Throwing in my two penneth...

[Palinka (RIP)]

...I might have to ban you...

Sorry, old chum, but you cannot. She has protected status.

And a husband, fyi.

[Fast Cast]

Right, seeing as everyone is wading in with their opinions about moderation on this board I thought I'd add mine too. I appreciate that it won't be shared by all and I'm not sure that the moderators here will necessarily appreciate me sticking my oar in to an increasingly lip-pursing debate. Damn it all though, I've had a dry, difficult although rewarding week and I come back to find all this nonsense. So with a G+T in hand, here goes...

Why is there such a problem with moderators? From what I can see they do a thankless job and do it very well. Their presence is only felt when necessary (e.g. when spam appears, when people are rude and objectionable etc.) and I've never felt that they are intrusive dictators in any way. They do it because they love this board and want it to continue well. Saying we don't need moderators is like saying we don't need bar staff in a real pub who have the authority to keep out the cunts and keep the usually pleasant in line when they push things too far. As for comparing them to some of the more fervent and excessive dictators this planet seems to throw up from time to time - do grow up. This is an internet message board, not the Killing Fields. If this isn't a democracy, then it is at least a benign dictatorship and is hardly ruled with an iron fist.

Next - choice of moderators. I don't know the exact procedure for selection but I'm fairly sure that agreement will probably come from the top. As has been said elsewhere, we have a good cross section of drunkkind in the job. If not these people (who are consistent, diligent and GOOD people) then who would you have and for what reasons? That's a fairly redundant and rhetorical question obviously because the choice has already been made, but examine the reasons for your dissent and present it quietly and with dignity rather than just deciding that you don't like it and voicing your opinion with rude hyperbole.

Lastly - NYDingbat. I don't know too much about you; you haven't to me seemed to be tremendously right wing and I'm a woolly-minded liberal of the embarrassingly worthiest order so I notice that sort of thing - perhaps I missed those particular posts? Either way, good luck to you and do us proud. To the rest of you - perhaps give her a chance to separate her alleged politics from her job of moderating?

To bring my rambling and possibly confusing/infuriating/laughable ramble to a close, I'd just like to put in a plea for some perspective and gratitude. We all love this board, and the moderators are a big part of it - you might just not see it. So thanks, like.

Cheers and beers to all.

You're being dangerously reasonable, I might have to ban you.
Well, if you just tell me who the girl on your av is, I'll turn that into a mere suspension for 99 months (maybe) and after that I'll return to polishing my Messerschmitt.

That's Chan Marshall. She's ridiculously sexy, even before you consider the fact that she's already 40.

I always felt that a mod was like a bouncer. When they're good, you only need one, and the times they need to intercede are few and far between.

[Palinka (RIP)]

...I always felt that a mod was like a bouncer...

Bar's get to close up every night (at some point). We are online 24/7, and the geographical distribution of the moderating team reflects that. Just like bouncers work shifts.

[Mother Goose]

Palinka, sadly I was not at Con 3. We were at the MassCon, Con 4 (I think, was that the most recent Denver con?) and we've hosted and attended many other non-MDM-sanctioned invasions and drunkard weekends (Austin, Midwest Invasion, a few stumbling weekends at our humble abode, and the Shmooperbowl). :)

[steved2112]

GSG thanks for putting together such a thoughtful treatise on the matter.

[JimLahey]

What in the fuck are you guys talking about? Drink up, jesus.

[NYDingbat]

GSG thanks for putting together such a thoughtful treatise on the matter.

Seconded.

[Bundy]

everyone likes to complain, but yes, probably should say thanks more often. Since when have you ever heard a bouncer applauded, mind?

a pair of bouncers walked past my local the other day and i led the pub in a round of applause. i mean they had to be at least 36 DD.....

[l...]

everyone likes to complain, but yes, probably should say thanks more often. Since when have you ever heard a bouncer applauded, mind?

a pair of bouncers walked past my local the other day and i led the pub in a round of applause. i mean they had to be at least 36 DD.....

ha! :)