Thank you so much for restoring the chicago back to the hobbiest centered place that it was when I first started posting here.    Thanks for the even handed moderating you did during your time here.  Thanks for the heads up on changes coming to the board that I was unaware of.  It sounds like this place may be in for major changes that will cause many of us to follow your departure.

       Good Luck, and Good Health in your future.

As a result of up coming changes and my disagreement with the owners and their inability to communicate with the moderators, I've decided to end my relationship with TER. Effective 02/01/12 I will no longer be a moderator on this or my other boards.


No sad faces and no long salutations are needed or required. My reasons for being a moderator no longer make sense to me, and if they don't make sense, it's time for a change. The new owners will be replacing the moderators on each board soon with rotating volunteers. One woman and one man, who they are now referring to as "cruise directors". This is being done to create a more friendly and less hostile environment on the regional boards. In truth, this makes absolutely no sense to me and I strongly disagree with it, so it's time to move forward. These rotating volunteers will have no training of the TER rules, no idea for all of the do's and don'ts that have taken me years to learn, and in my opinion, they are doomed to failure and embarassment. It will be a literal free for all much like the recent ship wreck in Italy last week.

These changes, and an explanation, are on the Atlanta Board and the Florida Board now.

As the communication from the owners is very poor, I can't really tell you what or when this will happen on this board. Certainly, it will be a surprise and the members will once again have a change shoved down their throats weather they like it or not.

If you feel like there is something I can do to help you prior to my departure please just ask. If I can do it I will be happy to, and if I can't, Ill be honest about it.

FUNTIMES61

Be well, take care and stay safe.

bbTna

Good luck honey! (eom)

-- Modified on 1/22/2012 8:53:23 PM

Thank you Funtimes for being an excellent mod.  You were always fair and the job you did should be commended.

As for these upcoming changes, they have disaster written all over them.

Like Axxel said, FT, thanks for the way you rode herd on us wild Chicagoans, and for the many improvements you initiated. We shall hope for the best, and will miss you.

Be safe, be happy and be successful in all your endeavors.

I think this all started with the  GB  board it was turning into a toxic place according to some and  had a click thing going on there so new posters were treated poorly and afraid to post there in fear of being made fun of  and the language  was very  upsetting to some......the women were leaving in droves  so I believe TER is trying to stop the damage unfortunately wonderful mods such as  the ones you have here  who know have gotten to you and developed a  relationship  with you are the ones that will be missed  like funtime and fugly......change is hard.... its too bad when they might of just addressed the boards where  there was a problem  also some mods  had favorites and certain posters they were not fond of  and those to have voiced their complaints to TER.....hopefully time will heal  TER    and who knows maybe having a woman involved will add a new element of compassion towards the women who often complain about it being a good  ol boys  board geared to  the men

-- Modified on 1/23/2012 1:19:49 AM

My problem with this whole change is the fact that the boards will now be moderated by a person in a different country who doesn't speak English as their first language. They will have no idea for the nuances of each individual city and the sometimes playful banter that a subject creates. Examples, Cubs vs Sox, Pizza favorites, best hot dogs, etc...

The "guest" cruise directors will be here to hand hold and try to keep things moving in a forward direction. While it maybe possible to do this, I predict the exits will filled with members running through the doors.

For the record, Funtimes61 believes that a female moderator, a non working provider or agency owner, would bring some positive direction to the board. Women are far more understanding and more intuitive than most men. That being said though, I've often felt that these boards were more so for the men than the women so they should be moderated by a man.  These past years TER has allowed several boards to disintegrate to nothing more than pages of meaningless banter and filthy worded messages. All in the name of keeping things interesting and keeping the membership active on the boards at all costs.

Now, the female members have raised their voices and said that things are too vicious, too vulgar and not welcoming enough for them to stay involved. Typical bureaucratic style, TER has thrown the baby out with the bath water and hence the upcoming changes.  

Being affiliated with a site that chooses profits over the functionality and ease of use of the boards is not something I agree with. Having some person in a different continent decide if what I am writing is good for the boards is not my idea of a Regional Board. We will have Regional Boards moderated by a International moderator with two individuals rotating through the boards each month trying to keep things fun and inviting.

And this relates to finding and communicating about a hot woman who is great in bed how? Sorry folks, sounds more to me like Bozo's Circus.

This is a crazy "fix" for TER to even contemplate. I just want to echo what Axxel, CTP and perfessor said. You made this board a place where thoughts and ideas could be exchanged freely and fairly. You're the best mod on this site, and have been for a long time.

Goofy changes

New Owners.  Can you tell us more about why the change and what direction they may want to take the Board.  Of course, there are always the persistent rumors about LE ownership of TER.

ridiculous!
With all that is going on out here I come to TER for a little real info and now who knows what is going to be real or not or who is going to be saying what and to who??
confusing that is muy point exactly!
Everyone has noticed that the posting is down on TER and I'm sure the CD's are going to try to upgrade that but it won't work, its going to be nothing worthwhile but lots of drama.
I'm sorry to see you go but totally understand why you are and you have my best wishes for you and yours.

this smells worse than bad pussy!!!!!!!!!!! I am out of here!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you all get along with Sheriff Dart's posse>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Thanks ft for doing a thankless job well.

A second thanks for explaining the changes in moderation. Personally, I see the Cruise Director thing as cute, and mostly meaningless. On the other hand, using foreign mods, who are surely tasked with cleaning things up, and then not keeping your volunteers happy (for, as richly paid as I know you were, you were pretty much a volunteer) - that could become a problem.

Moderation is a tough balancing act, since controversy and a certain edge draw traffic (we all love train wrecks), but drive away people who are offended, or collateral damage, so you have to let some shit fly, while drawing a line. My sense is the forums have crossed that line over the last couple of months, and longer than that for GD, but it sounds like we are likely to go too far the other way quite soon.

And then there is the difficulty of moderating a conversation without any real context. There is no better formula for motivating people to set up a new board. I nominate CTP and CCPA as czars of the CEB (Chicago Erotic Board). Just let me know when you are ready and what URL to visit.

Okay, I am getting ahead of myself, but there will be challenges with a lack of local knowledge and a "one-size-fits-all-forums" approach to moderation. Those challenges can be overcome, but it will be tough.

zig

FT you are the Best!!!  I appreciate all you have done not only for the board, but for the wisdom you shared.  Our prayers continue to be with you for wellness and good health.

Unfortunately, I see many of us regulars moving on after the changes are implemented.

Thanks for the fun times

All good things come to an end but thanks for making the time we spent here worth it. Get my email address from one of our mutual friends and let's keep in touch back-channel. You're a good guy and one of the best from what I'm told.

PP

I haven't been around that long but from what I have seen you are a very good moderator. You appear to set the standard for the type of behavior you expect and from what I can tell are fair and unbiased. That's not the case on some boards.

I think that you have the respect of posters and people wouldn't even think of going out of line because it isn't acceptable. Again, not happening on some other boards.

Sorry to see you go.

Just to clarify, the cruise directors are NOT replacing the mods. TER Admin and staff will assume the moderators duties.

With that said, I always thought you were one of the most fair moderators on TER boards. The other TER moderators would have done well to look to you as a model of what a fair, just moderator should be.

Even though we've had some disagreements before, I am in full agreement with what you stated and also concerned about the impending wreck.

Thanks for all the time you put in keeping things in order.    

Being a moderator is a thankless job.  Although I am new to the board, I have appreciated your work.  Thank you for your service, and good luck with your future endevours.