gee...i can't imagine why.   

Nina abused her power as a moderator and banned myself and another user because she simply disliked what I and another user were saying. 

[jordyn]

gee...i can't imagine why.   

Nina abused her power as a moderator and banned myself and another user because she simply disliked what I and another user were saying. 

it has nothing to do with that, the only ones discussing anything seems to be me and grimweird, threads that actually did have a good conversation are just moved and not edited to keep the conversation going with no explaination, and rather than politely discussing issues with posters through pm concerning their behavior, posters are still being smacked down moderators.

http://www.monstrous.com/forum/index.php?topic=4935.msg138024#new

http://www.monstrous.com/forum/index.php?topic=13614.0

i deleted the incorrectly perceived double post however,  i've done individual replies on this board to specify certain points to specific posters, so they don't have to wade through three or four different replies that don't apply to their question in one post, while making it easier to remove ones that are less on topic and more personal, that doesn't make it a double post...I've done that on every board I've ever posted on, even this one since I've started on a board and this was the first time a moderator ever took offense at it.

a double post would be a duplicate of the same one, akin to spam, not an entirely separate reply that could easily enough be removed if it doesn't apply, and a polite pm sent to the poster explaining as to why it was removed or deleted would go farther than making the poster feel stupid for separating replies, discouraging further discussion, essentially killing the entire thread.

What's wrong with this thread?

http://www.monstrous.com/forum/index.php?topic=13534.msg138016#new

i understand that loki's short on moderators, but rather than flexing their ability to correct posters as they deem fit, why not use some of that time to wade through the editors room and find threads that were going well and for whatever reason got off track?  I'm not quite clear on what the point of the editors room is for if threads are moved there and never put back, i just think that moderators should be held to higher standards than the average poster but they don't behave any differently then those who don't have a moderator title.

rather than encouraging discussion, it's being limited by inflexibility and pride of those who have the power and those who are subject to it, and the only time a moderator replies is to correct a poster that's posted, not generate further conversation, create another topic or move threads where they'd apply better with an easy enough link to where the conversation was moved to.

granted that's why I've turned moderation down every time it's been offered, i like the freedom of being just a poster, but as a moderator...the job is to moderate a board to make it a welcome place to post, keep the chit chat separate from serious discussion and keep threads that are going well, going rather than letting it die while not offending posters, even if it means discussing something you don't agree with in an amiable way rather than trying to shove the alternate point of view down their throat.  I really didn't need to discuss my werewolf game, it's forming just fine, but it's been fun discussing it with grimweird and it's opened up a few more ideas, personally. I'm not that into fairies anymore, but that's where the new topics that i can discuss have been popping up...and i like discussing what i know and understand.  I know and understand the supernatural.

quick to ban for personality clashes is an obvious moderator fault, but there's more to moderation than just banning...it's actually something that requires diplomacy, some work and a lot of effort to keep old topics alive while encouraging new ones to form, even if it means letting a reply that may deal more with reality slide within the supernatural inspiration of the original topic to flourish.
 

I totally understand your post jordyn. 

I think a lot of the rules should be reformed.  Freedom of speech should be allowed with little to no exceptions.  Right now there are quite a few restrictions on it.  I don't know why Loki tries to limit what moderators can say.  People here seem to put far too much important on not offending anyone, like with what Angelus said with crystal swan, I saw nothing wrong with what crystal swan posted. 

If crystal swan wants to say that people have bad auras, then she should be able to.  It doesn't matter if she offends people, she's just speaking what she thinks.  Now, if what she is saying causes someone to get into a cursing argument with her, then yes action should be taken.  But if it's a discussion, even a heated one, it should be allowed to continue.  If we invoke the (sometimes ridiculous) rules on newcomers, it will become an unwelcome environment for new users of this site. 

With all of this being said, I do realize that Loki owns/runs this site.  So it is within his right to do what he wishes on here.  If he wants to support arbitrary rules then so be it.  There are already enough restrictions as a normal poster, being a moderator just means more restrictions on what you can or cannot say. 

Loki has not been only for a week or two, so I dont know what he's up to. 

[jordyn]

the rules are fine and have been in effect since my first post, moderators should be held to higher standards, demonstrating how they expect posters to behave or decline the moderator position...all moderators sign on to follow what he's set forth in the moderator thread, publicly accepting his requirements.

He used to require weekly chat meetings and participation in putting up new articles for the monstropedia, i did a lot of the dinosaur articles. If anything he's become lax in his expectations of his moderators, it used to be a lot more work. 

"being a moderator just means more restrictions on what you can or cannot say."

this is pretty much the same across all forums i post on all over the internet, from adult based boards to more hostile boards, not just monstrous. I can say things here i can't on other boards about the supernatural, just like i won't discuss bondage or less friendly topics are on this forum.  Moderating is a non paid job and requires work that goes with the flow of the board within the requirements the owner/runner expects. On a few of the forums the owners actually make people moderators to reign them in. 

[Angelus]

Haven't been here for a while, but I remember most of you.
Has it become like you all say?
Oh, Angelus you changed your picture  What became of the fairy ring experiment?

The season came and went. I have asked for ideas of experiments many times with no reply. Maybe someone will ask me one day.

the rules are fine and have been in effect since my first post, moderators should be held to higher standards, demonstrating how they expect posters to behave or decline the moderator position...all moderators sign on to follow what he's set forth in the moderator thread, publicly accepting his requirements.

