I think when moderators bash posters, personally, and/or their posts, it reduces the desire of the newer members to participate. I would suggest that the mods. either pull the posts or let them ride, or comment constructively. This is particularly true if one suspects that the mod. is hiding behind an alias.

Just a suggestion for more participation and discussion, not a personal attack on the mods. It's TER's playground, and they can run it anyway they want.

The moderators should be a referee, and not an agitator.

that one of the presumed functions of a moderator is a certain neutrality to the denizens of the board with respect to the application of the rules.

In that light, it would seem to be better for mods to post under aliases that are not obvious (lol) when they are not just bantering or advocating / arguing for a position, but are in fact directly criticizing a poster.

Just sayin '

You need to grow something in addition to a thicker skin.
Perhaps if your posts were not so effeminate and tearful the "suspect" would not make such comments.

I also don't believe newbies are avoiding participation just because you get bitch slapped all the time. I think they can laugh just as much as anyone else.

I try to follow the following posting protocol:

red name for moderating stuff
this alias for just being myself
one of a variety of aliases when I want to be snarky

I hope that all users (ok, most) would feel comfortable posting here.  That doesn't mean that you will be protected if you say something perceived by the group as stupid.

Many volunteer mods on boards, not only this one, might not be mods if they could not also post as regular members.

Other boards allow mods to post in both roles but one way or another have to make it clear what hat they are wearing at the time.  Otherwise it's too easy for a post intended to be a personal opinion is mistaken as a mod's ruling.

You have a new toy and need to share.

I think an important part of moderation is to give a flavor to the board, which takes a strong personality. Not everyone is going to jive with the folks who moderate any board.

So because I'm new should I be prepared for my posts to get bashed?

I think I'm going to change my name to SeekingAlliNfo

Folks will either jump in or not. It's not like the mods are jumping on every hairy tom's dick.

They get to have fun at the train wrecks too.

You are right on, brother.  Civility and rational discourse should be the modus operandi.  Also, as the comedian Johnathan Winters used to say:  "If you can't be smart, be nice."  Good advice for all of us, especially moderators.

It usually only happens to people after they have made some off the wall remark to or about the mod.
Kinda like YOUR OP!  Both LP, and DC took a lot of pushing before they answered.  Although DC was always great when a certain gas bag provider would prod him to the point of shutting her up!
Jury is still out on GaG, too new! LOL

Maybe that's what this is all about.  You've been bitch slapped so many times (and for good reason) by GaG in the past, you want to set new guidelines for mod posting!

One last thing.  You and all the rest of the handle nazi's who share the last name of -gina, need to get over your alias paranoia.  Now you think mods are sneaking up on you using the dreaded alias feature!

Now get a kleenex, wipe your eyes, and nose, and STFU !

why shouldnt they be able to???  post away

doesn't TER guideline prevent tham from posting again in that thread under their handle or another alias?

and I've seen this happen on a few occasions....

And that's all we're really dealing with, impression of what the real person is like behind the words, the handle, the alias. And, you, as well as a few others, much like politicians trying manage the impressions of others; the labeling one as a mangina is one example.

However, keep your eye on the ball. I'm not talking about myself. I'm talking about whether or not people new to the general board are put off, and decide not to post about issues if they feel like the mods. are being personal in their attacks on a poster. I've seen a lot people posting on other boards, particularly newbie and local, and wonder why they are not posting here.

In regards to your reference about bitch slaps, and STFU. If I was all that sensitive, as you try to make me out to be, I would have stopped posting a long time ago. And, yet you keep trying to push that theory despite of the evidence to the contrary. There's a term for that. Have you any idea the number of times you have told me to STFU? Has is worked? Do you really think anything you have to say will make me STFU

-- Modified on 5/29/2010 10:57:49 AM

Let the bashing begin.

I'll start the bashing.

HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID!!  What an absurd alias!  If you had any intelligence at all you would have picked something like "Un-soflaguy", or "Opposite_of_soflaguy", or even "This_isn't_slofaguy".  But "Not_soflaguy" just is weak.  Are you one of those indecisive kind of guys?  Stand up and be a MAN!

Is that a good bashing start?  I'm glad you asked or I would have not noticed this post needed bashing.