Moderators

[stutue]

why is sittingbison a mod?

Oh dear. On your high horse because of your banny-wanny?

I got banned twice. Once for a joke that, frankly, still makes me laugh, and again for god-knows-what-reason.

Did I come back and whine about it? No. Did I feel victimised? No. Did it make a significant difference to my life? No.

Get over yourself. If you want to post in the clinic, which has a rules system written by Kafka ,you just have to lump it.

Don't blame it on the mod. They are just giving up time to cleaning up the poo.

 

[the sceptic]

If you're asking that question you must have written off Berzin as so useless a question isn't warranted. Sittingbison is pretty good when you compare him/her to Berzin. Like bragging about being the tallest midget.

True but Berzin only shows up once every other month so I dont notice him very often.

Sittingbison on the other hand seems like the classic internet forum moderator that could potentially ruin an entire forum by himself with his bad moderating.*




*This is not a personal attack, I am just poiting out his flaws as a moderator

 

[BigMac]

Flaws? From personal experience, I can tell he is the most helpful and reasonable moderator around.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

True but Berzin only shows up once every other month so I dont notice him very often.

Sittingbison on the other hand seems like the classic internet forum moderator that could potentially ruin an entire forum by himself with his bad moderating.*

*This is not a personal attack, I am just poiting out his flaws as a moderator

You say "bad moderating" is pointing out his flaws. I am curious if you could expand on the "bad moderating", because it seems rather general and not pointing anything specific out?

I was pretty annoyed to get caught in the deluge of bans and deleted posts some time back. It felt and probably was unfair; caught in the crossfire, as it were.

Quickly came to realise that it's not really that big of a deal, and let it go. Sure I vented and ranted at him privately, but in the end meh life goes on.

I would prefer to have that happen to me, but then also have the people who get banned on a regular basis continue to be banned. I mean. One guy comes back and more than half his posts upon return are insinuating other people are trolls. Quality posting, not.

I guess I am seeing no slowing down on the forum, no decrease in posts or membership - due to the moderation of the forum.

Another forum I am on does not even have an ignore feature - if you want to see another side to online moderation strategies.

But yes, very interested, if you can be bothered, to hear what your specific grievances are. So far it's been pretty vague.

 

[sniper]

Sittingbison? I'm a fan.
as a poster he seems sane, i.e. he doesn't seem to have (m)any biases, doesn't seem naive wrt doping.
as a moderator imo most of his interventions are pretty well timed and witty. (from what I can tell).


that said, he just banned my *** for a week which I found a bit harsh considering the nature of my post. I think a warning would've sufficed in this case but as DW says life goes on.
I can't judge SB's general banning policy as I don't usually follow who's banned who and why.

otoh, i do wonder who banned Dr. Maserati? He pulled the blood from under my nails at times, but a lifetime ban? Seems harsh. I think he was an important poster, though at times I was also wondering if he was pursuing some odd agenda, looking at his contributions in the Walsh-thread for instance. A guy as clever as Dr. Mas should be able to look straight thruogh Walsh.

edit: also, I think thehog gets banned too often.

 

[Night Rider]

Flaws? From personal experience, I can tell he is the most helpful and reasonable moderator around.

That is my experience as well. I had a poster try to get me banned for disagreeing with him. Sittingbison listened to my case and had me reinstated.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

I had a poster try to get me banned for disagreeing with him.

Did he not believe you were a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law?

 

[the sceptic]

You say "bad moderating" is pointing out his flaws. I am curious if you could expand on the "bad moderating", because it seems rather general and not pointing anything specific out?

I was pretty annoyed to get caught in the deluge of bans and deleted posts some time back. It felt and probably was unfair; caught in the crossfire, as it were.

Quickly came to realise that it's not really that big of a deal, and let it go. Sure I vented and ranted at him privately, but in the end meh life goes on.

I would prefer to have that happen to me, but then also have the people who get banned on a regular basis continue to be banned. I mean. One guy comes back and more than half his posts upon return are insinuating other people are trolls. Quality posting, not.

I guess I am seeing no slowing down on the forum, no decrease in posts or membership - due to the moderation of the forum.

Another forum I am on does not even have an ignore feature - if you want to see another side to online moderation strategies.

But yes, very interested, if you can be bothered, to hear what your specific grievances are. So far it's been pretty vague.

basically I think he moderates too much. Closing and "cleaning up" threads, banning people for almost nothing. I dont think the clinic posters need mods to hold their hands, and it doesnt exactly promote discussion when threads get cleaned up whenever it gets a bit heated. I prefer the background moderating some other mods do. If things get out of hand, post in the thread that people need to calm down, and/or warm people in PMs. I think it was ferryman that said banning people was the last resort and that he would do anything he could do avoid doing that.

