A Modest Proposal

[Jimmy the Pro]

Let me first start by stating that I believe all moderation is both fair and balanced on here and I have faith and trust in our moderators and administrators.

At present state Volconvo is a very healthy community and continues to attract new members, however, I cannot help but realize that as the site grows older, many beginning members are beginning to part their ways with the site. While this is sad, we cannot turn back time and must therefore analyze our present situation and look towards the future.

Since our administrator and moderators have been with us for quite some time the all too real scenario will soon play out that our moderators will in one way or another depart from the site.

Therefore, as a measure to alieviate the void created by their departure, as well as a measure to create a more democratic site of the posters and by the posters, I propose that an election be held where candidates will be chosen for the postition of Moderator. This will only occur in the absence of a Moderator or when the Administrator feels a new Moderator should be added to the force.

This is not a democratic rebellion, this is not a self purporting campaign to win a spot as a moderator...

This is a modest proposal, an insight for present preparations to meet future challenges.

Please consider what I have said.

[SoylentGreen]

It sounds like a good idea, but wouldn't it be more fun to stage a violent overthrow of the present administration. Not only do we get to torture them and hang their bodies from a lamp post, but we can also riot down the street, smash a few windows and loot some consumer goods.
Good times.:)

[Milton Bradley]

Who says the person elected would have the time, or interest in undertaking such an endeavor?


The reason I ask is that I once got votes for an election I wasn't aware I was running in, and had to refuse the position.

[Lullaby Chainer]

It's worth noting the original "A Modest Proposal" was about eating babies.

[Jimmy the Pro]

Who says the person elected would have the time, or interest in undertaking such an endeavor?


The reason I ask is that I once got votes for an election I wasn't aware I was running in, and had to refuse the position.

First one would have to announce they were running, then based on votes one could recieve nomination.

5 would be nominated and a popular vote would be held to narrow it down to 3.

Then the 3 would be chosen by popular vote for the position needed to be filled.

Those wanting to be nominated must show they can live up to the task of moderation and must also provide records showing their infraction list as well as refrences from other current mods.

[Jack]

provide records showing their infraction list

I don't believe members have access to their infraction history beyond their current infractions. And infractions alone don't tell the whole story of a members contributions to the forum.

refrences from other current mods

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but when Jason asks for recommendations I'll be glad to provide them. But since my opinions of members would be based on information other members wouldn't be privy to, it would be pointless for me, or any mod, to say yea or nay without being able to go into why we think that way.

I understand your interest in the forum and its future, but I must say that this effort isn't bound to be productive. Jason may appreciate knowing in advance who would and wouldn't be willing to be considered as a mod, but in the end it's still his forum and his decision. No doubt he has his own criteria for staff appointments.

[Lullaby Chainer]

A Modest Proposal


There's no way the VOLCONVO user base could ever agree on a new mod. We can't agree on anything.

[Matt W]

Voting in mods won't happen. The forum isn't a democracy, as has been pointed out many a time, and it's entirely up to Jason who he wants to enforce the rules. Having a mod beholden to anyone but Jason doesn't help the whole 'impartiality' thing.

[Jimmy the Pro]

Voting in mods won't happen. The forum isn't a democracy, as has been pointed out many a time, and it's entirely up to Jason who he wants to enforce the rules. Having a mod beholden to anyone but Jason doesn't help the whole 'impartiality' thing.

Agreed, the forum is not a democracy. Repsected as well. However I believe there can exist certain democratic tenets on this site without revamping the whole system, perhaps as a way the members feel more represented in light of recent complains of being unfair.

I furthermore contend that a moderator selected by the people would not destract from the impartiality of the site because of the relatively even balance of the system so far, that is to say, we are so mixed as a volconvo culture that one sect cannot be singled out from the other, therefore a Moderator selected by the people could not possibly have an agenda towards one group in specific.

Moreover, we are not talking about appointing a whole cabinet, we are talking about 1 new moderator anytime 1 old moderator leaves. Surely if Jason sees one person that can fit the bill the regular contributers can also select one.

In conclusion, a moderator selected by the people would not only ensure a more involved community on Volconvo and lay to rest claims of oligarchial favoritism exhibited by Jason, but also would provide a well informed moderator representative of all the people. I think it would be worth consideration.

[ZNFYRH]

Jimmy

Something to keep in mind is that the majority is not always right.

As the sole authority figure, the owner of the site will end up keeping mods who are in line with his opinions and getting rid of those who aren't. Or those who aren't will fall in line if they want to stay mods.

Along those same lines, those who think the moderation is successful and effective will stay and those who don't will eventually leave. On a longer period of time, you end up with a site full of people, both members and authority, who are all like minded.

There are sites out there that are much more profitable, less serious, and more strict that also end up being full of like minded people.

Even if there were some kind of election, it would end up being nothing more than a popularity contest. There would be no efffective basis for evaluating the candidates.

With politicians, experience and track record, or lack thereof, are all highly valuable references to consider when voting.

How do you evaluate members as good moderators?

The answer I have implemented in the past, in live debating groups and online forums, is to give "What If" scenarios and let people vote based on the "What If" responses. Then the person who wins has a probationary period where they handle issues in their field... politics, science, religion, technology, etc. The membership then votes again on whether or not to keep the moderator in place... basically a way to "undo" the vote if you find the person lied about how to approach issues.

And moderators always served terms... there were no permanent moderators. Owners, like myself, were not accountable to the members beyond the members quitting the site.

In the end, I think that system is highly successful... moderators could be re-elected but had to make sure they stayed consistent, fair, and followed the rules. Even then, in those forums and groups, you still end up keeping the people who either liked the rules or adapted to them.

Personally, I think electing moderators is a great thing for a primarily political forum to do... and according to the system I mentioned above (only because it was refined and developed over years of trial and error)... but this isn't my site.

I owned two online ... and I "owned" one live public forum... and the system is still highly successful and flexible. In recent months I sold the ownership of the online sites and resigned from the live public forum because of my mother's sickness, but I plan on starting another site from scratch using the exact system I've specified above.

I think it works, but then again, I'll only really keep the people who agree that that system is best.

[triad]

Does anybody else see the irony in "A Modest proposal?"

Anyways, I think it is an idea worth exploring.

[Pooeypants]

As far as Jason is concerned, this is a no-go idea. Firstly, it's a privately owned website and secondly, we all know how skewed online voting results can be.