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Laokia
Finally, internet! Ah how I've missed this~
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December 2007
darkwanderer
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Post by Laokia on May 10, 2008 23:48:24 GMT -8
I am very pleased that this topic was started, as it has been on my mind for quite a while now. I have beed wondering lately if I was being too "un-professional" as an Admin, but really can't imagine being any other way.
The admins that seem really distant to their members seem to not really care, and they make members feel uncomfortable when posting. Worse yet, the admins who just spam and flame put off members and potential members.
Luckily I have not been a member of a site with such admins, and have been friendly with the admins of nearly every site I go/went to. I also enjoy getting to know every one of my members, and am always ready to listen to them and answer any questions, and take into account any suggestions they may have. However, the one problem I have with doing so is that I wonder whether or not the members of my forum take me seriously.
Another thing, I completely understand about the EOCs and Jobs that come with spring. I don't worry too much if any of my members do not get on for a few days, and will only warn/remind them when it becomes a problem or it has been a long time. I am glad that I am not one of those admins who rarely gets online, or who vanishes for long periods at a time without any explanation. Experience with a forum that I had run in the past makes me fear to even be absent from the site for a couple of days!
Anyway, every admin would do well to read this thread. There is nothing fun about joining a site only to be yelled at or banned for the tiniest thing. And, there is no point in running a forum without a single member on account of one's own inhospitality.
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bolissa
New Member
Dave Slave
Posts: 27
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124367
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May 13, 2008 23:40:48 GMT -8
bolissa
Dave Slave
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May 2008
bolissa
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Post by bolissa on May 11, 2008 0:07:44 GMT -8
I am very pleased that this topic was started, as it has been on my mind for quite a while now. I have beed wondering lately if I was being too "un-professional" as an Admin, but really can't imagine being any other way.
The admins that seem really distant to their members seem to not really care, and they make members feel uncomfortable when posting. Worse yet, the admins who just spam and flame put off members and potential members.
Luckily I have not been a member of a site with such admins, and have been friendly with the admins of nearly every site I go/went to. I also enjoy getting to know every one of my members, and am always ready to listen to them and answer any questions, and take into account any suggestions they may have. However, the one problem I have with doing so is that I wonder whether or not the members of my forum take me seriously.
Another thing, I completely understand about the EOCs and Jobs that come with spring. I don't worry too much if any of my members do not get on for a few days, and will only warn/remind them when it becomes a problem or it has been a long time. I am glad that I am not one of those admins who rarely gets online, or who vanishes for long periods at a time without any explanation. Experience with a forum that I had run in the past makes me fear to even be absent from the site for a couple of days!
Anyway, every admin would do well to read this thread. There is nothing fun about joining a site only to be yelled at or banned for the tiniest thing. And, there is no point in running a forum without a single member on account of one's own inhospitality. I agree with pretty much everything you've said. I started my board because myself & some friends had been unhappy with the actions of an admin. I want our forum to be friendly and loose, but I don't want it to become a free-for-all where the members think anything goes. I'm very happy that the core group I have (only 10 members so far) are very kind, balanced people whom I trust. I want to the forum to have a very friendly, welcoming atmosphere. So, I really do appreciate this thread and everyone's comments. A lot of good information here.
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razputin
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May 2, 2024 17:31:41 GMT -8
razputin
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January 1970
GUEST
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Post by razputin on May 11, 2008 6:36:43 GMT -8
I have seen Admins lovingly abuse their power with no tact as to how they conduct themselves when dealing with other members. In my view, the Admin should be the most neutral of users on the entire board, and, as I see it, should NEVER demand respect simply because they are the authority on the board.
A true admin has the capability to deal with any to all situations calmly and professionally, and, regardless of how they truly feel, disallow themselves from the commonground of "flaming" other people.
Funny. I thought I was one of the only ones to notice.
