Sick admin. What to do?

[dustys]

My dad and I just started a brand new forum to get away from someone who was stalking us. But my dad is getting old and maybe I can't take on being admin by myself. What do ppl normally do if someone gets sick?

[bigballofyarn]

I wish you and your dad good luck with your new forum. I know things have been tough for you both lately. I also wish you both good health.

Without knowing specific details, I can only offer you advice based on a specific scenario in my life and what I felt was best for my forum. I run a semi-large community that is equipped with some of the best staff members in the world. However, when I was recently hospitalized for 3 days, I decided that I didn't want to put the full responsibilities of my forum onto them and also didn't want to worry about the internet during a time when I had to focus on my health. I hid every board except for two before going to the hospital. I allowed people to chat and keep in touch, but felt that would make things easier on everyone, and it did. I didn't have to worry about spam. The staff members didn't have to worry about being babysitters.

I've seen other admins of larger forums put their forums into maintenance mode during periods of illness. Others have let their forums stay completely open. I suppose I chose the middle ground. This ultimately depends on your forum's activity level, how much stress the internet gives you, how much you want to worry about the internet when there are more important things to worry about, and how much "work" you want to leave for your staff if you and/or your dad are ill. There's no right or wrong approach here. You have to decide what is best for both of your health. Health is always more important than the internet. If closing the forum for a few days costs a few posts, but gives you peace of mind, then close the forum for a few days. In the grand scheme of things, post counts don't matter.

[dustys]

Anyone else have other methods of operation

Jw how you all handle stuff

[Kami]

First off, we have a succession agreement officially set up with PB. Basically if the main admin passes away, ownership of the forum & main admin account will transfer to the person the main admin names.

Secondly, we have staff, and we have guidelines in place for how staff are supposed to behave. We only promote folks up that have been members for a long time + have proven themselves to be an example for other members through their actions and behaviour as regular members.

Ultimately, the question is what do you WANT to do? If running a forum by yourself seems daunting, do you want to / can you trust people enough to appoint additional staff? (and for the record it's okay if the answer to either or both of these is "no"). 

[dustys]

Ohh good tips from Kami and Yarn and you both gave me ideas about how me and my dad can restart the forum and have more staff, but also options for temp closures if I need, and the succession agreement if my dad says OK. A lot to think about and a lot of good ideas from both of u. Thx