Doing a little soul searching here...

[snowmutt]

Okay, I have had a strange couple weeks. It has involved really looking at how effective I am in a ton of areas. As such, this has been one of them. I have been a moderator for a couple months now, so I thought I would throw some questions out to see what kind of responses I get. I do want to grow in this position, as there is no reason to do it unless you mean to do right by the posters, admin, ambassadors, and of course the other moderators. So:

1) How much time do you expect out of yourself on this site?

2) When you are on it, where do you spend the most time?

3) How do you spot or find "problem" children? This one is really bothering me. It seems I have dealt with none of the major problems. I haven't assigned any infractions, not even sure I would know how to if I needed to. It seems the same 2 or 3 of us get stuck with the truly unruly posters and I find that unfair.

4) What would you like to see as far as your fellow moderators that need improvement? And yes, I do mean me in particular. I have unusually thick skin and a good sense of humor, so I can take this criticism, even if it sorta aimed at everyone.

Truly, I want to make the most out of my time on this site. I find I am posting less and less, but I do not feel I am using the time wisely or really carrying my share. No- I am not down on myself or thinking of quitting, I truly do just want to see this community grow and enjoy these forums. So I do want your opinions, how you handle and find things, and ways to help with the work load.

*sits back... wondering what will come from this open can of worms*

 

[Laura Knotek]

1) How much time do you expect out of yourself on this site?

It varies. Obviously, this is a volunteer position, and we all have our real life with jobs/families that come first.


2) When you are on it, where do you spend the most time?

I first check reports to ensure that there isn't any spam/trouble making members that needs to be dealt with. Then I check Staff Forums to see if anyone has questions/concerns. After that, I'll go to unanswered threads.

I also check the Apps/Games forums, since developers that post new apps/games need those threads moved to the Developer Spotlight forum. I spent about a week cleaning up Apps/Games forums and moving stuff to Developer Spotlight forum, but it could easily get out of control again if this isn't done regularly.

I also look at the Marketplace forum, since a lot of people don't report when they sold something, but just post that it was sold in the threads.

3) How do you spot or find "problem" children? This one is really bothering me. It seems I have dealt with none of the major problems. I haven't assigned any infractions, not even sure I would know how to if I needed to. It seems the same 2 or 3 of us get stuck with the truly unruly posters and I find that unfair.

I think you might just be lucky that someone else was online and already dealt with them.

The Person of Interest thread is where we mention those problem children. But if we get reports, there might've already been someone who got them. For instance, Eric got one the other day, so I didn't have to do anything.

4) What would you like to see as far as your fellow moderators that need improvement? And yes, I do mean me in particular. I have unusually thick skin and a good sense of humor, so I can take this criticism, even if it sorta aimed at everyone.

I'd like to see more movement of app/game introductions by developers out of the app/game forums and into the Developer Spotlight forum. Retitling of poorly named threads would be the other thing I'd like to see.

I hope this helps! :smile:

 

[Muessig]

1) How much time do you expect out of yourself on this site?
2) When you are on it, where do you spend the most time?
3) How do you spot or find "problem" children? This one is really bothering me. It seems I have dealt with none of the major problems. I haven't assigned any infractions, not even sure I would know how to if I needed to. It seems the same 2 or 3 of us get stuck with the truly unruly posters and I find that unfair.
4) What would you like to see as far as your fellow moderators that need improvement? And yes, I do mean me in particular. I have unusually thick skin and a good sense of humor, so I can take this criticism, even if it sorta aimed at everyone.

First of all I'm going to be slightly different because I have to manage the ambassadors, so keep that in mind.

1) Honestly I expect about an hour a day on the site minimum and that's completely checking up on the ambassadors, making sure they're doing really well at being great ambassadors and what they're saying and how they say it represents the community properly. Any other time I can use on the site I'll moderate more widespread. Sometimes I manage to hit this, sometimes I don't - I do freelance graphic design in the evenings and I've also got a full time job so I spend as much time as I can on the forums.
2) When I'm on the first thing I do is check the reports and then I'll head to the staff and ambassador forums. I'll check through the ambassador Skype chat and make sure there are no issues there. I'll check through what the ambassadors have been saying etc. and then I'll move to the introduction and the new ask forum. After that I tend to go to the device forums and the WP 8/ 8.1 forums -- I'll be reading through the threads and if anything sticks out I'll deal with it.
3) As I said above as I'm reading through the threads I'll be looking for threads that could cause controversy or strong opinions and I'll go there first to make sure that all the conversation is rational. This is primarily the way I pick out the trouble makers and deal with them as and when I can. Or if they just look like they're on the road to break a rule or two I'll mention them in the Person of Interest thread at the top of this forum.
4) Honestly it's hard enough trying to keep on top of being happy with your own efforts to start pointing fingers at other people. As long as you're actively reading through forums, participating in threads where needed and staying relevant (not just being a ban hammer) then you're fine in my book. I'd like to see moderators tackle bigger tasks together more; i.e. rocky and me went through the bugs thread in the 8.1 forums and documented each valid bug etc and put it on the OP to keep it relevant for people. The thread has doubled in size now so I keep meaning to go through it again from about page 50 but never get the chance. That kind of bigger thing.

