Jeff, this question has been killing me... but as one of the moderators since the inception of Coasterbuzz, I never knew who the other moderators are? Do you also think it is feasible to re-start a "Moderator's Forum?"
I'm also thinking that we should maybe plan a moderators meeting day someday (say at CP?)
-------------
Neil
By popular vote, the official start
of the Millennium has been moved to
May 13, 2000
How do you become a moderators(I am new to this site)?
If you want to be a moderator, chances are you shouldn't be one.
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
To whom it may concern,
Why do topics get removed so innocently.
I posted atopic last night, and it is mysteriosly gone. Ye it was could be considered controversial but by no means does anyone have the right to remove it. I was simply trying get conversation out of people critquing differences between all the six flags parks. Whats the deal(Jeff)?
If the topic was off-topic, contained questionable material, was designed to start a flame war or has been talked about in other recent threads, it might have been removed. Don’t take it personally, this is just how we keep the discussion fresh and fun.
First of all, keep in mind that there are eight moderators, and I don't do much moderating myself (I don't have time). I've had several messages in my inbox from people who ask what I have against them. The truth is, I don't know anyone here well enough to make it personal, and I think it's borderline arrogant to think that I watch any one person that closely.
This forum is not a free-for-all. While it does operate in real-time, it is moderated, and that's what sets it apart from other forums. There has been a recent rash of argumentive threads that serve no purpose other than to irritate people. There are others that are off-topic or unreadable due to a complete disregard toward spelling and grammar. That stuff is gone too.
Those are the rules, and that's how I choose to run the site. There are dozens of other forums out there, so if these are not acceptable terms to you, I respectfully invite you to participate in some other forum.
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Nicely put. I'm staying here! But who are the moderators!
-------------
Kyle
201.3 Miles to Cedar Point from Owosso MI.
*** This post was edited by Cedar Creek Mine Ride on 5/28/2000. ***
There is a big difference between sites that are moderated and those that are not. Unmoderated forums usually eventually degrade into the on-line equivalent of a bar room brawl. Over the years I have moderated or assited the moderator in a variety of forums (including here in Coasterbuzz) but I have rarely had to intervene. Most people just seem to behave themselves a bit better when they know that there is a cop around.
If it is not obvious why a message or thread is being removed, I usually send a polite private message to the person whose message was deleted. That serves two imortant purposes. First, the person is less likely to make the same mistake again because they will better understand the rules. Second, it encourages continued participation because the person isn't left wondering what happened, if they made an innocent mistake. If they see that their messages are deleted but do not know why, the users are apt to become discouraged with the forum and go elsewhere. The quality of the forum diminishes when that happens.
Of course, if a person is only there to cause trouble we would all prefer that the person just go away. However, merely expressing a controversial opinion is not evidence, in my opinion, that a person intends to offend anyone or cause trouble. Honest opinions and good debate enhance a forum. They do not detract from it.
-------------
G&K Roller Coaster and Amusement Park Gateway
http://www.msi.ms/gk
I find myself very open minded to topics when it comes to moderating. We all have our opinions and should in return respect it both ways. In a perfect world everyone would think that all amusement parks have something special to offer but since this isnt the case (perfect world) we have to deal with individuals who feel the need to bash a park just for the sake of bashing it. Examples, "your park sucks, my park is the best". Its perfectly O.K. to think your park is the best but if your only message is just to say this, than it holds no water and therefore is in jeopardy of being removed. Respect others and all else follows. "Coaster riding isnt a priveledge, ITS A RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!"