Published Authors Forum

Admin Joined : 11 Jan 2008 Posts : 1307 Location : UK

At the moment, there is only one moderator on the forum, who happpens to be the administrator, who happens to be me.

Since I started posting on forums, I have noticed that the more moderators intervene the worse members behave. Moderators who throw their weight around have a tendency to upset members, who then fight their own corner. This often escalates and creates an aggressive atmosphere.

I've tried to avoid this in an attempt to keep the forum a friendly place to visit with a happy atmosphere. This doesn't mean that everyone agrees, but it means that, by allowing arguments to resolve themselves without my interference, cordial relations between members have so far been maintained.

To put it more simply, I believe that if you treat people like adults, that's how they will behave. Treat them like children...

I have filled the forum with links to sites with information that may or may not be useful to the members here. Either way, I have put out the information for members to use and make up their own minds. It's what I do. I have always believed that when people draw their own conclusions, they take new ideas on board in a way they do not if they are told to accept something. The old: I was told, I forgot. I saw, I remembered. I did, I understand. If people do the thinking, they eventually understand.

That said, I will offer some advice about any negative posts that may influence members here not to post for fear that another member will come back at them immediately with a negative post.

I am not immune to the feeling of wanting to throw in the towel. I put ten times as much effort as anyone on the forum into making the forum a success. I invite new members, I write html code for the featured members pages and the newsletter. I send out bulletins to all the members. I have advertised the forum on social networks such as myspace, which brought the opportunity to advertise the forum on a free online directory of UK events, now listing over 6,000 events from across the UK and used by over 10,000 people.

Try to imagine how I feel, when I receive negative comments. I deal with it by ignoring it. I find a positive thread and leave the negative thread to resolve itself -- which it usually does. I have only once had to use my moderator status to stop a thread from going completely out of control.

I would say to all the members here: You create the atmosphere. Your opinions, consideration for others, help and advice make the forum what it is. I'm quite proud of it. I hope you are too!

~Shelagh
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Shelagh Watkins
http://shelaghwatkins.co.uk/

Subject: Re: Moderators on the forum Sat May 17, 2008 6:13 pm

Well said Shelagh, and much appreciated I must add.

I like this place. I have other places that I can visit and talk to people, but I like it here. I appreciate that we can disagree, tease, cajole and hang out with one another, and that we can share our opinions quietly or with great enthusiasm, or not at all.

Thanks, as always, for the work that you do. Without it, we'd all be floating around in different corners of the 'net, and I for one would miss the friends that I have come to know here, and the ones I have yet to meet.

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Pam Robertson

I've done some updating
www.mvpi.org and www.maggiebendar.com

Subject: Re: Moderators on the forum Sat May 17, 2008 6:52 pm

Well put, Pam. I feel as you do.

Shelagh, you may not get strokes as often as negative comments or emails, but I am sure that I can speak for many when I say 'well done, and your efforts are much appreciated by the members.' Even if it is not often put into words.

Pam said:

"Thanks, as always, for the work that you do. Without it, we'd all be floating around in different corners of the 'net, and I for one would miss the friends that I have come to know here, and the ones I have yet to meet."

I concur. And I want to personally thank you for efforts you have sent my way.

I am proud of this forum and it's members too.
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Zada Connaway
Mother's Journals: parts 1, 2 and 3 ISBN # 1-4241-6969-0

http://www.zadaconnaway.com/

Admin Joined : 11 Jan 2008 Posts : 1307 Location : UK

Thanks Pam and Zada! I feel a surge of positive energy. Must be time to eat.

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Shelagh Watkins
http://shelaghwatkins.co.uk/

Subject: Re: Moderators on the forum Sat May 17, 2008 7:11 pm

Thank you for this thread, Shelagh. I concur with both Pam and Zada. This is my favorite group, even if I am not feeling particularly generous to others on their posts. I am learning to let go, ... a work in progress here.

I know there is so much work to a forum like this. That is why I gave up one of mine. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the work you do here and all the achievements you have reached I send cudos to you!

There is much, much more positive here than negative. In fact, I would say 99.99 and 1/2% positive. I just Love all the people here!

Thanks again, Shelagh!!!!!
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http://www.weavingdreamspublishing.com
http://suesunshine.blogspot.com/
http://suesunshine.wordpress.com/

Subject: Re: Moderators on the forum Sat May 17, 2008 7:51 pm

You do a great job, Shelagh. I can't imagine anyone complaining. Ignore them.
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Mystery Writers of America, Private Eye Writers of America
www.dickstodghill.com

Three Star Member Joined : 17 Jan 2008 Posts : 179

Shelagh, I don't know much about a lot of folks here. But there are a few that I have crossed with on other boards, and I respect them all. You, Dick, Abe, Brenda, and perhaps a few more have all been on boards where things such as you described has happened. One such board was a pretty good place, until some of the members, and I was one of them, got into a shouting match. The moderator left, another took over, and to say she wanted to treat folks like kids is a very good way to put it. Many of us dissolved our membership, and the last time I looked at the board there were only a couple of posts made a week.

