Why does it take so long for a message to appear on the board?  This is especially true during the weekends.  I'm guessing that how quickly something appears depends on you (the moderator)and that you don't spend much time on this during the weekends.  Is this true?  If so, why can't San Diego have a dedicated moderator for its board that would be more timely on getting things posted?  Frankly, I think this board at least desreves that much.  It shouldn't take over 24 hrs for a message to post.

Please PM me.  

I agree that this board deserves more attention and more frequent updating, and I would like to find a suitable moderator to do that.

Moderators should be fair and reliable, able to be impartial, familiar with the San Diego scene, and able to log in to TER at least twice a day to update their boards.  Someone who is online a LOT is desirable, as is someone who has a review history and/or has been active on this board.

Thank you,
Girl Next Door
Moderator

Dear Girl Next door- I didn't mean to come accross too harshly.  I think you do a great job.  I know that you handle more than one board and it's a thankless job.  Maybe if someone would just help you on the weekend?

How about multiple moderators for the board?  They can cover different times of the day/week.
--
AliBabaSD

Las Vegas has a similar issue with turnaround time on weekends.  It's frustrating, but everybody is certainly entitled to time off.  I've just stopped checking the local board much on the weekend.

Been there & done it.

There are always a few whiney children who jsut don't get it and end up complaining and making things lousy.

After a while, you just get disgusted with them and eventually get disgusted with the job.

What's even worse is there are some posters who you really wish you could just ban from the board because they are personally offensive, yet you have to be dispassionate about the posts and evaluate if they (the posts) are just mean spirited attacks or legitimate critiques.

Whoever ends up with THIS board has my sympathies.

I was the first moderator / referee for this message board a long time ago and sometimes I felt like I had 1 ice cream cone and 2 kids the way people acted on here.

I agree with JBIRDCA 100%

Really isn't the role of the moderator to make sure people follow the rules (don't disclose private info, make sure sure the ladies provide a link etc.)  However, the Moderator shouldn't be deciding or making judgements about people's views or how they express them.

The vitality of civil and political institutions in our society depends on free discussion. As Chief Justice Hughes wrote in De Jonge v. Oregon, it is only through free debate and free exchange of ideas that government remains responsive to the will of the people and peaceful change is effected. The right to speak freely and to promote diversity of ideas and programs is therefore one of the chief distinctions that sets us apart from totalitarian regimes.

I'm a relatively new member and have watched these boards at work for only a few months. The TER website in general is an excellent resource. However, the discussion boards leave much to be desired. I certainly would not consider the discussion boards open forums.

I have noted a certain few on the San Diego Board who appear to be able to express any opinion they wish. If they are even remotely challenged, it would appear the girl next door folds under pressure and allows them to have their way at the expense of others expressing their opinion.

A very vivid example was seen when The dissatisfaction of a former moderator expressing his negative opinions about a few members who don't quite measure up to his ideal was challenged by another member. This is what drew my attention to the string to begin with.

Evidently this challege bruised his ego or egos of a few like-minded individuals and the posting was removed. Nevermind, that this eliminated post drew as much attention as the dissatisfied former moderator's post. The thought that anyone paid attention to it never crossed his or their minds. The peculiar thing is this posting did not appear in violation of any so-called rules and generally used the disgruntled former moderator's own words to make a point contrary to that moderator's opinions. According to this member's opinon the moderator was not as well thought of as he would like to think he is. I have no idea how well or how poorly this former moderator did his thankless job. Incredibly, the post was removed and the caustic opinions expressed by the former discruntled moderator were allowed to remain. Also, a subsequent supporting comment (maybe by the disguntled moderator himself under an alias, I don't know) was added in support. How open a forum would you consider that?

Unfortunately it would appear, these few opinionated participants spend most of their time on the boards in wait for the opportunity of posting  cynical and unnecessary comments. If you review their review histories, it does not appear that they do much hobbying and if they do, they certainly don't contribute much in that category. Also, take a look at their history of comments, Wow! much is left to be desired. They are not moderated at all. But, you are if you challenge them.

No my friend, well meaning as your words portend, you are spitting in the wind. This is definately not an open forum and it does not appear that it will ever be. Heck, now that I think about it, this message will probably not get posted because it probably runs contrary to "The Networks" view.

Bottomline, for me, don't pay too much time and attention to these boards. Use TER as a resource to score some trim and concentrate your efforts on that aspect of TER. My first two reviews of Kladia and LJ coming soon!

My compliments to Raincoat for expressing himself very well in an educated and civil manner.

As for the role of the Moderator, I followed the Spirit of the Guidelines, if not the letter. I tried to give people wide latatude in their opinions and how they tried to make their points. Not everyone has been to charm school and some of the posts can be a bit Over The Top .  I really drew the line at the flaming personal attack type posts, once you made it a personal attack...you got deleted. There was a lot of those type posts in the early going, people got real excited, real fast. After awhile, you just got tried of it all.

I used to see a lot of Freedom of Speech messages. People forget or didn't know that the 1 Admendment only applies to the rights of the people with respect to the government, "Congress Shall Make No Law etc...". Since this message board has nothing to do with the government, there are no 1st Admendment protections here. Can't yell FIRE in a crowded internet chat room type thing.

Hmmm, a post under a handle I haven't seen before, accusing me of favoritism, having a weak spine, and being part of some "Network," none of which are true.

I'm still waiting to see your reviews...

-- Modified on 3/5/2005 12:05:42 AM