Should the community make the rules?

[Thall303]

Perhaps it is time to CLOSE this thread?

 

[lman]

I think it might be better if the moderator did not participate in the problem thread. Any bias by the moderator always complicates things.

 

[RoyJackson]

Perhaps it is time to CLOSE this thread?

I think you're right
So far, TBN has received just over 100 votes

 

[Doughknob]

I think it might be better if the moderator did not participate in the problem thread. Any bias by the moderator always complicates things.

Which mod is participating?

 

[RoyJackson]

Which mod is participating?

I don't think we need to know that...
We've got all kinds of feedback, some good, some bad
If a mod isn't satisfied how things are going, he or she can always give up being a moderator. If the management isn't happy with a moderator's performance, they can replace the moderator

Some guys have posted that they moderate other forums (not TBN) and the issues involved...making good points since rules must be interpreted unless the rules states "absolutely no..."

In the 20+ years I've been on TBN, I always preferred non-controversial topics and posts. We're here to learn, teach (in some cases), but mostly enjoy. Can't do that when online feuds pop up...

 

[Hoodoo]

I voted Yes, but only because there was not a 3rd option. I believe the Admins/Owners should at least seek a little guidance from the members before moving forward with major decisions, because the members ARE the forum. At least that's what I would do, but what do I know?

 

[oldballs]

I'm surprised that there are not more votes. With over 300,000 members and around 230 members logged in right now, you'd think there would be more members voting as this thread continues.. What does that mean?

Cheers,
Mike

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm surprised that there are not more votes. With over 300,000 members and around 230 members logged in right now, you'd think there would be more members voting as this thread continues.. What does that mean?

Cheers,
Mike

Not untypical...most folks on these forums show up occasionally. Many of the 300K are probably not active at all...lot of folks come in for a question or something, than decide TBN isn't for them. Some are probably dead...

Online forums aren't too important to most folks....TBN is the only one I look at daily.

 

[Diggin It]

No email is required. No PM is required. They can be optional when warnings are issued.

All that needs to happen in an offending post is ......

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This is my opinion about whatever topic and ************ that's what I think.

::: Post edited by Moderator:::
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Leave everything that doesn't break a rule.


Several people that have excess time have volunteered to help out.

At least two of the Mods haven't been here for quite some time, so there are really only four that post at all and only one regularly does. Oddly enough, that one has been known to break some of the rules.

 

[crashz]

Curious, how many moderators are active on this site? Are they paid? Do they work in shifts? Is there at least one mod on at all times?

I think if we assume that moderators will be on all the time, we are expecting too much. Muhammed would need a full time payroll just to keep this site going. I think we are asking too much. Members here need to think of themselves as deputy moderators. Act accordingly and set an example. A lot of the members do this anyway.

Just wanted to point out that there is literally no arguing and no thread closures that I have ever seen over in the Country Cookin threads!

 

[shooterdon]

Some of the "problems" have been self-inflicted.

Members that have been "banned" get reinstated rather quickly. Like catch and release.

Constant bad actors have not been given time outs when they needed them, and some should have been banned but were treated with "moderation".

I have never reported a post on this forum. Might be interesting to know who is doing all the complaining that most of us feel is unwarranted.

We know J-walking is illegal. If LEO's spent their time enforcing it is that a good use of their time? The message is...sweating over the "small stuff " has caused members to leave.

Want to start???? Send Old Path a request to come back and let him know a line of scripture in his profile is not offensive. If that is too much of a compromise, God bless you!

"One nation under God"...we shouldn't need a 2x4 across the head to figure it out.

 

[tradosaurus]

Do you think we should allow the TBN members make the rules by way of proposing and voting on rules?

Over the years we've tried our best to make rules in the best interest of the community. Doing anything else would be counter-productive. But, maybe it's time for a new way of deciding the community rules.

I think its the interpretation of the rules that might in question by some of us.

I think the requirement for a moderator should be 1) owns a tractor 2) US citizen 3) Owns at least 5 acres land 4) At least 40 y.o. Not assuming you don't fit all of these categories I just think that should be a minimum.

I imagine most tractor owners as having conservative or traditional values and I think any moderation of posts should take that into consideration.

Personally, I hate people who report others, unless it someone's action could be considered a crime (threats of harm, harassment) as I consider that whining.

 

[ZTMAN]

My house my rules. Remember that?

That is fine, but if the rules are overbearing, people flee.

For me, status quo at this point. Just be reasonable.

 

[Jims1025R]

I think the requirement for a moderator should be 1) owns a tractor 2) US citizen 3) Owns at least 5 acres land 4) At least 40 y.o. Not assuming you don't fit all of these categories I just think that should be a minimum.

Hmmm.... I would meet all that, other than the citizenship part, I'm not sure how that's a factor. And, as a moderator of an international pilot forum, I do so as a 45 year pilot, 35 year airplane owner, and aerodrome owner. But...

The pilot forum also has non pilot moderators, people with maintenance, medical, computer or other relevant experience. That really helps! The non pilots will defer to we pilots for core pilot moderation stuff. A helicopter pilot moderator may defer to a fixed wing pilot if that's the discussion point. I know that one of our mods is a non pilot, very strong in computer skills. I will eagerly defer to other mods with respect to specialties I'm not strong in.

Here, you could have a moderator who has never plowed a furrow, but knows hydraulic systems very well, and so on... A moderator's value is a sum of their personal skills and disposition rather than a checklist. As for citizenship... well, to assure 24 hour attendance, we have moderators, in the UK, US, me in Canada, and Australia.

Personally, I hate people who report others,

Certainly a choice. Though understand that moderators don't read everything. And sometimes the most benign topic can generate a tempest in a teacup which needs attention. Sometimes a report is the only way mods know about it at an early stage, so they can do something before it becomes a thread drift street brawl.

 

[Doughknob]

So much input and opinion on rules, enforcement, breaking them, reporting others, etc. I hope we all have voted to get a vote else its all just whining……

 

[cqaigy2]

Man, now i'm hungry.

 

[LD1]

As someone that has moderated a busy forum, on a busy forum, asking moderators that are likely not paid, to take the time to write an explanation for each post that must be removed or otherwise moderated is an unreasonable request. It would lead to very little moderation being done at all. And if they are going to break the rules you already know that giving them an explanation will lead to more than one message and quite possibly an argument on why they are right. I'm sure the moderators here have better things to do with their time.

Then don't volunteer to be a moderator if you don't have time to do the job the right way.

Again, the rules aren't black and white. So determining what is too far over the line that warrants repercussions sometimes needs explained

 

[Thomas]

Keep site as is,bound to have couple hiccups in 20+ years...we're all guest here.

 

[fiddlearound]

Surprised that so many people in the good old USA approve of censorship.

 

[California]

I think the requirement for a moderator should be 1) owns a tractor 2) US citizen 3) Owns at least 5 acres land 4) At least 40 y.o. Not assuming you don't fit all of these categories I just think that should be a minimum.

But if you limit moderators to 'just like me' nobody will learn anything outside of their own, limited, expertise.

You just excluded the founder/site owner!!!!

Variety is one element that makes TBN interesting. A simple example is an injector pump shop owner, who appears in the Yanmar forum when his expertise is needed. I would never have any other exposure to that body of knowledge or an opportunity to ask questions. There are countless other examples on here - of things we never thought about before. This is where everyone's horizons are broadened.

Hydraulics, welding, trucking, land survey, lots of things appear here that don't need any of those qualifications to make a valuable contribution. (I meet all four of your qualificatiions, I'm not complaining for myself).