Text 41364, 92 rader
Skriven 2006-10-16 07:20:12 av FidoNews Robot (2:2/2.0)
Ärende: FidoNews 23:42 [02/05]: Best Of Fidonet
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                         BEST OF FIDONET
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This is a copy of a message posted by Kent Anderson into the
Fidonet MODERATOR echo in May 2000.   Given the current discussion
in FIDONEWS, it is relevant today -- and not only in that echo.

                               Dale Shipp
                  fido_261_1466 (at) comcast (dot) net
                              (1:261/1466)


This message was posted in this echo many years ago, after I had
about a year and a half of making mistakes, and learning therefrom:

-=> Cut <=-

One can become a Moderator in an eyeblink. But, it takes a long
period of time to become a good moderator, and by that, I mean a
reasonable Moderator, and one who is accepted by the participants
of his/her echo.

IMHO, the immediate reaction of most who are appointed or elected
to the position of Moderator is to feel that the prime thrust is
ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES. While this is most certainly true in
a sense, the primary goal of a Moderator is to create, or keep
going, a smoothly running organization which serves the purposes
for which it is intended and at the same time, allows its users to
_enjoy_ the benefits of it.

It takes a long time to learn to be reasonable in the approach to
"off-topic" stuff, and not jump at the first hint of such. The
approach should eventually become to look at whether a message is
topic related (by any stretch of imagination); whether it is of
interest and helpful to all, and whether it is likely to continue
to the point that it annoys others. Patience is the name of the
game, and such messages will bear watching for a few days before
gently asking that a particular thread be ended.

Minor altercations among users should be ignored unless they turn
into personal attacks and vituperation. Then they must be dealt
with quickly and firmly.

The Moderator must not be easily upset by mistakes - particularly
when committed by users new to echomail, or to the conference.
Admonishments should take the form of gentle reminders about the
rules. On the other hand, some people continue to make the same
mistakes after reminders, and these cannot be taken lightly, but
must be dealt with in the least harsh manner possible.

It is most important to be certain that YOU adhere to your own
rules 100% of the time. If you expect them to be important to
others, it behooves you to see to it that they are important to
you.
One must always keep in mind that this is a hobby manned by unpaid
volunteers, and be appreciative of the opportunities it provides.
The Moderator should, to the maximum extent of his/her ability,
control the amount of expense and overhead to the mail distribution
system by controlling overquoting and idle chit chat in the echo.
International echos carry messages all over the world at no small
expense overall, and the volunteers gladly meet it within reason.
There is no reason, however, to let the bandwidth and noise level
get out of hand at their expense.

Be available to your participants, preferably by netmail or voice,
but keep discussion of the rules and Moderator policy out of the
echo where it may lead to argumentative or even flame type
messages, to the disruption of the functions of the conference.

Last but not least, the Moderator must be able to control his/her
annoyance level. Let the little stuff slide off your back like
water off a duck, and remember you can't please all of 'em all the
time. As it has been well said:

     Do not be annoying. Do not be too easily annoyed.

The learning experience in this field never really ends. Each day,
one should pick up another idea or two on how to keep things
running smoothly without getting in the way of the business of the
echo.

Kent

... Moderator, MODERATOR


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