Admin Styles

[Darthmaul]

So, as an admin you try and please your users as best you can, but what's the best way to do it?

As an admin i personally follow my rules by the book, and really try and enforce them with an iron fist. I sometimes would warn people for bumping a few hours early. However, on the other hand, you have someone like Amber who is more relaxed with her admin style. For example, a member can post post accomplishments in the announcements, you can post just about anything, etc. The question is, what is the best way to do it, Amber's style or Mine? Or maybe even (the way we used to do it) doing the "double team" method where you have someone like me+someone like Amber running the site. Honestly ii prefer both because they cancel out and provide an awesome team, but what about you guys?

 

[el canadiano]

Different communities need different things. That said, I've always had a "authority if needed, but not necessarily authority" approach to administrating forums. I act/post like one of them in the community, but when I have to use my power, I have to.

 

[Darthmaul]

I see, i see. So you're kind of a mixture of both.

 

[packmule]

I act/post like one of them in the community, but when I have to use my power, I have to

This would best describe my admin "style" at my board. I see my role as primary admin as being the "caretaker" of the board: routine maintenance, updates, always sniffing out any features or new themes(skins) that might be well received by the members of our community. There have been a handful of flare ups between members: they're usually the result of a misunderstanding or poor choice of words and I try to help "mediate" an amicable conclusion to them by being fair, allowing those members involved to express themselves, and taking any further friction to the PM system if it cannot be quickly resolved on the main board pages.

 

[David]

I act/post like one of them in the community, but when I have to use my power, I have to.

Yep, this is pretty much what I try to do. I find people will engage more if you become a part of the community, rather over shadow the community.

 

[JedoChristo]

I act/post like one of them in the community, but when I have to use my power, I have to.

Yep, this is pretty much what I try to do. I find people will engage more if you become a part of the community, rather over shadow the community.

I second this.

Also you reffer to Amber but who is she?

Thanks!

 

[AnAccount]

Yes, I basically act like my members do and post like a regular member. If I need to remind my members of a rule or something or something that is/isn't allowed, then I will, but otherwise on my own forum I normally post like a regular member.

 

[Darthmaul]

I am talking about Amber who is otherwise known as Anathema here on the review team 😉

 

[AnAccount]

I am talking about Amber who is otherwise known as Anathema here on the review team 😉

Can you kind of elaborate or give an example as to what you mean? I don't think I'm following you too well.

 

[Darthmaul]

I was referring to her admin style in my OP and Zebra Ton was asking, so I answered him 😉

 

[Nebulous]

really try and enforce them with an iron fist

Admin's like that usually end up with an inactive forum after a while.

Anyway, I'm laid back & tend to give people lots of chances before I have to be the bad cop.

 

[juststeven]

I have a 4 strike system then depending on the offences depends on the ban time.

 

[Darthmaul]

I usually go with three strikes. And since I take the time to write the rules and I take the time to Admin the forum, I am a firm believer that the users should respect that and follow the rules.

 

[Nebulous]

I usually go with three strikes. And since I take the time to write the rules and I take the time to Admin the forum, I am a firm believer that the users should respect that and follow the rules.

They can follow them but they dont have to respect them. :rofl:

 

[Darthmaul]

...Then what would be the point of being a member?

 

[Nebulous]

Depending on the forum... The point of being a member on a forum is to interact with other people, participate in discussions, have a good time, etc.
Not to live in fear of breaking a rule and bowing down to the almighty iron fisted admin. 😛

 

[Darthmaul]

*shines fist*
I understand that, but if the member is fearful of breaking a rule when they post then it is an unhealthy community. I try to interact with the community in a friendly kind of way, however I am iron fisted about the rules 😉

 

[Grumpy]

Theezy, of course it's important for members to respect the rules, if they don't respect them then surely they would think there is leeway to break them?

 

[Nebulous]

Theezy, of course it's important for members to respect the rules, if they don't respect them then surely they would think there is leeway to break them?

You can adhere to something without respecting it. Ive been on forums before that have had ridiculously stupid rules but I still followed them.

 

[Jedi Penguin]

I have a weird situation.

A member broke my rules 3 times, and it was obviously deliberate, but they also confessed that they did it more for the L.O.L. as it went into big detail telling them not to do what they did.

It wasn't spam or porn. But I'm wondering if I should at least let out that I warned the user or something?

I didn't have many users at the time and didn't want to risk losing that user(though nobody but me and my socks has posted more than 3 times, at least I think so.

Anyway, that user flat out said in a PM that they were doing it for the l.o.l.'s, not for the sake of being a troublemaker or a troll.

I know that I at times like, especially on the Jedi Council Forums, tend to sometimes see how far I can go before I get yelled at and/or banned.

Suffice it to say that I've had my own fair share of rule breaking.

So what should I do to this user?