Admin favouritism on forums

[Shortie_]

Something I have noticed in a few places is how some admins on forums tend to have favourites within their forum and it becomes noticeable the more you use the forum.

I have been running forums now for around 19 years with a long break between 2017 - 2022 and never once did I have favourites on my forum. I had regular members, and I made friends but never treated anyone differently from the others.

What are your thoughts on owners or admins of forums that have favourites?

 

[Katrina]

Is the thread about how Admins might moderate their favorite members (or don't moderate)? Or is it communication in general?

 

[Shortie_]

Is the thread about how Admins might moderate their favorite members (or don't moderate)? Or is it communication in general?

Communication in general or even giving those who are their favourites special treatment or special user groups 🙂

 

[zappaDPJ]

If anything I tend to pay more attention to new members rather than regular members which I guess is a form of favouritism. I feel it's essential to make new members feel welcome which encourages existing members to do the same.

 

[Shortie_]

If anything I tend to pay more attention to new members rather than regular members which I guess is a form of favouritism. I feel it's essential to make new members feel welcome which encourages existing members to do the same.

This is understandable I feel. You are going to want to make your new members feel welcome but after a while, they tend to feel part of the community and that settles down.

There are some instances I have seen where members get the favourite treatment and others just seem to be sitting on the sidelines looking in.

 

[Katrina]

I guess that I do play favorites...if members are nice to me, I tend to like them more than the ones who aren't very good to me or the site.

 

[Shortie_]

I guess that I do play favorites...if members are nice to me, I tend to like them more than the ones who aren't very good to me or the site.

This is understandable. I have been in this situation myself a few times. Usually, I can tell when someone likes me or not just by how they are and I feel it is a natural thing for a human to react to that when it happens.