I can't speak for anyone else, but when I perceive myself to have come under attack, I will post accordingly. Maybe that's good, probably not, but it's the way I am. A good example is that Brenda and I have had some very, let's say colorful discussions at other places, and we don't agree on a lot of points. However, I think she is a talented author with a lot of offer to those who will listen, and while we have disagreed, it was I who invited her to come here, because she can add much to a board.

As much respect as I have for Dick, he and I have sometimes seen different sides of an issue. That doesn't mean I don't think of him as a friend, or that I don't think he is a great author and has some of the best advice a young writer could find.

I think you're right in that in the case of the moderator treating people like children or in feeling they have to intervene in every dispute, up to the point of deleting posts and driving people away, then less is almost always better. Most of the time these things work themselves out. When they sometimes don't, a person might get mad enough to leave, but that can't be helped.

We would not be writers, or putting our opinions out in public for the world to see, if we were timid or if we weren't strong minded people. Many of us think there are a lot of different ways to accomplish our goals, and in my opinion so long as we are pursuing them the best way we know how, none of us should say we are the only ones that know the best way. I would truly love to see some of the people that we have come to know through these message boards achieve a measure of success that takes them to the very top of the business. In fact, I hope each of you gets ten times out of this experience what you were looking for when you started.

I think the way this board is being handled is working, and I usually try to stop by a couple of times a day. If I make negative comments, please understand that most of the time I think I am just being realistic, and I'd rather someone know what might happen than to go blindly along expecting to be the next superstar. I hope someone does become that superstar, but I hope mostly that no one is completely devastated if it doesn't happen.

So, I'll shut up and hopefully no one will think this post is too negative.

Admin Joined : 11 Jan 2008 Posts : 1307 Location : UK

Thanks Sue, Dick and Don. I like colourful. It suits me. Life would be so dull if we all thought the same way. Very Happy

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Shelagh Watkins
http://shelaghwatkins.co.uk/

Four Star Member Joined : 20 Mar 2008 Posts : 482

I have noticed that the more moderators intervene the worse members behave.

Very saavy observation. I see a lot of real nazi "moderation" and it seems to just make things worse.

People respond to a negative post by locking the thread...and LEAVING THE NEGATIVE POSTS...instead of just deleting the post.

You almost NEVER see the sort of thing I used to do on a huge, widely-attacked forum: first notify the person and explain why they've come to attention.
The delete threads if necessary.

So anyway, good thinking, good job.
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Subject: Re: Moderators on the forum Sun May 18, 2008 5:43 am

I like it here.

cheers

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~ JoElle

Live like you mean it!
"Go not to the elves for counsel, for they will say both yes and no" - Tolkein
www.joellemartin.com
www.earthhoroscopes.com

Subject: Re: Moderators on the forum Sun May 18, 2008 7:06 am

Shelagh,
I think I've expressed my compliments about the job you've done and are still doing. As mentioned, sometimes moderators create havoc but feeling they "must" get involved and then they themselves lose their cool or objectivity. What you're doing now is working so it doesn't need fixed.

To follow a bit on what Don said, I think it is how we react says much about who we are. To just accept abuse without responding is too much to expect from anyone with self-respect. Either one gets down in the dirt with the other or decides to take the high road. A person who feels the need to perpetuate a rift with a "I must win this argument," that person is the loser. State your position briefly, and move on.
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"To Beirut and Back"
http://www.freewebs.com/abemarch

Subject: Re: Moderators on the forum Sun May 18, 2008 8:47 am

I think that this forum is the best forum on the planet, you're doing a wonderful job lassie (and that's no reference to a canine for the colonials) keep up the great work, we're with you 110% queen

and here's a cuppa rosy for you

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Welcome Earthlings
http://fly.to/rainbow689

Four Star Member Joined : 20 Mar 2008 Posts : 482

I just don't get this.

I don't see any negative or abusive posts here. Which would seem to mean that either the moderation is exceptionally good and quick or that it's a pretty polite bunch that doesn't need much policing.
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Subject: Re: Moderators on the forum Sun May 18, 2008 3:52 pm

I believe you are right on both counts, lin. It seems there is a lot of mutual respect on the parts of all the members, regardless of personal beliefs.
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Zada Connaway
Mother's Journals: parts 1, 2 and 3 ISBN # 1-4241-6969-0

http://www.zadaconnaway.com/

Subject: Re: Moderators on the forum Sun May 18, 2008 3:56 pm

To misquote a particular lady who came on at the end of The Morecambe and Wise Show:

I respect you all!

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Welcome Earthlings
http://fly.to/rainbow689