Admin Or Member?

[rainbowdash]

My heart lies to being a admin... Not only I can not be a annoying member, but I started the forums yesterday and had ~25 users online (21 are guests, 2 are member, and 1 are staff, which is me). I was happy, and the blog should've been consisted of a blog of a spefic forum. It's called Dashnet Blog...

I'm Rainbow Dash.

[lordroel]

A am happy to say i like being both, a admin with powers to decide everything and being a member who can disuse things with other members.

[redape]

Aug 2, 2015 11:32:18 GMT -8 Mid said:

I'm an awful member. I create an account, make a character application, then I rarely, if ever, actually roleplay. I cannot invest myself into a forum that I did not create. It's just... not there. I've tried a million times before in the past 4 years, but I have a very hard time creating any sort of emotional attachment to a forum I didn't create.

I created a Warriors forum back in 2011, in spite of there being thousands of them out there. Why? Because I wanted to run one. Because I wanted to try being an administrator. I wanted to see if I could make a successful one. I wanted to make friends, I wanted to be in control (awful reason, never make a forum for that reason).

It worked. My forum is now one of the most active Warriors roleplays on ProBoards.

Most people who start forums on subjects that are already (arguably) overdone do it because they want to run their own. They want to see what it's like. They want to see if they can make theirs better than, more active than, more fun than, the ones they could be joining. They have their own ideas (it's rare to see a Warriors roleplay that allows canon characters).

If someone can do it, and the idea that they can do it better than other people and make it more successful, they will. How many paper towel companies are there? How many different fast food chains that sell the same things (burgers and fries, pizza, whatever) are there? There isn't really a need for more, per se, but people still go out there and try to make successful businesses. They want to make money. On the forum spectrum, they want to have fun and make friends.

This makes sense to me. Especially where you mention the part about how it's rare to come across Warriors forums that allow canons. If someone is making something that differentiates from the norm or is in their own mind "better" on any account I say have at it! If one is not happy with what they find when looking to join one and they have the time and perseverance to put one together and run it I'd say, "More power to them!"

Build off of things, make them better. When you mentioned fast food, I would tell you that they all exist because their creators are doing what they believe to be better, whether that be the quality of the food or cheaper costs and therefore bigger profits. Now, if there were to be - let's say - twenty McDonalds all within a five mile radius of each other, that's where I question the necessity of it all. This is how I view the large quantities of these types of forums. When I mentioned those bunches of forum types the main thing that I noticed in my research of them is that they are basically the same thing. A form of cookie-cutter, if you will. This does not include every forum with a similar premise (Warriors, Harry Potter, etc.) but a large majority. If there's nothing new to add to the table then why create the forum in the first place?

Your reasoning stood true and made me think a little. I believe you are correct when saying people who want to try out running a forum could make one of these. They're safe. It's a good way to try and build a forum and a member base with something well known and somewhat common. The admin would be more likely to build up some form of member base to test the waters on how they interact with other people when in a position of power. They should also ask opinions. What is it that makes their forum not as good as, say, a larger forum with the same set up? It is easier to see the things that work and the things that don't with a proper comparison.

I'll give an example of the opposite. I have a "friend" who has a very interesting forum with a very convoluted plot. It is an original idea and all that jazz but isn't very popular even though I feel like it could be. However, there is nothing to compare it to to tell them what they could be doing better. Grammar checks and fixed up skins can only get you so far when you don't know the central problem of the forum.

So, yes, these popular culture-based forums can be helpful for new admins or can be great when adding in fresh or uncommon ideas into it. But overall, I still believe there are so many of them that flood proboards that I do not completely agree that most people should do this. If there isn't an original idea to add try and find someplace to fit in.

[maxxist]

I'm a lot happier as an admin than I am as a member. There is only one forum that I am happy to be a member of, and that's because the admin clearly knew what they were doing when they created it. Even as old as this thread is, there are still people out there that make a forum, use overly used themes or just use the default and barely put any effort into it, then complain that their forum hasn't gotten any attention after a week.
I'm just glad to see there are people out there that have made their forum unique and and have built up a great community under it.

