Should moderators be elected by membership?

[armylifer]

I don't know if this will touch off a firestorm or get me a vacation but here goes. It is my opinion that the forum moderators should have term limits and be elected for the position by members. It is my opinion that one moderator in particular has become overly sensitive to posts and is over-reacting.

I am not saying that some posts do not need to be censored but I honestly think that we need a change in moderators once in awhile, if for no other reason than to get a new perspective from leadership and to ensure that one person is not in such a position that only his perspective is heard from.

 

[blueridgemountaineer]

100% up to the owner of OTT. Moderators do a terrific job, members who disagree have the absolute right to depart the forum.

 

[old and tired]

Do you think since you are a lifetime member, that you might own a piece of this website??

Sorry, not up to you to make any rules...

 

[Moose7060]

An attached poll would have been interesting.

It must not be an easy job for obvious reasons but believe they do a very good job keeping everything in order. I would have voted no. JMHO.

 

[armylifer]

An attached poll would have been interesting.

It must not be an easy job for obvious reasons but believe they do a very good job keeping everything in order. I would have voted no. JMHO.

I did not think about attaching a poll. That sounds like a good idea. I don't know if that could be done now or not. I don't know how to do that.

 

[Moose7060]

I did not think about attaching a poll. That sounds like a good idea. I don't know if that could be done now or not. I don't know how to do that.

I imagine it could be done through the edit feature but no idea how to do it myself.

 

[armylifer]

I imagine it could be done through the edit feature but no idea how to do it myself.

I think that I figured it out. I attached the poll now.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I don't know if this will touch off a firestorm or get me a vacation but here goes. It is my opinion that the forum moderators should have term limits and be elected for the position by members. It is my opinion that one moderator in particular has become overly sensitive to posts and is over-reacting.

I am not saying that some posts do not need to be censored but I honestly think that we need a change in moderators once in awhile, if for no other reason than to get a new perspective from leadership and to ensure that one person is not in such a position that only his perspective is heard from.

imho.... moderators provide a huge service and often a thankless job. Critical people IMHO
They can prevent the spread of harmful, false, or inappropriate content and remove same if based on owners/comminty guidelines deemed it should.

In other places I go to though they do not participate, poke or otherwise interact with membership. Kinda like prison guards. Huge role to play but maybe playing with the inmates not the best idea?

bad moderation (or worse yet no moderation) can sink a good community forum so quickly. I lost my favourite a few years back because a few tried to take over and guide the rest. The rest simply left and volume fell off as the rest felt overpowered by the few. got to the point where most of the post came from a vocal minority so the majority left.

 

[RCW]

@armylifer - - I greatly respect your service to our country.

While much different, I also respect the work of our moderators who are appointed by the owner of the OTT Forum.

They don't do it for the money.....I heard they got a 100% pay increase in 2025......all the way up to $0....

The position of Moderator is solely the authority of the ownership of the site.

Should the owner see a reason to change Moderator(s), that is solely the authority and discretion of the ownership.

Not a bad question.

Just my position.

 

[hodge]

I voted no. This isn't a democracy. The forum has an owner, who can do whatever they want- including appointing moderators. We do not have a right to expect or demand. We have a right to stay or leave.

 

[Lil Foot]

They tried that on a Rhino forum I moderated eons ago.
It didn't work, as it became a popularity contest, with the moderators buddies getting away with too much, and others getting slapped down for essentially no reason, other than they disagreed with the status quo.
When the owner relieved them of their duties, myself & another guy were named specifically because we were out of state & had no close ties with the "clique".

IMHO, it is hard enough trying to be impartial, with worrying about POing your buddies who elected you.

 

[armylifer]

They tried that on a Rhino forum I moderated eons ago.
It didn't work, as it became a popularity contest, with the moderators buddies getting away with too much, and others getting slapped down for essentially no reason, other than they disagreed with the status quo.
When the owner relieved them of their duties, myself & another guy were named specifically because we were out of state & had no close ties with the "clique".

