What is the insentive to be a moderator

[MICHAEL]

What is the job, and incentive to even be a moderator on a site like this? Bowl1820,,,, WHY??

[TCJ]

Having been an unpaid moderator for multiple sites, I think I can give a little insight into this question.

1. You take up a hobby and that hobby ends up requiring running a message board. Ultimately, you do it because you enjoy the hobby, not because you enjoy moderating.

2. You spend a lot of time somewhere and get a reputation as being helpful. Someone asks you to assist and you do it because you feel honored that someone asked and don't want to let that person down.

3. You offer to help because you think a place needs cleaning up (which might be true). This is probably the stupidest reason of all!

I've been in all three situations.

[Aslan]

power

Moderators have the power of God on the internet....some people like that kinda thing.

[JaMau24]

Forgive me for posting this Bowl1820, I'm only kidding! (And to any other mods out there, only a joke!) :P

[bowl1820]

What is the job, and incentive to even be a moderator on a site like this? Bowl1820,,,, WHY??

What is the job? Well basically you sit around and try to make sure the kids play nice and try to fix the few things you actually have control over and You listen to people complain.


You listen to people complain about others.
You listen to people complain about how things aren't done right.
You listen to people complain how nobody does anything.
You listen to people complain because somebody did do something and they don't like it.
You listen to people complain because you didn't do enough.
You listen to people complain because you did too much.
You listen to people complain because you didn't do it fast enough
etc. etc. etc.


The incentive? The same as any other volunteer job. None other than wanting to help.

[bowl1820]

1. You take up a hobby and that hobby ends up requiring running a message board. Ultimately, you do it because you enjoy the hobby, not because you enjoy moderating.

2. You spend a lot of time somewhere and get a reputation as being helpful. Someone asks you to assist and you do it because you feel honored that someone asked and don't want to let that person down.

These two here are basically how I got started,.

I posted a lot and helped people, then got offered to be a mod. (Now a admin.) on another site. Then got made one here, then made one over on bowlingintel. I've turned down a couple of others.

[bowl1820]

power

Moderators have the power of God on the internet....some people like that kinda thing.

A lot of them think that way.

That's way you have to make sure you pick the right people to be a mod.

Now just in case anyone thinks I'm playing God, Your sorely mistaken.

You have no idea what a board run with a ironfist is like, this board is like the wild west compared to others.

[tr33frog]

What is the job? Well basically you sit around and try to make sure the kids play nice and try to fix the few things you actually have control over and You listen to people complain.


You listen to people complain about others.
You listen to people complain about how things aren't done right.
You listen to people complain how nobody does anything.
You listen to people complain because somebody did do something and they don't like it.
You listen to people complain because you didn't do enough.
You listen to people complain because you did too much.
You listen to people complain because you didn't do it fast enough
etc. etc. etc.


The incentive? The same as any other volunteer job. None other than wanting to help.

Yeah, I help run another site and refused to make more mods because not long after we made good posters mods they would get fed up with all the crap and slowly stop posting, lol. Anyone that thinks it is a great gig is crazy.

[bowl1820]

Forgive me for posting this Bowl1820, I'm only kidding! (And to any other mods out there, only a joke!) :P

That's okay! Moderators are like the Police.

Nobody want's them around till they need help. Then once they do come and help one person will thank them and the rest will say you were too slow getting there, didn't do enough, spit in your face and tell you leave.

[Aslan]

You have no idea what a board run with a ironfist is like, this board is like the wild west compared to others.

Well, I'd say it's "pretty loose".

I was on a board awhile back...and it was more "iron fisted". I got temporarily banned (for like 5 days) because the guy (who's username was "ARMY"...which is NOT a good sign) got annoyed with me. Actually I got "flamed" and responded with something "snarky". The guy who flamed me got booted (he had been warned multiple times before by the site) and I got a temporary ban. When they ban you, even temporarily, they list it on a page in the forum and they list the reason why and which moderator banned you. 93% of the people listed were spammers. Since I hadn't technically done anything wrong...and it was more just a moderator thinking he was God...he made up a reason which he termed "General Jackassery".

I was pissed at first...but since he made me laugh with the inventive "reason"...I let it go.

I was on another site for YEARS. Most of the people there were women...and they hated me even more than people here hate me....with a PASSION. But I minded my Ps & Qs...tried not to run afoul of anyone. Carefully walked the tightrope if you will. Then one day I "slipped up" and the conversation got on the topic of "hitmen" and I joked to another user asking him what he'd charge to "knock off" a certain user (my arch enemy on the site). It was obviously a joke and his response was I couldn't afford it. But....the arch enemy got notified by another enemy...she reported it to the site that she felt "threatened" by my statement...and that was just the ammunition needed to finally drop the axe. And that sucked...because I had very close friends there and had been a part of that community for over 3 years. But...it's hard on sites where you have to walk on eggshells like that. Many people came to my defense pointing out the obvious that it was just a joke...and the "offended party" knew that. But, the arch enemy was a long time member as well...and a close personal friend of the site administrator...so that was that. Many people asked me to come back...under a different username. But I guess I just figured if I couldn't be "me", what's the point??