How does one become a moderator or super moderator?

Just as the title states. I was wondering how people become moderators and such. I noticed banshee went from member to super moderator real fast (Or maybe I just never noticed she was a super-moderator before).

'They' will ask you to become one.

I know Banshee's been a super-mod ever since I've been here...might just have slipped past ya...

Pretty much as parrhesia said really.

The original Moderators were selected by the WebMaster/Board Owner - Simon Gray...I was one of them at the time From there, when the need for more Moderators became apparent with the growth of the board, the existing Mods discussed who they felt should be invited into 'Mod-dom'.

From there its been a case of 'as the need arises' which is linked of course to board expansion.

As stated initially there was just Simon Gray and a few selected Moderators...however, Simon's time became somewhat restricted due to his activities outside of the site that he upgraded a select few from the inital Moderator team to 'Super Moderator' and assigned them more 'mod powers' that were otherwise restricted only to him. More expansion = more assigning and specialisation of roles...role such as specific IT work by SkepticOverlord, specific business roles by Springer, specific Admin roles by Bob88 and William One Sac...and of course a slew of SuperMods with the ability to ban, move, delete etc etc throughout the Forums which others holding the Moderator title otherwise can't do.

So...in a nut-shell:

Moderators: Selected from ATS Members by ATS Staff (Admin/SuperMods predominately, though lately Moderators also have input). These are people who have 'stood out' on the boards for numerous reasons...time spent, valued input, sound judgement etc etc.

SuperModerators: 'Promotional Selection' from Moderators by Admin/SuperMods.

Admin: Selected by Senior Admin/Simon Gray

Thanks for your replies. So it's mainly just the staff decides when it needs new moderators and picks them...

Yes...thats the case at the moment.

There is also another 'tier' *if you will* of ATS Board governance...that being the Deny Ignorance Steering Committee (DISC). This is a group of ATS Members who are charged with basically being a 'think tank' of ways to improve and develop ATS, to hopefully address issues and provide some more input outside of just that provided by ATS Staff.

Election to DISC is *as I understand it, perhaps someone will correct me* by invitation of those within DISC.

Hopefully we'll see a time where Moderators are selected by the DISC Members...and maybe even, in time, by some form of voting process that ALL ATS members can partake in.


Peace,
ALIEN

I've been a supermod since July!
I like to think it's my sparkling personality and bubbling wit that got me the job, but in reality it's probably because I'm constantly online. And because I threatened to powerbomb alien thru a table.

You will never be a mod if you're disliked by the current mods & the admins. But some of us still stick around in spite of the animosity.

Hmm, maybe this is the key. If you can last x number of minutes or defeat (however unlikely that is) Banshee, you too can be a mod.

Or is there a power bomb coming my way for suggesting that?

She's all yours man! I've seen the footage of her in action on her website....I'm a big guy, but there ain't no way in hell I'd pick a fight with here

Here you go mate, you're going to need it.


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the monkey agrees

It's good to see such freedom of speech and expression and determination to better meet the mission of the site.

From the ice-age to the dole-age
There is but one concern
I have just discovered :

Some Mods are bigger than others
Some Mods are bigger than others
Some Mods' mothers are bigger than
Other Mods' mothers

As Anthony said to Cleopatra
As he opened a crate of ale :

Oh, I say :
Some Mods are bigger than others
Some Mods are bigger than others
Some Mods' mothers are bigger than
Other Mods' mothers

Send me the pillow ...
The one that you dream on ...
Send me the pillow ...
The one that you dream on ...
And I'll send you mine



With irreverence to Morrissey.

hahaha!!!

Nice Smiths lyrics integration there, it gave me a chuckle.
I'm not sure if I wanted Morrissey's voice going through my head at this time, but it's stuck there now dammit!!
You shall pay MA

[Edited on 18-10-2004 by John Nada]

It is a rather catchy number.

Here's some relief from the Smiths' "Some Girls..."

Try Rolling Stones' "Some Girls"...

then try Racey's "Some Girls"... (hahahahaha that one is now stuck with you for all eternity heeheeeeeeeeeeee)

Jesus!!! What are you trying to do to me? My mind is mush as it is at the moment, this has gone and sent the cheese completely sliding off my cracker.
It's an very catchy song it must be said though

You have to kill the old Mod in hand to hand combat in our secret Island Hideout

Please, think of the children.

Since such a thread has been set up, I would like, as a moderator on another Internet forum and an admin of a few others to warn people who aspire to be a mod (though I’m not a mod on ATS and don’t request to be one), that being a mod on a large Internet forum is a difficult job (though I'm not speaking on ATS management's behalf, since I'm not allowed to do so).

Personally, I'm a moderator on another Internet forum (www.zlotagwi.webd.pl) and I also read posts of moderators of CDA's forum (www.cdaction.pl/agora) in order to learn more about moderating Internet forums (the purpose of doing this is to make sure that I'm doing a better job out of moderating www.zlotagwi.webd.pl). What I have learned there can be, in short described as follows:

Moderating a large Internet forum like CDA's forum (which is large, and ATS is even bigger) is a difficult job, because:
1) You have to visit this forum (at least the forums that are under your moderator jurisdiction) very often, almost everyday. You must check all threads where there are new posts, and if they violate the forum rules, delete them. The bigger the forum is, the more posts there are to read and in a large number of posts you are more likely to find posts that violate the forum rules. All of this requires time and effort.
2) You have to explain people, in a way that will really explain the case, what are the mistakes they do and explain the forum rules so that they will understand what they are not allowed to do - and then, if they don't abide by the rules, ignore warnings and show no improvement in participation in discussions - ban them (if you can, because on some forums mods can't ban people but can just suggest admins to do so).

What you need when you want to be a mod on most Internet forums are the moderator qualities, which are mostly intelligence, maturity, and ability of fair conduct as a moderator. I don't speak for ATS management, maybe they require some other qualities, but this was what I have to say about moderating Internet forums.


[edit on 13-3-2005 by AtheiX]