Moderators: do we need more?

[jordon412]

I have thought about this ever since I first saw this thread, and I have come to the conclusion that there is definitely the need for more moderators on this forum. There seems to be only two 'active' moderators: zecmurphy and AJ_fox. This means that in order to keep the forums 'in check', each moderator will have to spend twelve hours of a day spent paying attention to the forums to prevent flamewars and other situations from occurring. Therefore, it would be better for the number of 'active' moderators, i.e. those that can spend quite some time monitoring the forums, should be at least six. Each moderator would be in a separate time zone across the world, spaced four time zones apart from each other. This means that a moderator could spend four hours watching the forums and then pass the monitoring on to the moderator four time zones west of him/her. This would guarantee that at least one moderator would be watching the forums at any time day or night. However, it would be better if there was eight or twelve moderators. With eight moderators, they would be spaced three time zones apart, and with twelve the moderators would be spaced two time zones apart.
Signing off for the night.
Jordon412

 

[LWVRR]

My problem isn’t about how many mods there are, my problem is who’s watching the mods? I’ve had one write me an email filled with anything he could think of to talk bad about me. I had another tell me “my butt is out of here” then spoke about his thoughts while silencing mine. Yep, that’s some real professionalism there. You have a group of posters here that can never be in the wrong no matter what they say or do. When you complain about it, it all falls on deaf ears. If you keep complaining about it, you get banned. It’s all a nice heaping pile of BS if you ask me. I’m done with it!

 

[AJ_Fox]

Interesting discussion all. What's it like being a Moderator? You all know the old saying, "You can please some of the people all the time and all the people some of the time, but you can never please all the people all of the time."

Cheers

AJ

 

[Enzo1]

Interesting discussion all. What's it like being a Moderator? You all know the old saying, "You can please some of the people all the time and all the people some of the time, but you can never please all the people all of the time."

Cheers

AJ

That has to be one of the hardest things there is to deal with when you're a moderator. However, if you could do that, it would make life easy, and life was never meant to be easy. It's always got to throw that interesting aspect into there. I figure you guys get pretty mad when you get on and see that 3 threads have nothing but fighting in them between 2 people and they just won't stop even after you told them to. Really appreciate what the current mods do now, but I think the job is getting a little stretched even for them, because of the fact they can't moderate us every second, minute, hour, day, week, month, or year. I agree, sometimes we just need to moderate ourselves, but sometimes have a couple more around to give the current guys a small break so they stay moderators, trainzers, and valuable parts to the Trainz community as a whole. They could even train the new moderators on how to be good moderators.
Remember, I am not an advocate for replacing the current moderators. I am an advocate for adding a couple new ones to the mix.

I think that when we go to elect moderators, we should be looking at a few factors that I will list below. Please note that these are what I think make a good moderator.
#1: Helps out in the community a great deal in all area's of the forum they possibly can.
#2: Sets a visible example that trainzers could follow and make the community a better place.
#3: Has a bright vision of how the forums should be in a good way.
#4: Is not affiliated with site producing payware content, regardless of what it is. This is only asking for trouble
I know it sounds harsh on that, but I think that payware creators have a larger than average ego. Because of this, I could see them abusing the power to squash out their competitors, squash anybody who speaks out against them, and squash anybody that does not support them. I would really hate to see that happen in the trainz community, so I would really ask people not to put in payware content creators.
#5: Knows the people to watch. He should know what people need to have the target of watch placed on their back to prevent them from causing more damage. The faster you can stop a trouble maker from making trouble, the less of a black eye the community gets from it.
#6: Is respectful of trainzers on all levels. Remember, not all of us (More like none of us truly) know the program of trainz backwards, forwards, right, left, so said person should be able to speak on different levels of technicality regarding trainz issues. However, I am not asking him to be a wizard and solve all of my trainz problems, but he should be able to solve a few considering the likely experience he is going to have.
#7: I think the community has a really screwed up definition of what a contribution is. Those trainzers posting videos and screenshots of their splendid work is as much contribution to the community as the person who made the stuff for the game. When they all work together, the community grows because outsiders see a community of great creators, and how amazing their creations look in game. The person that helps a trainzer get his game working, whether at a newbie level, or advanced issue level, that is a significant contribution. People see that, and they see a knowledgeable community at work, helping you to the best of their abilities to get your Trainz working, oh I forgot to mention, for FREE. These people on their own time are helping trainzers get their games working, what more could we ask for?
I'm saying that the moderator should be a common poster around here, and has made some contributions to the community.

