I've been a DU Moderator 7 times - ask me anything.......

[LynneSin]

especially for those of you who have thought about moderating but not sure about applying!!!!

I've done it 7 times. I was a moderator when 9/11 happened and for several months leading up to and including the midterm elections. I've had a great time as a moderator, made some wonderful friends and was fortunate enough to be able to serve in my favorite forum the Politics and Campaigns (although I've done just about all of them).

So for the next 3 hours I'll answer any questions you might have about moderating here at DU and answer any questions you have about the moderating. I remember one time when the Owners were looking for new mods and I swore up-n-down that they would never want anyone like me as a moderator. Yet they've picked me again 7 times over. Hopefully my informative Q&A section will help encourage other folks to apply for their first time.

So you know, I've opted not to apply this term and will probably not do so for awhile. I've been here since May 2001 when we were probably just a few hundred members. Now we've expand to over 30000 members which gives the owners a great big pool of folks availabe to be a moderator. I might apply again after the 2004 elections and would definately serve again if the owners were in a bind and needed me!

EDIT NOTE: 9/11 was during my first term as moderating. If I can survive that you can survive anything with moderating!

[TrogL]

1. Why?

For God's sake, why?!?!

TrogL was a moderator for one term

[LynneSin]

4. I enjoyed it and especially the P&C forums during mid-terms

because it wasn't as volitile since we were dealing with individual states and not a presidental election. If I were to serve again before midterms I don't think I could do P&C since I'm a major Dean supporter.

[Scaramouche]

2. Here's few I've wondered about....

About how many a hours a day did you put in on average?

If you went on vacation did have someone cover for you?

What was your favorite deleted and/or locked thread?

BTW- thanks for all your efforts for us here...

one edit: spelling and kudoes

[LynneSin]

8. Probably not as much as what you think you would

First, you're not moderating the entire board but just 1-3 forums. And you'll probably be assigned with at least one person who has moderated before, so if you have questions you'll be able to discuss them before you do anything rash.

Second, you're not moderating alone, so if you go on vacation you'll just let the other mods know and you'll be fine (although if you think you're going on a long vacation like more than 2 weeks then I'd wait until the next mod term comes around).

To be honest, I never thought I was spending anymore time than what I was normally spending when I moderated; however, I was spending more time in the forums that I moderated! As you know, DU readers can send alerts if they find a problem, which is a major help to moderating, this is especially a great help when you start getting duplicate posts. Even with you 1-3 forums, you'll never be able to read EVERY message, but you'll start to know what to check for when you go into the boards. The owners and returning mods are always a great help when it comes to moderating.

I can't say a specific thread that was a favorite, but sometimes I was a little sad to delete out some of the freeper idiotic posts, but only because we'd have some amazing replies from the people at DU. But policy is policy!

Good luck - I hope you apply!

[onehandle]

3. OK...

Why are their so many trolls here? Do your mods ever do any housecleaning? I'd start with people with older accounts and few substantial posts, if any. Also people with hotmail and yahoo accounts.

18 votes for Sharpton. Are you kidding?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=348176

[LynneSin]

10. If you eliminate hotmail/yahoo accounts you'd be banning me

Moderators really don't clean up the database of those who apply. The most we would do is lock an account of a trollers we might find posting. We try our best but sometimes us moderators actually sleep and do our jobs (owners too) so you have to be a little bit patient.

For the longest time I've been using a yahoo account because I was on AOL and was getting way too much spam to my AOL account. But just recently I started to migrate to my verizon account. I think the fairest thing to do is give everyone a chance and then deal with it when it becomes a problem.

And I have a neighbor who likes Al Sharpton - he's got his supporters out there

[meegbear]

5. When Clark is elected president ...

how long will it take for him to correct the wrongs of *?

