Ask a Moderator Series - Part 2
You ask, they answer
Friday, February 1, 2008 by Zoomba | Discussion: Virtual Communities
We're back again with another set of questions asked by you, and answered by members of the WinCustomize moderation team. Today we hear from WOM, Koasati, Zubaz, Elvee, Erk, Jafo, Starone, Quentin94 and Fuzzy Logic.
Remember to check back again next Friday for Part 3!
Question 1 -
What is the best thing about being a moderator? The worst? (Zubaz)
 Wizop WOM | |
| Being able to contribute to WC. I spend hours a day modding and watching the general forum. The worst thing is listening to all the crying and verbal attack from people that do not get their way. | |
 Super Wizop Koasati | |
| The best thing; Giving something back to the community. The worst; Cuts into my skinning time.  | |
 Wizop starone | |
| The best thing about being a mod is being able to contribute. The worst, hmmmm, I'm thinking...well, just haven't experienced a worst yet. | |
 Sir Zubaz | |
Why is it that when I reread my question as Zoomba formatted it, it looked to me that I was the worst thing about being a mod?  The best thing for me is knowing that Stardock had enough faith in me to trust part of what they'd created to me. I'd done a lot of growing up on these forums over the years with the help of more senior mods. That's great too. The worst thing for me is seeing some people piss in my house (figuratively) and not be able to beat them down like I sometimes want to. My job is to "moderate" . . sometimes I really don't want to.  | |
 Wizop Quentin94 | |
| To be able to help users and others skinners and to contribute to wincustomize.com The worst? ... Hum... Didn't found it for now | |
 Overseer Fuzzy Logic | |
| The best thing about being a mod is being in a position to have a positive impact on the site and the community. The hardest thing...um... keeping my mouth shut! I like to say what I think and sometimes say without thinking...! | |
 Moderator elvee | |
|
The best would be to having the privilege of being a Representative of WinCustomize, helping others to the best of my ability. I haven't had a worst yet. | |
 Admin Jafo | |
|
Having the opportunity to look out for everyone within the community. The worst....wondering how often you are getting it wrong. | |
 Wizop Erk. | |
| The best thing about being a moderator is being able to help out wherever possible, to keep things flowing as smoothly as I can. The worst thing? ...Spammers, and cleaning up after them. But even that's not much of a chore... | |
Question 2 -
Were you surprised when you were asked to become one? What were your thoughts? (Zubaz)
| Wizop WOM | |
| Yes I was suprised , shocked and happy. | |
| Super Wizop Koasati | |
| Yes, very surprised. My thoughts were no doubt very similar to the ones I'm having right now.... | |
| Wizop starone | |
| Yes, I was definitely surprised about being asked to be a mod. My thoughts were those of disbelief until reality hit. | |
| Sir Zubaz | |
| I was flabbergasted when I was invited to join the ranks. I really didn't think I was worthy/ready. Jafo spent lots of time in IRC and PM helping me get settled. | |
| Wizop Quentin94 | |
| Truly honored and surprized that they gave me my chance to help more this wonderful site. | |
| Overseer Fuzzy Logic | |
| Yes, a little. At the time I joined the team the site was in a state of change: the messageboard was an unpleasant place to be, a lot of the longer serving mods had moved on to other projects. Behind the scenes I'd exchanged quite a few e-mails about what could be done to turn things around, so I knew someone was listening, but I never expected the invitation. My first thought was at last I could help in a meaningful way. Hopefully I have. | |
| Moderator elvee | |
|
Very much surprised. | |
| Admin Jafo | |
|
Yes. There were lots of people I could think of at the site's beginning who had been around as long as I...and would have been suited. | |
| Wizop Erk. | |
|
I was very surprised at being asked. My biggest goal at the time was to make it to Journeyman, so it kind of exceeded my own expectations. Like Starone, I also couldn't believe I'd been chosen ...but I'm very grateful that I was. | |
Question 3 -
Is it anything like you expected? (Zubaz)
| Wizop WOM | |
| Yes, its what I expected, having been at the site from almost the begining and seeing what goes on. | |
| Super Wizop Koasati | |
| I had previously been a mod/admin at lotsofskins.com, and skinbase.org, so I had a general idea of what to expect. | |
| Wizop starone | |
| Was definitely nervous about the responsibility but do enjoy doing it. | |
| Sir Zubaz | |
| Looking back it seemed a pretty natural extension of what I was doing as "one of the guys". the biggest surprise for me was the way I started editing my responses. I found myself thinking "How best to say this as a representative of Stardock and Wincustomize?" "What response is best for the community?" Sometimes I think that's part of Zoomba's master plan to shut me up. (Ed: It didn't seem to work...) | |
