How do you become a Moderator for this site??

[RNsoon!]

I was just curious.I just came across a few posts created by super Moderators ..soo uhmmm...yeah... How does one become a SUPER MODERATOR?

[flashpoint]

I don't think the term "play nice" is meant to be demeaning at all...it is simply a general way of saying don't attack, don't flame, don't get off topic, don't swear, etc...basically, just be nice to each other. More often than not, I agree with the moderators when they close a thread or edit a post, a few times, I have been annoyed when they closed a thread, but in the overall scheme of things, it doesn't matter. If I have more to say, I can always start another thread. :) I would much rather have humans moderating a board than the automatic computerized sensors...at least you can reason with another human and a human doesn't stop you from posting things that look obscene when they really aren't. I post on a board that throws out posts with Virginia in them becasue virgin is on the list of unpostable (is that even a word) words!

[Corvette Guy]

Respect should always be mutual, whether the people are moderators or not.

:kiss ... thank you for posting that thought.

[leslie :-D]

I haven't seen this asked yet, but are the minimum requirements that the applicant MUST be an RN, with the exception of the CNA forum?

I'm just curious. I wouldn't mind being a mod while I'm in nursing school. I'm wondering if this is possible?

I WILL get my RN one day, and I do have a lot of knowledge about the work due to self study, and my mom was a nurse.

Just curious...

Thanks for any answers... :)

i have seen a couple of mods that were student nurses.

one is currently a student nurse.

the other, recently graduated but was a mod long before that.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Apparently I jumped into this one a little too quickly. Marie, I'm sorry that I didn't read your post more carefully. And Leslie, you raise some good points.

[Corvette Guy]

when it comes to the tos and any subsequent violations, then it is clear as to why certain interventions are implemented.

but when 1 mod personally believes in healthy, animated debating, but another mod may think it's getting too heated and there are no concrete violations, there lie the inconsistencies.

one mod may close a thread, prematurely to some.

whereas another mod lets it continue.

it's when the varied 'perspectives' of what is appropriate or not, is when it sometimes gets frustrating.

but i very much respect brian and his vision of what this bb represents.

i think we all agree on that. :)

leslie

Leslie, I just want to let you know I appreciate your comments greatly. In fact, I can relate to your words more than I'm able to express openly.

However, I've had time to ponder perspectives, and inconsistencies along with what is ultimately best for this site. In the end, the Mods do an outstanding job.

[leslie :-D]

Leslie, I just want to let you know I appreciate your comments greatly. In fact, I can relate to your words more than I'm able to express openly.

However, I've had time to ponder perspectives, and inconsistencies along with what is ultimately best for this site. In the end, the Mods do an outstanding job.

aw, good for you cg.

isn't it wonderful when after a period of introspection, you've evolved, feeling humbled yet optimistic?

and these personal journeys result in appreciable milestones that only serve to improve our relationship w/man.

you must feel good about yourself. :)

well, this old chickee is going to bed.

have to be up in 4 hrs, to start my day.

sweet dreams, all.

leslie

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Points well taken. When a mod is trying to redirect a thread full of childishness and disrespect, it should be done in an adult and respectful manner. The 99% of the people on a thread that are respectful shouldn't have to read a "children behave" type of chastisement when it's only a few people on the thread being childish and disrespectful.

We as mods should take notice to how this feels to the general membership. I know how it made me feel prior to becoming a mod.

Also note, that yes sometimes there is a inconsistencies when one mod wants a thread to continue and another mod might want it closed. However, when a tread is closed or allowed to remain open, it's usually not one mods decision, it's a group decision, not always 100% but a group decision nonetheless. We are all quite different in our approach to the individual boards we mod, and there sometimes is some "grey" where it's not all black and white, such as those Leslie described where it's getting hot but no clear cut TOS violations, but potential.

I appreciate those giving the mods their props for giving it a human try.

[leslie :-D]

spoken like a true moderator tweety.

leslie

[LeahJet, ASN, RN]

I'm really sorry if this is off-topic.....~ha, I know, not so smart in a thread full of mods....

But I've always wondered why, when a thread is closed, the mod usually says something like..."closed for mod review"....or "for a cooling off period"....but we never hear anything else. I think the other day, I saw where Madwife followed up on one.

