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Old 04-04-2019, 11:18 AM   #81
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This is a great place to hang out as a respite from the everyday crazy news and world out there.

Thanks mods for keeping things civil here .
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Old 04-04-2019, 11:21 AM   #82
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Originally Posted by W2R View Post

3) How unusually unbiased the mod team is, especially regarding politics. The team is pretty evenly divided in political leanings. They all know where the others on the team stand, and instead of pushing a viewpoint generally they bow out if they feel like their political viewpoint is motivating their moderating in any particular instance. They get called "Commies" and "Nazis" with equal frequency by those who chose not to obey the
My personal favorite (to date) has been Nazi Feminista although I thought this was misdirected as another moderator had this famous avatar:
120boots.jpg


Quote:
Originally Posted by ownyourfuture View Post

That being said, I'd love to see a political forum where people could really take the gloves off. (unmoderated)

As noted by nords, we tried this. While we expected heated discussions in that section of the forum what we didn't anticipate was that it slopped out into other sections for the forum. Seemingly reasonable folks hurled insults, baited others into argument and the site team became full-time cyber bouncers. Reasonable folks began to check out. They did not engage in political topics or argue they simply stopped logging in.

Lessons learned:
  • Rancor begets rancor
  • Reasonable folks don't dance with trolls
  • Mom was right: polite company rules regarding politics and religion should be minded.

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Old 04-04-2019, 02:59 PM   #83
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My personal favorite (to date) has been Nazi Feminista although I thought this was misdirected as another moderator had this famous avatar:
I remember that one!

Several times, in response to the mod team being called "jackbooted Nazi thugs!", I found the following avatar useful:
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Nazi Jack boots.JPG (5.0 KB, 122 views)
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Old 04-05-2019, 04:20 AM   #84
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Janet H View Post
As noted by nords, we tried this. While we expected heated discussions in that section of the forum what we didn't anticipate was that it slopped out into other sections for the forum. Seemingly reasonable folks hurled insults, baited others into argument and the site team became full-time cyber bouncers. Reasonable folks began to check out. They did not engage in political topics or argue they simply stopped logging in.

Lessons learned:
  • Rancor begets rancor
  • Reasonable folks don't dance with trolls
  • Mom was right: polite company rules regarding politics and religion should be minded.

Great object lesson. I have seen this in other forums Watercooler threads. It can be managed by one to three month suspensions. But many moderators shy away from such heavy-handed approaches.

Yes the mods here seem to have a balance but they have chased away very moderate posters. Perhaps because their world view differs from those posters? Or maybe the posters were thin-skinned on the topic?
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Old 04-05-2019, 04:52 AM   #85
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Some members believe posts are challenged by moderators because of the opinion expressed. This is not the case. There is no “moderator world view”. The moderator team does not share a view or opinion on any topic. In fact, our personal views are quite diverse.

When a post is challenged, it is not because the moderators disagree with the view expressed, it’s because the post does not comply with our community rules. The moderators discuss it and if a consensus is built, the post is dealt with and the member notified.
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Old 04-05-2019, 05:08 AM   #86
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Woo Hoo - 1000 posts (+ 1) since November 2005!!

ER.org was definitely a useful sounding board back before January 2007 when I bailed out of the corporate world at age 44. When I moved to FL to help take care of my grandmother I never thought I'd still be there 12 years later. The subtropics have a way of growing on you, or maybe it's just inertia.

There have been some long gaps during the last 13.5 years when I've been away from the board. I expect that when I begin dating MacKenzie Bezos I will once again be pulled away by myriad distractions. MKB will be able to maintain me in the manner to which I've become accustomed.

Good job ER.org admins and moderators!!
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Old 04-05-2019, 05:50 AM   #87
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Woo Hoo - 1000 posts (+ 1) since November 2005!!

ER.org was definitely a useful sounding board back before January 2007 when I bailed out of the corporate world at age 44. When I moved to FL to help take care of my grandmother I never thought I'd still be there 12 years later. The subtropics have a way of growing on you, or maybe it's just inertia.

There have been some long gaps during the last 13.5 years when I've been away from the board. I expect that when I begin dating MacKenzie Bezos I will once again be pulled away by myriad distractions. MKB will be able to maintain me in the manner to which I've become accustomed.

