I have seen how the site has changed over the years and it has become much more of a place to socialize rather than to come for support.

I was reading Briley 07's topic earlier and I agree that this site is slowly going down the pan and a lot of changes need to be made.

I don't have half the answers but one thing I would like to debate is the unquestionable authority of the Moderators.

This site is being run by the Moderators. They have a very important job to do keeping this site in order; they do most of the maintenance work for the front of house on this site - making sure topics are in the right places and troll's, spammers are kept out.

I would like to express a few thoughts regarding the roles of moderators on this site.

Censorship, to start, is an issue that I hold dear to my heart. An internet correspondent of mine, a friend who I had been in contact with for a number of years has recently been executed in China for posting controversial blog posts which apposed the government. I therefore understand the importance of fighting censorship.

I don't like how the Moderators have the ability to censor topics, opinions or people that they dislike or disagree with. It's not so much their power that I appose but their totalitarian way of managing the site.

Posting a moderator error report is pretty much like asking a dictator to reconsider his actions. Most of the time as they justified the action in the first place they are unwilling to reconsider. Useless!

I think something should be put in place to counter balance the Moderators rule on this site.

This site has blossomed because it is a community driven social site.. the first real social site on the net (before myspace)... and I think it would be a shame for David, and the Moderators to ignore the community right now.

I understand there is an oversight board in place where disgruntled members can go with their complaints to get previous decisions overturned but I don't think this is enough.

I propose a diplomatically elected member (or small group of members) who can stick up for the other side. Members with the powers to appose a Moderators decisions because lets face it, they don't usually appose each other.
In politics there are usually two main parties, in the UK there is the government and the opposition; in the states its the republicans and the democrats. I think there should be a similar sort of system on here.

That was a bit rushed so there might be a few holes in my arguments but my general thoughts are clear.

I would be interested to hear what people have to say about this.

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From the UK? - Join the group!

Please Give Me Points :-)

Any member nominated to this board you suggest would have to be approved anyway. But why who, Fenton? Well... the moderators, most likely.

Besides, they do their job fine. The oversight board is rarely used. Just because you don't see the mods opposing each other, doesn't mean they don't deliberate about most of their non-trivial actions. There's a whole mod forum you can't even see, and I know it's used extensively by all of them.

Post edited at 1:10 pm on July 19, 2008 by Fenton

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Dear World,
You need me.

I agree though. There should be some sort of "middleman" between the mods and the members. It's a good idea by far. Someone who could see from both the Moderators AND the Members' point of view.

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*!~Keep your head towards the sun and the shadows will stay behind you~!*
*!~Jgain6 is my LW twin~!*

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FAQ: What is the Oversight Board? (Click Here)

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Three of my friends have been on the OB and they have said they had very little decision making power.

I know what it is, its just not working.. in my opinion

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From the UK? - Join the group!

Please Give Me Points :-)

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I love your mind.
Wayyy too much lol.

I agree though. There should be some sort of "middleman" between the mods and the members. It's a good idea by far. Someone who could see from both the Moderators AND the Members' point of view.

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lol yes, you probably put it better than I did.
I hope what i wrote made sense lol, im tired!

I hope a mod reads this topic

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From the UK? - Join the group!

Please Give Me Points :-)

I have had a few topics deleted due to different violations of the ToS, suck that shit up and stop whining. That's not the trouble with the site. The trouble with LW nowadays is that people that want help can't get it, because the people posting on this god forsaken place lack an IQ of over two digit numbers or are just too bone idle to see the reasoning behind the websites development.

Stop fucking crying about the way it's ran. Start crying about the dipshit members that come on here to tell us how good their last wank was and how big their dick's are.

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I love you!
Donate me points, please! :(

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FAQ: What is the Oversight Board? (Click Here)

Any member nominated to this board you suggest would have to be approved anyway. But why who, Fenton? Well... the moderators, most likely.

Besides, they do their job fine. The oversight board is rarely used. Just because you don't see the mods opposing each other, doesn't mean they don't deliberate about most of their non-trivial actions. There's a whole mod forum you can't even see, and I know it's used extensively by all of them.

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As far as im aware the OB members are selected at random by a generator if they have for-filled some criteria (blue bar status i think).

It's rarely used because its not very accessible.

There have been two instances today where I think the OB could have come in handy but all the members are offline.

I am simply suggesting a small group of member elected reps with MOD powers to do their job on a full time basis.

-------
From the UK? - Join the group!

Please Give Me Points :-)

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Quote: from Fenton at 9:07 pm on July 19, 2008

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FAQ: What is the Oversight Board? (Click Here)  

 Any member nominated to this board you suggest would have to be approved anyway. But why who, Fenton? Well... the moderators, most likely.  

 Besides, they do their job fine. The oversight board is rarely used. Just because you don't see the mods opposing each other, doesn't mean they don't deliberate about most of their non-trivial actions. There's a whole mod forum you can't even see, and I know it's used extensively by all of them.

