Regional Forums Moderator: Charles!

[LoriLawless 0]

I think the argument is that if you're managing forums that require not only some cultural sensitivity but also a fairly up to date knowledge of the immigration process (I'm sure it isn't strictly "necessary" but it does help) - its a fair point to question whether someone (anyone) who spends nearly all of their time in O/T fits that profile.

Of course, most of the old members who are done with the immigration process hang out in O/T and/or the regionals.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Charles visits pretty much all the general discussion forums, does he not? I thought that was why Ewok chose him, I know I've seen him in the regional forums a lot.

Why would he need immigration knowledge?

The only difference I see from organizer to this is that he can lock/close threads. He moves them already and I haven't seen any issues with that.

If he was a full blown mod then I could see the resistance. But what can this hurt?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

and it must be said, the chopfvck closed a thread i was posting at yesterday

[The_Dude 1,142]

I notice that that everyone who seems to object to charles being a moderator are people who contribute to both OT and regional forums. I think charles posting in OT diminishes his credibility to moderate in their eyes. I am of two minds regarding charles being named a moderator. First, I don't think it has been noted, but I think Charles (as many people do) acts much differently regional forums than he does in OT. He is much more congenial and helpful than his sarcasm and failed attempts at political comments in OT. Being a regular OT contributor myself, I know that he has a much thicker skin than the other mods who are all too quick to pull the trigger on any comments that may be banter between friends, or an insult.

I think he should be given the chance and judged on his moderating in the regional forums, not on his OT behavior. He's not the same political neophyte arguing that everyone should have guns when he's in Regional Forums.

[Krikit 1,164]

I think regional subforums in the Consulate section is a great idea.

Oh. I just saw Lori's post and I agree with what she's saying.

Haha. Just read Rob's post and I agree with what he is saying also.

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

Ewok, I know you claim you don't read this site very much, so let me enlighten you. The regionals are the place that civil people can go to have a conversation without having to deal with the OT Goons.

Charles is one of these goons, it just so happens that he takes his show to the regionals too. He does not contribute to conversations, he irritates under the guise of making fun. You will notice it is this merry band of OT Goons that are Charles' cheering section right now. These are the very members who will NOT be affected by Charles new role. As such, they should be ignored. As most people who hang out in the regional section often don't check the site discussion, I'm willing to bet that they are silent because the news of Charles promotion simply hasn't reached them yet. It is a truly terrible decision, but one I am certain that you will not back down from. A sad sad day for VJ.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Ewok, I know you claim you don't read this site very much, so let me enlighten you. The regionals are the place that civil people can go to have a conversation without having to deal with the OT Goons.

Charles is one of these goons, it just so happens that he takes his show to the regionals too. He does not contribute to conversations, he irritates under the guise of making fun. You will notice it is this merry band of OT Goons that are Charles' cheering section right now. These are the very members who will NOT be affected by Charles new role. As such, they should be ignored. As most people who hang out in the regional section often don't check the site discussion, I'm willing to bet that they are silent because the news of Charles promotion simply hasn't reached them yet. It is a truly terrible decision, but one I am certain that you will not back down from. A sad sad day for VJ.

So everyone who posts in OT opinion is invalidated because of that? Seriously, your argument is far more hysterical than logical. I've seen how Charles acts in OT and in Regional Forums and it's not the same. I think you are transferring his OT persona onto his Regional behavior.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Ewok, I know you claim you don't read this site very much, so let me enlighten you. The regionals are the place that civil people can go to have a conversation without having to deal with the OT Goons.

Charles is one of these goons, it just so happens that he takes his show to the regionals too. He does not contribute to conversations, he irritates under the guise of making fun. You will notice it is this merry band of OT Goons that are Charles' cheering section right now. These are the very members who will NOT be affected by Charles new role. As such, they should be ignored. As most people who hang out in the regional section often don't check the site discussion, I'm willing to bet that they are silent because the news of Charles promotion simply hasn't reached them yet. It is a truly terrible decision, but one I am certain that you will not back down from. A sad sad day for VJ.