[LynneSin]

12. I'm worried that it'll take several terms of democrats to clean up!

I feel bad for whoever is elected in 2004 because first we'll have to eliminate the tax cuts (which is ok) but eventually we'll have to raise taxes just to clean up the mess. Bush Sr. inherited Reagan's mess and his tax hikes weren't enough. Clinton had to raise them some more in order to bring back the prosperity.

I like Clark, but I'm still on the Dean bandwagon.

[Pale Blue Dot]

6. How many hours per day?

Did you have a set schedule as to when you were supposed to cover? And, if you were a mod in GD, did you have to get a rabies shot first? I don't like shots.

[LynneSin]

13. No real set schedule

But the again we've had folks from overseas help moderate here and many times they're watching DU while we sleep.

I survived a tour in the Foreign Affairs forum which I thought was worse than General Discussion. But then again I'm still pretty novice when it comes to what's happening in the Middle East. If you feel like there is a certain forum you couldn't handle just let the owners know. Believe me, there are folks who love moderating the high profile places!

[liberalnurse]

7. Since a moderator works from home,

Do you have to download a special program to interact and clean-up the board?

[LynneSin]

14. Actually it's a secret ritual....

that you are magically teleported to the secret Island where the Owners and the Servers of DU are located. After drinking their secret potion and tasting their own homegrown mushrooms, fairydust is sprinkled upon you where you magical gain the skills needed to moderate.

Actually, that's not true. It's built in the program and the owners can set that up for you. One day you can moderate and when your term is overwith it goes away. Nothing is added to your own computer.

[liberalnurse]

17. Thank you...

This post is very informative.

Oh, I really like the idea of a magic potion. :)

[LynneSin]

18. I think if the owners included Secret Potions and Homegrown Mushrooms

they'd be overwhelmed with people wanting to apply!!!

Don't mind the reply I gave, I've been reading alot of Al Franken this past week and that was sorta an 'Al Franken' type response!

Finished Lying Lyers and reading "Rush is a Big Fat Idiot"

[liberalnurse]

22. I don't mind a bit...Nurses have

a real obtuse sense of humor. I'm reading Franken too while I'm at work. If I'm not reading at work, I'm on DU.

Management has its perks.

[catpower2000]

9. Why won't they pick me??

Just kidding, I know why they won't pick me. ;-) Although I haven't flamed anyone in quite some time!!

Cat :hi:

[LynneSin]

15. I've seen other folks swear they would never be picked

And even I've had warnings from the owners and mods from some of my post. But with us old-timers the warning is usually "Lynne you know f*****g better than to do stuff like that!"

Apply again, you're a great part of DU!!

BTW, how's the not smoking going. It's been like 2 weeks or so for you!

[catpower2000]

21. Actually, 26 days!!

Are you proud of me? :)

I've applied twice (maybe 3 times) and not been picked. I'm a bit too opinionated and not "fair and balanced" enough. But I've cleaned up my act and maybe someday!

Cat

[LynneSin]

36. Almost a month - congrats hun!

We're rooting for you!

[davidinalameda]

11. is there anything more fun than nuking a freeper?

;-)

[LynneSin]

16. It's fun to a point

I use to work 3rd shift at my job so I was the one who tended to be on DU more often in the wee hours of the morning and I swear some of them come crawling out of the woodwork. Only problem is they're like a gnat that won't go away after you swat it away a few times. I've have freepers regen themselves like 6-7 times in one night. Gets old after awhile!!!

[SoCalDem]

19. I think I did 3 or 4 tours... can't remember

but it's NOT hard.. The fellow mods are always available and ready to help you out, and the "Blue Crew" guys are tops..

You can moderate as much or as little as suits your taste..

one caveat.. LBN or GD does require more attention, so if you only occasionally visit, they would not be the forums for you :)

Especially if you are a "night owl", volunteer.. Lots of folks do actually sleep at night, so night owls come in handy to babysit the other forums in the wee hours :):)

[LynneSin]

23. SoCal, you've moderated more than 3 or 4 times

You've easily got 7 probably even more than that. CONFESS!!!!!

