Help needed regarding Administration of a group!

[Alchemist]

Hiya folks - sorry I've not been on for a bit but I've had my hands full.

I could use a bit of help from experienced Admins here - I know you exist on this site

We (CoG) have decided to crack down on off topic BS - I asked the posters to keep it in the unmoderated forum (IFU)...

Sadly one numpty decided I was having a go at him (I was to be honest) - this ended up as a slag-fest where I gave him an infraction. He closed a thread, I re-opened it as an admin and he ignored me and closed it again.

Question - How do you deal with people like that?

I know I got a bit pissed and hit him to make a point but is there any other way?

Thanks
David

[The Meromorph]

Depends on your options as an Admin (I don't know your software).
If you want to keep him, then one option might be to allow him to browse, but not post, for a week...

Since you say you were 'inappropriate'.you should probably hand off the situation to another Admin or Moderator (who might also sanction you?)

[Griffin NoName]

If you want me to wade in let me know. I am Griiffin on CoG as well as here !  I gave up logging on there as it mostly seemed like spam or Boobie bashing (dont read anything into that one way or the other hehe) - tho I am an ardent google worshipper.

I find it surprising this user can lock a thread. ??

Check out if you have settings that should not be allowing users to lock threads.

I always use the three warnings rule. One, two, BAN.

[Alchemist]

Griffin - it might have improved a bit - I hope.

The IFU section is still a free for all but I think we're getting the other sections under some control (yeah - I have been known to have a rant about the Profit Bobby at times - sorry)

I'm Loki over there. Matt - the owner - has just told me he is giving me near enough full control - I don't want that!
I want the other mods to get off their arses and act.

Rant time...
I feel that I'm the only working over there! Sure, some folks help out once a blue moon.
Most of the time they criticise me for being too liberal and not banning people - and then they want moderation powers?

They want to ban folks because they disagree with them and they want to be mods?
LOL

Fun!

[Griffin NoName]

Sounds about right for modding and admining forums. It's a new social phenomenum. What you describe is endemic. One day I might write a novel about internescene warfare amongst Moderators. There seems to be a general ignorance of what the word "moderation" actually means. Refer them to the dictionary

[anthrobabe]

is it church of google?

[Griffin NoName]

yes

[goat starer]

Question - How do you deal with people like that?

I use one of these.....



but with numility and respect

[Sibling Chatty]

Alchemist--threaten them with Administration By Evil Auntie.

That'll put the fear of ALL Gods into them.

I DO have a reputation to live down to, you know...

[Alchemist]

Auntie Deedee - Noooooo.
Just kidding - I wasn't on CoFSM at that time.

Hey - I've got a reputation now - "The fluffy dog that bites!" LOL. er - I use a pic of my dog as my avatar.


Thank you to everyone that advised me. I really do appreciate that.

I've got a bigger problem now - some of the Ministers (mods) want full mod powers.
I have no intention of giving moderator powers to some of them - I'm goiing to be in the shit again LOL.

I'm used to it

Thanks folks  - and Chatty - I never met you on TOP but I can relate to you I think - 

[Griffin NoName]

First fule of forum administration.

ALWAYS suspect anyone wanting.volunteering for power.

It's a dead give away they are the last people to give it to.

On the other hand ALWAYS suspect the meek and mild who may be out to impress and achieve power by this alternative route.

Suggestion:

Set some of the keen ones some moderatorish tasks which will require wisdom, witt, kindness, firmness, and judgement.

When they fail, ignore all further requests from them to have more mod powers.

If by chance any should prove themselves, give so more thought to it.

[Sibling Chatty]

Seconding what Griffin said about mod powers.

The more someone pushes for expanded power, the less they should have it. In a situation of "faith" such as CoGoogle, FSM, etc., you've gotta watch out for zealots...for lo, they're also usually control freaks, and will eventually need smiting mightily with a LARGE stick.

Promote enough people to help, but not so many that they're a PITA, and go slowly. Also, if you have ANY way to make it look like the previous Admin person is still giving major input, use that to help 'make your decision'. (We invented Trogdor the Banninator to handle problem children of all ages at TOP.) Much like religion, an 'unseen hand' that guides choices isn't hard for forum members to buy into...

[Alchemist]

Thanks - with respect to the previous admin - I say nothing if I can get out of it.
Alice hated me (she really did say that she'd kill me if she met me - I loled - that made it worse )

Mods - ya - I thought the same. I have a few peeps that are desperate for mod powers - too extreme for me.

I'll be the first one to admit that I'm a crappy Admin - I'm lazy and let a lot go past that really should be stopped - flame wars in particular.

I let them flame in IFU - I get told off about that. IMO we don't interfere in IFU (un-moderated thread)

Chatty - thanks - some CoGists are pretty extreme - I'm trying to bring a laugh to the forum but some never see that!

Thanks folks!
David (aka Loki aka Alchemist aka Bloody Tit)

[Opsa]

Hey Alchy,

You may also have to modify some rules over there so people will be able to understand clearly their allowances and limitations. Still, some will run with whatever loophole they can pry open. We have had to refine a couple of rules here because of a wild hare or two. I mean, wild hares are beautiful, but when they poop all over the place it's time to set them free.

One rule might be to take the arguement into a private area to be worked out by the involved parties only.

[Alchemist]

One of the ministers has made a new rule book... eeek!

I was reading them and thought - *yup, I do that. And yes, I do that as well, and that!*
I'm in a bit of bother for vetoing his rules now - I'll get over it

I thought that the forum rules were/are enough - play nice unless you're in I'm feeling Unlucky (IFU). In IFU you can rip jugulars if ya want.