IMHO, it is hard enough trying to be impartial, with worrying about POing your buddies who elected you.

It is my opinion that favoritism is happening right now. I have seen it and experienced it on this site for the last 11+ years that I have been a member. That is what I asked the question and to raise awareness that this is happening on a regular basis. I see those whose posts lean one way and even cross political lines get a pass while others with less favored views get slammed with a vacation after no warning at all. It happened to me and I have seen it happen to others.

 

[forky]

I really enjoy this forum the way it is.

If it isn't broke, why fix it?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I don't know if this will touch off a firestorm or get me a vacation but here goes. It is my opinion that the forum moderators should have term limits and be elected for the position by members. It is my opinion that one moderator in particular has become overly sensitive to posts and is over-reacting.

I am not saying that some posts do not need to be censored but I honestly think that we need a change in moderators once in awhile, if for no other reason than to get a new perspective from leadership and to ensure that one person is not in such a position that only his perspective is heard from.

I'm pretty sure your talking to me.
I really want to know, what am I overly sensitive to?
Enforcing the forum rules?
Getting rid of the scammers and spammers?
Weeding out the posting issues?
I do get a little bent out of shape when I deal with 100's of posts a day and I have to weed out the riff raff, the muck, the junk and fluff.
Do I always make the right call... probably not... But I do my best.

There are 3 moderators and any big or objectionable call I try and get the consensus of all the mods.
And I also deal with the owners directly and do the job that they expect me to do!

 

[armylifer]

I'm pretty sure your talking to me.
I really want to know, what am I overly sensitive to?
Enforcing the forum rules?
Getting rid of the scammers and spammers?
Weeding out the posting issues?
I do get a little bent out of shape when I deal with 100's of posts a day and I have to weed out the riff raff, the muck, the junk and fluff.
Do I always make the right call... probably not... But I do my best.

There are 3 moderators and any big or objectionable call I try and get the consensus of all the mods.
And I also deal with the owners directly and do the job that they expect me to do!

I want to reply to you in a PM. I Cannot do that right now but I will send you a PM later today. Thanks!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I want to reply to you in a PM. I Cannot do that right now but I will send you a PM later today. Thanks!

You "Called me out" on open forum, So no PM needed.
You laid your issues and your disapproval on the table for all to see.
So now answer to it in open forum not hiding behind a PM.

 

[armylifer]

You "Called me out" on open forum, So no PM needed.
You laid your issues and your disapproval on the table for all to see.
So now answer to it in open forum not hiding behind a PM.

Okay but I will still have to replay later. Watch for it.

 

[Lil Foot]

It is my opinion that favoritism is happening right now. I have seen it and experienced it on this site for the last 11+ years that I have been a member. That is what I asked the question and to raise awareness that this is happening on a regular basis. I see those whose posts lean one way and even cross political lines get a pass while others with less favored views get slammed with a vacation after no warning at all. It happened to me and I have seen it happen to others.

I hear you, and even agree to an extent, but....
I don't always agree with all facets of the moderation, but I can say that about most things in my life.
This subject has always been a little touchy for me, as I has seen some "disciplinary" actions I could not fathom, while others seem to skate for virtually the same type of post, but with the opposite slant, if you get my drift. (trying to tiptoe here )
And sadly, as senility creeps up on me, I cannot recall the specific details of an incidence of this to use as an example, but I know it has happened.
Maybe the owner leans a little more in one direction, and has given instructions to enforce rules to that effect?

 

[jimh406]

Don’t sweat the moderators. Most forums are just happy to have anyone. It’s a joke to think that they could be elected.

They will usually lean a direction. That might or might not be your direction.

The only thing I‘d suggest is that they give you some idea what the rules are, but that’s not always the case on forums. If you are bothered, go find a different place to hang out or watch some movies until you calm back down.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Okay but I will still have to replay later. Watch for it.

Waiting with baited breath