Moderator Elections

[jonesy]

Hey, I'm more than willing to discuss the much more radical step of going to a direct democracy system in online communities. If you want to advocate for THAT radical an approach, go ahead.

I won't because I don't think that what you proposed would change anything significantly, and making a more extensive overhaul along the same lines would actually make things worse.

That's what I meant by anarchy through inefficiency. Moderators should be carefully chosen from people who can actually handle the job. Otherwise they might become a burden to the other moderators which makes things inefficient because you'd need more mods to keep mods in line or they'd get less done overall. That's crazy. Thus elections are the wrong way to do it. Unless it'd be a contest prize. But that's a completely different thing from what we are talking about.

 

[Skade]

I think this is a bad idea. Democracy does not equal "best way to run things". Baseball teams aren't run by democracy. Abdominal surgury isn't run by democracy. New editions of popular game systems aren't designed by democracy.

It's a form of government, not a solution for every issue in life.

This is absolutely true. I see no reason to change the way things are handled by Morrus and his chosen moderators, and aside from the added bonus to supporters, I do not see how this proposal could improve matters, only add another layer of complexity

 

[Raven Crowking]

Thanks for such an interesting, friendly, and not-edition-related discussion. I read this thread with interest.

While I believe that I understand your reasoning, rougerogue, I find the reasoning of the current admins (and supporters of those opinions) to be more persuasive. I understand your concerns about participating in undemocratic virtual societies, but I don't think elections would do anything to increase democracy, unless those elected had some legislative ability (i.e., could change The Rules). Mods, to my understanding, are more like a combination of judges and police officers than congressmen, and I seriously doubt that any good would come from selecting cops or judges on the basis of popular election.

The qualities of a good mod (IMHO) are jurisprudence, a willingness to exhibit restraint when action is not warranted, a willingness to take action when restraint is not warranted, and enough wisdom to (more or less) distinguish between times when action or restraint is the better course. Overall, I would say that EN World has exemplary -- and very responsive -- mods. This is because the mods are carefully selected and, presumably, answerable for their use of power (i.e., their responsibilities and their rights are balanced).

I don't believe an elected official would necessarily behave in the same way. Indeed, having lived in both the US and Canada, having paid at least some attention to how national and local elected officials have used their power, having been an elected union rep, and have dealt with elected union officials, I have serious reservations about this idea.

It is an interesting thought experiment. But if I had a vote, I would vote "No, thank you."


RC

 

[Joshua Randall]

People are not "trapped" here in any way - they can leave at a moment's notice; they don't even have to do anything, they simply need not click on their EN World bookmark!

That's IT. I've HAD it with this place.

I'm moving my bookmark.

*gnash*

 

[Morrus]

I'm moving my bookmark.

Would that not involve clicking on it?

 

[WayneLigon]

And that really, really worries me, given how much time we spend online. What are we accustoming ourselves to in these societies we are not born into, but actively choose to join?

I don't see why it should be very worrying. It simply prepares them for how almost every other institution other than their state and national governance is run. Unless you have a very unusual one or you are near the top, almost no-one gets a real say-so in how their job is run. That's a society you choose to join and for a lot of people it's not one they can leave anywhere nearly as easily as a message board.

 

[scholar]

wait, I have an idea...


what if community supporters get to vote on the moderators that are already in place, nad the one with the highest number of votes gets super mod powers for a day or something?

sort of a most appreciated mod kind of vote


I know who'd get my vote

 

[fett527]

...The qualities of a good mod (IMHO) are jurisprudence, a willingness to exhibit restraint when action is not warranted, a willingness to take action when restraint is not warranted, and enough wisdom to (more or less) distinguish between times when action or restraint is the better course. Overall, I would say that EN World has exemplary -- and very responsive -- mods. This is because the mods are carefully selected and, presumably, answerable for their use of power (i.e., their responsibilities and their rights are balanced).
...

I want more entertainment from my moderators. Dance bitches! :gnash:

 

[Blackrat]

Not to nitpick since I actually think the moderators are doing fantastic job here but there is one problem I've noticed. Visibility. It's good on the RPG Forums, yeah, but when you move down to gaming action and Off-topic forum you lose it. It would be good for mods to "show their faces" around there just to know you're there too. Bront is pretty much only one I've seen in long time around there and even he had to drop the PbP's for RL-time. It would be good to have some moderators to take part in PbP'ing here.

 

[Kzach]

This thread explains a lot. Namely why I'll never be a moderator.

This is a good thing.