Freedom of Speech

[Protoman]

Frunk can't you give up on some of the mod stuff, really. Yes without a doubt FP is secon in command. Frunk, why can't you just accept the way things are now and leave it be?(tell me by PM though I tend to forget about some threads)

[AsterikcAde]

This is all I have to say: Whoever has power WILL and I mean WILL abuse it, no matter what kind of person they think they are, goes for real life as well...

[ragnarok1945]

This is all I have to say: Whoever has power WILL and I mean WILL abuse it' date=' no matter what kind of person they think they are, goes for real life as well...

[/quote']

 

Q4E. The only ones I've seen who do not on previous forum are the incompetent ones, to which they simply go on the forum and do nothing at all either way. Power corrupts all, there are no exceptions to this, and everyone is corruptable at some point in their lives. There will always be times they think they can do better than whoever is doing it right now

[Frunk]

Let me clarify something. The second-in-command ideal is merely a tool to resolve the problems discussed. I know for a fact that YCMaker has not officially declared Falling Pizza his "second-in-command" or for that matter any title higher than a regular global moderator like the other super moderators.

 

This is where the problem is to arise. With YCMaker inactive, and there being no official, agreed-upon person in charge in his absence, there is bound to be a form of power struggle among the moderators, or at least, a mentality of some that there is nothing higher than them. Those who read my entire post (which, if it was indeed able to be summarised for those who consider it too long and therefore didn't read, it wouldn't have been so long to begin with) would realise that a number of issues arise when moderators develop the mentality that they are the absolute power in their respective section (whether or not they develop this mentality on their own).

 

Thus, even if Falling Pizza is indeed a de facto second-in-command (which would make it quite to contrary to "without a doubt", Proto), this doesn't change anything, as some moderators may still believe that they are not obliged to accept his position because it was not YCMaker himself (the only administrator and therefore the sole authority of the site) who declared Falling Pizza to this position.

 

Furthermore, I'll reiterate that an official coordinator of moderation is just part of my suggested solution. I also consider the implementation of a Code of Conduct paramount. Again, for those who didn't read the original post, such a Code of Conduct should encompass the following:

 

• Precise details of exactly what the administrator deems as acceptable for moderators to do in relation to how they moderate their respective zones.
  
• How moderators must conduct themselves when posting and using the other features of the board.
  
• How moderators are to act in relation to handing down any punishment for, as well as dealing with other issues to do with how they treat, members of the forum.
  
• What information is acceptable to be discussed with normal members outside of the Moderator's Forum.
  
• Anything else the administrator or designated coordinator of moderation sees fit to be included in the Code of Conduct.

When new moderators are created, such a code would be required to be explicitly agreed to by the new moderator. In turn, moderators would then know what they can and cannot do in relation to their job, thus removing any problems of corruption, irrespective of whether the moderator realises they are behaving corruptly or not.

 

I also suggested that new moderators be taught about how they are to do and go about their specific jobs, including:

 

• Moderators must be made aware of how the rules of their respective forums are to be enforced.
  
• Moderators must be made aware of the fact that they are not allowed to alter the rules of their forum without the explicit consent of the forum administrator or coordinator of moderation.
  
• Moderators must be instructed as to the basics of how to moderate, whether it be through a simple posting of instructions, having them read a basic tutorial compiled by the administrator or the coordinator of moderation and/or senior moderators, or have moderators participate in a mentoring program (the positives and negatives of the latter are discussed in the original post).

As soon as moderators are of the knowledge that just because a forum is under their control, it does not mean it is their exclusive domain. They must also have a basic knowledge of what they are doing to realise what they cannot do.

 

I really must reiterate that simply reading the post will amplify these suggestions, and I'll respond to the statement that "the power will be abused anyway" by disagreeing. The coordinator of moderation would have to be someone YCMaker has explicit trust in (indeed possibly Falling Pizza), and if this person indeed ever became corrupt, they would just have to be removed. YCMaker and the moderation team will know if this person needs to be removed, a new person can be appointed, and then the cycle can start over. The question is, which cycle (see the original post) is more appealing?

 

Finally, Proto hinted to the question of why am I so concerned about this forum? The answer is simple; if the forum is moved to a state in which no one can complain about it any further, everybody wins. I will get the satisfaction of knowing the forum that made me what I am today is grander than ever. You'd have to be me to understand this.