Qualifications for "Moderator"

[Spartan198]

I'm just curious. What are they and how difficult is the job?

[pevergreen]

As far as I know, when a place needs moderating, Tosa will contact someone.

Best way to put yourself in a position to be picked is to be a long time and respected member of that area, always be helpful and understanding.

In other words, try to be like Omanes, my ever faithful example of a good orgah!

Mods do not change often, and as a general rule asking for it will only result in you not getting it.

Mods are servants, we are the honoured.

We thank you mods

[Spartan198]

In other words, try to be like Omanes, my ever faithful example of a good orgah!

Yeah, Omanes is one heck of a guy. But my idol would doubtless be Mithrandir. How can a guy moderate a forum and be master of so many camels without cracking?

Mods do not change often, and as a general rule asking for it will only result in you not getting it.

Not that I'm asking or anything. Working with the Diadochi team is enough of a responsibility at the moment.

Mods are servants, we are the honoured.

We thank you mods

Well said and seconded, my friend.

[Tamur]

I knew camels would come up somehow.

The other qualification not mentioned by pever is that the prospective candidate must have successfully run a travelling circus whilst writing a doctoral dissertation -- as that's about the only relevant training there is for the position.

[Raz]

.... must have successfully run a travelling circus whilst writing a doctoral dissertation -- as that's about the only relevant training there is for the position.

What!? Aww, looks like I won't be a moderator for a little while.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Asking can get you places - I got in through requesting a position. It's a matter of, as Ketvit Irae has said in the past, supply, demand and suitability. If a moderator is struggling to move through tons of posts of each day, then somebody who asks and is remotely suitable is likely to be assigned. If the forum has a post once every blue moon, then the chances are that nobody new will get a job there regardless of their suitability for the role. There is a middle ground, but these are the two extreems.

I believe that the criteria of suitability mainly includes being a well known/reputed member of the community you will be staffing. Occasionally moderators which know nothing about the community they are going to be working in are assigned, but they are there due to other characteristics (e.g. an authoritarian veteran ex-Backroom mod may be assigned to a forum suffering a wave of trolls).

[Martok]

The other qualification not mentioned by pever is that the prospective candidate must have successfully run a travelling circus whilst writing a doctoral dissertation -- as that's about the only relevant training there is for the position.

My thanks to Tamur for my first good, hard laugh of the week. That's brilliant.


But I digress. Omanes pretty much nailed it on the head: Generally speaking, moderators and assistant moderators are promoted/transferred based on where they're needed and how suitable they are for the job.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Asking can get you places - I got in through requesting a position.

Plus, certain staff members wouldn't stop nagging Tosa & Ser Clegane until you got promoted.

Not that *I* would ever do that, of course. No sir.

[Zim]

This is something I wondered about a while back. Had a nice discussion with one of the mods who answered a few of my questions. I didn't get the impression that asking hurt your chances, but the turnover rate is low and I think they put a lot of thought into who they ask to become moderators.

Not sure if I can say this without sounding like I'm sucking up, but I always found the moderators here at the org to be a cut above those at the other forums I frequent.

[Spartan198]

I agree with you, Zim. The great thing about the .Org's mods is that they take part in conversations and discussions, which gives us the opportunity to talk with and get to know them.

[Martok]

I agree with you, Zim. The great thing about the .Org's mods is that they take part in conversations and discussions, which gives us the opportunity to talk with and get to know them.

Well it wouldn't be much fun for us, otherwise.

[pevergreen]

And most of them came from being normal members. I knew Martok before he was a mod, but now


Wait, no he is still awsome!

Hehehe

[Monk]

The initiation ritual for becoming an AM/Mod will make you wish you had never been made one in the first place.

[Raz]

Does it involve a branding iron, perchance?

[Spartan198]

Or lopping off a few Roman heads?

[Monk]

I've said to much already. I wouldn't be surprised if camel riding assasins showed up to...


wha



Someone's coming




THEY KNOW!

[Tamur]

The media should be alerted to this threat! Camels everywhere!

[Andres]

I've said to much already. I wouldn't be surprised if camel riding assasins showed up to...


wha



Someone's coming




THEY KNOW!

You remember that toilet you had to clean during your first day?

It's dirty again.

[Gregoshi]

You remember that toilet you had to clean during your first day?

