Moderator changes: 2015 edition

[Mr. Morden]

Bacon King is out as a 2016 mod (as per his own request…he claims that Forum Community and his other boards are plenty), and Sawx has replaced him.

Muon has been added as mod of the previously moderator-less Presidential Election Process and its sub-boards.

Dallasfan added as mod of the previously moderator-less "How To" board.

We asked Dave to put a mod on "The Atlas" board, but he hasn't done that yet.  We're trying to get him to make some reforms that'll limit the damage that can be done by these hit and run spam/trollers who post porn and the like, but we'll have to wait and see what he does there.

[Mr. Morden]

Yeah, to clarify, we specifically asked Dave for a mod on "The Atlas" board, but he hasn't acted on that yet.  And we're asking for other changes that would limit a newbie's ability to PM while muted and the like.  But I can't say when/if Dave will implement the requested changes.  The Leip moves in mysterious ways.

[Mr. Morden]

Maybe Leip is scared to open his PM box for fear of poop pics?

That's why I contacted using good old fashioned email.

[Mr. Morden]

Lol, Atlas forum-esque comedy of errors.  I told Dave that I would only be willing to become a global mod if someone else was made moderator of The Atlas board, because I don't really want to moderate that board on my own.

So this morning I wake up to find that…he's made me a global mod without assigning someone to The Atlas board, thus doing exactly what I asked him not to do….

To top it off, with my new status, it looks like I've also been locked out of the mod board and the post moderation board (which means that while I can delete posts everywhere, I have no ability to give out 50 points to these spam/trolls to put them on mod review, which largely defeats the purpose).  Sigh…

[Mr. Morden]

Lol, Atlas forum-esque comedy of errors.  I told Dave that I would only be willing to become a global mod if someone else was made moderator of The Atlas board, because I don't really want to moderate that board on my own.

So this morning I wake up to find that…he's made me a global mod without assigning someone to The Atlas board, thus doing exactly what I asked him not to do….

To top it off, with my new status, it looks like I've also been locked out of the mod board and the post moderation board (which means that while I can delete posts everywhere, I have no ability to give out 50 points to these spam/trolls to put them on mod review, which largely defeats the purpose).  Sigh…

Wait, but if you are ModAdmin, can't you ban spammers on sight? No need for the mod review, then.

I have no way to ban, nor even (since Dave changed my title from "global moderator" to "modadmin") a way to delete posts outside of my boards.  It looks like Dave has reverted me back to a normal moderator who simply has the "Modadmin" title.  I'm a MINO (Modadmin in name only).

Unless there are some secret powers that I have that weren't explained to me?  It's possible that I can do extra things, but Dave has not explained to me how to do anything beyond my already existant mod powers.

[Mr. Morden]

So, basically little to nothing has changed then except for Sawx being made a mod?

...Sawx has been temporarily banned for gross misconduct and his removal as a moderator is currently pending.

Can't say I'm surprised, but we need better screening of moderators.

You're right, Bushie.  If you want to apply for the next mod opening, you'll have to submit to a screening that involves posting every detail of your life, so that we can make an informed decision about whether you're suitable for the job.  You'll then have to Update those details each day.

[/joke]

[Mr. Morden]

How's the process for choosing a new moderator go? Do I have to apply or something?

Sure, send a PM to Morden or whomever, stating your interest, making your case, etc. Others are doing it, so join the fun. It is not clear to me, that a new mod will be selected at this point, but it is certainly possible. One thing we don't want to do, given the current situation, is pick a new Mod, who then becomes an issue. Do you really want to be a Mod? Noticed what happened to my popularity when I became one?    Yes, I know, BK is still loved by everyone, but BK has a gift that most of the rest of us lack.

I'm starting to think that no one who wants to be a mod should be a mod.  The problem is then, how do you get a suitable candidate to agree to the position if he doesn't want it?  Maybe Dave should abduct whoever he chooses, hold them captive in Tender's basement, and force them to moderate?

Or maybe he should just replace us with hired guns, as suggested at ~3:14 in my Downfall video?:

http://meemsy.com/v/7082

[Mr. Morden]

Yes, congrats to Brittain33 on foolishly agreeing to join the Stonecutter's Club.  Dave is working on finding more new recruits to fill the other vacancies created by Sawx, BK, and soon Joe Republic.