 

[amigacooke]

Are there vast numbers of people who would want to be elected as moderators?

 

[PerRock]

I don't think the majority of the community cares or would even vote. Probably the bulk of the folks wanting some sort of election system for mods would be people who have had run ins with the mods.

Personally I am opposed to moderator elections. However I do think we need one or two more.

peter

 

[clam1952]

There seems to be only two 'active' moderators: zecmurphy and AJ_fox.

Zec is a staff member not actually a moderator although obviously as an N3V employee he can, he has a job to do on the Help Desk and probably shouldn't have to babysit on here as well.

I'm going to add that certain people complaining about moderating and suggesting improvements need to look at their own posts and the manner in which they attack people who may not know any better, especially first time posters! Sarcasm or down right rudeness is not called for, neither are the additional posts from people all saying the same thing!

I do have considerable experience as a moderator for a few years on a very much larger and often more unpleasant place to moderate than this. Moderators were selected or rather asked if they would do it based on helpfulness to the members, knowledge of the subject(s) involved and the ability to avoid getting into arguments, bickering etc. They also needed to be able to diffuse situations without necessarily wielding a big hammer, although it was sometimes required! Bans or other such sanctions were based on a consensus from the moderating team, not on what one Moderator decided. I suspect that's what probably happens here despite some posters believing otherwise.

 

[rjhowie]

Enzo1. I had to shake my head at your answer to my submission. That word about i need to be about here more often when I have been with Trainz since TRS2004 and before the great crash so you unfortunately where away out to putting your point over. So 2004 until 2014 more than gives me an indepth view whatever your year of joining Trainz is. It would have been more logical had you ascertained my length. So I stick by what i said at although there have been occasions confrontations or whatever such will happens anywhere in any kind of activity or hobby. So as a long term Trainzer I still say you are very wrong and there is a slightly going overboard in this matter. Never one have I ever felt there was any need for more Moderators unless you or the odd other wants to be one? Equally, i am as confident with the Trainz staff to understand they are not dim and hiding in a techy world immune to anything. Far from it and the popularity speaks for itself. Personally I will not be diverted from my mature and I dare say a widely accepted stance. For me I am too busy building a massive route to be destracted by a thread that is an excuse for being too wordy and is not a needed one!

 

[Enzo1]

Enzo1. I had to shake my head at your answer to my submission. That word about i need to be about here more often when I have been with Trainz since TRS2004 and before the great crash so you unfortunately where away out to putting your point over. So 2004 until 2014 more than gives me an indepth view whatever your year of joining Trainz is. It would have been more logical had you ascertained my length. So I stick by what i said at although there have been occasions confrontations or whatever such will happens anywhere in any kind of activity or hobby. So as a long term Trainzer I still say you are very wrong and there is a slightly going overboard in this matter. Never one have I ever felt there was any need for more Moderators unless you or the odd other wants to be one? Equally, i am as confident with the Trainz staff to understand they are not dim and hiding in a techy world immune to anything. Far from it and the popularity speaks for itself. Personally I will not be diverted from my mature and I dare say a widely accepted stance. For me I am too busy building a massive route to be destracted by a thread that is an excuse for being too wordy and is not a needed one!

I have been playing Trainz since TRS 2004 as well. However, I have did not join the community until 2011 really. From what I've seen in 3 years of use is quite a bit of helpfulness, but nearly equal amount of trouble. Would I like to be a moderator? I am not going to lie to you, so yes I would, but I know that is probably not going to happen. That however is besides the point. I think again that the moderators we have now are good, but there are not enough.

Really appreciate what the current mods do now, but I think the job is getting a little stretched even for them, because of the fact they can't moderate us every second, minute, hour, day, week, month, or year. I agree, sometimes we just need to moderate ourselves, but sometimes have a couple more around to give the current guys a small break so they stay moderators, trainzers, and valuable parts to the Trainz community as a whole. They could even train the new moderators on how to be good moderators.
Remember, I am not an advocate for replacing the current moderators. I am an advocate for adding a couple new ones to the mix.

