Re: I've decided to stop moderating

I think that what many may have lost sight of here is that the moderator did not ask to be moderator, she asked for moderation.  As a result the WM appointed her as moderator of a number of debate forums - and for a relatively new member with little moderation experience that was akin to throwing her to the wolves.  And my how the wolves have brayed as a result!

Yes, I agree that mistakes were made - such as charging in whole-heartedly with very little guidelines and experience.  I also think it was a mistake to make so many posts and try to explain her actions or engage in back and forth dialogues and to let too many people try to play her to curry favor, silence their opponents or otherwise influence how she moderated.  A better approach would have been to simply state the forum TOS rules and decorum would henceforth be more strictly enforced, act slowly but surely and seek the advice of others who have experience and a track record of keeping posts reasonably civil.  Well, hindsight is 20-20.  But I predict that the moderator will return and soon - and will have learned from her experiences.  I KNOW that her heart is right and I think that in time trust and respect will be won and deserved.  As for myself personally, there is very little she needs to do other than moderate fairly and effectively and keep a lower profile.

I was asked by the WM to host my own forum a year before I agreed.  Then I was simply appointed as a moderator of a support forum.  At least I had the benefit of years of moderating my Yahoo forums and the experience on my personal forum before I took on a support forum.  And I still made mistakes and may make more.  I hate to think how I might have moderated debate forums a couple of years ago.  I have since learned to "moderate" myself but even now I am glad to see her instead of me being in the bullseye as a debate forums moderator.

History is rife with examples of people who made less than sterling debuts.  Heck, us old codgers even remember that Mickey Mantle was sent back to the minors when he first came to the big leagues.  I suggest that everyone puts their grudges and judgements aside and let her growing experience continue.  Heavens knows we need the moderation.