I would suggest forwarding examples of this to Ewok.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Holy #######... you guys are really taking this to a whole new level

Who cares?????????? It is the interwebz people!

[The_Dude 1,142]

Holy #######... you guys are really taking this to a whole new level

Who cares?????????? It is the interwebz people!

It may be the internets, but moderators on forums do have the authority to make things not as enjoyable for people. How would you like BY to be the regional moderator for yoru regional?

[LoriLawless 0]

Ewok, I know you claim you don't read this site very much, so let me enlighten you. The regionals are the place that civil people can go to have a conversation without having to deal with the OT Goons.

Charles is one of these goons, it just so happens that he takes his show to the regionals too. He does not contribute to conversations, he irritates under the guise of making fun. You will notice it is this merry band of OT Goons that are Charles' cheering section right now. These are the very members who will NOT be affected by Charles new role. As such, they should be ignored. As most people who hang out in the regional section often don't check the site discussion, I'm willing to bet that they are silent because the news of Charles promotion simply hasn't reached them yet. It is a truly terrible decision, but one I am certain that you will not back down from. A sad sad day for VJ.

So everyone who posts in OT opinion is invalidated because of that? Seriously, your argument is far more hysterical than logical. I've seen how Charles acts in OT and in Regional Forums and it's not the same. I think you are transferring his OT persona onto his Regional behavior.

And you're mislead if you think that people don't read the regionals. Seriously, how is closing or locking a thread going to "affect" you?

Has his moving threads "affected" you?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Holy #######... you guys are really taking this to a whole new level

Who cares?????????? It is the interwebz people!

Len - with respect, the only reason this doesn't bother you is because you get on with Charles, as opposed to say - Justashooter.

If you've ever been on Charles bad side, you'd probably have a problem with this too.

[rebeccajo 14]

Why would he need immigration knowledge?

Because so much immigration talk goes on in the Regionals.

Edited October 21, 2009 by rebeccajo

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

RJ, I think they are getting at the fact that basically a mod could have zero knowledge of a subject and still mod because the primary duty is to keep conversations respectful and avoid TOS violations in most forums.

That being said, I think that you must be knowledgeable in this forum to know what is and is not illegal etc with regards to immigration.

Edited October 21, 2009 by Sousuke

[mox 298]

Len - with respect, the only reason this doesn't bother you is because you get on with Charles, as opposed to say - Justashooter.

If you've ever been on Charles bad side, you'd probably have a problem with this too.

And as I've tried to say several times before, it really doesn't matter what side of Charles anyone has been on. We have at least one moderator whom I personally dislike but I can at least say is a good mod.

So I can set all the personal bullshit aside, and just look at the facts. And the fact is, not a single person has been able to defend Charles' ability to moderate in a rational, sensible way. The best anybody's been able to do is "he's a nice guy when he's not in OT, give him a chance." Which would be fine if this were a World of Warcraft forum instead of a forum that (sorry to be dramatic) helps determine the outcome of peoples' lives together. Because if you are going to be the arbitrator in a discussion/argument/flame-fest/whatever, you really need to have an understanding of what's proper behavior in a discussion. Charles has not demonstrated such an ability, and the best anybody can do is hope that he'll learn on the job.

If you want to get an idea of how he will most likely moderate, you only need to look at his replies in this thread to see how hard he's trying.

@RJ: actually most of the armchair experting that goes on in RU deals specifically with the consulate experience. But I'll make your point about moderation for you: a lot of times we'll tell new members to just hang out in the RU forum and ask their questions there because so many times the advice given in the K1 forums is misleading or downright wrong. In fact, I myself gave up participating on a routine basis in the upper forums because the signal to noise ratio is so low. I'd love to see some form of expert leadership in the K forums to keep misleading information below the noise level, but I've yet to hear a workable plan.

[TracyTN 237]

I'd love to see some form of expert leadership in the K forums to keep misleading information below the noise level, but I've yet to hear a workable plan.

I would love to hear a plan for that too, and would enjoy being involved in helping.