Janitors wanted

[Dostie]

ANNOUNCEMENT:
Volunteer janitors needed to help pick up the garbage around here and swat the flies. IOW - moderators wanted. It's a dirty job but somebody needs to do it. The tools exist to do it without getting too much grime on your hands.

Interested parties contact Dostie via PM.

[BillyFromTheHills]

I'd do it, Craig but I don't have an internet connection at home. This cube-jockey wastes enough of the taxpayers time/money with his own spewing, without committing to monitoring others!

[Dostie]

It's not that much time - theoretically. If you're browsing anyway, and see a poster that has exceeded the "speed limit", log an infraction. Moderators have that ability. I didn't even know the ability existed on this site until another moderator pointed it out. Am thinking the way to control some folks is via this tool. If they get too many infractions, as determined by the locals, they get the boot. Perhaps this will cause some to realize their behavior is out of line and they might correct themselves without being banned. One can hope.

[bobs]

I'm too busy to volunteer, but I want to thank you for taking steps to deal with this. A very small number of people on TTips succeeded in setting the tone and damaging the forums, and we're seeing spill-over of that here.

[Danno]

I nominate cesare.

[SteveK]

Seconded .

[Baaahb]

It's a tough call as to what is the right level of moderation. I think one should tread lightly in threads like "Conspicuously Absent" which could be expected to devolve at some point to a self-infatuated discussion of the forum and its membership. It's one reason to have an OT forum or Padded Room --so it's clear ahead of time which threads have a looser standard (and then, Dostie, you could just move threads there from the bar and grill) -- but I resent the name Padded Room. Political discussion, in particular, should not be reserved to the mentally insane....come on, that's part of the problem in this country.

[Matt J]

I certainly didn't start "Conspicuously Absent" in order to degrade into Ttips feces tossing. The idea was more to lament the absence of some in order to potentially lull them out of lurking. For awhile there I think that was achieved. Perhaps the sign of active moderation will also be encouraging to some. I haven't really jumped into the thread rating, but that one is a good example... it was rated 5 stars until the OT brigade starting throwing caca. Then it plummeted. Hmmm... argument for moderation?

[mulex]

Would I be able to ban myself? I can say some stupid crap, once in awhile.

[william]

I think its a good idea. I nominate Baaahb. Golf pros make good mods.

[Dostie]

I nominate cesare.

I already did. He deferred. I gave him the keys anyway. Consider it an honorary position in his case. Unlikely he'll do anything with it, but his counsel will be sought if needed and he has permission to attend any closed door meetings.

[bobs]

I think its a good idea. I nominate Baaahb. Golf pros make good mods.

Seconded. He has his opinions about certain things, but he'd be fair.

Though I disagree with him about the need for an OT, and particularly a political OT, at least so close to the sad spectacle of what the OT turned into on TTips. There's a lot to be said for intelligent political discussion (and I've had some with Baaahb), but it just ain't going to happen amidst an endless rightie-versus-leftie pie fight. So, you know, let's find that elsewhere; this place is for skiing.

[climbhoser]

Does this fancy new forum thang have a "like" or a "+1" button, because I agree with bobs's sentiment! Let it snow!

[william]

Seconded. He has his opinions about certain things, but he'd be fair.

Though I disagree with him about the need for an OT, and particularly a political OT, at least so close to the sad spectacle of what the OT turned into on TTips. There's a lot to be said for intelligent political discussion (and I've had some with Baaahb), but it just ain't going to happen amidst an endless rightie-versus-leftie pie fight. So, you know, let's find that elsewhere; this place is for skiing.

So what do you do when those kinds of topics pop up? Nuke them right away?
Whether you keep them or delete them, some kind of moderation is required.

[climbhoser]

william,

I'm a big advocate for redirection first. If a mod happens to see that, perhaps a gentle reminder regarding the Rules of Engagement.

I don't think Off-Topic threads should necessarily be destroyed on site. People have been able to have polite, political discussion (surprising, right?). I think a political thread warrants a close watch and suspicion for obvious reasons, but there's no need to remove the thread until it gets heated.

We're all grown ups...we should know how these things are going to go. I think the Rules of Engagement are pretty common-sense and a gentle nudge toward them can go a long way to keeping people's temperatures low and self-moderated.

Edited to add:
Moderation
Comments will be moderated, but the goal is to use a light touch and trust everyone until or unless individuals prove they can’t be trusted.