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Post by Markpd on Sept 29, 2021 12:08:23 GMT -8
As some of you may know, many of the mods went dormant roughly 5-6yrs ago, which left MoonstoneGerbils and Shooting Star running the show, the former went quiet ~4yrs ago and last logged on 2 1/2yrs ago. Shootingstar is online sporadically, but is away for long periods, she was last on 4 mths ago (simply busy with RL stuff I think).
So as you can see we need more mods, we've been lucky that no major spats have kicked off that's needed intervention when the mods were away, and the sensible decision to only allow approved members to the baulk of the forum preventing spam. But that doesn't protect the guest forum of course. Not to mention we can't add stickified threads update the FAQ which is out of date regarding cage sizes, and the food lists need updating, e.g the incorrect advise against Dandelions to name just 2 issues there.
I did mention the idea to Shootingstar some months ago about a new mod and she was in agreement, I did ask if she wanted to setup a thread like this but she's since been away, so here's my thread  (I've finally gotten around to it!). I think it'd be worth having a few new mods so that no one person 'has' to be on the forum every day, we all have RL to deal with after all!  Once we have a chosen a few candidates, and they're happy to be a mod (at least part time), then I will try to contact Shootingstar to see if she agrees (I could also contact Moonstonegerbils via email if need be) and implement it.
So please suggest at least a couple of people you'd like to see as a mod (can be yourself too, although I think we should have a lower limit on membership time and post count, not sure what atm! Lol, maybe min 3 months and 50 posts?? Suggestions on this too please). If we get lots of suggestions and lots of people willing to do it (unlikely I think!), we could narrow the list further with a poll.
My suggestions are betty and LilyandDaisy - would you like to do it? (although I hope betty's current absence is short term, or my suggestion of her will be null and void! lol). If anyone suggests me, I'd be willing to do it, just bear in mind I'm not on here every day..... mostly
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Post by PipSqueak on Sept 29, 2021 13:33:44 GMT -8
LilyandDaisy and betty are great candidates for mods. I do agree that there had been an absence of mods recently. I would be happy to do it as well as I usually check the forum at least a few times a day. It would be great if I could be the mod on the photo contest tab since there hasn’t been a post on there for over 7 years, and I wouldn’t have to hold the contests in the member photos section.
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Post by Markpd on Sept 30, 2021 10:13:42 GMT -8
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Sept 30, 2021 10:37:19 GMT -8
I'd love to help but right now I can't unfortunately due to other commitments. If there's still a need in, say 3 months, you can ask me again  |
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Post by barryozzy on Sept 30, 2021 11:23:08 GMT -8
I have not been on this forum for very long really, but I agree with what has been said here so far. I also think starting up the photo contest thread is a good idea.
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Post by PipSqueak on Sept 30, 2021 11:31:38 GMT -8
Markpd I also think that you would be a good mod if you have the time for it.
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Post by Markpd on Sept 30, 2021 13:58:15 GMT -8
I'd love to help but right now I can't unfortunately due to other commitments. If there's still a need in, say 3 months, you can ask me again No probs, I'll bear you in mind then . It might even take that long to hear back from a mod anyway!
Pipsqueak Thank you , I do to a degree, but it would be rather sporadic, still an occasional mod is better than (mostly) none at all!  |
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Post by betty on Oct 2, 2021 9:45:29 GMT -8
Hello - I'm here! I only went and accidently got myself two new jobs (one in a vets (yay!)) while we were also decorating up the house - so my desk and laptop are often hidden away or I am asleep!!! Nice to know my abscence was noticed btw - that means a lot.
However, I have now got things back to a bit or normal and so will be here more regularly again (but perhaps not as regularly as before when I was a lady of leisure!).
So, yes, I second LilyandDaisy (when ready) and Markpd - along with a few others when I catch back up with myself and all of you!
Maybe personal recommendation is the best way though as then the mods have been chosen by those members who will benefit from them being in place (with new info and updated stuff for everyone to share, welcoming new members and guests, and moving threads forward, etc). Extended time on the forum isn't a true indicator of a nice, helpful, gerbil-dedicated individual so we don't want to let that get in the way of things if the right person or people have only recently found us on here - but regular support, overall helpfulness and friendly attitude certainly are.
How exciting to finally get things moving again on here (hopefully) and bring this forum back up-to-date in those areas that have changed recently. Yay.
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Post by Markpd on Oct 2, 2021 16:40:13 GMT -8
Ah good to see you back betty , and good to hear it was nothing bad keeping you away! Congrats on the new jobs!  So are you interested in being a mod too? You either missed or dodged that question Extended time on the forum isn't a true indicator of a nice, helpful, gerbil-dedicated individual True, but if they've only been here for a very short time we can't know their temperament either way. |
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Post by Markpd on Oct 4, 2021 11:27:51 GMT -8
More input required |
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Post by yeti218 on Oct 4, 2021 22:34:59 GMT -8
What are the general tasks required of a moderator and how much time does it require? If pipsqueak wants to be a moderator I think thats a great idea. Also Markpd would be great if you are interested. I think if there were at least 3 new mods that would be good because we obviously want at least 2, plus one as a bonus so all the work doesn't land back on one person if the other one gets too busy in the real world to keep up. |
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Post by Markpd on Oct 5, 2021 12:27:11 GMT -8
I've no idea on the time required, but even if someone was only on part time, we would be better off than we are now. As for tasks, well, bearing in mind I've never been a mod, (but I have been around forums for 22 yrs), so this maybe only a partial list:-
Authorise new members (helpers betty and catnut can, and do do that, which btw has kept this forum alive!). Stick and unstick threads as requested/desired. Lock and unlock threads (locked either to setup a guide etc, or to stop an off topic discussion, or a major argument (so called flame war. Not seen one here myself, more common in say political discussions)). Warn members against rude, sexist or racist etc behaviour, or suspend their account or ban them. Delete inappropriate threads, or multiple threads of the same topic by the same person. Move threads that are posted in the wrong section. Edit anyone's thread (which is how we can get the FAQs updated). Appoint new mods (I'm assuming, but don't know, that a 'regular' mod can do this).
Now this forum in general seems to be very well behaved and chilled in the time I've been here , so the more onerous side of being a mod (argument intervention, telling off people and punishments) is not something that's likely to be needed often (that I've seen to date).
Sorting out the FAQs would be a long term project, not something that would be expected to be fixed in a few days, or weeks even! Although some would be easy, like fixing the staff members link, all of them are broken! And I've just seen that at least one mod is missing (Moonstone gerbils, although, as mentioned she's inactive). I've just discovered you can find all the staff members listed here |
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Oct 5, 2021 15:04:41 GMT -8
I didn't know forums even existed 22 years ago Markpd! |
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Thea
Member
Posts: 1,008 
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Post by Thea on Oct 6, 2021 7:59:02 GMT -8
Sorry I really haven't been very active (I'll try to be now!) but thanks for tagging me Mark - I think betty would be a great mod, although I honestly can't think of anyone who's very active who wouldn't be!
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Post by Markpd on Oct 6, 2021 10:12:03 GMT -8
No probs Any other suggestions? I'm after a few names really. I didn't know forums even existed 22 years ago Markpd ! Heh  , sure did, and prior to that too by at least a couple of years, and before that BBS. I came on the internet in the autumn of '99 and joined the AnandTech forum then (that's where my avatar came from, still active their in a niche section, distributed computing), I believe their forum started with the website in 97.
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(I've finally gotten around to it!).
), late 70s
