Admin Or Member?

[Katara]

I am admin to a few fourms. Some turn out better then others. Why? It might be because some are very popular or that some do not like that kind of fourm. Some are more poplular because they have good rules and because they are enforced. Some are because members know me and want to join because they know I am a very good admin. Or maybe it is because they want to be able to say 'hey! I am in a nice fourm with nice people.'

I have also come across a few popular fourms that have 500 or 600 members. The thing with them, is none of them is active. I did not look at the info center and posted a character profile. I went on every day to see if someone aproved it and they did not. I found out it was because the main admin person never came on. That can also effect a fourm. Many people make fourms and then run away from them after a long period of time with no body joining. Those people would be better members then being a good admin.

My newest fourm has only been up for a week. I have gotten four members from advertising in boards. I have not, and will not give up on this one. It is something I will like until I am older, and I know I will make some good friends off of when more members join.

[myke]

enchant said:

rpower said:

for me its both. It good to mingle between the members anf actually be the part of the community instead og being the admin who only maintain the board. as and admin its important to maintain the boards, but its also important not to look down on member and actually just mingle with them

Thanks for clarifying...and I agree.I do not think an admin should look down on members, for the mere fact they are admins...it is in te best intrest ofthe forum to have an admin who takes pride and passion into the community...

Indeed, but at the same time treat members as friends, as equals. I think an admin should allow the members to feel comfortable posting with them, and only act in the disciplinary role when and if needed, not act as the boss simply because they are the admin.

However you know this Enchant, as you run your forum perfectly and are a great moderator here, I was just posting this for the benefit of the general public here.

[Ћ€ Dog Monst€Я]

The above posts are not completely accurate. I think you shouldn't get too close with your members, because then you'll lose your role as an authority figure. That way, your forum will just get out of control.

[Enchant]

myke said:

enchant said:

Thanks for clarifying...and I agree.I do not think an admin should look down on members, for the mere fact they are admins...it is in te best intrest ofthe forum to have an admin who takes pride and passion into the community...

Indeed, but at the same time treat members as friends, as equals. I think an admin should allow the members to feel comfortable posting with them, and only act in the disciplinary role when and if needed, not act as the boss simply because they are the admin.

However you know this Enchant, as you run your forum perfectly and are a great moderator here, I was just posting this for the benefit of the general public here.

Awww *huggles ...you're a Doll But I didn't do it alone, I have a great staff assembled....which is an important role of a forum..and a responsility as an admin...

hmyotam said:

The above posts are not completely accurate. I think you shouldn't get too close with your members, because then you'll lose your role as an authority figure. That way, your forum will just get out of control.

I disagree, I think you can be both...you can be a freind, but let them know that you are going to enforce the rules if need be....a member would understand and a freind should already know better.

[myke]

Funny story, I actually typed this post a few hours ago then had to return a stray dog and am just getting back to hit 'post'.

hmyotam said:

The above posts are not completely accurate. I think you shouldn't get too close with your members, because then you'll lose your role as an authority figure. That way, your forum will just get out of control.

I disagree. I have made some very good friends on my forum, and know Kapt has on his forum, and neither forum has ever gotten out of control. In fact I met Kapt on his forum long before I met him here, and considered him a friend of mine before either of us were staff here, and before I even became a regular here. At the same time I met Conqueringwolf on Kapt's forum.

I see forums as community of friends, a place where people want to spend their free time. I agree an admin needs to be an authority figure in some instances, but I also feel an admin should also blend in with the members and become part of the group as opposed to only the leader, or figurehead.

[Shentino]

One of the things I've learned the hard way, is this:

Unless you actually have the time, or opportunity, to devote to being an admin, don't do it. Your board will fall apart if you can't put in the work to make it a success. Boards require timely attention, and failing to provide it means that problems will come up and remain unsolved.

If you hire staff to do it all for you, you'll have a mutiny on your hands, as they will quite rightly assume that you're a newbie admin, and that you won't be able to stop them from exploiting their positions. For them not to do so, is to trust on loyalty you, of necessity, would not yet have ascertained.

Plus, laying everything on your staff without at least some oversight is a big copout, and is also lazy. Also, lack of oversight can leave staff confused, or unmotivated.

Put simply, being an admin requires dedication, and means to deal with the unexpected, especially in the initial stages.

[freakaboutsims]

I am afraid that this post have revealed myself, I finally realised that I am more of a member then an admin. I don't have what if takes to meantain my two boards (although they are rpgs). And I perfer talking to other people.

But what do I do with my forums, toss them in the trash? I already have 19 members on one and 7 on the other. So I will try my best to run it. And everyday that my boards are suffuring, I am suffuring, thinking to myself, "Why aren't there any members?"

[kelendria]

I LOVE being an admin to a member. As a member I got into alot of trouble but when you're admin, it can teach you about patience & respect.
Unless you're the kind of admin that flames (nothing wrong with that if you do) I tend to have more concern & thought over people's reactions & feelings.
I love coming up with new topics & replying to posts, welcoming people & such.
It's just such a bore when you get to the point of talking to yourself & wanting to give up your board because of it.
Getting members & keeping them active is the hardest part of being admin, unless you can find mutual ground!

[philip1992]

These are all good ideas.