If you keep banning the regular posters that contribute to making the forum what it is, eventually they will find something better to do with their time and that isnt good for the forum.

It seems to me that activity in the clinic has been on a steady decline for a while.. There could be many reasons for this of course, but I dont think the over the top moderation helps.

 

[kingjr]

It seems to me that activity in the clinic has been on a steady decline for a while.. There could be many reasons for this of course, but I dont think the over the top moderation helps.

Get rid of thehog, and there will be a lot less need for moderation.

 

[Granville57]

otoh, i do wonder who banned Dr. Maserati?

It was a group decision and one of the mods -- not Berzin -- volunteered to do the deed.

...........

 

[Dear Wiggo]

basically I think he moderates too much. Closing and "cleaning up" threads, banning people for almost nothing. I dont think the clinic posters need mods to hold their hands, and it doesnt exactly promote discussion when threads get cleaned up whenever it gets a bit heated. I prefer the background moderating some other mods do. If things get out of hand, post in the thread that people need to calm down, and/or warm people in PMs. I think it was ferryman that said banning people was the last resort and that he would do anything he could do avoid doing that.

If you keep banning the regular posters that contribute to making the forum what it is, eventually they will find something better to do with their time and that isnt good for the forum.

It seems to me that activity in the clinic has been on a steady decline for a while.. There could be many reasons for this of course, but I dont think the over the top moderation helps.

It's curious that you think he moderates too much. When Afrank started, it felt to me like he was spanking people with a feather duster. Nowhere near strong handed enough.

Your point re: "settle down" being injected into a thread where the plot has been resoundingly lost rarely works. For all the mod knows, someone is already typing an aggressive reply and hitting send, to have their post appear after the mod's remonstration.

You hit send when you've been given a temporary holiday (or the thread's been closed) and that post isn't even going to appear. And the lesson IMO / IME lasts far longer, and is far more effective.

I think as people spend more time here, they should evolve as posters, improving their netiquette and mellowing out. There are more than a few examples where the opposite is occurring, some where it is true, and for the most part, there's a natural oscillation.

If there are regular posters getting banned so often for behaviour deemed bannable, that then find something better to do with their time, I think it does help. The forum is far more readable and those people can get on with their lives. Win-win.

I would far prefer less posts of higher quality than the ongoing bickering or trite and monotonous responses from fanbois. Not to mention the personal digs that go on.

The Clinic will never die - despite doping having stopped in 2006.

 

[42x16ss]

basically I think he moderates too much. Closing and "cleaning up" threads, banning people for almost nothing. I dont think the clinic posters need mods to hold their hands, and it doesnt exactly promote discussion when threads get cleaned up whenever it gets a bit heated. I prefer the background moderating some other mods do. If things get out of hand, post in the thread that people need to calm down, and/or warm people in PMs. I think it was ferryman that said banning people was the last resort and that he would do anything he could do avoid doing that.

If you keep banning the regular posters that contribute to making the forum what it is, eventually they will find something better to do with their time and that isnt good for the forum.

It seems to me that activity in the clinic has been on a steady decline for a while.. There could be many reasons for this of course, but I dont think the over the top moderation helps.

I don't agree with all of the moderating that SittingBison and others carry out but I can often see the justification for it when looking at the bigger picture (ie: multiple posts and trends over several threads).

I also think that a few impending train wrecks have been averted as well and some haven't been too appreciative because these weren't given the chance to occur - they want the crime to fully play out before the punishment and I understand this reasoning, even if it is best avoided IMO. TheHog and co. all getting bans the other week was one example.

 

[42x16ss]

Get rid of thehog, and there will be a lot less need for moderation.

At times, I think so, but overall I find that TheHog keeps things interesting around here. He rarely lets the facts get in the way of a good story (but he's hardly the only one) and can stir the pot well but if you slow down and recognise his methods, you can tell when he's trying for a response.

 

[sittingbison]

Get rid of thehog, and there will be a lot less need for moderation.

Gentle(wo)men,
please desist from having digs like this ^^ at each other. Not acceptable

Have digs at mods (me) all you like on this thread, refrain from outright abuse though

cheers
bison

 

[ToreBear]

Keep up the good work mods! Your "work" is appreciated, and complaints of your work is just some posters having trouble giving you praise.

(of course not every one of them)

 

[the sceptic]

I don't agree with all of the moderating that SittingBison and others carry out but I can often see the justification for it when looking at the bigger picture (ie: multiple posts and trends over several threads).

I also think that a few impending train wrecks have been averted as well and some haven't been too appreciative because these weren't given the chance to occur - they want the crime to fully play out before the punishment and I understand this reasoning, even if it is best avoided IMO. TheHog and co. all getting bans the other week was one example.