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Kirsty geek
New Member
Pirates Of The Caribbean Obssesed
Posts: 19
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Jun 29, 2008 5:57:35 GMT -8
Kirsty geek
Pirates Of The Caribbean Obssesed
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April 2008
kirstyfreek
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Post by Kirsty geek on May 11, 2008 11:13:13 GMT -8
I have seen Admins lovingly abuse their power with no tact as to how they conduct themselves when dealing with other members. In my view, the Admin should be the most neutral of users on the entire board, and, as I see it, should NEVER demand respect simply because they are the authority on the board. A true admin has the capability to deal with any to all situations calmly and professionally, and, regardless of how they truly feel, disallow themselves from the commonground of "flaming" other people. Funny. I thought I was one of the only ones to notice. Yeah i guess you are right but when you get a member that has only joined to cause trouble it is sometimes hard to be 'neutral' or what ever. I normally if they do start to abuse staff members and I get told about it will issue them with a instant warning and tell them if they do stop what they are doing then there warning will be taken away, but if they start again and all the staff think it is the right thing to do will get band for one month. That seems fair right?.....
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Jul 19, 2010 10:43:56 GMT -8
spookygrl
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May 2008
spookygrl
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Post by spookygrl on May 11, 2008 13:17:27 GMT -8
I have seen Admins lovingly abuse their power with no tact as to how they conduct themselves when dealing with other members. In my view, the Admin should be the most neutral of users on the entire board, and, as I see it, should NEVER demand respect simply because they are the authority on the board. A true admin has the capability to deal with any to all situations calmly and professionally, and, regardless of how they truly feel, disallow themselves from the commonground of "flaming" other people. Funny. I thought I was one of the only ones to notice. Or how about admins who both participate in and encourage their board members to flame other message boards as well as flame members by name from other message boards whom are not even a member of the board it goes on at, to defend themselves? I have come across a board like that as of lately (NOT a proboard though). Don't these kind of people realize that it is in very bad taste to do that, and they are likely putting more people off rather than enticing decent people to join? So anyone out there that may have been guilty of what fits the example that I gave you may really want to rethink the ways you come across on your board to all the outsiders looking in. How you deal with things and what you encourage and endorse on your board DOES make a difference, in fact, when I am surfing for a new board to hang out, the big deciding factor for me is to see how the admins are about things and if they allow members to be abused regularily, or encourage anything hateful and bitter looking.
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Aaron
New Member
Posts: 56
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Jul 23, 2008 18:48:09 GMT -8
Aaron
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January 2005
turexo
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Post by Aaron on May 11, 2008 16:52:06 GMT -8
I would have to say I 100% agree with this. I hate going to a forum that looks good and signing up, and when you post a suggestion you get get a 24 hour ban. And what for? "Trying to tell me how to run my forum." Personally that tells you that you are an immature person who hasn't learned that today's world isn't all about one person. For example, in our government today the President takes advice from everyone. Most of the time he takes one of those advisers advice and works from there. Now think of a President who never never never listens to his advisers. How would the United States be today, bad. We need to learn to set this same example on our forums, take constructive advice, I've had to learn that in real life. If you can't take it, don't bother having a suggestions board.
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bolissa
New Member
Dave Slave
Posts: 27
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May 13, 2008 23:40:48 GMT -8
bolissa
Dave Slave
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May 2008
bolissa
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Post by bolissa on May 11, 2008 19:38:51 GMT -8
I have seen Admins lovingly abuse their power with no tact as to how they conduct themselves when dealing with other members. In my view, the Admin should be the most neutral of users on the entire board, and, as I see it, should NEVER demand respect simply because they are the authority on the board. A true admin has the capability to deal with any to all situations calmly and professionally, and, regardless of how they truly feel, disallow themselves from the commonground of "flaming" other people. Funny. I thought I was one of the only ones to notice. Or how about admins who both participate in and encourage their board members to flame other message boards as well as flame members by name from other message boards whom are not even a member of the board it goes on at, to defend themselves? I have come across a board like that as of lately (NOT a proboard though). Don't these kind of people realize that it is in very bad taste to do that, and they are likely putting more people off rather than enticing decent people to join? So anyone out there that may have been guilty of what fits the example that I gave you may really want to rethink the ways you come across on your board to all the outsiders looking in. How you deal with things and what you encourage and endorse on your board DOES make a difference, in fact, when I am surfing for a new board to hang out, the big deciding factor for me is to see how the admins are about things and if they allow members to be abused regularily, or encourage anything hateful and bitter looking. I think it has a lot to do with maturity. If an admin and his/her staff are immature, their members will follow. An admin who is rude, vulgar and abusive will have a board where the members abuse each other. In turn, that behavior will spill over into whatever board they post on. Staff should be setting the mood of the forum. If you want a forum where the members treat one another kindly and respectfully, then you as an admin will treat the members that way.
