Ok guys, this is sad that all some of you could see in this thread is a desperate effort to generate revenue.
This site does not generate much on monthly basis, and I think not even enough to cover the monthly expenses like server cost and what not. Azkar covers most of the cost from his own pocket.
Also though this thread is not an official thread but I think this will definitely help admins to see how members perceive this place.
And traffic is an indication of the value this site might be adding to keep the community connected at some level, so lack of traffic always becomes a concern when the site suffers from it.
Re: If you were the owner of GS, what would you do …
Being a little pro-active might help.
Just to clarify, I am in no way advocating free handing of infractions and bans to run this place. In fact, I am against such idea and to me; there are indeed much better ways to moderate this forum than pressing the ban button or issuing points.
That is essentially the point which was raised in earlier comment; a lot of moderators don’t use their initiative to diffuse tensions between posters. They would rather turn a total blind eye or simply wait for one of them to over cross the line so he/she can finally exercise its authority with full force.
I must say some of the moderators are brilliant with taking action against reported posts, I give them full credit, but some of them are just absolutely incompetent. They know who they are, but still.
I like how you brought the point of ‘family-friendly’, I would really like to know what it really means. Just to make everyone laugh here, my post was edited for calling Billy B an ‘idiot’ which was basically a reaction to his utterly stupid and racist speech. Now excuse my French, what the…actually no, allow it. This is thread is doing quite well without any moderation.
Jolie, it’s kind of hard to qualify a mod as a brilliant mod vs a dumb mod, cause sometimes it’s all perspective. That is why I wish to see this place run by members. Mods would be a tool. It would be up to members to decide what stays and what needs moderation. That is why we have “report the post” tool. Of course that tool can be abused too, but at least the control would be in the hands of members, not mods.
Re: If you were the owner of GS, what would you do …
Here is another observation by me: The guppies that become mods need to stay as active and passionate once they get the magic wand. Quite often I have observed that they sorta disappear afterwards or dont play an active role. Possibly digging up all the juicy stuff in dungeons :roman:
PCG has not gone anywhere. She will be back in a day or so. I admit that the girl has a wonderfully brutal way of expressing herself. It’s very addictive. But every now and then, even pcg would admit that a break is good, not to punish anyone, but just to diffuse the situation.
Adding feature is not in my hands. Our tech guru sahab is missing in action nowadays. But you can always suggest and I will try to push up the suggestion.
But purpose is to brainstorm and point out the clutter that is a hindrance to the growth, or is just simply annoying.
I miss PCG too. What I love about her is that she is so honest! I doubt I can be that honest on a public forum in case someone figures out who I am in real life.
Re: If you were the owner of GS, what would you do …
Lazy and incompetent moderating is annoying, but what I feel is worse is a gossipy mod. Not just gossipy, but malicious. The kind that will be real chummy and supportive of a member in the threads and maybe even outside of GS whilst simultaneously trashing member behind his/her back. I know that it’s wrong even if regular members do it, but because mods have a role of authority and are responsible for maintaining the peace, then such a tendency in a mod is damaging to the spirit of the forum. And if I were the director or the president of GS, in order for me to recognize this behavior, I would have to set myself apart from it and not engage in it myself. If I’m a part of this behavior, then I won’t be able to recognize it much less do anything about it. I think that such a member should receive an admonishment or possibly even removal from the position. I don’t care if it’s just one mod, nor should their popularity matter, nor even how much is contributed post/thread-wise. Mr./Ms. …but mostly Ms. …Loose-lips with the biting tongue either receives a strong enough reprimand or better yet…is dismissed from the position. Word tends to spread, and that sort of influence, again, is damaging. Just like in the real world, corruption starts at the top and it’s effects trickle their way down to the ordinary masses.
There’s another thing that comes to mind which I would change, but Alhumdolillah I see less of this now. I don’t like the idea of creating blogs which mocks another member. All the venting and debating and arguing that takes place in the threads should be sufficient, why create a blog on it? It’s akin to vultures gathered around to pick on dead flesh. It’s bad no matter who does it, but again, when those have a role of leadership/authority also take part, it sends a worse message. It’s one thing to vent about your concern or annoyance about someone with one person in a more private manner, but it’s wholly another when it’s done in a “Hear ye, Hear ye” fashion and people are being invited to join in the picking apart of a person cuz word can spread.
At least…the good thing…about all the sparring/dueling that takes place in the threads is that it is happening directly before our eyes…it’s in your face. It’s what you call “saamnay se vaar karna”…and that is still much, much, much better than that which takes place behind your back.
Rv, per our internal policies, mods are highly discouraged to create or participate (agreeing with Op i.e) in a blog that has been created to gossip about, or back bite a member, whether that blog is public or private, and whether the participating mod is using his or her original Nick or a multi.
It’s been highly discouraged but not set as a rigid policy because every now and then we all slip and go and vent about a poster or a multi of some poster whose here with a new name thinking that he can fool people, or some really distasteful thread started by someone. But all such exceptions should be aatay main namak ke barabar.
Again if members perceive that a mod is participating in gossips and back biting, report his or her comment.
Re: If you were the owner of GS, what would you do …
Mods are not Gods or farishtay (nauzubillah) that don’t see/feel/hear/react to things. They have the same sensibilities as members and in fact get criticized quite a bit more because of them being mods.
As far as backbiting and gossiping…I think that goes both ways. Other members have gossiped about me but that’s life. People talk. If you post a lot or are in the public eye…that will happen. If you choose to voice your opinions, you also make yourself available for opinions (here or anywhere else). Many of which you might not like.
I agree that mods are not saints, but we do need to hold them up to higher standards, if not for any reason then at least for the fact that they have the authority to ban, issue points, remove or close the thread, while a member cannot. So it’s no longer a level plain field. Authority comes with responsibility, so mods need to be more responsible in their behavior than a member.
Re: If you were the owner of GS, what would you do …
That nobody is a farishta (regardless of position/rank) in both the virtual and real worlds is a given, an obvious. However, if we all resign ourselves to this belief, it doesn’t encourage change or improvement…not in others nor ourselves. Nowhere in my previous post have I excused regular members from this behavior. Nor do I exempt myself from it. I said it’s bad enough when they do it, but a person who has been assigned the duty of maintaining peace is held to a different standard, one that comes with greater responsibility…and should thus bring about a greater inner awareness or consciousness about their words and actions. It’s no longer an even playing field. A frequent and blatant disregard of this responsibility not only leads to loss of respect but also validity for the position being “upheld.”