[Twisty]

I much prefer being a member. That way I am not lumbered with all the tasks of an admin such as money, etc.

[femaleuser]

As an admin, I did use templates for a while, and customized them. I spent my time, however, practicing coding on a test site. Almost five years into the site, we finally have something that is unique to us. Took a long time, and I think it is better than using a template, but I do not see using a template as a fault. Some of us just aren't good at coding. Hence why it took all these years. However, having our own skin makes me feel intensely proud after all that hard work.

Refusing to post is silly. You said it yourself, and I agree. Even when members join and post on their own, an admin should still participate. I do my best to thread with all my members, not just a selective view.

That being said, we don't have too many members. Patience is key. The site will be five years old in November, and I am the only one who's been there a long while, because I run it. We have a few, good, dedicated members who are all unique and friendly, but members switch up all the time and sometimes you have quieter periods. Patience and dedication is what keeps you from dying. For example, right now we have less than ten members, but I love my site dearly, and will still work hard at it. Dedication really makes or breaks a site, and its admin vs member status.

I am speaking from a biased, personal experience though.

[Shentino]

You also need to make sure that you have enough time to spare for the job...and also that whatever you're involved in IRL won't conflict.

I used to be a furry, but thanks to "the powers that be" meddling in my online life, I got outed and now I can't even touch that former lifestyle with a ten foot pole without drawing negative attention IRL.

So pay attention to your RL affairs and make sure your online/forum life won't interfere.

[Anatoly]

i actually like mdoerating, banning users and deleting spammers, i love bans ;D

[Lynx]

Apr 17, 2016 7:04:44 GMT -8 Anatoly said:

i actually like mdoerating, banning users and deleting spammers, i love bans ;D

No offense, but it's statements like that that make me very wary and cautious as to who I have as a moderator on any of my forums. Moderating is a skill practiced by many, but truly understood by few. It's not all about banning. There's a lot more work involved than you may think. Not everything requires moderator intervention. There is also a lot of common sense and judgement calls that have to be made. There is one moderator I know of who I would have as a moderator on any of my forums. Because I know her? No. She's got 3 years experience as a moderator on another platform's support forum and has been head moderator there for over a year now. Her position there would equate to a Global Mod position on PB. Her "resume", so to speak, speaks for her. If you ever were a moderator on any of my forums, your position would probably be short-lived considering your statement above. Not only that, but you've now opened yourself so other forum owners can see your perspective on moderating.

[Anatoly]

Apr 17, 2016 19:06:35 GMT -8 Lynx said:

Apr 17, 2016 7:04:44 GMT -8 Anatoly said:

i actually like mdoerating, banning users and deleting spammers, i love bans ;D

No offense, but it's statements like that that make me very wary and cautious as to who I have as a moderator on any of my forums. Moderating is a skill practiced by many, but truly understood by few. It's not all about banning. There's a lot more work involved than you may think. Not everything requires moderator intervention. There is also a lot of common sense and judgement calls that have to be made. There is one moderator I know of who I would have as a moderator on any of my forums. Because I know her? No. She's got 3 years experience as a moderator on another platform's support forum and has been head moderator there for over a year now. Her position there would equate to a Global Mod position on PB. Her "resume", so to speak, speaks for her. If you ever were a moderator on any of my forums, your position would probably be short-lived considering your statement above. Not only that, but you've now opened yourself so other forum owners can see your perspective on moderating.

