Hello, I've moderated mailing lists in the past and one thing that's in my personal opinion a good thing to have is a thick skin. As a moderator in my opinion you have to accept an opinion or position that is different from yours even though you may whole heartedly disagree with it and never want to see it onlist.
For example, the topic of Visual Basic, yes it's a no longer supported language by Microsoft as Thomas pointed out, but in the back of his mind or the undertones of his message was he thinking I wish no one would bring up this language ever again? We can't know what he was thinking and this is purely an example, but the moderator's job is not to delve out opinions and punish or moderate those who disagree. I read in a posting earlier this morning that a disagreement went private, and moderation was threatened against a list member and carried out. I can't remember who that member was, but frankly you should have taken that one to the list owner slash other moderators and asked for a majority ruling on it. I say that because it was unfair to the user. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that as a former list moderator I always thought to have two electronic email personas, one the moderator and under a different address than the user. My reason for this is quite simple, a user can say things that a moderator should have to step on and quash. For example, a user insults another user, which I agree this did not happen initially but as the discussion went back and forth frustrations raged that was very apparent. As a moderator that user who insulted the other one should be stopped in the way appropriate to the list's stated policies. Now turn that around, say it was the moderator who for reasons unknown insulted a user. What happens, because it's a moderator what's the user do? If he fires back he's moderated or punished. This is not condusive to the role of a moderator. Like other users before me have stated this has stunned me! I can't think of a word stronger for it. I hope that this level of discourse will not continue. Dave. PS, to the remaining moderators can you please implement some kind of outbound content scanner on your email server so it traps and quarantines swearing messages? In my opinion again, I seem to be qualifying a lot of my statements, but I felt those were totally out of line. On 7/20/11, Richard Claridge <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi all. > I cannot believe what has gone on here, and really how blinded people have > been. > Many of the responses in the last couple of hours since Thomas left I > just can't understand. I think people need to reread what has > happened. > The person I feel most sorry for is Che. From what I understand and > have read this all kicked off because of Thomas having his opinion on > programming languages, which he messaged about in terms that were > misunderstood by many. To be honest I do think the way Thomas writes > can very often seem like he is coming across as superior because of > his college training in programming and years of experience etc. I > know he offers lots of people advice and fully respect this, but he > does preach a lot as well. So Che wrote back expressing his > displeasure at Thomas's words and his way of writing. Now if people > read Che's message or messages back they will hopefully see that > nowhere in this did he personally attack Thomas, just the way Thomas > wrote and how it came across to him. Then Thomas basically flew off > the handle and started swaring and personally insulting Che, which I > thought was disgusting. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we lose > another developer here in Che because of Thomas's reaction and others > later support for him and open hostilitytowards Che. > I think Thomas is really a great guy who has been put under pressure > by people too much with regards to bringing out MOTA etc. I do believe > this community has itself to blaim a lot for winding up developers and > expecting too much. But Thomas's reaction was so over the top and out > of order from a list member, but a moderator as well, well frankly its > not on. > I think its a real shame that MOTA is not going to be worked on for a > while at least, and we could lose it forever, as I like the game and > was looking forward to it. Thomas has always informed the community > too much in a way of what has been going on with MOTA and taking too > many suggestions etc on board in my opinion. Making the game how > people wanted it not how he wanted it. This has been a lot of his > problem, and he has lost the excitment and enjoyment of creating this > game because of this. > I think Darren in a way has got it spot on about him bringing up a > load of stuff in his last message or two, Thomas I mean, about his > marriage etc, this is unnecessary and is intentionally or not, an > attempt to put the blaim on certain people other than himself. > Che, you never personaly insulted Thomas, and I hope otheres realise > this. I hope you stay with us and don't take Thomas's disgusting words > and personal attacks to heart. > Damien I think as a moderator you are being too biast, Thomas is a > good guy yes, but he has been totally out of order here regardless of > which buttons have been pushed. I am a personal friend of yours and > don't wantt to fall out over this but I think you've got it wrong, an > you should be discouraging people from attacking Che whether by name > or not, and be as objective as you possibly can. > I will stop now, for now, I am upset by this whole thing, and hope > people will really look at the entire situation rather than just > taking sides with the developer who was here first. I think many of > you have got it wrong. > Cheers > Richard > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > [email protected]. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to [email protected]. > --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected]. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [email protected].