| Wizop Quentin94 | |
| Yes and more. Anyway thanks to the "older" mods for the help given to find my way. | |
| Overseer Fuzzy Logic | |
| Hmmm, I'm not sure I knew what to expect... | |
| Moderator elvee | |
|
Mixed on that. I knew some of the things to expect. Other things I didn't know, so I was a little nervous at first. | |
| Admin Jafo | |
|
Yes. I think I knew the SD crew long/well enough to know what it'd be like to be caught up in it all. | |
| Wizop Erk. | |
| It was pretty much as I'd expected it to be. I'd had a little insight into it by paying attention to what the current moderators were doing. I was a little worried that I'd goof it up at first, but I got some great tips from Zoomba & Jafo [and others (thanks) ] and it all just went from there. | |
Question 4 -
What's the hardest thing you've had to do as a mod? (Zubaz)
| Wizop WOM | |
| Vote on someone being demoted. Its easy to recomend someone for promotion but to then take it away. | |
| Super Wizop Koasati | |
Learning to bite my tounge.  I tend to say what I mean, and can be to the point (blunt). I can also be a bit of a smart***...... In text format this can easily be construed as arrogance. I'm trying to do better. | |
| Wizop starone | |
| Humm, the hardest thing about being a mod....not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings. | |
| Sir Zubaz | |
| I have to agree with Fuzzy . . there are times when I am not able to really go off on topics that I'd like to jump in. I've thought about creating a pseudonym but think I'd be too transparent and everyone would know it was me. {In truth they'd just have to count the typos} | |
| Wizop Quentin94 | |
| I think the hardest thing should be to don't make mistakes/errors | |
| Overseer Fuzzy Logic | |
| The hardest thing is probably having to distance myself from some of the most emotive topics. Sometimes I would really like to say what I think... | |
| Moderator elvee | |
|
Ha ha! | |
| Admin Jafo | |
|
I had a 'wee drama' on the Forums.....a 'clever' individual was being an arse and it was actually impossible to sort it or him 'easily'.....so I shut down the forums totally - pulled the plug. I wasn't even sure at the time I was supposed to be able to...but I'd found this nice neat 'off' button....so I used it. Probably ten/twenty minutes later....caught up with Frogboy...and between the two of us we cleaned up the mess. | |
| Wizop Erk. | |
| The hardest thing? ... Diplomacy. Sometimes, in certain situations, you feel like you could 'tear someone [read: spam posters] a new one' ...but commonsense prevails mostly. I always re-read everything before I post it ~in the hopes that I'm conveying the message correctly. It's a rare thing that you have to come down on anyone anyway, these days. | |
Hoping not to mess up. Question 5 -
Is the job rewarding to you? (HG_Eliminator)
| Wizop WOM | |
| Yes it is rewarding, being able to directly help the site I love and the people. Interacting with people that I've known for years and to meet some new one. | |
| Super Wizop Koasati | |
Yes, I enjoy helping, and WC is where most of my cyber-family hangs out.  | |
| Wizop starone | |
|
Yes, it is rewarding. | |
| Sir Zubaz | |
| I get so much out of being a part of this commnity that if I had to step down as a mod it'd be fine. But the truth is that I'd like to think I help make WC a better place. This place holds my closest friends, keeping it on an even keel with the rest of the mods is a thrill I wouldn't likely trade. | |
| Wizop Quentin94 | |
| Yes, really rewarding. Definitively loving it | |
| Overseer Fuzzy Logic | |
| Absolutely. I wouldn't swap the job for anything. Making a contibution to something so worthwhile is the biggest reward anyone could have. | |
| Moderator elvee | |
|
Very rewarding! Wouldn't trade it for anything. | |
| Admin Jafo | |
|
Yes. Though with me being 14 to 16 hours out of whack with the US ...I have a quite odd daily timetable - very odd sleeping hours....no sexlife ... Even my cat complains....she's doing it right now....1.00 am, Sunday morning as I type this .... having spent 10 hours today house-building - not the cat, - me... | |
| Wizop Erk. | |
| I definitely enjoy it ...I get to see the newest stuff before most others do, and as I've said many times ...we have an awesome community here now. It makes it fun to do, and that's rewarding enough in itself. | |
Reply #2 Saturday, February 2, 2008 5:40 PM
We'll remember that, next time you submit something IR 
(j/k)
Reply #3 Saturday, February 2, 2008 7:00 PM
Up yours!!
...............How's that? 
Reply #4 Saturday, February 2, 2008 7:13 PM
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Reply #1 Friday, February 1, 2008 12:24 PM