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As far as im aware the OB members are selected at random by a generator if they have for-filled some criteria (blue bar status i think).

It's rarely used because its not very accessible.

There have been two instances today where I think the OB could have come in handy but all the members are offline.

I am simply suggesting a small group of member elected reps with MOD powers to do their job on a full time basis.

 

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There's considerably more to being on the oversight board than simply having a blue bar. It's not a vigilant mod-error task force either... it's in place to dissuade grave moderation error/abuse. Believe me, LW moderates itself quite capably, and the mods serve as an even more finite check for the site.

As for the "middleman board"... what do you suggest are the requirements for that? I'm willing to bet anyone who qualifies would also qualify to be a moderator, by LW standards.

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Dear World,
You need me.

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Quote: from August Rush at 1:14 pm on July 19, 2008

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Quote: from Fenton at 9:07 pm on July 19, 2008

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FAQ: What is the Oversight Board? (Click Here)

  Any member nominated to this board you suggest would have to be approved anyway. But why who, Fenton? Well... the moderators, most likely.

  Besides, they do their job fine. The oversight board is rarely used. Just because you don't see the mods opposing each other, doesn't mean they don't deliberate about most of their non-trivial actions. There's a whole mod forum you can't even see, and I know it's used extensively by all of them.

---

 

 As far as im aware the OB members are selected at random by a generator if they have for-filled some criteria (blue bar status i think).  

 It's rarely used because its not very accessible.  

 There have been two instances today where I think the OB could have come in handy but all the members are offline.  

 I am simply suggesting a small group of member elected reps with MOD powers to do their job on a full time basis.  

 
 

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There's considerably more to being on the oversight board than simply having a blue bar. It's not a vigilant mod-error task force either... it's in place to dissuade grave moderation error/abuse. Believe me, LW moderates itself quite capably, and the mods serve as an even more finite check for the site.

As for the "middleman board"... what do you suggest are the requirements for that? I'm willing to bet anyone who qualifies would also qualify to be a moderator, by LW standards.

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Well if they're doing such a great job, why is all this bullshit going down all the time? For the middleman board, it'd have to be someone who respects the mods for what they do, but respects the members for what they prefer as well. It's that simple.

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*!~Keep your head towards the sun and the shadows will stay behind you~!*
*!~Jgain6 is my LW twin~!*

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Quote: from August Rush at 1:14 pm on July 19, 2008

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Quote: from Fenton at 9:07 pm on July 19, 2008

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FAQ: What is the Oversight Board? (Click Here)  

  Any member nominated to this board you suggest would have to be approved anyway. But why who, Fenton? Well... the moderators, most likely.  

  Besides, they do their job fine. The oversight board is rarely used. Just because you don't see the mods opposing each other, doesn't mean they don't deliberate about most of their non-trivial actions. There's a whole mod forum you can't even see, and I know it's used extensively by all of them.

---

 

 As far as im aware the OB members are selected at random by a generator if they have for-filled some criteria (blue bar status i think).  

 It's rarely used because its not very accessible.  

 There have been two instances today where I think the OB could have come in handy but all the members are offline.  

 I am simply suggesting a small group of member elected reps with MOD powers to do their job on a full time basis.  

   
 

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There's considerably more to being on the oversight board than simply having a blue bar. It's not a vigilant mod-error task force either... it's in place to dissuade grave moderation error/abuse. Believe me, LW moderates itself quite capably, and the mods serve as an even more finite check for the site.

As for the "middleman board"... what do you suggest are the requirements for that? I'm willing to bet anyone who qualifies would also qualify to be a moderator, by LW standards.

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I concur completely. You haven't really thought this through. All you're doing is making more people moderators.. Don't you think moderators were members once? They didn't just acquire the status on making their account and David saying "This'll do." No. Time and effort on the moderators and David's part has been put into place so we have a fair system. Sure, some moderators are deemed as retarded fucks. But as long as they do their job, which is to moderate, then they can be as much of a dick to me, or anyone they want on this forum for all I care.

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I love you!
Donate me points, please! :(

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Quote: from Fenton at 4:18 pm on July 19, 2008

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Quote: from August Rush at 1:14 pm on July 19, 2008

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Quote: from Fenton at 9:07 pm on July 19, 2008

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FAQ: What is the Oversight Board? (Click Here)    

   Any member nominated to this board you suggest would have to be approved anyway. But why who, Fenton? Well... the moderators, most likely.    

   Besides, they do their job fine. The oversight board is rarely used. Just because you don't see the mods opposing each other, doesn't mean they don't deliberate about most of their non-trivial actions. There's a whole mod forum you can't even see, and I know it's used extensively by all of them.

---

   

  As far as im aware the OB members are selected at random by a generator if they have for-filled some criteria (blue bar status i think).    

  It's rarely used because its not very accessible.    