[SoCalDem]

25. Maybe.. I never keep track of stuff like that..

You may be right :P

[Kamika]

20. Do you guys have a secret forum?

where you talk about members and stuff

[SoCalDem]

24. It's not "secret" in the way you described it..

Moderators do NOT "talk about people" there, but when an alert is received, it's posted there and the alert is discussed.. and if a moderator is "on the fence" about issues that come up, those issues are discussed..

No one is ever summarily banned without much discussion...pro and con..


well I retract that a bit.. It someone comes on with a name like KLINTOONSUCKS, or DUDUMMIES and starts spamming the place.. they are taken down with no discussion.. but the rest are debated and discussed a lot :)

[LynneSin]

27. Actually all of DU has a secret forum where we talk just about you

Cause we know you're such a trouble maker!!!

(again, kidding)

There is a place where we can talk about moderating issues and so you can get help if you are unsure if intervention is needed. When you become a moderator you're not being tossed out there on your own. You'll have the support from the owners and other folks who have more moderating experience. It's tough at first but in a week or so you'll feel like an old pro.

[Kamika]

30. baah i knew it

all along

[ronzo]

26. Do you block troll IPs?

Always been curious about that one. When you nail a troll can you block their IP address? thanks.

[LynneSin]

29. That's an owner thing

we don't have the ability to do that as a moderator

[zekeson]

28. This is a great thread, LS

I appreciate you posting the info. What do you dislike most about being a moderator? What is the nasty, end of shift, clean out the french fry deep fryer task at DU Moderators' Fantasy Island?

Thanks!

[LynneSin]

31. It's trying to do the right thing

Because sometimes there are just situations that are borderline acceptable and you're not 100% sure what to do. 99.99% of the people you might have to delete a thread or send a reminder are completely cool about it, but once in awhile you'll get someone who'll think you're out to "Censor" their posts - which we're not.

I also find it difficult to moderate a forum that you have a strong interest. I moderated about 2 terms ago when the democrats were first tossing their names in the ring for president and yes, I'm a Dean supporter. I loved moderating P&C during the mid-terms but felt it very difficult to do now in the primaries since I'm a strong dean supporter and an ultimate Anyone But Bush voter.

So I think the "clean out the french fry deep fryer task" would be moderating any forum that you have a really really deep passion about. If you love Foreign Policies or are an avid gun nut, you might find it challenging to moderate in those threads. But there are so many various forums you can moderate that there will definately be one that'll fit you perfectly!!

[LynneSin]

32. Be back in 20 with more answers although other mods can jump in!

Problem at work, will take 15 to correct!!!

[zekeson]

33. interesting insight, thanks n/t

[cally]

34. Well, Lynn will answer too

but what I hated most was the PMs saying that I was unfair. Often someone complained I was biased when I was actually very biased in their favor. I was just trying to enforce the rules or support a consensus mod decision. Mods rarely make controversial decisions without other mods saying they agree.

When I stopped modding, I had a private celebration deleting my inbox and email list. All those alerts and nasty PMs were gone. :bounce:

[LynneSin]

38. We get that and mods do need to have some thick skin

But I will say this much, the owners have always stood by me when there was any problems. If the owners were throwing you out to the wolves I would have never signed up again after the first go around

[ronnykmarshall]

35. What did you do for:

a. Your talent section
b. Your "platform"
c. What did you wear for your evening gown?

[LynneSin]

37. Answers:

a> I did an interpretive dance based on a musical composition I wrote for the book "The Very Hungry Catepiller"
b> My Platform was World Peace, it seemed like such an original idea
c> My gown was so beloved by all who saw it that Laura Bush actually wore it for the Inauguration

[realFedUp]

39. Can you put everyone on ignore?

:-) just kidding.

[LynneSin]

40. I suppose you could

But you'd have no one to talk to!!!