I think you're right though - some structure needs to be kept. The poster I'm having most problems with has posted over 5K in a few months - he seems to think that makes him a daddy of the forum?

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

.... he seems to think that makes him a daddy of the forum?

Naaah.  It just makes him either a person with no life, or else someone with a bad case of verbal diarrhea*    

Profligate writing does not a daddy make. 

Content is everything.   


_______________

<sub>* speaking from direct personal experience:  my own flood of commentary. 

Over in Topix, I have, in 2 years, posted 8,000+ posts.

And I have a life, so.....</sub>

[Alchemist]

OK - sorry here. But rzm has ...

Total Posts: 5,839 (53.69 posts per day)

Now that's somewhat sad.

Mine is even worse...
Total Posts: 2,163 (6.95 posts per day)

I'm a light-weight

[Griffin NoName]

Send him to forum hell.

[Sibling Chatty]

That volume is an indicator of an obsessive personality...Get someone to ask him if his Mom wants her basement back and see if he tweaks.

OK, seriously. If in private communications, point out that his post volume already gives him a lot of indirect influence into the way conversations flow there, and having a gavel would add too much weight to the power of his voice.

One dominant voice on a forum is bad. I tried, at Omnia, to make sure that all voices got some say, and also tried to beat back any obsessives on certain topics. (I also had the things that Bobby had indicated--at first--that he wanted to discourage, so I had a balancing act that was insane at times.)

Perhaps you need a Moonbeams Are Spaceships (or some such twaddle) guy to shake things up!!

[Aggie]

On the other hand ALWAYS suspect the meek and mild who may be out to impress and achieve power by this alternative route.

Who, me?  Flattery will get you nowhere, Griffin.   

OK - sorry here. But rzm has ...

Total Posts: 5,839 (53.69 posts per day)

Now that's somewhat sad.

Who, Du...   er, nevermind. 

[Griffin NoName]

OK - sorry here. But rzm has ...

Total Posts: 5,839 (53.69 posts per day)

Now that's somewhat sad.

Who, Du...   er, nevermind. 

     - I so nearly posted similar comment   

[Opsa]

Actually, it made me think of our Mr. Magoo character here last year. He wrote really long posts here really often and was really out of here really fast.

If it gets out of hand, you just migrate over here. We'll give you sanctuary.

[Griffin NoName]

Ops, posts with no content. Unfortunately that paricular one had TOO much content

[Sibling Chatty]

Ops, posts with no content. Unfortunately that paricular one had TOO much content

Mostly consisting of 

[Alchemist]

Sorry - I'm lost.
Was that at me or was it an in-joke that flew over my head?

[Griffin NoName]

In joke. Although we can refer you to the posts if you want to expire from stress.

[The Meromorph]

You've heard of the movie 'Raging Bull'.

Well this one would have been called 'Raging Bullshit'! 

[Sibling Chatty]

Sorry - I'm lost.
Was that at me or was it an in-joke that flew over my head?

That one was a guy who got an entire forum to lynch mode in less that a week.

And he was bound and determined that SOMEBODY was gonna buy his self-published drivel or he was gonna keep referencing it forever.

[Alchemist]

Damn - drama and I missed it! It sounded like a perfect chance for me to be sarcastic at someone!
My timing sucks.

This is quite funny - I've just been accused of fascism over on CoG because I disagreed with a Minister

I'll not post his PM because that would  be wrong (even though I'm a dictator.)

Honestly - how did you do it Chatty? My first thought was *flame time bitch! Eat my sarcasm!*

But I was strong and did not flame. I still want to.

By the way - tell me to STFU if I get a bit ranting over here. I seem to use this forum as a venting place. Sorry.

[Griffin NoName]

Venting neatly in one place is acceptable. It's not as if you are puking in every room in the Monastery

[Alchemist]

Sadly I wasn't strong enough
I think I might have started a fight!

[Griffin NoName]

Unequal fight. You're the Admin.

Are these people worth fighting?

[Bruder Cuzzen]

Oh bouy ! Oi be happy not be in such a posishun .

[Alchemist]

I never use magic in a scrap!
But you are right. Thanks.

I'm still in a pissy mood with a poster - honestly I've never been called a fascist dictator in my life @D
He used to call me a liberal arsehole before LOL

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

I would clarify the true meaning of fascism as defined by Mussolini & Friends. Tell him/them you are NOT a corporatist (like the b@$t@rd$ in the White House). Also if he/them compare you to Stalin you could clarify how the typical purge method usually was unannounced (IOW the victim would find out he was out of favor on his way to the interrogation/execution center)...

Oh, forgive me, I'm not helping.

[Griffin NoName]

I always get diverted by IOW

I read it as Isle of Wight.

Sort of never quite makes sense.

[Alchemist]

I took the *shut up David* route. It seems to have worked.

[Griffin NoName]

Goliath wins !!

[Alchemist]

Naah - I just took the diplomatic option. It seems to have worked.

So far

[anthrobabe]

Venting neatly in one place is acceptable. It's not as if you are puking in every room in the Monastery

that describes it perfectly....

and Zono your discription of a facist dictator was spot on-- so yes you helped.

Alchemist you just need to come HOME more often

[Alchemist]

Alchemist you just need to come HOME more often

I'm a wanderer

Thing is I seem to cause arguments wherever I post. No idea why

[anthrobabe]

Alchemist you just need to come HOME more often

I'm a wanderer

Thing is I seem to cause arguments wherever I post. No idea why

ok so I'll come visit you some more-- mainly I've just randomly 'flirted' with various members-- harmless I swear 

wasn't there a Donna Summer song about a wanderer? That could be your theme song.