~just wondering~

thanks,

leah

[rn/writer, RN]

I don't think the term "play nice" is meant to be demeaning at all...it is simply a general way of saying don't attack, don't flame, don't get off topic, don't swear, etc...basically, just be nice to each other.

Whew! Just got home from working noc shift. Boy, has there been a lot of activity since I left.

The above quote is pretty much on target. No demeaning intended. I usually cite specific problems and ask that everyone remember to abide by the ToS. I make a blanket statement so that my criticism doesn't come across as singling out any particular poster to be embarrassed. (If the specific problems happen to apply to them, that's for them to realize.) I also mention the ToS to make reference to the standard we turn to first when trying to sort things out. None of this is meant to falsely accuse those who are conducting themselves well. I figure those posters have the maturity to read between the lines and know it wasn't directed toward them.

It's a shame when the actions of a few bring down a group, or in this case, close down a thread. I would much rather deal with troublesome individuals than shut down a thread, but sometimes you can just see the whole atmosphere deteriorating. If that happens on a thread where pretty much every good point has been made, we sometimes close the thing rather than spend a disproportionate amount of time keeping tabs on something that we just know from experience is going to be trouble.

As for closing threads for a cooling off period, many times they don't get reopened because of the reason I just mentioned. That isn't always the "right" decision, but we factor in other things like how many other troublesome threads are we dealing with at the time? Have we received PM's asking us to reopen the thread or thanking us for shutting it down? What kind of time has the thread required of the moderating staff? What is the overall significance/worth of the topic being discussed? What kinds of problems was the thread having and what percentage of the participants were drawn into it? One of the real danger signs is when someone (usually newer to the site) becomes offensive or outrageous enough to provoke uncharacteristic hostility from the tried-and-true bunch. When that happens, a thread is usually toast.

You should also know that in addition to closing a thread, many times individuals are assessed warning points. We don't make that action public knowledge, but maybe it would help folks to know that there are consequences for flagrant violations. People who launch personal attacks or who post other inapproriate material are held accountable, with the most serious offenses resulting in the member being banned from the site. Fortunately, few problems reach that level.

I'd like to encourage all members to inform the moderating staff about bad posts/difficult members. Click on the report button (red triangle) on the lower left side of the screen and let us handle whatever problem is afoot. No one outside the staff knows who made a report and we certainly don't spill the beans. Some members make good use of this feature, while others have no idea it exists. It might help to make the report button three inches tall and bright pink, but that might create its own challenges.

Thanks to cotjockey, Corvette Guy, leslie, Marie, Timothy, and anyone I missed, for kind words sent out way. We try our best to keep this board an inviting place. Can't say we always hit the mark but we surely do try.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Hi Leah! GREAT QUESTIONS!

Let me clear some things up if you will allow:

When a thread is closed for any reason, including review, all the moderators and administrators are notified of this and the subject is discussed. There are times, when after a consensus is reached, a thread was wrongly closed and should be re-opened. Other times, we reach a mutual decision, that for the good of the membership and in keeping with our Terms of Service, a thread should remain closed. This is particularly true when a thread is rife with inflammatory comments and/or direct attacks and is taking a lot of moderation and time to try to get it back on track. In this case, often, it is decided a thread should remain closed.

Also let me say, Brian's policy is that threads should be closed rarely, if at all. Threads are not closed lightly and without thought and group discussion by the moderation team. It's not up to one mod to arbitrarily close a thread just because it offends his/her sensibilities or annoys. There are times when threads are re-opened when it's clear the decision to close is not best for whatever reason.

I just want to reassure members here, moderators simply do not act alone, be it assigning warning points to members for Terms of Service violations or closure of threads. EVERY offending post/thread is taken to the moderator forum for discussion and decision as to how is best to handle it.

Hope this helps!

[LeahJet, ASN, RN]

Hope this helps!

Thanks....it does!

And I think that you all do a great job. Every once and a while, a thread will be closed and I think..."Shoot, it was just getting good...." Not that I enjoy discord, but sometimes the discussions are really interesting. But you know, this site wouldn't be as great as it is you all didn't do such a wonderful job.

As far as the warnings go, it would be obvious if one were to get one, right? I don't think I have managed to get one yet....:)

ETA-another question (sorry)--- Does one always go through the process of the allotted amt. of warnings or do particular circumstances warrant a swift clean cut? (for instance, banned after one REALLY bad comment)