edit: Another concern I would have is possible bias that could form. A mod who knows certain users voted for them might show favoritism or look the other way for those users.

 

[ZEGA ZONIC]

Probably you’re right sometimes we can’t just do things on a whim level though it’s a kinda good idea.
Supposed this idea got pull through those elected Mods will be like a subordinate or a deputy to you Sheriffs and not as an equal.

I was a former mod on the old CDR discord. I know my stuff. I've seen a lot transphobes & bigots on that discord. So it takes know-how & a positive attitude to be a mod.

Post automatically merged: Today at 4:43 AM

But picking out mods from users that are popular might not be a good idea.

 

[PrismRed]

Just an idea from old site I used to manage, we used to have 3 to 5 anonymous mods (something akin to Ninja here) picking out mods candidate, each candidates will be presented to the mods circle and everyone has to find a reason why each of them are NOT suitable to become one.

The most tolerable ones will be messaged with an offer to the position and if they accept, will be put in probation for 3 months, they will be given a moderator power along with all the responsibilities, but they have to hide these roles from other common users, naturally they fail if someone other than the mods find out.

Their performance will be evaluated after 3 months and if they pass, well they got the position, those who didn't make it have to wait for another 6 months before being chosen again.

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

Just an idea from old site I used to manage, we used to have 3 to 5 anonymous mods (something akin to Ninja here) picking out mods candidate, each candidates will be presented to the mods circle and everyone has to find a reason why each of them are NOT suitable to become one.

The most tolerable ones will be messaged with an offer to the position and if they accept, will be put in probation for 3 months, they will be given a moderator power along with all the responsibilities, but they have to hide these roles from other common users, naturally they fail if someone other than the mods find out.

Their performance will be evaluated after 3 months and if they pass, well they got the position, those who didn't make it have to wait for another 6 months before being chosen again.

"you want to join?" Get the kill screen in Galaga '88

 

[PrismRed]

"you want to join?" Get the kill screen in Galaga '88

No joke similar thing happened back then, one of the mod team asked the candidate to attach a jpg texture of a wooden table from de_dust as a requirement.

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

No joke similar thing happened back then, one of the mod team asked the candidate to attach a jpg texture of a wooden table from de_dust as a requirement.

hey you know the commitment is there if they do it tho

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

Just an idea from old site I used to manage, we used to have 3 to 5 anonymous mods (something akin to Ninja here) picking out mods candidate, each candidates will be presented to the mods circle and everyone has to find a reason why each of them are NOT suitable to become one.

The most tolerable ones will be messaged with an offer to the position and if they accept, will be put in probation for 3 months, they will be given a moderator power along with all the responsibilities, but they have to hide these roles from other common users, naturally they fail if someone other than the mods find out.

Their performance will be evaluated after 3 months and if they pass, well they got the position, those who didn't make it have to wait for another 6 months before being chosen again.

This doesn't sound like a bad idea honestly.

In general, I prefer the idea of prior mods and/or admins reaching out to users with the mod offer or tryout rather then having users come forward to volunteer, as I feel the later could encourage people who want to be mod for the wrong reasons.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

This doesn't sound like a bad idea honestly.

In general, I prefer the idea of prior mods and/or admins reaching out to users with the mod offer or tryout rather then having users come forward to volunteer, as I feel the later could encourage people who want to be mod for the wrong reasons.

I have always discouraged volunteers on my boards... There's an old internet saying that goes like "generally, those who want it the most deserve it the least".

It's been proven true over and over.

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

I have always discouraged volunteers on my boards... There's an old internet saying that goes like "generally, those who want it the most deserve it the least".

It's been proven true over and over.

That's (nearly) the exact phrase I had in mind when I posted that, I was having a bit of difficulty wording it. I just feel someone *really* wanting to be made mod is a bit of a red flag, and in my past experience tend to be the one's who're overeager to flex their authority once given it.