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Former Member
inherit
guest@proboards.com
77583
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May 2, 2024 17:31:41 GMT -8
Former Member
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January 1970
Former Member
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Post by Former Member on May 11, 2008 22:25:40 GMT -8
This is odd that this topic has come up, really, because I've just recently been having a problem with this.
I have taken over administratorship of my friend's role playing forum, since his computer has busted and he hasn't the money to buy a new one yet. A person joined it who was rather illiterate and didn't seem to understand that it was set in a medieval timeframe. He tried posting a character who was the pure definition of the stereotype "emo" you hear about so much online and had a whole bunch of conflicting things in his biography. He insinuated some rude things about me several times, never fully coming out and saying it so that I could give him a warning. I finally got fed up and gave him the cold, hard truth about his bio, whereas before I had been being very kind and, with difficulty, understanding about everything. A couple of the members, who both are good friends of mine, followed in my footsteps and said a few harsh things to him for what he had been doing to me. They figured that, since I did, they could, and why shouldn't they? I mean, an administrator shouldn't be able to treat anyone more wrongly than its members, in fact it's quite the opposite. I set a bad example, and so I apologized to him for losing my head. He has stayed on the forum and even gave up that old character and created a much better one that was easier for me to work with.
Anyway, I believe that administrators should always act professionally and show responsibility in dealing with their members. They can be friends with their members of course, but they shouldn't show the ones they're closer to anymore leniency. You have to let your members know that, when it comes down to it, that you will still issue penalties and will not bend the rules for the ones you like more. That's just immature and wrong, and losing your head on members you like less will only dictate the same actions from your other members.
You can't force respect out of your members, either. You have to earn it by showing that you are a mature, firm leader with a good heart. Having a good temper is important, something I should probably work on.
It can be a lot like the phrase "in between a rock and a hard place" in the fact that you can either be an aggressive administrator who generates fear and hatred from their members or a kind administrator that is run over by their members. It's really hard to find that "happy middle" spot where you can still generate respect from your members and make friends at the same time.
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Kirsty geek
New Member
Pirates Of The Caribbean Obssesed
Posts: 19
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123794
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Jun 29, 2008 5:57:35 GMT -8
Kirsty geek
Pirates Of The Caribbean Obssesed
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April 2008
kirstyfreek
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Post by Kirsty geek on May 13, 2008 7:47:08 GMT -8
All staff including admins should try and act maturely, its just what you have to do right, Whether some one is pissing you off or not you just have to learn to deal with it, Even though i will try and keep all my members happy i will not tolerate abuseive members its just not right ehh?
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bolissa
New Member
Dave Slave
Posts: 27
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124367
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May 13, 2008 23:40:48 GMT -8
bolissa
Dave Slave
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May 2008
bolissa
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Post by bolissa on May 13, 2008 23:17:10 GMT -8
All staff including admins should try and act maturely, its just what you have to do right, Whether some one is pissing you off or not you just have to learn to deal with it, Even though i will try and keep all my members happy i will not tolerate abuseive members its just not right ehh? If someone is breaking forum rules, then you should act. I would hope that your forum has a rule about how members treat one another. There may be times when someone's attitude pisses you off or they disagree with you, but if they're following guidelines then you just have to deal with it like an adult. Not everyone is going to get along. It comes down to speaking respectfully to everyone, whether you like them or not.
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Kirsty geek
New Member
Pirates Of The Caribbean Obssesed
Posts: 19
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123794
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Jun 29, 2008 5:57:35 GMT -8
Kirsty geek
Pirates Of The Caribbean Obssesed
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April 2008
kirstyfreek
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Post by Kirsty geek on May 16, 2008 3:05:16 GMT -8
Yes there is a rule about that, all it says is that every one is expected to respect oneanother and any breaking of this rule may end up in a banning, i thought that was fair. Its only when they are been delebritly disrespectful or something they will get band i have no problem in banning a member if they are breaking the rules other wise i won't even think about it.
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Sept 21, 2008 14:39:34 GMT -8
Desdemona Dreadful
You're invited to Dreadful Manor.