Good job ER.org admins and moderators!!
Congrats.
Now only 3,999 more posts to get your final star.
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Old 04-05-2019, 12:14 PM   #88
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I expect that when I begin dating MacKenzie Bezos I will once again be pulled away by myriad distractions. MKB will be able to maintain me in the manner to which I've become accustomed.
Let us know how that works out
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Old 04-05-2019, 01:02 PM   #89
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Regarding moderating “difficult” members: there’s an article in today’s NYT entitled “How To Deal With a Jerk Without Being a Jerk” (warning: may be behind a paywall):

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/05/s...ng-a-jerk.html

I like this suggestion:

Quote:
If all else fails, Dr. Sutton has a tip for changing your attitude toward the situation: Pretend you’re a specialist in jerks, and think about how you’re “really lucky to see this spectacular, amazing specimen.”
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Old 04-05-2019, 01:49 PM   #90
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Some members believe posts are challenged by moderators because of the opinion expressed. This is not the case. There is no “moderator world view”. The moderator team does not share a view or opinion on any topic. In fact, our personal views are quite diverse.

When a post is challenged, it is not because the moderators disagree with the view expressed, it’s because the post does not comply with our community rules. The moderators discuss it and if a consensus is built, the post is dealt with and the member notified.
I dunno' nine pages of praise, maybe one mild dissent. Where else does this happen (or under what conditions)?

And, yes, I think that the moderators have a world view as the moderator team is loaded up with STEM people/ex-military people or a combination of both.

note: highlighted by the duck
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Old 04-06-2019, 11:17 AM   #91
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And, yes, I think that the moderators have a world view as the moderator team is loaded up with STEM people/ex-military people or a combination of both.
Speaking as a Moderator Emeritus ex-military STEM people, the best way to confirm your thinking is to volunteer to be a moderator for a few months.

Good luck.
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Old 04-06-2019, 12:02 PM   #92
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Speaking as a Moderator Emeritus ex-military STEM people, the best way to confirm your thinking is to volunteer to be a moderator for a few months.

Good luck.
What I have suggested in the past is to have a few volunteers on the panel who weren't ex-military/stem people that would only be called upon to evaluate/determine/judge if a post/thread/whatever seemed to be questionable.
I personally don't have the computer skills or the time or the desire to be a mod. I think some diversity would be a plus (but, that I may just be too diverse).

All that said, always happy to see you posting here.
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Old 04-06-2019, 02:01 PM   #93
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As a former mod who is decidedly a non-STEMer (pretty words and pictures all the way here in the BWE house!), the other mods at the time were quite nice to me and my contributions to the consensus seemed to be respected. I think the open mind is more important than the mindset.

Yes, the mod/admin team imo has always been very fair-handed, and more so the membership self-moderates to a great extent, making active moderation less intense.
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Old 04-07-2019, 06:59 AM   #94
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Originally Posted by redduck View Post
I dunno' nine pages of praise, maybe one mild dissent. Where else does this happen (or under what conditions)?

And, yes, I think that the moderators have a world view as the moderator team is loaded up with STEM people/ex-military people or a combination of both.

note: highlighted by the duck


Snort! I have no STEM. I may or may not have to count on my fingers most of the time.
No military. But hey, thanks for your service, those who are.

But I do own a fire hula hoop, a school bus camper, 5 dogs, and 5 cats.
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Old 04-07-2019, 07:00 AM   #95
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Feever!!! How ya doing?
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Old 04-07-2019, 07:02 AM   #96
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+1. Best place on the Internet and the only board I frequent. I look forward to Saturday/Sunday when I can check in the dialogue here.
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Old 04-07-2019, 08:46 AM   #97
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Snort! I have no STEM. I may or may not have to count on my fingers most of the time.
No military. But hey, thanks for your service, those who are.

But I do own a fire hula hoop, a school bus camper, 5 dogs, and 5 cats.
I would like to see a picture of you with that fire hula hoop!!
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Old 04-07-2019, 09:55 AM   #98
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I'm way to opinionated and enjoy ridiculous statements to volunteer to be a moderator. The mods have whipped me into a place a few times. How difficult it must be to restrain oneself on a wild ride through peaks and valleys of emotion, ridicule, information and vast opinions of the unknown.

This is a place to explore, test your boundaries and learn. Mods are like parents. Touch the fire and you'll get burned. (fire meaning politics and religion) I do adore their sense of humor.
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Old 04-07-2019, 10:06 AM   #99
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I would like to see a picture of you with that fire hula hoop!!


Sure thing. It’s awesome! I’ll be firing it up this weekend at a small music festival.
IMG_9504.JPG
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Old 04-07-2019, 11:02 AM   #100
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Snort! I have no STEM. I may or may not have to count on my fingers most of the time...
Yeah, but having that extra finger on each hand does give you a counting advantage. Bet those STEM folks were envious.
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