  There have been two instances today where I think the OB could have come in handy but all the members are offline.    

  I am simply suggesting a small group of member elected reps with MOD powers to do their job on a full time basis.    

     
 

---

 

 There's considerably more to being on the oversight board than simply having a blue bar. It's not a vigilant mod-error task force either... it's in place to dissuade grave moderation error/abuse. Believe me, LW moderates itself quite capably, and the mods serve as an even more finite check for the site.  

 As for the "middleman board"... what do you suggest are the requirements for that? I'm willing to bet anyone who qualifies would also qualify to be a moderator, by LW standards.

---

 

Well if they're doing such a great job, why is all this bullshit going down all the time? For the middleman board, it'd have to be someone who respects the mods for what they do, but respects the members for what they prefer as well. It's that simple.

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Of what shit do you speak ? There's nothing so terrible going on that calls for the creation and integration of an entirely new moderation checks and balances system.

Post edited at 1:22 pm on July 19, 2008 by Fenton

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Dear World,
You need me.

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Quote: from August Rush at 1:14 pm on July 19, 2008

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Quote: from Fenton at 9:07 pm on July 19, 2008

---

FAQ: What is the Oversight Board? (Click Here)

  Any member nominated to this board you suggest would have to be approved anyway. But why who, Fenton? Well... the moderators, most likely.

  Besides, they do their job fine. The oversight board is rarely used. Just because you don't see the mods opposing each other, doesn't mean they don't deliberate about most of their non-trivial actions. There's a whole mod forum you can't even see, and I know it's used extensively by all of them.

---

 

 As far as im aware the OB members are selected at random by a generator if they have for-filled some criteria (blue bar status i think).  

 It's rarely used because its not very accessible.  

 There have been two instances today where I think the OB could have come in handy but all the members are offline.  

 I am simply suggesting a small group of member elected reps with MOD powers to do their job on a full time basis.  

 
 

---

There's considerably more to being on the oversight board than simply having a blue bar. It's not a vigilant mod-error task force either... it's in place to dissuade grave moderation error/abuse. Believe me, LW moderates itself quite capably, and the mods serve as an even more finite check for the site.

As for the "middleman board"... what do you suggest are the requirements for that? I'm willing to bet anyone who qualifies would also qualify to be a moderator, by LW standards.

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Moderators are appointed by David. I'm suggesting a member appointed by the community.

At no point was I suggesting that Moderating was an easy job, and I'm certainly not slating the Moderators, I just think things should be done differently.

You've only been here for 59 days and you appear to be a novice. Things were different a few years ago and I think we should take action to make things the way they were

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From the UK? - Join the group!

Please Give Me Points :-)

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Quote: from Fenton at 9:18 pm on July 19, 2008

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Quote: from August Rush at 1:14 pm on July 19, 2008

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Quote: from Fenton at 9:07 pm on July 19, 2008

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FAQ: What is the Oversight Board? (Click Here)  

  Any member nominated to this board you suggest would have to be approved anyway. But why who, Fenton? Well... the moderators, most likely.  

  Besides, they do their job fine. The oversight board is rarely used. Just because you don't see the mods opposing each other, doesn't mean they don't deliberate about most of their non-trivial actions. There's a whole mod forum you can't even see, and I know it's used extensively by all of them.

---

  As far as im aware the OB members are selected at random by a generator if they have for-filled some criteria (blue bar status i think).

  It's rarely used because its not very accessible.

  There have been two instances today where I think the OB could have come in handy but all the members are offline.

  I am simply suggesting a small group of member elected reps with MOD powers to do their job on a full time basis.

 
 

---

 

 There's considerably more to being on the oversight board than simply having a blue bar. It's not a vigilant mod-error task force either... it's in place to dissuade grave moderation error/abuse. Believe me, LW moderates itself quite capably, and the mods serve as an even more finite check for the site.  

 As for the "middleman board"... what do you suggest are the requirements for that? I'm willing to bet anyone who qualifies would also qualify to be a moderator, by LW standards.

---

I concur completely. You haven't really thought this through. All you're doing is making more people moderators.. Don't you think moderators were members once? They didn't just acquire the status on making their account and David saying "This'll do." No. Time and effort on the moderators and David's part has been put into place so we have a fair system. Sure, some moderators are deemed as retarded fucks. But as long as they do their job, which is to moderate, then they can be as much of a dick to me, or anyone they want on this forum for all I care.

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Where in this did you see that the people who would be a part of this middleman board would be moderators? They wouldn't. But yes, they were members once, but they're turning into power-hungry idiots.

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*!~Keep your head towards the sun and the shadows will stay behind you~!*
*!~Jgain6 is my LW twin~!*

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An internet correspondent of mine, a friend who I had been in contact with for a number of years has recently been executed in China for posting controversial blog posts which apposed the government. I therefore understand the importance of fighting censorship.

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