 

[Sourdough]

I think the choosing should still remain with N3V. Members won't pick or vote for anyone who will not be criticized just as much. I'm sure that all those who have been asked to be moderators were surprised by the offer. Those who ask to be moderators won't be....which is good since they would have an agenda whether they think they do or not. We all have our concepts of how bad or good the forums are....people who get banned will feel they were unjustly treated and announce it to the masses....and like the street corner preacher in today's world, they're pretty much ignored....

 

[UP9018]

I personally don't think a democratic election of moderators is a good idea. You will end up with "good buddies" voting someone in so they can kick a common enemy out. I do however, fully support the idea of permenantly banning those who continue to be at the front line of the flame wars. There are about 6 individuals on here who definately need to go, and not supprisingly; two have posted on this thread. If you looked through the closed threads, you will find a common core of individuals that create the most trouble. (I'm sure that comment will fish one out here shortly) The current moderators are doing a good job, but they need to get serious about removing these problem posters.

You also need to ban the term 'gimmie pig'. It has gotten to the point where nobody can ask a content creator for anything without being labeled as one. Even if the request is sincere and well spoken, somebody will come along and tag the OP with that label. Again, most of the time it is the same people, and almost rarely is it the creator whom the question was directed toward.

It is for this reason, I don't post anything I'm doing here.

 

[LWVRR]

I think the choosing should still remain with N3V. Members won't pick or vote for anyone who will not be criticized just as much. I'm sure that all those who have been asked to be moderators were surprised by the offer. Those who ask to be moderators won't be....which is good since they would have an agenda whether they think they do or not. We all have our concepts of how bad or good the forums are....people who get banned will feel they were unjustly treated and announce it to the masses....and like the street corner preacher in today's world, they're pretty much ignored....

I don’t “feel” I was wronged, I know I was wronged. And you can go right on ignoring it until it happens to you, then we will see a change in your high and mighty opinion about this topic.


I am a realist. I see things for how they really are. I don’t sugar coat things. It plain and simple here folks. N3V wants your money, they don’t care about this place and they don’t care about you. They just want you to keep you happy enough to keep creating so the money keeps rolling in for them... intern so they can keep their jobs. Like so many business in today’s world, there is very little to no quality. When they want your money the folks at N3V are so willing to talk to you, but if you have a problem they disappear never to be heard from. If you insist on pushing the issue, they then send out Zec, our resident liaison. This is like sending out your pet yorkie to bark at you as you walk passed the house to keep you away...it has no effect at all. You just get the same generic company responses. I blame this moderator problem squarely on him. I did what I was supposed to do when I had a complaint...and went up through the levels, I was told not to contact them any more about the subject. Why? My guess is because they are just too damn lazy to research the real issue at hand...once again it’s a poor (job) quality issue. My opinion is that they all need to go and start over with a new staff. Apparently the current people aren’t really up to the task. Like it or not that is my opinion.

I you really want to fix problems here ban everybody under 25, that should solve a big portion of the problems. Of course we know that will never happen. The rest can be cleaned up by stopping the support of payware creators. Then you might see the forums that used to be here in the beginning.

 

[Enzo1]

I you really want to fix problems here ban everybody under 25, that should solve a big portion of the problems. Of course we know that will never happen. The rest can be cleaned up by stopping the support of payware creators. Then you might see the forums that used to be here in the beginning.

As somebody who is 19, I don't think banning everybody under 25 is going to solve much. I however do believe that there is one group of payware creators that does create a lot of havoc and gives the community a black eye just about every time it opens it mouth. I personally think an example should be made of that said group, but we all know that won't happen. We as a people are afraid that if we stand up to the big guys, they'll somehow screw us when in reality, the big guy is really just some pip-squeak that needs a really good spanking. I think that if we made an example of that said group, you would see a different attitude develop, and you would see those 6 troublesome posters either shut up or leave the community.

I personally don't think a democratic election of moderators is a good idea. You will end up with "good buddies" voting someone in so they can kick a common enemy out.

I would have to say that if the common enemy was one in common with ALL of the community, what's wrong with that? That's one less black eye the community gets.

You also need to ban the term 'gimmie pig'. It has gotten to the point where nobody can ask a content creator for anything without being labeled as one. Even if the request is sincere and well spoken, somebody will come along and tag the OP with that label. Again, most of the time it is the same people, and almost rarely is it the creator whom the question was directed toward.