Fair enough. I guess the line between complete meltdown and some light banter/trolling (which I think there should be room for) can be quite small at times.

 

[the sceptic]

Gentle(wo)men,
please desist from having digs like this ^^ at each other. Not acceptable

Have digs at mods (me) all you like on this thread, refrain from outright abuse though

cheers
bison

is there any chance dr maserati can be set free?

 

[Mishrak]

I'll often read a thread at lunch and not be able to come back to it until the evening or the next morning, and in certain threads, that can mean several pages of posts. And if the conversation was heated, that means lots of snips. I can understand the reasoning behind it, but I think I'd rather see a less hands on approach to removing posts in the thread.

My opinion is that editing and deleting posts should be reserved for extreme situations. Situations like revealing personal information, uninhibited flaming/trolling/racism/etc. But some of the bickering and minor squabbling that goes on, I'd prefer if it was actually left alone. Warn them in the thread/PMs, infract/ban repeat offenders if it gets out of hand, but dicing up the threads makes them very difficult to follow.

No disrespect intended, just my two cents.

 

[BigMac]

is there any chance dr maserati can be set free?

If I record correctly, one of the mods (it was either ferryman or bison) already said that if Dr. Maserati presented a case, they would gladly have him back. I don't think that happened. I don't think Mas has shown interest in returning.

 

[hiero2]

I'll often read a thread at lunch and not be able to come back to it until the evening or the next morning, and in certain threads, that can mean several pages of posts. And if the conversation was heated, that means lots of snips. I can understand the reasoning behind it, but I think I'd rather see a less hands on approach to removing posts in the thread.

My opinion is that editing and deleting posts should be reserved for extreme situations. Situations like revealing personal information, uninhibited flaming/trolling/racism/etc. But some of the bickering and minor squabbling that goes on, I'd prefer if it was actually left alone. Warn them in the thread/PMs, infract/ban repeat offenders if it gets out of hand, but dicing up the threads makes them very difficult to follow.

No disrespect intended, just my two cents.

Actually, imo, what you've just described fits quite well with the actuality of the modding that goes on. If I were to describe this forum using a bar scene as a parallel - it would be a bar with a lot of fist-fights, on a regular basis. The CN forums get a lot of quite, ahem, dramatic, behavior.

If I record correctly, one of the mods (it was either ferryman or bison) already said that if Dr. Maserati presented a case, they would gladly have him back. I don't think that happened. I don't think Mas has shown interest in returning.

Having been part of the crew when negotiations with Dr Mas were ongoing, I can attest to this. He would be welcome back. And, just like every other poster, on coming back, he would have to obey the rules.

The very odd thing was, with Dr. Mas, is that several of us had, what we thought, were quite fruitful PM discussions with Dr. Mas. All lines of reasoning very rational, polite, well-mannered, well-written, no problems anywhere. Then he would turn around the next day and jump in a thread and vortex, squabble, and troll. We would just be sitting there, scratching our heads, wondering what had hit us. Which, if you stop to think about it, sounds terribly a lot like the definition of a successful troll, does it not? Yet, to this day, I do not believe that was Dr Mas' intent. Which might make Dr Mas an extremely successful troll, and me something of a booby. But, into that dark night, at least, I do not go alone. You see, SOMETHING was amiss, betwixt Dr Jekyll Mas and Dr Hyde Mas.

 

[Beech Mtn]

I'm not entirely comfortable with the discussion of Dr. Mas' PMs since he's no longer with us to defend or explain himself. I can appreciate the desire to clarify the situation, especially since that Free Dr. Mas thread keeps getting periodically bumped. But it seems like maybe private stuff should remain private out of respect for him.

Anyway, just my .02 cents.

Also:
Free The Hug

 

[Granville57]

You see, SOMETHING was amiss, betwixt Dr Jekyll Mas and Dr Hyde Mas.

For a long time I suspected that Dr Mas was more than one person.

I'm not entirely comfortable with the discussion of Dr. Mas' PMs since he's no longer with us to defend or explain himself.

Fair enough.

 

[Hugh Januss]

You see, SOMETHING was amiss, betwixt Dr Jekyll Mas and Dr Hyde Mas.

Only one was a Dr.

 

[ChrisE]

If I record correctly, one of the mods (it was either ferryman or bison) already said that if Dr. Maserati presented a case, they would gladly have him back. I don't think that happened. I don't think Mas has shown interest in returning.

It never ceases to amaze me why people want that arrogant blowhard to return.

 

[sittingbison]

Gentle(wo)men,
please desist from having digs like this ^^ at each other. Not acceptable...

good post hog