[Mr. Morden]

Yes, congrats to Brittain33 on foolishly agreeing to join the Stonecutter's Club.  Dave is working on finding more new recruits to fill the other vacancies created by Sawx, BK, and soon Joe Republic.

Wait, he wasn't already a mod?

No, he wasn't.

[Mr. Morden]

Any plans to change these two?

Town Hall
Moderator: Sibboleth


Survivor
Moderator: big bad fab  (long gone)

Ah, yes. Siberia.

Probably should happen, but I suppose it doesn't greatly matter if it doesn't: the one is a totally dead board (last post 2012) the other basically is. I dont have mod board access and presumably bbf doesn't either (if he does that might be an issue wrt security though).

I just suggested to Dave that he archive Town Hall, so that no one can post there (as he's apparently already done to some other ancient boards, like 2004, 2008, and 2012 election boards).  So you may soon be "moderator" of a board that no one has the ability to post in, even if they wanted to.

Also mentioned how big bad fab hasn't posted on the forum since 2013, so whoever Dave picks for "Election and History Games" should probably be added to "Survivor" as well.

[Mr. Morden]

Another new recruit for the Stonecutters Club:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?board=35.0

[Mr. Morden]

So Joe Republic has resigned his moderatorship, and is no longer a mod.  His old boards have been taken by:

Congressional Elections; Gubernatorial Elections: Brittain33
Election Predictions: Muon
Election and History Games: Lumine

[Mr. Morden]

While Brittain33 is a great choice for CE/GE, part of me is sad that Joe Democrat will never be able to fulfill his dream of deposing Joe Republic, and taking his rightful place as CE/GE dictator:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=157843.15

[Mr. Morden]

The Town Hall board, which hasn't been used for years, has finally been archived (meaning that you can still view the posts, but no longer post there), and Al's quasi-moderatorship of that board has thus come to an end.

[Mr. Morden]

Also, Dave has finally removed the moderator status of Lunar and Supersoulty (who haven't posted in years).

And it looks like Muon is now the lone moderator of the Polling board, with The Vorlon (another long inactive poster) being de-modded as well.

[Mr. Morden]

Likely Voter has proved crazy enough to accept Dave's offer to join as an additional moderator for the 2016 board.  2016 board is now fully staffed for busy season.  We are armed and ready for the election season invasion of newbies.

[Mr. Morden]

Who is Likely Voter?

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?action=profile;u=2219

A longtime 2016 presidential election obsessive (like me ).

[Mr. Morden]

Who is Likely Voter?

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?action=profile;u=2219

A longtime 2016 presidential election obsessive (like me ).

He registered in 2007 yet barely has a presence on this forum. His average is less than 2 posts per day... Are you sure he's active enough?

He's become more active this year, particularly as the election campaign has picked up.  380 posts on the forum since June 1st, the bulk of which are on the 2016 board (which is the one he'll be moderating).  Taking myself out of the equation since I'm already a mod there, is there anyone who's more active on the 2016 board who would be suitable (No offense to, say, dudeabdies or pbrower, but Dave is not likely to ever make them moderators)?

[Mr. Morden]

One thing I'll mention here is that, in contrast to some of the mod choices from the last few years, most of whom were picked by current mods and then rubber stamped by Dave, this latest round of mod additions (Brittain33, Lumine, and Likely Voter) are people picked by Dave himself, albeit choosing from a larger pool of twenty something candidates that included (but were not limited to) various recommendations from current mods.

One thing I did suggest to Dave was that for the 2016 board vacancy, he pick someone who actively posts there (didn't have to be someone with the frequency of LV, and I would have been happy with several other options as well).  My reasoning being that, not now but certainly by the time the primaries are in full swing, the 2016 board isn't a cushy gig where you're only likely to get one report every three or four weeks.  When we hit busy season, even with three mods there, it will involve at least a little work to keep up with everything, and it would be great to have someone who cares enough to do it.

I suspect some of the people who submitted "moderator applications" had no interest in the 2016 board itself, but would take the job so they could be in on moderator discussions about bannings and the like.  I have no objection to such folks getting assigned to slower boards, but I think it's a bad idea for 2016.

[Mr. Morden]

Dave has decided that this board has been going down the tubes, and that what it really needs is a moderator with an R-MI avatar.  If only we had an R-MI mod, everything would be great.

For that reason, Cathcon has been made a moderator of Forum Community.