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April 2008
desdemonadreadful
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Post by Desdemona Dreadful on May 16, 2008 9:20:02 GMT -8
I know my site has rules but they are all in place to protect the members. I did it in response to feeling helpless in an rpg where the admin was largely not available. Without him or his mods taking a look in my direction, other characters were God moding me so much that I left. Others got away with the most horrendous things and it wasn't fair. One Mary Sue even said in her bio that her plans were to "learn secrets" about other characters and blackmail them. Her character read the thoughts of others all the time and used those facts against other players. I reported her many times to admin and they just shrugged at it even though that very thing was against the rules.
I want players to see I won't let them get stomped on and they can always refer to what is right and what is wrong even without me needing to be there to watch every thread for God moding. They can call on me when all else fails.
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May 2, 2009 8:48:33 GMT -8
Lena Sciuto
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May 2008
lena101
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Post by Lena Sciuto on May 17, 2008 6:15:35 GMT -8
Yes there is a rule about that, all it says is that every one is expected to respect oneanother and any breaking of this rule may end up in a banning, i thought that was fair. Its only when they are been delebritly disrespectful or something they will get band i have no problem in banning a member if they are breaking the rules other wise i won't even think about it. I think it's particularly bad when people are abusive towards the admins, although I don't agree with it under any circumstances. I also agree with what you say about banning people for being abusive - I would, if the situation arose.
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Jul 19, 2010 10:43:56 GMT -8
spookygrl
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spookygrl
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Post by spookygrl on May 19, 2008 14:38:46 GMT -8
Or how about admins who both participate in and encourage their board members to flame other message boards as well as flame members by name from other message boards whom are not even a member of the board it goes on at, to defend themselves? I have come across a board like that as of lately (NOT a proboard though). Don't these kind of people realize that it is in very bad taste to do that, and they are likely putting more people off rather than enticing decent people to join? So anyone out there that may have been guilty of what fits the example that I gave you may really want to rethink the ways you come across on your board to all the outsiders looking in. How you deal with things and what you encourage and endorse on your board DOES make a difference, in fact, when I am surfing for a new board to hang out, the big deciding factor for me is to see how the admins are about things and if they allow members to be abused regularily, or encourage anything hateful and bitter looking. I think it has a lot to do with maturity. If an admin and his/her staff are immature, their members will follow. An admin who is rude, vulgar and abusive will have a board where the members abuse each other. In turn, that behavior will spill over into whatever board they post on. Staff should be setting the mood of the forum. If you want a forum where the members treat one another kindly and respectfully, then you as an admin will treat the members that way. Absolutely!! You know what is sad? I bet when I gave the description above and immaturity came to your thoughts, you thought of maybe a board run by young teens. BUT that is not the case with the board I came across. The staff are all people in their 40s and 50s. Prime examle of age only being a number rather than maturity level.
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Jul 16, 2008 9:22:39 GMT -8
.:*Clover*:.
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clovermist
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Post by .:*Clover*:. on May 24, 2008 8:01:50 GMT -8
I think it has a lot to do with maturity. If an admin and his/her staff are immature, their members will follow. An admin who is rude, vulgar and abusive will have a board where the members abuse each other. In turn, that behavior will spill over into whatever board they post on. Staff should be setting the mood of the forum. If you want a forum where the members treat one another kindly and respectfully, then you as an admin will treat the members that way. Absolutely!! You know what is sad? I bet when I gave the description above and immaturity came to your thoughts, you thought of maybe a board run by young teens. BUT that is not the case with the board I came across. The staff are all people in their 40s and 50s. Prime examle of age only being a number rather than maturity level. I also think it has to do with maturity and it is in fact a HUGE factor in a board. I have seen a lot of good staff members. But I have been to a site that died because of one bad staff member and it made everyone on the site to want to quit and that is what happened. It only took one bad staff member to ruin the entire site and it was a really nice site. Though I bet the Admin would have done something but he was on vacation. Another thing is when it comes to sites and the Internet I think it's the teens that become more capable then the adults for many reasons. One is that they are more up to date. Also it's something they love and want to work so they work hard at it and with adults. They had a life set up, so a site it just a hobbie and they could probably care less. Of course this just what I think happens and it's not always true but it is a lot of the time.
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