Life as a Mod on the 123 forum

[jgredline]

As I have pondered an e mail I received from a ''former'' member here, It got me thinking. While This person had some really nice things to say about me, he also had one comment that really stood out to me and caused me to go back and read some of my earlier post....


He said that once I became a mod I went from being a warm nice Christian to a mean spirited Christian.....Now being in a competitive business, you learn to let things go off your back like water to a duck, but this got me thinking. Was he right?...Well, I would say that for the most part no, but there was a definite change in my tone towards some folk.....

Let me express some of my thoughts and will share from both perspectives. First as a member…..As a member of the forum, we can pick and choose what forums or topics we want to participate in. For some it could be end times and for other apologetics….Still one is really only accountable to oneself and God of course, but believe me we all have left God out of our debates at one time or another. After all we are human and have all said and done things we have had to eat crow over…..well, at least most of us have…..certainly I have…..My point is simply this….There was a time where I got into a heated argument with Vic and said I was leaving the forum….Truthfully I don’t even remember what the argument was about….There was another time when I got into another heated argument with Atonement over I don’t remember that ether, but he started to delete my post and deleted a thread and well, it got ugly…..But after I had settled down, I apologized to him because I was clearly wrong although I did not see it that way at the time…..In fact it was not really until I became a mod that I really saw it…..And the irony of it all is that it was atonement that recommended me as a mod…..Go figure….

Anyway there is a forum where only mods can go into and that is where we check things out…and see what members should be put in check, or banned, or suspended….There we discuss such things as to who to keep an eye on and how to make things better….
The one thing that I wish posters could see is the heart of the mods and admins who mod here on 123….Truly we love the folk here and most of all we love the Lord Jesus Christ.

You see, it’s not all about the paycheck, but its about the Glory God gets through this forum…and nothing breaks our heart more than to see those folk who are lost and those folk who do not have a grasp on reality. There is also no greater joy than to see those who come here for answers and find God….

So have I changed? Yes some what, but that is because I am now held to a higher standard as far as the forum goes. When I agreed to Mod I also agreed to uphold and enforce the TOS of this site….Who am I accountable to? God and God alone……

Why do I do this? For the same reasons the other mods and admins do it….Because we love God……unfortunately some times we need to make decisions like delete post, suspend people or ban them and believe me when I say, that is not our or anybodies wish, but because this is a Godly Christian site, The devil will place his armies here to try and create confusion and create problems and it is up the mods to weed these thorns…..It’s not an easy job but a job that has to be done….

I will share more and hopefully some other mods will share as well....

 

[Vic C.]

My contribution...

You see, it’s not all about the paycheck,

Paycheck? :o

:end

8-)

J/k My primary contribution here is technical and conduct-related. I desire to see posts conform to the ToS. (see rules 4,5,6,7,8 and 9)(...and sometimes 10) 8-)

 

[Atonement]

That was a very truthful and a heart felt post Jg. Thank you for acknowledging and accepting my decision I made with you so many moons ago. It is difficult at times to Mod such a hard topic (religion in general) to people with so many views. Therefore post can and (usually do) become an all out war. Being a Mod on here has allowed me to make wonderful friends, even to those that I have given warnings out to at one time or another. But I have also felt the pain and the heartache of our members leaving here because of the post that they have read on here. Well, when Mods are 1st asked to Mod on here I usually ask them, as before (I did with JG) "Are you up for the challenge ?" It is a challenge because we meet really nice people on here and yet later on that person allows the forums to get the best of him/her (as we all have done). It's hard to give out warnings to people that you learn to respect. And when it's done we use the same attitude that we do with other members. However, the confusion is that every mod gives their warnings out differently. I use mainly the PM feature, other mods post them in the forums. So members start to believe we are showing other members favoritism. Sad as it is we have let go people that we wish would have changed and done the right thing. We have promoted mods to members, because they did not post by the rules themselves. The rules applied here are for everyone, and everyone agrees to these as they post on here (mods included).
On the other hand being a mod has taught me how to handle people on here differently. I'm usually firm with the rules (or so I been told), that I needed to lighten up on certain issues, yet I always asked why? I come to the understanding that as JG stated, we are accountable unto God alone. And I must stay firm with people who do not respect or re-read their post before sending it. Therefore action is taken on that member and we both loose and we loose because we are at a loss when it comes down to issuing a warning. All I will ask is that you try to understand that what we want is a peaceful place where God may be glorified through understanding and wisdom that each one us can share to help build each other stronger in the faith of Jesus Christ.. God bless each of you

-Atone

 

[MrVersatile48]

Beatles were asked, "Are you Mods or Rockers?" :roll:

John didn't hesitate a nanosecond..

(which term may well be explained here):-

http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=27379 :angel:

"Neither"

"What are you?"

"Mockers" :

I'd have maybe then asked...

As in 2 Timothy 3?)

He'd have maybe turned to Ringo & said...

"I told ya terrible times would come in the last days!"


"As in 2 Peter 3?"

Paul would no doubt have warned the naughty pair...

"You need to get saved!"

