Following on from the âForum Mods (not this site)â topic, it has been about three and a half months since I got the PM from Wez asking if I would consider joining the Crew. To be honest, I was flattered to be asked but I really wasn't sure I wanted it. That was mostly based on the fact that I know personally a couple of people who are or have been Mods on an inland waterways forum I use (but haven't visited for a while). I have to say though that there's a faction on that forum who seem to enjoy bickering and back-stabbing, and the Mods I know have told me it's a thankless task and their PM inboxes are permanently full of gripes and tittle-tattle.
Anyway, Wez asked nicely, I felt honoured that the site crew would trust me with the position, and I was curious about what went on behind the scenes. I don't know if you've ever noticed but when you enter the Members' Zone and turn right into the Snug, on the left there's a door marked âprivateâ, and I wanted to see where it led. Well through there is the Moderators' Lounge (a glorified broom cupboard) and the steps down to the cells.
I have jokingly said in the past that no prisoners are taken on this forum when it comes to spammers but that's not strictly true. On day one I was welcomed into the Crew Room and told where the black suits and nunchucks were kept, but when I asked about those nattly little throwing stars I was politely but firmly told to go take a running jump. As a Mod I don't have access to the sort of weaponry which the Admin have got, I can't shoot on sight, all I can do is lock offenders up and prevent them from posting any more. I tend to keep one piece of evidence against them and delete anything else, then the rest of the site crew can check on my arrest. No-one has yet said âyou've got this one wrong, let them goâ. Some of the offenders mysteriously disappear but mostly they are just left to rot. I thought one had escaped a few days ago because neither the culprit nor his golf clubs were anywhere to be found, but on investigation it transpired that he has been taken out back and harpooned by the Inuit.
I've been clearing out the evidence locker (because you only need so much golf gear) and my head-count to date seems to be:
16/9/2010: llinyun (designer knock-offs, 4 threads) & janet986w (online videos)
14/10/2010: yuanyuan7 (Vietnam tourism, 4 threads)
20/10/2010: shopping894 and lucyly78 (Tiffany jewellery, 2 threads each)
29/10/2010: hotxxl007 (golf clubs, 3 threads)
10/11/2010: jadelicosner89 (online gaming, 1 thread)
13/11/2010: apple1 and juicy1 (DVD box sets, 2 threads each)
26/11/2010: SalanuNI1 and tracyk859 (unsure, think it was online videos). Moderation Log shows that I arrested them but membership database shows no trace that they were ever here at all, last seen going for a walk with Wez.
1/12/2010: alexmax021 (golf clubs, 1 thread)
3/12/2010: gloriadmaurice (African wines, 1 thread)
11/12/2010: machel1224 (golf clubs, 3 threads)
14/12/2010: Market11 (golf clubs, 2 threads)
15/12/2010: tina88 (Reebok NFL jerseys, 4 threads).
Don't forget that's just my trophy collection, I tend to log on between 6-7am and sweep out any **** that's been brought in during the small hours, but I'm just one trainee Ninja and the rest of the crew get their fair share too.
As far as other duties are concerned I am delighted to say that most of the forum members have got the boundaries pretty well sussed and there is remarkable little Crew intervention required, so thanks to everyone concerned for making the job so easy, it really is a great forum.
Anyway, Wez asked nicely, I felt honoured that the site crew would trust me with the position, and I was curious about what went on behind the scenes. I don't know if you've ever noticed but when you enter the Members' Zone and turn right into the Snug, on the left there's a door marked âprivateâ, and I wanted to see where it led. Well through there is the Moderators' Lounge (a glorified broom cupboard) and the steps down to the cells.
I have jokingly said in the past that no prisoners are taken on this forum when it comes to spammers but that's not strictly true. On day one I was welcomed into the Crew Room and told where the black suits and nunchucks were kept, but when I asked about those nattly little throwing stars I was politely but firmly told to go take a running jump. As a Mod I don't have access to the sort of weaponry which the Admin have got, I can't shoot on sight, all I can do is lock offenders up and prevent them from posting any more. I tend to keep one piece of evidence against them and delete anything else, then the rest of the site crew can check on my arrest. No-one has yet said âyou've got this one wrong, let them goâ. Some of the offenders mysteriously disappear but mostly they are just left to rot. I thought one had escaped a few days ago because neither the culprit nor his golf clubs were anywhere to be found, but on investigation it transpired that he has been taken out back and harpooned by the Inuit.
I've been clearing out the evidence locker (because you only need so much golf gear) and my head-count to date seems to be:
16/9/2010: llinyun (designer knock-offs, 4 threads) & janet986w (online videos)
14/10/2010: yuanyuan7 (Vietnam tourism, 4 threads)
20/10/2010: shopping894 and lucyly78 (Tiffany jewellery, 2 threads each)
29/10/2010: hotxxl007 (golf clubs, 3 threads)
10/11/2010: jadelicosner89 (online gaming, 1 thread)
13/11/2010: apple1 and juicy1 (DVD box sets, 2 threads each)
26/11/2010: SalanuNI1 and tracyk859 (unsure, think it was online videos). Moderation Log shows that I arrested them but membership database shows no trace that they were ever here at all, last seen going for a walk with Wez.
1/12/2010: alexmax021 (golf clubs, 1 thread)
3/12/2010: gloriadmaurice (African wines, 1 thread)
11/12/2010: machel1224 (golf clubs, 3 threads)
14/12/2010: Market11 (golf clubs, 2 threads)
15/12/2010: tina88 (Reebok NFL jerseys, 4 threads).
Don't forget that's just my trophy collection, I tend to log on between 6-7am and sweep out any **** that's been brought in during the small hours, but I'm just one trainee Ninja and the rest of the crew get their fair share too.
As far as other duties are concerned I am delighted to say that most of the forum members have got the boundaries pretty well sussed and there is remarkable little Crew intervention required, so thanks to everyone concerned for making the job so easy, it really is a great forum.
:whistle: 
it can take up a fair bit of time occasionally, it ain't always easy and you can seldom (if ever) keep everyone happy, the pays ****, but the craic and the fun can be magnificent which is what makes it worth the effort 