How the "new" Trainz community defines this term is almost as screwed up with how they define contributions. I hate being told I haven't contributed anything to the game when I have helped several people get assets fixed, showed them how to use their program, helped people find things, help people get their program working better, and have even provided a tutorial to Shane's new site with the Trainz Surveyor HUD for the newbies that don't even know what the icons represent. That angers me almost as much as the said payware group and the black eyes they give every time they open their mouths.

There are about 6 individuals on here who definately need to go, and not supprisingly; two have posted on this thread. If you looked through the closed threads, you will find a common core of individuals that create the most trouble.

As for this, I am just going to drop these several lines here.

There's a reason that the action of ignoring exists. I'll leave it up to the brains to figure it out. I'm sure if they have the brains to model things, they'll for surely figure out why ignoring exists, and how it works, and how they can implement it into their everyday lives.

Pretty plain, clear, cut, and simple.

 

[ulmer94]

I you really want to fix problems here ban everybody under 25, that should solve a big portion of the problems. Of course we know that will never happen. The rest can be cleaned up by stopping the support of payware creators. Then you might see the forums that used to be here in the beginning.

Not everybody under 25 is an immature kid bent on raising Cain, and not everybody over 25 is a mature, helpful member of the community.

As to the payware creators, all that's been said lately about them all having bigger than average egos is to me plain balderdash. There are a few that give the good ones a bad name, but I'm not going to list either the "good" or "evil" ones.

Cheers

 

[jordon412]

I you really want to fix problems here ban everybody under 25, that should solve a big portion of the problems. Of course we know that will never happen. The rest can be cleaned up by stopping the support of payware creators. Then you might see the forums that used to be here in the beginning.

I find this highly offensive. I have made several threads that have been locked, but majority of them are closed I have asked to be closed. There have been a few exceptions, mainly because they have gotten 'out-of-hand', or are totally off topic. If you believe that banning a certain group of members will solve the problem, then how about banning all the content creators?

 

[LWVRR]

I find this highly offensive. I have made several threads that have been locked, but majority of them are closed I have asked to be closed. There have been a few exceptions, mainly because they have gotten 'out-of-hand', or are totally off topic. If you believe that banning a certain group of members will solve the problem, then how about banning all the content creators?

Then consider yourself offended...I’m not changing my opinion because you feel offended. My example of banning all under age 25 is exaggerated but my point still stands. The word "common courtesy” seems to be missing from many young peoples vocabulary.

 

[jordon412]

I would reply with a comment that would offend you, but I decided to keep my mouth shut as to not make this any worse. Do not consider this a win for you The Clown, I'm following a rule of mine: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

 

[simulatortrain]

Oh no, the big guy is here! Quick, spank him before he closes the thread!


Back on topic, what's adding new moderators going to change, as long as users who intentionally enter "let's see how far I can go before I get banned mode" are let back into the community? Cutesy apology threads rarely, if ever, translate to actual change.

I agree "gimme pig" has gone too far.

 

[jordon412]

Oh no, the big guy is here! Quick, spank him before he closes the thread!

I considered using a lot of caps and expletives to do that.

Back on topic, what's adding new moderators going to change . . .

We only have two people who are listed as moderators. With just two people, they are unable to get threads from going 'out-of-control' before it's too late. They cannot be on the forums all the time, so having more moderators spaced throughout the world, in different time zones, will reduce the time they need to be on the forums, making it less stressful on them to be moderators. This is the reason why but one moderator decided to stop being a moderator because it was too stressful for him.

I agree "gimme pig" has gone too far.

Definitely. I've gotten tired of people being labeled "gimmie pig" just asking a content creator once if they are planning to make a piece of content that the 'asker' would be interested in. If that person asked more than one time, and frequently, for the same piece of content, then I'd consider them a "gimmie pig".

 

[Enzo1]

I considered using a lot of caps and expletives to do that.

You would not have accomplished anything but making yourself out to be an idiot. Why would you have wanted to do that??

what's adding new moderators going to change

If we could get some of them in here that can fix the current problems this community has, then I would say that would be a good foundation to start on.

Cutesy apology threads rarely, if ever, translate to actual change.

This doesn't really deserve a response, but I think it is worthy of me saying something here. I find that remark funny coming from a guy who I've seen attack people and cause fights and does not apologize for one bit of it. I guess you should be one of those who are banished and not let back in.