(As in John 3 & Romans 3)

Like any good journo, I'd exit saying... :robot:

Just time to print.. 8-)

I mean sprint!! :wink:

Ian :-D

 

[mutzrein]

Dedicated to the female mods :wink:

http://www.bluepie.com.au/shesamod/

 

[mutzrein]

Hey how come those mod / ex mod posts were removed?

 

[Vic C.]

Because they were way off from the intentions of the OP, so Rick poofed them. Blame me, it was my idea. :

 

[Rick W]

 

[Solo]

 

[Jay T]

From my previous experience as a mod......a person has to disbelieve God's word, to remain a mod.

Interesting, I thought !

 

[guibox]

Vic and the Mods,

I fail to see why some of the well thought out posts that DID have to do with the original post were deleted due to being off the 'intentions of the OP' when MVersatile's 'Beatles' post above which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever and has absolutely nothing to do with the OP, remains.

Can you explain the logic here?

 

[jgredline]

Vic and the Mods,

I fail to see why some of the well thought out posts that DID have to do with the original post were deleted due to being off the 'intentions of the OP' when MVersatile's 'Beatles' post above which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever and has absolutely nothing to do with the OP, remains.

Can you explain the logic here?

Gui
don't feel bad, one of my post got deleted also. :-D

 

[Guest]

Gui
don't feel bad, one of my post got deleted also. :-D

That is not really the point though is it? If the logic behind 'poofing' responses is because they did not follow the OP - the gui's question is valid. No?

As a moderator, I do not believe that you are above reproach and questioning. Yet, when done so - the responses I have seen to me personally and to others seem to be veiled threats of censorship and bannishment.

 

[Solo]

That is not really the point though is it? If the logic behind 'poofing' responses is because they did not follow the OP - the gui's question is valid. No?

As a moderator, I do not believe that you are above reproach and questioning. Yet, when done so - the responses I have seen to me personally and to others seem to be veiled threats of censorship and bannishment.

aLoneVoice,
Consider this the second formal warning for posting in the public forum negative remarks concerning the forum staff. One more warning and you will be gone.

Thank you.

 

[Solo]

From my previous experience as a mod......a person has to disbelieve God's word, to remain a mod.

Interesting, I thought !

Jay T,
This is a formal warning for your comments against the staff of this forum.

Please refrain from your negative posts.

 

[Solo]

Vic and the Mods,

I fail to see why some of the well thought out posts that DID have to do with the original post were deleted due to being off the 'intentions of the OP' when MVersatile's 'Beatles' post above which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever and has absolutely nothing to do with the OP, remains.

Can you explain the logic here?

Guibox,
Consider this a formal warning for posting against the actions of the staff. Next time PM the administrators or moderators as the Terms of Service directs.

Thank you.

 

[lovely]

For me, having been a moderator here has been a blessing. I have enjoyed helping, or praying, for those who have written to me with a need. Reading the posts is a time consuming job, but it is also a wonderful way to get to know others. It is a challenge to pm someone and give them a reminder of the TOS...and sometimes a group reminder is needed on this board. lol It is also hard to see members go. I am thankful for the mods here, and I know it can be a difficult position. Logan, Vic, and Judy handling all the technical things is also such a kindness to us all. I will keep you all in my prayers. Thank you for protecting this board, and thank you for allowing me to be a moderator for a little while. The Lord bless you.

 

[Solo]

Lovely,
You have been (and still are in my book), one of the best moderators I have had the pleasure to work beside.
God bless you and yours,
Michael

 

[mutzrein]

Guys - please don't take this negatively. I'm wanting to gather more than one mod's thoughts (a consensus if you like) and I'm wanting for others (non-mods) to know them. How else do I do this without posting on a forum while this fear of a 'warning' hangs over the members of the board?

May I have dispensation to address the general mod populous without this fear. Surely as brothers / sisters in Christ we should be able to do this.

And if it is not appropriate on this thread, is there anywhere where we may address you as a group and be able to get such a response.

Blessings
Ed

 

[Solo]

Guys - please don't take this negatively. I'm wanting to gather more than one mod's thoughts (a consensus if you like) and I'm wanting for others (non-mods) to know them. How else do I do this without posting on a forum while this fear of a 'warning' hangs over the members of the board?

May I have dispensation to address the general mod populous without this fear. Surely as brothers / sisters in Christ we should be able to do this.

And if it is not appropriate on this thread, is there anywhere where we may address you as a group and be able to get such a response.

Blessings
Ed

You are welcome to ask the staff any and all questions as long as they are not of a derogatory manner and/or in which an action of the staff is publicly questioned. Whenever a member posts a post questioning the staff's actions in a negative light, either individually or as a whole, it will get an undesirable action (from the poster's perspective). In order to keep this forum organized and focused on subject matter instead of personal attacks, the TOS will be maintained accordingly.

The TOS designates that you can PM a staff member with any and all complaints, and they are evaluated. The public forum is not the place to air out personal problems of actions taken by the staff of this forum. There is an avenue which one is directed to take in such cases without an action of recourse due to the violation of the TOS; and that avenue provided for this purpose is the Personal Message (PM) service.

Thanks for asking.