Can Posters be impartial Moderators?

(Not referring to anyone in particular or any incident of SHOCKING Bad Moderating in the past week!)

I ask, can posters be impartial Mods when they are regular posters?

Is it not human nature to form bonds with some posters and not others!

If someone has a dislike for someone else is it just too difficult to seperate poster persona from Mod duties?

Should Mods have the power to ban people up to a permanent ban?

I think there is a very important role for Mods as there are a lot of Trolls on the forum especially when the Managers knock off. However I disagree with the power to ban people for any length of time except till when the Managers are back on duty so they can judge the system fairly (in most situations).

I also think post removal should only be done where there was clear abuse or of an illegal nature as when posts dissapear it leads to suggestions of unfairness and cover up! (I witnessed this occur myself not so long ago)

Please discuss!

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Originally Posted by dannyboy10

(Not referring to anyone in particular or any incident of SHOCKING Bad Moderating in the past week!)

I ask, can posters be impartial Mods when they are regular posters?

Is it not human nature to form bonds with some posters and not others!

If someone has a dislike for someone else is it just too difficult to seperate poster persona from Mod duties?

Should Mods have the power to ban people up to a permanent ban?

I think there is a very important role for Mods as there are a lot of Trolls on the forum especially when the Managers knock off. However I disagree with the power to ban people for any length of time except till when the Managers are back on duty so they can judge the system fairly (in most situations).

I also think post removal should only be done where there was clear abuse or of an illegal nature as when posts dissapear it leads to suggestions of unfairness and cover up! (I witnessed this occur myself not so long ago)

Please discuss!

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Think an example of this could be if someone works as an apprentice in some trade for a company then goes on to manage that company they should be able to detach themselves from any friendships formed during the apprenticeship to manage effectively. Probably the same here as it will depend in the individual doing the moderating so there is probably no one right answer the same as many things in life. In most cases though common sense and detatchment from friendships formed should prevail. I also believe that in any functioning community there has to be some form of governance and law so moderators are necessary to enforce this and like any society breaking the rules or the law carry different penalties including permanent bans. Guess it's like a manager having deputies to enforce things in the manager's absence. That's about all I can try to answer as really not been here long enough to discuss more.

In short no I don't think anyone could be impartial, everyone has their own views and becoming a mod could never change their own personal view.

As for bans some have been fair some harsh and recently some have been unfair.

CG

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Originally Posted by dannyboy10

(Not referring to anyone in particular or any incident of SHOCKING Bad Moderating in the past week!)

I ask, can posters be impartial Mods when they are regular posters?

Is it not human nature to form bonds with some posters and not others!

If someone has a dislike for someone else is it just too difficult to seperate poster persona from Mod duties?

Should Mods have the power to ban people up to a permanent ban?

I think there is a very important role for Mods as there are a lot of Trolls on the forum especially when the Managers knock off. However I disagree with the power to ban people for any length of time except till when the Managers are back on duty so they can judge the system fairly (in most situations).

I also think post removal should only be done where there was clear abuse or of an illegal nature as when posts dissapear it leads to suggestions of unfairness and cover up! (I witnessed this occur myself not so long ago)

Please discuss!

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Short Answer to that is No they cant
They are only human and they will devolop a certain bond with some that they wont with
others and they may try to be impartial they may think they are impartial but once u develop
any type of relationship with people all it be a cyber one u can no longer be truly impartial

i do agreeing AND concur with all of the above statements, deedin i do

I don't think they can. But then, you already know that lol
What would be interesting is to hear why people become moderators.

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Originally Posted by UKHeather

I don't think they can. But then, you already know that lol
What would be interesting is to hear why people become moderators.

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A love of all things Scotish! :)

I'm Scottish and I didn't feel much love this weekend lol

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Originally Posted by dannyboy10

I ask, can posters be impartial Mods when they are regular posters?

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Possibly, but it would be very difficult. More importantly, I don't think they could be seen to be impartial. The suspicion will always be there, justified or not.

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Is it not human nature to form bonds with some posters and not others!

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Yes.

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If someone has a dislike for someone else is it just too difficult to seperate poster persona from Mod duties?

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Yes. To be honest, this would be a problem even if the mods didn't post regularly. If they have had problems with a poster in the past then they will be harder on him in the future. It's more of a problem with mods who post regularly, because they may have problems with another poster that have nothing to do with moderation.

