Role of the Moderator

[milnes]

Just wanted to put a few words down regarding the role of the Forum Moderator's and weather there are any rules for them to follow or if they have free reign to move & delete whenever the whim takes them.
I suppose this issue was highlighted to me on Sunday, when a post I made was moved by an anonymous Moderator.

The post I refer to was regarding 'my first restoration project'. Since the restoration comprised 2 x AC Invacars I deliberated for some time weather they should go in the General section or the Invalid carriage section, or weather there should be a new section called 'Restorations'!
Since most of my posts (to start with anyway) will be about restoration in general I decided that the General discussion section would be best suited for my post.

Within an hour of my thread being posted one of the Moderators decided they would move the thread to the Invalid carriage section, no discussion with me before the move, no curtesey mail saying they felt I breached the Forum rules, nothing.
Now my subsequent request to move my thread back to where it had been posted, also my request for the Moderator to make contact with me to discuss got a few responses. I respect peoples opinions and freedom to express themselves when done in a respectful manner.
One of the posts I felt was a little sarcastic but, then I don't know the author of the post and this is maybe how they talk all the time.
This said person was kind enough to send me a mail through the forum, asking what my problem was and not to pick a fight with them!

I really did appreciate the mail, as at least it opens up a dialogue and discussion out of view from the Forum.
I expressed my sincerest apologies if this person thought I was picking a fight, I most certainly was not. I explained that I felt one of their comments was trying to be 'Smart' and that I was just looking for an answer to why my post was moved. However I will defend my corner and verbally go toe to toe with anyone when the occasion arises!

So I will say publicly on the forum that once again I apologise if anyone felt I was picking a fight with them, this was not my intention. 
As the Moderator who originally moved my Post has still not made themselves known and does not want to discuss the thought behind their action, I thought I would start a thread with the intention of having an open debate on the Moderators role on the forum.

To start off I think the Moderators do a fantastic job but are there any rules they must abide by so that they cannot tamper with posts that do not fall within their vehicles like list etc.?

[richard]

Just to put the record straight I said don't pick a fight with me because I didn't pick one with you - a quite different slant on it  just not interested like most on the forum . also we have had this before - awfully bad form to repost private messages as they are PRIVATE  oh and do have a nice day 

[milnes]

I was trying to be honest and fair, never mentioned anyone by name.
As I said my apology was meant in the sincerest manner.

[Rob Dobie]

How many moderators does one web site need ??  Who's turning into the Bond man, "Stan the Ban?" 

[Big Al]

I imagine its a question of degree. Clearly streamlining a discussion or avoiding duplicate threads would suggest an element of polite messaging to ensure that it was agreed that the streamlining take place as efficiency, not as a gag. On the other end of the scale immediate sanction, without delay, of some nasty or damaging postings is to be commended. Clearly erroneous postings, I would have thought, just get popped into the correct heading, with a message saying this has been done. A list of stuff for sale from a forum member on General Discussion would therefore get placed in For Sale, for instance. Seems sense.

This last Moderation is effectively what happened here, as not all Rumsters accept that IC are Microcars in the first place. Rather than not have IC on the forum, as they have a reasonably strong following, it was therefore decided that rather than not accept IC as a topic, a separate area be set up for those topics.
I happen to think that IC do qualify as microcars, in a special way, since they are modified away from general availability and usage. However I am in no way put out, upset or disgruntled, that the topic be given its own heading. Its the fair and reasonable answer. I do not understand why some people refuse to embrace that as an accommodation, given an historic problem some folk have about IC that goes far beyond microcar owners. Indeed it is in part the social history these cars represent, which is of interest as well as the cars themselves. So instead of using this freely given space, they choose to limit communication, having won the accommodation they were looking for. If you think the whole world is going to accept IC as microcars, your dreaming. As in many things, be proud to be different.

My pet hate is fake and needlessly modified cars. I really do not understand the rational unless its for use. One seems to be to gain value/image for something not real, the other seems to suggest the need for a bigger or better car. However it seems like a lot of folk like this sort of thing. To me they are as Microcar as an IC as they are of modified usage, so I cannot roar and humph they should be banned, and the purporters hung by the goolies. To me they are equals, and should be treated as such.
Likewise the 'remember that Bond' thread does little for me, but folk are enjoying it. If the Bonders have no forum I have no gripe that they have their own area, why not?

So to Moderate. I think it is to defend against excess, or danger, but also to have a feel for changing forum use as interest ebbs and flows to differing areas. Bit of a balancing act and IC has been a source of confrontation. Personally, I think the restoration of a Type 70 does belong in the IC section. The section has been offered and I think it should be embraced. After all, it is easier to reference as a future repository of useful information. It does not stop an investigation into how to rebuild a Villiers for a little more power going mainstream, and referenced back to its source topic.

