How about a web team? Instead...

[magnosis]

That was just a perfect example of why moderators are needed



I've administered forums before (as webmaster, programmer, and/or designer).  This is ok, it's just a technical job.

I've moderated forums, too (as virtual policeman). This is painful. You get to deal with all the newbies posting stuff in the wrong threads, try to cool of flame wars, try to decide what passes and what fails, and so forth.


In my opinion, there needs to be a minimal amount of moderators (like, one per 20-30 members) such that the pain is distributed, and to help minimize the risk that any moderator become fed up with the junk that gets posted, and inevitably become biased for / against particular members.

As a rule of thumb, you could say that anyone on this site with a 3-5% contribution to the total amount of post qualifies as moderator.
Or, anyone with, say, 1000+ posts.

Being a moderator can either be a privilege ("I would like to") or a responsibility ("you have to").  It's up to the site creator/owner/administrator to decide.

[robt18]

^Using postcount as a qualification for moderation is scaring me a little bit This could encourage people to spam the board like crazy in order to have more control over what they can spam...

I've mod'd on a few boards as well... there was a lot less tolerance on those than there is here, with more warnings, bans and permabans issued than ever have been on this board. Obviously with a paying membership situation a different set of rules and guidelines have to be used. However for those who come on and say bad things about the club/exec they wouldn't have many strikes before they were 'dismissed' from the site.

[FocusFin]

If this idea were to come to fruition, this is exactly what's going to happen.Great idea Dan, but unfortunately, as history has indicated, the current execs don't take others' suggestions very seriously. With most of the same faces returning next year, this isn't likely going to change.

I thought making the classifieds members-only was supposed to fix this issue. That was one of the arguments that the proponents kept on insisting was going to happen.

For me, it's the principles. I don't agree with the current Executives and their conducts so I will not join the club for that reason. It doesn't matter if the club fees are $1 or $100.

I'm willing to bet that this thread will just get locked up and/or deleted.

It's this kind of arrogance from the Execs that I caused me to change my mind about joining the club.

If you're going to post a reply to formally address an issue on behalf of the club, lose the condescending tone. Believe it or not, everyone here is an adult even if they disagree with your point of view.

The execs are just not interested in what people think.

I don't know about you, but I consider shutting out non-members from the Classified a pretty selfish thing to do.

Don't be surprised if the membership volume drops in the upcoming session. I was ready to join when August comes around but I've since reconsidered after reading about the recent changes.

I was planning on joining the club when the next session starts but after all these changes that won't happen. Frankly, all I see this as is a small group of individuals wanting to increase further increase their exclusivity by limiting access by non-members. The reasoning behind all these changes is laughable. How exactly does restricting access to the classified "reinforce that this site is an extension of a community of hobbyists?"

Pretty impressive body of work we have here. If anyone ever deserved a ban from this site it is this individual.

I once chimed in on a thread at Aquaria Canada complaining about Burc from Frag-a-Lot and received a permanent ban and I was a lot more respectful than this guy. A year later several people at AC were trashing Burc, even the moderator Ivan joined in. I asked to have my ban removed...not a chance!

If I have one complaint about OVAS it would be that the exec is too tolerant of this type of individual.

[magnosis]

^^^ couldn't agree more. ^^^

[magnosis]

^Using postcount as a qualification for moderation

I meant, as an entry point. Obviously it can't be automatic, for the reasons you mentioned.

People that are here often know who makes considerable amounts of good contributions vs who don't. It would be obvious if some random guy just appeared out of nowhere and got 1000 posts the week after.

[dan2x38]

Guys please leave the past where it is and the threads from the past there too. Rehashing these issues only reduces the actual intent of a thread and specifically this one.

Lets try to stay on topic please and anyone wanting to post be respectful to everyone. We can agree to disagree and not be rude or attack one another about a disagreement. There are fish reserved for such thread crapping...

Back on topic I agree with Rob about post counts being a consideration. They are not an indication a person is a ggood or bad canidate for any position within OVAS or for OVAS. A more progressive approach might be to have a time period open for those willing to do such tasks as mod or admin help. After that deadline post a poll with the names but hide the results from everyone. Then use those results to consider the members for those tasks.

To me an approach like this would be good for the membership and on line users. They would not be able to say OH they were handed picked by just the exec. The webmaster would still have the final say but use this as a tool and help to make an unbiased decision on a team accepted by the forum. I think when someone receives a PM from a mod they thought was a good suggestion would be received much better. Know what I mean? OR something like that dare? 

[Vincenzo.]

lol - webmaster can decide this. i personally dont think its necesarry. before ppl are mods and super mods and webteam, and whatever else, maybe they should try and run for a position and put the time in. and see how hard it is to keep everyone happy. im totally for the voice of the member, non member, and anyone in between, and in the midst of it all, we actually discuss everyones feelings, ideas, opinions and try to adjust. it`s hard sometimes to deal with all the voiced opinions but we are making the effort. im sure this is another idea that will be discussed in the up coming exec meeting. thanks dan for the idea. thats for the positive input from everyone. and we`ll c what happens.

[garnpet]

I long ago decided that there will be a group of moderators for the forum - it is just simply too much effort and time for one person to do it.

I've been on vacation for the past 4 weeks (little internet, no phone, no TV, no OVAS).  I will be posting details and asking for volunteers when I get home later this week.

http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=46170

[presto]

A consultant to review how the website is run and offer changes that would improve usability, accessibility and other issues might be better than a web team. The forum is what makes OVAS popular and an unbiased professional could do wonders if the advice is followed.

[JetJumper]

A consultant to review how the website is run and offer changes that would improve usability, accessibility and other issues might be better than a web team. The forum is what makes OVAS popular and an unbiased professional could do wonders if the advice is followed.

I think with the way things have been changed currently there is a pretty good system in place. 

[ray]

A consultant to review how the website is run and offer changes that would improve usability, accessibility and other issues might be better than a web team. The forum is what makes OVAS popular and an unbiased professional could do wonders if the advice is followed

Hi was just wondering how you would  propose paying a consulting fee when already many people resent having to buy a club membership.The online is also just one proponent of the club.


Ray

[presto]

"I think with the way things have been changed currently there is a pretty good system in place."

Nothing drastically wrong now but complacency breeds mediocrity. It never hurts to keep pushing and not everyone is satisfied. Just difference of opinion.

"Hi was just wondering how you would  propose paying a consulting fee when already many people resent having to buy a club membership.The online is also just one proponent of the club."

Simple, make a decision to do it and then do it. Just 2 seconds and I am thinking Make the sponsors pay,  Create a "web sale" with members donating items(I've got plants and fish to give), drive up traffic and sell more ads. I don't know, these are small issues that shouldn't prevent action. I think the majority agree the forum is OVAS since I don't see thousands of people at the meetings so the forum deserves the most attention. I also believe people resent other people and never money so the blame is not where you place it IMO.

Best of luck on this site. I do hope to see it grow beyond what it is now.

[Hookup]

Good ideas, but just curious, is there anything specific you are looking at?  This site seems on-par with others of similar nature.  And IMO it's not complacency, it is that the site works so why mess with it.  The wheel is still round kind of thing.