It's dirty again.

I never quite understood how that toilet got dirty in the first place. Who in their right mind would ever use it? I hope Tosa has at least bought a cleaning brush.

[Andres]

I never quite understood how that toilet got dirty in the first place. Who in their right mind would ever use it?

And we still use that same towel instead of toilet paper

I hope Tosa has at least bought a cleaning brush.

He's Dutch...

[Gregoshi]

He's Dutch...

And I love him for it!

I could never decide which was worse - the toilet or the towel.

Excuse me while I re-file this memory into the "Never to be opened again" bin.

[Quintus.JC]

I've always wanted to ask this, it seems to me that all the Mods have that sort of avator, with the veil. Any perticular reason for this?

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

I've always wanted to ask this, it seems to me that all the Mods have that sort of avator, with the veil. Any perticular reason for this?

It's become a bit of a tradition for moderators to have sinister fronts. I'm not sure how it initially developed though - some of the veterans from the early days of the .Org (2000 - 2002/3) may be able to shed some light on that mystery.

[Makanyane]

It's become a bit of a tradition for moderators to have sinister fronts. I'm not sure how it initially developed though - some of the veterans from the early days of the .Org (2000 - 2002/3) may be able to shed some light on that mystery.

Assistant mods can still be cute though

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I've always wanted to ask this, it seems to me that all the Mods have that sort of avator, with the veil. Any perticular reason for this?

So you can't tell if we are looking at you or not...

[Andres]

I've always wanted to ask this, it seems to me that all the Mods have that sort of avator, with the veil. Any perticular reason for this?

Because our petty wages don't allow us to afford something better. However, if you want to see me, your favourite moderator, in a nice, expensive Hugo Boss suit, please send me a pm and I'll give you the necessary details so that you can make a deposit on the correct bank account.

Eternal gratitude will be yours.

Thnx in advance for your needed support

[TosaInu]

I've always wanted to ask this, it seems to me that all the Mods have that sort of avator, with the veil. Any perticular reason for this?

Hello,

It's a tradition indeed, but I'm not sure about the origin. The pool of avatars was quite limited back in 2000.

[Martok]

And most of them came from being normal members. I knew Martok before he was a mod, but now


Wait, no he is still awsome!

Hehehe

Well of course I'm still awesome. It could hardly be otherwise.

Kidding aside, though, it's good to know that I haven't changed much from when I first joined this place six years ago. I'd hate to be the type of person that suddenly thought I was too good for everyone, just because I had "moderator" in my title.

I strongly second pev & Zim's sentiments: For me, one of the things I've always liked about the Org is that the staff members here have always been "one of us". I've personally watched a number of folks over the years (including Andres, Banquo's Ghost, frogbeastegg, & Omanes Alexandrapolites) make the transition from being a regular member to the positions they're in now....and they're still the same friendly, good-natured people as when they first joined up.

You remember that toilet you had to clean during your first day?

It's dirty again.

I'll attend to it. Due to his ill-advised comments, Monk is currently....indisposed at the moment.

I've always wanted to ask this, it seems to me that all the Mods have that sort of avator, with the veil. Any perticular reason for this?

As Omanes said, it's become a tradition. My memory is admittedly pretty fuzzy on this point, but I believe it evolved from one or more conversations in which moderators were jokingly compared to assassins (given our ability to "silence" people and/or make them "disappear"). It quickly became an institutional running gag to the point where it was officially adopted by the staff.

As a result, members now adopt an assassin's avatar when being promoted to "the green". (You'll notice that even FBE has a Geisha as her avatar.)

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

You remember that toilet you had to clean during your first day?

It's dirty again.

yup.... I went without eating for a longgggg time

[TosaInu]

My memory is admittedly pretty fuzzy on this point, but I believe it evolved from one or more conversations in which moderators were jokingly compared to assassins (given our ability to "silence" people and/or make them "disappear"). It quickly became an institutional running gag to the point where it was officially adopted by the staff.

I recall the joke, but the avatar was first used around April 2000 iirc.



The assassin joke was from 2002 or later.

[Gregoshi]

Shrouded in mystery, fear the ninja/geisha, for he/she can take your (forum) life. The ninja/geisha/(and later)assassin is the closest thing to an enforcer in the TW games.