response to locked thread, concerning anomnity of moderators

[vi edit]

I thought that the thread that was locked a few minutes ago was an honest, and legitimate thread. It's title was unappropriate for the subject, but none the less I though that it did propose a very good question - is it best to keep the moderators identities hidden, as well as preventing any distinction between the various people who do moderate?

Here is the response that I had typed up before finding out that thread had been locked.

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<< Did you get banned and now are pissed off about it? >>



His name would suggest as such, but (s)he does propose a legitimate question. To some extent, the mods have tried to differentiate themselves, Mean Mod, Happy Mod, Grumpy Mod, ect, and it does give them some sort of unique personality, but I don't think that it works well.

This forum gets more new members in a week than some forums do in a year. You also have to keep in consideration that Anand is trying to run a professional and legitimate business first and foremost, and this forum is just a bonus to that success. Since the actions in this forum could possibly come back hurt his business, it needs to be moderated in a different fashion than your average ezboard forum.

The anomnyty of the moderators helps keep things even and tries it's best to keep the moderation consistent. I think that the way it is right now helps prevents "favorites" from being choosen also. It's just a very different forum, and needs to be moderated differently.
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Moderators, so long as we keep this discussion civil, and revelvent, can you please allow us to discuss it?
Thanks.

Yes you may discuss it in a civil manner.
I locked that thread up and sent it into another dimension because of the poster.
Carry on.

Read

AnandTech Moderator

 

[Migroo]

I think that the main point is that the moderators are kept anonymous so that anyone harbouring them malicious intent cannot easily direct that at anyone specific.

I like the way these forums are run, cant be easy...

 

[minendo]

mods are here to keep things civilized. the fact that (in theory) this guy was banned and rejoined under a different name only to complain is ridiculus.

You have to break the rules to get banned, so dont be pissed at the mods for doing their jobs. So what if they have certain personalities. It adds humor to the forums.

 

[vi edit]

Usually I agree with locking a thread from somebody who get's banned and then comes back for a pot shot or two. But I didn't agree with the locking of the thread in question because it was a legitmate question and the only thing halfway negative about it was the title. I have visited forums where the identies of the moderators were unique, and they did run a different show. But the overall scale of the forums was nothing like it is here. With a forum approaching upwards of 100,000 members, the rules are much different.

 

[Migroo]

<< It adds humor to the forums. >>



*me remembers mod quote*:

'The beatings will continue until morale improves'.

 

[pulse8]

Does it really matter either way? I don't know who the mods are, and I don't really care. Since they don't post anything I don't really think about who they are. Depending on what they post, it may lessen my respect for them.

The post that the other guy wrote was basically like a child saying, "But Billy's mom lets him!"

Who cares what they do on other forums? Why should that dictate how they run this one? If people like the way the other one is run, go post there. I don't have problems with the mods. I know the guidelines of the forum and follow that. I've seen what gets locked and what doesn't and know the limits.

If they decide to come out of the shell, then fine. I'm sure they are great guys. If they don't, then that's fine, too. I'm not going to tell Anand how to run his site. He's been doing just fine without me.

 

[KevinF]

I love the anonymous moderators at AnandTech.

As I'm sure people who used to frequent non-Anand boards know, there is way too much in the way of politics.

Z Person says "X-mod sucks because he banned Y Person"

Q Person says "Z Person sucks because X-mod is cool"

Here, justice, for the most part, is done.

 

[Viper GTS]

The ability to individually identify & contact the moderators would be a wonderful improvement to these forums.

It doesn't even need to be by their "real" ID, it can simply be a name ("Mean Mod," "Fun Mod," "PMS Mod," whatever), or even a number ("101"). That way if we have an issue with how a particular situation was handled we can address the moderator individually. Individual e-mail accounts could be created, as opposed to the virtually useless moderator@anandtech.com.

Viper GTS

 

[CowSandwich]

I want a mod quote.

 

[Tominator]

I was banned once for about 6 hours! I got into an argument with a Member and ZAP I was banned. Now then I put 2 and 2 together...Contacted another Member who I was sure was a Mod....Anyway we worked it out.

If you've been around here awhile, you can guess who the mods are and yes thay do post under user names when not 'Modding.'.

There numbers are not static and they come and go.

I could ventura a guess at who a few are, but I'll never tell more than this.

Personally I think they do a superb job and contribute in a large way in making Anantech Forums the best on the net.

Theis identities SHOULD NOT be known!

 

[Viper GTS]

Tominator...

I'm not saying their identities should be known, just that we should be able to identify them individually.

So if Moderator #1763 bans me I can e-mail him (moderator1763@anandtech.com) & ask what's up.

Viper GTS

 

[Tominator]

Well, why? If they all have access to the email sent to the mods what's the problem....besides everyone knows they all have multiple personalities....
Heck, we might NEED 1764 different identities!