He used to require weekly chat meetings and participation in putting up new articles for the monstropedia, i did a lot of the dinosaur articles. If anything he's become lax in his expectations of his moderators, it used to be a lot more work. 

"being a moderator just means more restrictions on what you can or cannot say."

this is pretty much the same across all forums i post on all over the internet, from adult based boards to more hostile boards, not just monstrous. I can say things here i can't on other boards about the supernatural, just like i won't discuss bondage or less friendly topics are on this forum.  Moderating is a non paid job and requires work that goes with the flow of the board within the requirements the owner/runner expects. On a few of the forums the owners actually make people moderators to reign them in. 

It used to be a minimum amount of posts and a certain period of time on the forum allowed you to apply but now I've seen mods with only like 50 posts that have been part of the community for less than a year.

[thealchemist]

i, Deriving from a business family... i think we should market our product... meaning we should invite people with the same interests here, and not only hope we get new users. this place is still a heaven (or purgatory for now).... we should start marketing the s**t out of this forum.. what do you think?

[Bane Bloodfang]

No, i'm sad that a place that USED to be a haven where people like me enjoyed open discussion about what we experience without the fear of insults to our mentality because we do believe, particularly from people who say they're dabbling, fail to have any experiences an so dismiss it all as delusion and mental illness...sounds more like hypocracy.

this is no longer a haven for monsters, but i know a lot of atheist who revel in the opportunity to tear down spiritualism that would now find this place a haven, prove there is no god!!!

you want proof there is something more, but those who experience such things have no doubt and now need to justify their experiences on a board that they came to believing they'd be free of such judgements and think they can openly discuss the problems and issues pursuing such paths can present, only to find a small pit of rattlers telling them they're crazy and need a shrink.

that's their first thought and why most come here...only to be told they are crazy?

Poor moderation is nothing new here or on any other forum, their removal is a good choice and usually improves the flow of the forum, but the attacks on spiritual beliefs is new around here and will improve nothing.

some haven....

^^^^This^^^^

I returned last night after being away for quite a while (year or two) and whilst the board wasn't as bad as it is now its become a bit ridiculous and clogged full of meaningless posts. Hard to sift through all the good threads, especially in the werewolf section. Does the werewolf section even have a mod since Articwolf88 left?

[Bane Bloodfang]

I disagree with both yourself and jordyn regarding the cause of the slide here, although I agree it is a pale shadow of how it was 7 or 8 years ago.

Now, let's get this in the open straight away: I am going to be critical of your post, but I am not being (intentionally!) critical of you as an individual. This isn't personal 

I returned last night after being away for quite a while (year or two)

^^ This.

Don't you feel that this is a somewhat selfish point of view to take? You don't contribute a great deal for a "year or two" but complain that it is no longer what it once was. Perhaps if you - and others - hadn't left for a year or two it wouldn't have declined. It does seem, forgive me, a little hypocritical to bemoan the sad lack of contributors when you yourself haven't contributed in so long. It is rather like walking out of your house one day, leaving all the doors and windows open, and then finally coming back two years later and complaining that a tramp has taken a dump in your sink and someone has stolen your flat screen.



On a separate note, I used to live down the road from you, in Shornecliffe. Before you were born, though. Haven't been there in donkey's years. I'd be surprised if I'd even recognise it now.

I disappeared from the forum because I didn't like the direction it was going, I could see it was on a downward decline (lack of active members and a lot more trolls) so left while the innings were good. Dun get me wrong a lot of folks on here are cool and pretty darn sound but sadly most of them didn't post anything or contributed at all. Whilst I tried to keep contributing after a while I just felt like I was talking to myself... so I decided to take hiatus in the hopes that when I returned the forums would pick itself back up again and be a bit more lively with new forum members- ya know... fresh meat and all lol.

Dun worry, I'm not gunna get butt hurt over a very valid point ^^

------

Hmm Shornecliff, can't say I know the area ^^; but tbh I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't recognise the area anymore, so much has changed in the South East

[Finrod852]

I completely agree the way this site is becoming now, that's the main reason I wanted to take a final bow. I thought it over and came to understand, that matters will often erupt and get out of hand. I came to this forum because of the freedom it redeems, but now I have learned that it was merely dreams. But I've decided to stay and be strong, no matter how much people try to "butt-hurt" me, even when I'm wrong.

[Finrod852]

This I understand, and I do try to speak as inoffensively as I can.

But you shouldn't have to worry about your opinion being offensive.

[Finrod852]

I appreciate your words of wosdom, it's just a problem I can't get out of my system. I'm too compelled to try not to be snappy, and do my best to make everyone happy.

[Bane Bloodfang]

But you shouldn't have to worry about your opinion being offensive.

^^^^^THIS ^^^^^ so much~

[Finrod852]

So true...  true as the sky is blue.

[LeXtruX]

Wow I return after I do not know how long my leave of absence was, to find that my topic is still ongoing?
After reading everything posted here I can conclude the following, we've all noticed a lot of changes that should not have taken place and a serious lack of supervision and yet way too much restrictions concerning free opinion. On the note of an opinion: one can state it's opinion, wether it's offensive or not, but try to mild said opinion... a stupid and easy example, if you dislike someone and your opinion is that he's a piece of poop... don't go and call him that... there is a line as to what you can and cannot say