[myke]

philip1992 said:

These are all good ideas.

....

Please read the D:YP rules.

admin said:

• This board should be used for intelligent discussion of the topic presented. If you don't have something valuable to add to the topic, don't post. There is no need to post anything like "Thanks for the ideas" as it does not add to the discussion.
  
• Your posts should be at least 4 sentences long. Anything less shows that not enough thought was taken in the post, and is most likely not productive towards the conversation.
  

[Short of Daybreak]

Very interesting subject. My first board is "Breaking Metal Windows" and at first, only myself and my Auntie Marion were the poster, then Rachel joined, then Victoria, then Crystal and the board then became even more active, then Charliechick, then my brother Jake (our graphics designer), and our newest member is Mk200114. I've had this board since August, and most of the forums are being used. I'm still awaiting new members, but I'll wait, 'cause soon they'll come. Now, I just a few days ago created 2 new forums, one about Flyleaf, the other about Underoath, now it was interesting on the first post in this topic saying you need to post something in order to get people interested, and I think that's what I need to do, so I'm gonna go over there and make some topics. Great advice and I do think I am cut out to be an admin as long as I try and respect my members!

[Ryan Rugby 13]

I interact with my members alot. I am like a father figure to them. My forum is about Jediism, a not too popular topic and I have only got 3 active members, so we all help each other out. We are all equal, because everyone has something to offer in pursuing knowledge and wisdom. I teach them, and in turn they teach me.

BTW, Good Topic.

[Dais Zanad]

probally the best thing to do is to start off with only yourself as having any powers, but you rarely use them, untill the amount of posts and members grow then you need to start finding the people who interact the best and who can be an authoritie figure.

[HaloMasta88]

Admin! Its alot more fun!

[Black Angel]

I believe that there are some people that shouldn't be admins..

Over the last few years, I seen quite a few examples of these people:

1. There is the kind of admin that forgets it is a forum, and not a dictatorship.. where people are not entitled to a difference of opinion.

These are the admins who are quick to punish you, or ostracize you because you do not share their opinion. (mind you, I am not talking about those who go around saying the forum sucks.. and anything else to that effect.) but I am talking about in general.

For example, I was on this forum, where the subject of gay marriage came up, and the admin posted about how they are against it because its "icky" and a member posted that homosexuals are entitled to the same rights as heterosexuals, and that banning it would be no different than banning a minority or interracial marriage.. and that doing so would be unethical. The admin replied, "uh, maybe you should read my my post, instead of posting your own views.." and then locked the topic. wtf?

2. There are the admins who completely let the board go. and don't bother doing anything to the board, they don't start topics, or make any changes to the board.

As much as I hate to say it, my brother used be one of those people..

He has made himself quite known on newgrounds.com with his flash movies and he definitely has a plethora of members signing up on his forum because of it, but the thing is this.. they used to sign up and then leave because he, as the admin, (I am an admin as well we have the same amount of power) didn't post.. he believed that all he had to do was keep putting movies out and then people would sign up and start posting.

At one point, the staff were the only active posters on that forum.. but he just didn't care, the ideas had been presented, and some of them being executed with hopes of reviving the forum. but he didnt think that he had to do anything, and unfortunately, prospective members themselves caught on to this..

Though, since we had merged, this hasn't been the case.

3. There are also the admins who have no clue as to what they are doing, and rely on others to do the easiest of things.

I get pms on other forums, namely, the IF support board, as well as a few others from people asking me to be an admin on their forum.. or for me to help them setup their board..

I have even gotten pms from people asking me if I want to create a board with them..

The fact of the matter is, that these admins, or soon-to-be admins really have no clue as to what they are doing.. and they end up relying on other people to do the simplest of tasks..

Tell me, What is the point of creating a forum if you don't know how to do things on it?

and then the owners of these forums get mad at me because I am not as active there, as I am on my own board..

I'd be like.. wtf?! I have my own forum to run, and my own life as well so forgive me if I am not as dedicated to your forum as I am my own..

4. There are also the admins who don't respond well to criticism.

They'll have a 'suggestions area, and when members post their suggestions, then that admin will either: bite their heads off, or say no, and then lock the topic, without giving any reason, or thought to the suggestion..

Coincidentally, those are the same admins who expect you to kiss their butt, or back them up when they are in the wrong.

If you don't wan't my opinion, then don't ask me for one. Simple as that. I don't sugar-coat anything.

5. There are also the admins who makes a forum, and then copies everything they can off of the boards that they are active at.

My thing is, if you can't be original, and make your forum a product of YOUR hard work, then don't start a forum. It is that simple.

I would rather try my absolute best, and fail, than to copy off of someone else, and succeed.. Knowing myself, if I chose the latter option, I would not be able to enjoy that success, because I would always be afraid of the people I copied, coming back to retaliate.. but that's just me..

Personally, I feel that I am as good a member as I am an admin, because I put forth an honest effort into helping make the forum a better place for all.

As a member, I can post ideas and thoughts, and what have you, but not have to worry about the stress involved with being an admin.

But, I like being an admin better, because I get to listen to my members and hear what they have to say and then make the necessary changes.

Yes, there is a lot of work involved, but I believe that the more work you put into something, the greater the outcome will be for all..