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Should Mods have the power to ban people up to a permanent ban?

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Probably not. I think that's probably just something left over from the time when there were no managers. In some sense it doesn't make much difference, since the managers end up reviewing controversial bannings anyway.

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I think there is a very important role for Mods as there are a lot of Trolls on the forum especially when the Managers knock off. However I disagree with the power to ban people for any length of time except till when the Managers are back on duty so they can judge the system fairly (in most situations).

I also think post removal should only be done where there was clear abuse or of an illegal nature as when posts dissapear it leads to suggestions of unfairness and cover up! (I witnessed this occur myself not so long ago)

Please discuss!

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To be fair, I think Pat has generally learned her lesson. None of the mods she has appointed recently was a prominent poster before. And the managers were brought in because she was tired of reviewing mods' decisions herself. One thing which worries me is that the managers are becoming active posters. I'm not sure that's wise. Even if it doesn't affect their impartiality, it will definitely affect the appearance of impartiality, which is their main asset at this point.

Death to the Mods !

I was not on over the weekend when problems occurred, so I have generalised in this post regarding my opinions regarding moderation in general.

Moderating for me Is like when a person is promoted to a management position.
A different hat is worn, where friendship and ties although important must sadly take second place for the greater good.

I believe when a poster becomes a moderator, that person can no longer post what she/he always believes but must post with the moderator hat on, exercising discretion and fairness at all times.

This may cause difficulties with previous friendships, but there is no way around it.

I missed the activities over the weekend, so do not understand what went on.

All I can say is that a position of authority can at times be a lonely place where sometimes difficult decisions have to made.

They may not be popular, but as long as the person did so with good intentions, then the decision was made for the greater good.
Sometimes we may regret some decisions, but have to stand by them at times.

It's hard to judge a person unless you have been put into that position.

Just a generalisation, and my two peneth worth!

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Originally Posted by dannyboy10

(Not referring to anyone in particular or any incident of SHOCKING Bad Moderating in the past week!)

I ask, can posters be impartial Mods when they are regular posters?

Is it not human nature to form bonds with some posters and not others!

If someone has a dislike for someone else is it just too difficult to seperate poster persona from Mod duties?

Should Mods have the power to ban people up to a permanent ban?

I think there is a very important role for Mods as there are a lot of Trolls on the forum especially when the Managers knock off. However I disagree with the power to ban people for any length of time except till when the Managers are back on duty so they can judge the system fairly (in most situations).

I also think post removal should only be done where there was clear abuse or of an illegal nature as when posts dissapear it leads to suggestions of unfairness and cover up! (I witnessed this occur myself not so long ago)

Please discuss!

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All the above correct and agreed.
Straight answer no they cannot .: doc

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Originally Posted by dr love

All the above correct and agreed.
Straight answer no they cannot .: doc

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Sorry Doc "they" are on some issues very straight, others not so, and even others silent!

i dont think anybody can really be impartial.
i have noticed mods and staff seem to have their pet posters that get away with a lot that some posters would be banned for.

Simply put, I don't believe that any regular poster/ punter or active escort should be given any form of moderator/management roll with banning or infraction ability. Don't get me wrong I appreciate what the mods do, compatitions, escort of the month etc. but human nature doesn't allow for impartiality. Be it down to a punters bad experience with an escort, a bad review written about a girl, a bitchy remark on a thread made about a mod by a poster or visa versa, impartiality can not exist in a group situation when you are deemed to have a superior roll to your peers with the ability to punish them, be it in a vindictive manner or not.

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Originally Posted by n73

Simply put, I don't believe that any regular poster/ punter or active escort should be given any form of moderator/management roll with banning or infraction ability. Don't get me wrong I appreciate what the mods do, compatitions, escort of the month etc. but human nature doesn't allow for impartiality. Be it down to a punters bad experience with an escort, a bad review written about a girl, a bitchy remark on a thread made about a mod by a poster or visa versa, impartiality can not exist in a group situation when you are deemed to have a superior roll to your peers with the ability to punish them, be it in a vindictive manner or not.

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I would consider what u have said a very fair assesment of the situation which any rational person would find hard to argue against

Aw, thanks man, I think I can feel the mutual respect gene pulsing through my veins !