Moderator Elections In January

[diamondstars]

I heard that birdboard.com was having moderator elections in January.

I was wondering who wants to be a moderator?

I thought a moderator should be someone that is very knowledgable about birds so that they can help answer questions that are posed. I was told that a moderator does not have to have any knowledge about birds. An example was used to illustrate this point to me....Moderators are like secretaries...the boss tells them what to do and they just carry out the work.. I was told the "experts" on the board would answer all the questions.

I don't think a moderator should be someone that doesn't know anything about birds. I think the moderator and birdboard.com will lose credibility and respect by members.

I just wanted to get your thoughts on this issue

[Kevin]

This is a rough idea and its still up in the air...


as i said earlier.

I will say this, the mod team was in need of help fore some time and before I even made some action and we will have some changes in the guard once our new site system is in place... New mod's will be added, some will stay, others might not... But it will be the greater good that we have passionate, and well involved people on board... With that said I am moving for a moderator election sometime early next year and it will be for the members to choose as this is YOUR board.


This thread is being moved to the appropriate area.

[diamondstars]

I would like to nominate Mick, Monica as a moderator

[SavvyMoon]

OK, I seriously hope this will NOT become a silly little
"popularity contest" as to who gets nominated and/or voted for,
as moderators for the board. (Please gods....Please Keev, no!) :icon_eek:

First of all, a Moderator doesn't need to be any more "knowledgeable" than the average bird owner who's had their own birds for a few years.
Moderators are not necessarily "bird experts".

Frankly, NONE OF US here are bird experts; not the mods, not
the administrators, not even Keev or Kvn.
The only time any of us can be considered "experts" is (maybe) when it comes to our own birds and experiences.

The job of a moderator (if Keev and Kvn will allow me to explain in my own words) is to "moderate" the board and its members should problems or questions arise (pertaining to the function of the board, not pertaining only to expert bird advice).

Moderators manage the board for the board owners:
They watch out for disputes that seem to be getting personal or out of hand... they move threads or comments that are posted in the wrong areas...
they help folks with technical questions or problems when they can.

They are like the superintendants of an apartment building... they manage, they listen to complaints, they remind folks of the rules, they fix what they can and refer problems to the Big Bosses when they can't.

While some general bird knowledge helps, it should not be the main criteria to picking mods, nor should the number of posts one has, or who they know (or kiss up to) or how "sweet" they are to everyone.

Frankly, IMO- this board doesn't NEED more than 2 or 3 mods to keep things running smoothly. We already have more than that, don't we?

::: unclenching my jaw now...:::::

[cgrite]

I dunno if I qualify or not....but I think your comments were well said and very true....Especially the "popularity contest" part......JMO

[TooLover]

Savvy - very well explained. I recently became a moderator and am still learning the ropes as far as my job description and what is expected of me. If it were a popularity contest I certainly wouldn't have been in the running :icon_redf
I love this board, especially the new changes, and want what is best for the board. If I am voted out, then that is the decision of the members. I am not sure how many mods we need, or how many Keev wants us to have.

[diamondstars]

Well you might want to call it a popularity contest but I think we need a change in moderators that are fair and unbias.

[Graehstone]

How about one of the criteria being "availablity", someone that is readily available, if not all of the time then at least most of the time.
It could even be coordinated to the point of different times zones, one mod at certain times when others are "not" available, and then pass the Baton as it were when someone else has the time to allot to their Mod duties.
That way we could assure that there is a Mod on at all times and noone needs to wait for help.
Just a suggestion.

That's not saying that having more than one mod on at a time is a bad thing, quite the contrary, they more the betterer IMO.
Just as long as they are handsome and/or pretty and witty and smell nice and shave regularly (image of the board to uphold and all that you know) and ... and ... you know ... stuff.

[SavvyMoon]

Originally Posted by diamondstars

Well you might want to call it a popularity contest but I think we need a change in moderators that are fair and unbias.

sounds to me like you have personal "issues" with one or more of the current moderators... Well, your way of choosing moderators may suit you, but they certainly won't suit me, and probably lots of others around here.

Allowing some 2,000 members! to vote for moderators is really opening a whole ugly can o' worms, if you ask me.

Let's picture this (very) possible scenario, shall we:

Eventually, all future moderators are/were picked because of popularity and
PERCEIVED bird knowledge by those who've voted for them, and therefore become the board's "experts" who answer the vast majority of questions regarding birds.... ok?
(This is certainly the direction it seems to be going, so it's not so far fetched)

Well then, Bird Board pretty much becomes *their* bird board, doesn't it?

What happens when a moderator answers a question about a specific bird/problem and I (or anyone else) disagrees with their "expert" opinion or advice?
Should we speak up and post a contradicting opinion?
Or will that be seen as a personal "challenge" to that moderator's expertise?
What will happen if one or two moderators are routinely being challenged by someone/anyone else about *several* of their "expert answers"?
Oh you know darn well it's going to become a war of the wills and a "personal thing" real fast...

Picking moderators based on their (perceived) bird knowledge is a HUGE mistake in my book. Huge. So is picking mods because their 'friends' vote for them. Big mistake.

[TooLover]

Originally Posted by diamondstars

Well you might want to call it a popularity contest but I think we need a change in moderators that are fair and unbias.

I am not sure if this directed at me or not; I can't remember ever being unfair towards anyone. If you do, would you please remind me? As I stated in my previous post, I am new to the moderator arena. I asked to be considered as a moderator because I am available during the day, most days.