Chnaging something is up toa dmins work

[Matt]

Apr 22, 2016 5:06:27 GMT -8 Anatoly said:

Apr 17, 2016 19:06:35 GMT -8 Lynx said:

No offense, but it's statements like that that make me very wary and cautious as to who I have as a moderator on any of my forums. Moderating is a skill practiced by many, but truly understood by few. It's not all about banning. There's a lot more work involved than you may think. Not everything requires moderator intervention. There is also a lot of common sense and judgement calls that have to be made. There is one moderator I know of who I would have as a moderator on any of my forums. Because I know her? No. She's got 3 years experience as a moderator on another platform's support forum and has been head moderator there for over a year now. Her position there would equate to a Global Mod position on PB. Her "resume", so to speak, speaks for her. If you ever were a moderator on any of my forums, your position would probably be short-lived considering your statement above. Not only that, but you've now opened yourself so other forum owners can see your perspective on moderating.

Chnaging something is up toa dmins work

yes admins are allowed to ban members if they want, however if an admin bans everyone for every little thing it will hinder their forum. I only ban users when absolutely necessary

[Anatoly]

Apr 22, 2016 11:00:43 GMT -8 Matt said:

Apr 22, 2016 5:06:27 GMT -8 Anatoly said:

Chnaging something is up toa dmins work

yes admins are allowed to ban members if they want, however if an admin bans everyone for every little thing it will hinder their forum. I only ban users when absolutely necessary

you might don't understand: Admmins do more then Moderators

[Matt]

Apr 23, 2016 7:51:49 GMT -8 Anatoly said:

Apr 22, 2016 11:00:43 GMT -8 Matt said:

yes admins are allowed to ban members if they want, however if an admin bans everyone for every little thing it will hinder their forum. I only ban users when absolutely necessary

you might don't understand: Admmins do more then Moderators

Sorry, I'm not sure what you are trying to say, but you shouldn't ban someone just for the point of banning them, if you want your forum to be successful you should only ban members when absolutely necessary.
I only ban users on my forum when I have to, but I usually give members warnings before banning them.

[Lynx]

Apr 22, 2016 5:06:27 GMT -8 Anatoly said:

Apr 17, 2016 19:06:35 GMT -8 Lynx said:

No offense, but it's statements like that that make me very wary and cautious as to who I have as a moderator on any of my forums. Moderating is a skill practiced by many, but truly understood by few. It's not all about banning. There's a lot more work involved than you may think. Not everything requires moderator intervention. There is also a lot of common sense and judgement calls that have to be made. There is one moderator I know of who I would have as a moderator on any of my forums. Because I know her? No. She's got 3 years experience as a moderator on another platform's support forum and has been head moderator there for over a year now. Her position there would equate to a Global Mod position on PB. Her "resume", so to speak, speaks for her. If you ever were a moderator on any of my forums, your position would probably be short-lived considering your statement above. Not only that, but you've now opened yourself so other forum owners can see your perspective on moderating.

Chnaging something is up toa dmins work

Your response makes absolutely no sense. You talked about moderating. I talked about moderating. How did admins come into play on this? I wasn't talking about admin responsibilities at all here. Did you even read what I posted? I don't see where I mentioned admin once.

If you're under the impression that being a moderator is a cushy job, then you really don't know what it means to be a moderator.

[Skidjit]

Sadly, I had to ban only one person for a time. She needed to chill out and learn to show respect for people. Our group did agree to let her come back if she behaved herself. She was happy to be back and so were the rest of my site members to have her back. What I was sad about was having to ban her in the first place. It was necessary.

...

I would say I'm happy at being both member and admin.

I was terrified in the beginning to be an admin, since I was way out of my comfort zone. No knowledge about how to make/design the looks of a site. I had TONS of ideas about what I wanted to do with the site. For several years many of my friends strongly suggested that I create a site for all of us to play/hang out at. The site we all met at was being over moderated and played favorites allowing some groups to break rules where others could not breathe without getting into trouble. I had no confidence that I could actually create a site. One day I had enough of bullies going after my friends. I finally did clicked the ad for Proboards. I wish I had done this about 5 years sooner, when they first suggested it before so many more of my friends left the bad site for good. I wonder where they are now?

I actually think the admin HAS to be a member. I see myself as just a member first... but on some days I get the creative bug biting me, then I tinker a bit to make things fresh for my friends.