Ok, so what mildly controversial thing did a mod post now that made some screaming mimis go complain?



[edit on 8/22/2007 by djohnsto77]

Not me! I don't have no stinkin' opinions! I never say anything controversial, nor do I ever share any opinions!
Nope not me.

maybe one day Skeptic will invent automated mods without discretion or opinions, who can screen every post the very second it made.

i think there should be a citizens-arrest type feature for members reporting mods, or giving mods 20 point deductions for short answers and excessive quoting.

Originally posted by scientist
i think there should be a citizens-arrest type feature for members reporting mods, or giving mods 20 point deductions for short answers and excessive quoting.

Why?



not a one line post... I don't think 20 point deducts for Mods are a good thing.

why? same reasons police should be held accountable to the same laws as everyone else

do we know this phenomenon from somewhere?

"once the politician gets elected into office, he is no longer allowed to freely state his opinion".

Its not only the people getting elected, its also the populace who pressurizes them into conforming to their personal views. Id like to live in a world in which the elected are allowed to say anything they truly believe.

maybe one day Skeptic will invent automated mods without discretion or opinions, who can screen every post the very second it made.

WAIT JUST A MINUTE!!!!!

I thought that's what you guys were?????

Originally members, taken to a secret facility and "incorporated" into the Great and Mysterious ATS Machine, to emerge as AUTOMATED FUNCTIONAL MODS...

Isn't that what happens?

Semper

thats cool in theory. Just somwhat contrary to what I've actually seen. It has more to do with how much everyone else in a thread agrees with a mod. If there is a minority in a thread, they can have their posts edited and alerts issued without much commotion - and in fact, most of the thread may applaud said mod - including other mods.

I'm not going to cite any specifics - but for instance, making a complaint everytime a mod violates the smaller rules, like quick responses, excessive quoting, etc. - its overkill. Also it's a bit like being a pest to keep tattling for small things.

Something less serious, as a quick warning - just like we get being the peeon populace of ATS

Originally posted by scientist
thats cool in theory. Just somwhat contrary to what I've actually seen. It has more to do with how much everyone else in a thread agrees with a mod. If there is a minority in a thread, they can have their posts edited and alerts issued without much commotion - and in fact, most of the thread may applaud said mod - including other mods.

What? Again I would like examples.

I'm not going to cite any specifics...

There's a frickin surprise. No specifics but dissing the staff.

If it's so damn bad here, why are you still here?

Originally posted by scientist
It has more to do with how much everyone else in a thread agrees with a mod.

Maybe you were the only person in the thread in question who was wrong. Not everyone who recognizes that Mods are infallible is a brownnose. (have a sense of humor, I know I'm not infallible)

If there is a minority in a thread, they can have their posts edited and alerts issued without much commotion

Popularity or lack thereof is not a consideration in enforcement of terms and conditions. Majorities can and do get their posts edited too, in those weird threads where the majority of posters are speaking from the wrong orifice.

Also it's a bit like being a pest to keep tattling for small things.

Yet here you are, asking for a tattle button with spikes on it. You've already got a tattle button- it's the complaint feature- and the amigos have some big honkin spikes to apply if your complaint against a mod has merit. The ability of the chain of command to police itself, from amigos to admins, from admins to supers, from supers to my sorry butt, is a matter of historical record.

just like we get being the peeon populace of ATS

We who? Have you got a mouse in your pocket? The vast majority of members have never faced any staff action. I also can't name too many members who are officially (or to my knowledge, unofficially) classified as peons.

So, is there anything else which isn't broken that I can fix for you today?

Hey, since we're on the subject of the alert button, may I ask - can the button be used not to complain, but to alert a mod of an exceptional post by another member, something worthy of consideration and applause? Especially posts by new members and those that don't post very often. Or in threads that seem like the mods have been scarce for quite a while.

Final decision is still that of the mods but I thinks that would be a constructive use of the alert button and it would encourage people to post better quality material leading to a better discussion overall.

Originally posted by Beachcoma
Hey, since we're on the subject of the alert button, may I ask - can the button be used not to complain, but to alert a mod of an exceptional post by another member, something worthy of consideration and applause? Especially posts by new members and those that don't post very often.

Don't see why not. Don't forget to star the post too.

Edit to add: But please, let it be because it's an exceptional post, not just one that satisfies your personal political bent.

[edit on 17-10-2007 by intrepid]

It's time for a reminder on this subject. Please keep in mind that before our roster of volunteer moderators were on our staff, they were productive contributors to the vast knowledge base that is AboveTopSecret.com. They were members long before they were moderators, and their position on staff has not happened because of their desire to control membership on a forum, but of their love for what ATS represents. With that in mind, please remember that moderators are not just "people too," they're also members with a passion for the topics we discuss. 1) Their opinion is theirs, and in no way represents the opinion of ATS or ATS management. 2) Their opinions in threads will not influence their moderation decisions. 3) Members should not be concerned about engaging our staff in provocative discussions about critical subjects... disagreeing with a staff member will not increase your odds of being targeted for being banned. From time to time, the need may arise where our staff members must use their moderator capabilities within threads where they have participated in the conversation as regular members. While we try to avoid this as much as possible, it can happen. When this happens, it does not indicate our staff is attempting to use their moderator influence to manage a topic, it just means that another participant needs a reminder of our Terms & Conditions.

Too bad it is not like IRC, where operators (moderators) can easily de-op themselves to engage in debates with other people, and make it clear they are NOT going to use their operator status to win the argument or punish those that disagree with them.

It seems a bit too complicated here to be realistic, but as an idea, if the moderators were to partipate as a contributor, and share opinions and engage in debates, they could do so while signaling (perhaps the same avatar without the moderator statement) that they are simply participating and the OTHER mods will police that particular thread.

It would be much more politically correct, and it might allow moderators to enjoy the fun without feeling as if they are dampening the discussion. Of course the mods would only use that option if they WANTED to, if they chose to engage in debate with "super moderator" all over their avatar that would be an option as well.