However maybe we are reaching the point where we might allow Blogs. Steve Fisk has one, by default, and it is popular. A blog is also easy to find if referenced. So the rebuild of some Type 70 could be made a blog. Given the growing interest it could bring new people into the Forum and introduce them to the world of strange small cars. By extension you then might get the Gordon blog, Bobette blog, Powerdrive plog and so on.

[Big Al]

How many moderators does one web site need ??  Who's turning into the Bond man, "Stan the Ban?" 

Depends what is in the role. Sounds like hard cheese to me, perhaps with a lack of relish.

Ah the Bond man. The more steering ability you have, including reverse, for goodness sake, the more of a straight route a driver takes. The ill turning circle of the Schmitt promotes deviousness, for he is ever on the straight and narrow. Contrariwise and no-how.

Goggo Guru has spoken. He that studies things like one man in a wood with clap, does he make a sound. Eeer. No that's not right.

[Bob Purton]

Well it was I who moved the thread to the correct category. Also it was I that moved it back once I realised how strongly you felt about. This is standard procedure, the moderators take a look each day and delete anything obscene, four letter words, advertising spam, etc at there own discretion. When something is deleted there is usually an explanation if deemed necessary.  Simply moving a thread to what appears to be the appropriate section is common place and doesn't usually require an explanation as its usually an oversight by the poster. When someone is asked to be a moderator it is made clear what the job entails. It is also stressed that its not something that is to be abused for personal reasons. They really are the only rules as far as I know on this forum. If the moderators disagree then Jean who is still the rumcars figurehead would I think have the final say although no issue I recall has ever come to this. Quite honestly it's a thankless task because you will never please everyone as your grievance illustrates. Moderators often come out the villain of the piece. Moderators are also imperfect and make mistakes.
I know exactly where you are coming from though Scot, you think that because its common knowledge that I am indifferent toward invalid carriages that I somehow prejudice the postings about such. I certainly do not. It was decided that a dedicated section for IC's be added to the forum some time ago, not by me but collectively. Its a privilege not a slight on them. If you want to post a restoration blog of your AC70's in another section then quite honestly, I'm past caring. Dave Miller made a very valid observation though and that is if you posted it in the IC section it will be easy for others to find and benifit from in the future. It may be about general restoration now but will undoubtedly stray into specialised IC info in the future. If one of the others moves it back dont come gunning for me.
I hope this clarifies a few things.
 
 I do hope we can get on better together in the future. Best wishes, Bob

ps. Most of the moderating is done by me as well as Jim who cares for it from across the pond covering the hours when we are asleep. Moderating in necessary, for instance someone posted a video about oral sex the other day, do we really want that kind of thing on a microcar forum?
 If the general consensus is that I resign then I will willingly concede.

[richard]

Please keep it up Bob , no quibbles from me as you have moved my stuff and removed my stuff sometimes with and sometimes without a note depending on as you say whether it needs one or not . Thanks from me anyway . Could I ask for a vintage pram section - to go to when we throw out our vintage toys 

[milnes]

Bob I appreciate you coming forward as the Mod involved, as you say the Mods job is a thankless task most of the time, it can be damned if you do and damned if you don't.
I dare say my gripe was not really about the moving of the post, more the lack of acknowledgement on the movement and the lack of discussion.

If a post involved attacking someone personally or has vulgar words then no discussion remove the post.
If sarcasm is used, some may take offence, others like myself find that it is fairly amusing used in the correct way, as long as it's not continuous then it becomes somewhat tiresome!
I guess the Mod has to use their discretion at that time.

I can see where you, Al and Dave are coming from regarding having the post in the IC section and indeed when I have more specific posts regarding the AC70 restoration I will be posting in the IC section, but right now my questions will be more of the general type, hence I posted where I did, the fact I'm asking about 70's should not sway the answers to 90% of my questions at the moment.

I agree Bob, I'm all for getting on with everyone on the Forum and I feel the best way is open and honest discussions like this.
You don't have to like Invalid cars to get on with each other 

[Rusty Chrome (Malcolm Parker)]

I think the role of the moderator is just that. I fail to see anything wrong in what Bob did or why any discussion is necessary. He moved your post to a different category. You get similar petty disputes over article titles on Wikipedia. People don't seem to be able to grasp the incredible, all-powerful nature of the search engines. If you follow the logic, surely putting more general bits about the restoration of an invalid carriage in another category means anyone looking to restore another one in the future won't be able to find those marvellous contributions. Invalid carriages may be left rusting in barns which might otherwise be celebrated out on the road. How can anyone be so cruel and heartless. 

[super-se7en (Malc Dudley)]

What he just said.