 

[rockstarzzz]

While I agree with Laura's post and probably mostly follow the same pattern on this site, I prefer being more random. I don't have a routine or a fixed sort of time when I am on the site. But I am always here. When not here, I am on the front page. I get those "problem children" from front page. I am a different person on the front page. I do tend to cause chaos at times on front page too, but that's not to make it a headache for editors, but just to sense what posters we have. Mostly users are split between front page and forum, however there is a huge overlap since WP8.

I don't come here all the time. I try and come here when guys in the US are asleep. I try and make sure I only stay on the front page, when guys from the US are up and I know they will be in the forums anyway. I try to split my time this way between front page and forum. I know, front page isn't part of what moderating we do. But like I said, I "get to know" users from front page and follow them up here.

I tend to check all the popular threads and forums first, look for controversies, follow up on unanswered threads and may be then go look into threads answered within last 24 hours. I never "hunt for naughties" - they just appear. Hence, you probably see me dealing less with such kids and I hardly infract anyone. I generally bring users to their brink so that other mods do the job I play the good cop

PS - my favourite thread is "Person of Interest" and even though I don't post on it often, I always tend to read it to get educated about what problem children we have and what others in the team think is "controversial" thread or users.

 

[snowmutt]

Thanks gang.

I have been trying to get on at least twice a day and spend at least 20 mins to about an hour each time. It has been hard to get there here lately, but that seems to come and go in waves. I will make more of an effort to get there.

I am trying to make this part of the forum the first place I come, and I do keep up with the Person of Interest.

I have taken a serious interest in keeping up with the Marketplace.

Laura, I will get to the Apps/games/developers sections and become more familiar with the posting. I will do all I can to help keep those sub-forums clean.

Rockstarzzz, I love the idea of surfing the front page comments to learn posters better. I will be stealing that one and telling everyone it was my idea. :smile:

I am also going to pick a couple sub-forums at random and just cruise them for likely trouble spots. This is something that can be done fairly easily just by thread name or the ones with the most posts- generally a sign one or two posters may be in a disagreement.

Please, if ANYTHING else comes to mind or our other moderators have points where they want improvements, please let me know. I truly do like to learn and find better ways to do things.

Also, kinda fun stealing Rockstarzzz's ideas. No one tell him. He will never know....

 

[rockstarzzz]

Thanks gang.

I have been trying to get on at least twice a day and spend at least 20 mins to about an hour each time. It has been hard to get there here lately, but that seems to come and go in waves. I will make more of an effort to get there.

I am trying to make this part of the forum the first place I come, and I do keep up with the Person of Interest.

I have taken a serious interest in keeping up with the Marketplace.

Laura, I will get to the Apps/games/developers sections and become more familiar with the posting. I will do all I can to help keep those sub-forums clean.

Rockstarzzz, I love the idea of surfing the front page comments to learn posters better. I will be stealing that one and telling everyone it was my idea. :smile:

I am also going to pick a couple sub-forums at random and just cruise them for likely trouble spots. This is something that can be done fairly easily just by thread name or the ones with the most posts- generally a sign one or two posters may be in a disagreement.

Please, if ANYTHING else comes to mind or our other moderators have points where they want improvements, please let me know. I truly do like to learn and find better ways to do things.

Also, kinda fun stealing Rockstarzzz's ideas. No one tell him. He will never know....

Front page is a really good place to banter. I love how Sam and Daniel are always so professional even when I appear like a super troll at times and also encourage "seems faster" comments

I can license you my "Rockstarzzzz' book of rocky ideas for fun moderators" and you can sell it as if you wrote it. Deal? Awesome.

 

[Pete]

I basically keep on using the forums as a user and deal with things as and when I see them. Problem children are usually self evident, but I do keep up with the POI thread. As for issuing infractions, I've not issued many, I tend to use my own standards as a standard (if that makes sense). For me, the forum should be a pleasant place to visit for new members.

Snow, I don't think there's any need at all to question yourself. You're a great member of the community, and that's why you've been chosen to join the team. Keep doing what you're doing!

 

[Laura Knotek]

I basically keep on using the forums as a user and deal with things as and when I see them. Problem children are usually self evident, but I do keep up with the POI thread. As for issuing infractions, I've not issued many, I tend to use my own standards as a standard (if that makes sense). For me, the forum should be a pleasant place to visit for new members.

Snow, I don't think there's any need at all to question yourself. You're a great member of the community, and that's why you've been chosen to join the team. Keep doing what you're doing!

This is very true!

Everyone who has been chosen since I started as TL has been selected by consensus of all the team members, not just me. We would not have chosen you if we did not think you were a great choice for the job.

 

[Guytronic]

Hey there Mutt,

Somehow us online forum types can always tell when another of a like kind is around and having a good time.
When I cruise the forum I always slam on the brake pedal to read your thoughts in here.
Your input on anything is always a good read...

I don't believe it's necessary to live on here to moderate effectively.
It's easy to see that you are able to type in such a way as to command fairness with respect.
So perhaps less is much more.

I would also align with "o Apertures o" way of doing things...that seems to work well.

I think if you search that soul you'll find nothing but good.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Your work on the Marketplace forum is great! :smile:

That is an area where you are definitely making positive contributions and helping everyone.