Are forum mods just babysitters?

[Beverly]

Do your forum mods contribute real content to your site or are they just considered more like babysitters on your site, policing the content and members?

 

[milksheikh]

Honestly they sort of are 😀

 

[CM30]

In theory they're not, but in practice they pretty much are.

 

[pandaa]

Most of the time, they just get too focused on their duties to post. But sadly, a lot of moderators are simply babysitters. We do pretty well here to get involved with the community, but it takes a well running staff team to get it to work!

 

[THF_Martin]

It depends on the moderator themselves I think. Let's take me for example, I love to get involved in the community as a staff member (moderator) and when I own a forum I love to get my staff involved in the community more. It can happen and it helps a lot but it just depends on how the staff get involved.

I love giving my staff freedom to suggest ideas, get really involved and make changes. Based on a real business idea, this helps motivation and often leads to harder working based on something called job enrichment and job enlargement. Some people can see mods as just a babysitter but I like mine to really get involved.

 

[Migi]

In theory they're not, but in practice they pretty much are.

Exactly, which is sad. I believe to moderate also mean to assist discussion, join in, and make new topics if necessary. It is also a good sign that they are enjoying the position and the duties (as much as it's busy they can still take time to post around) and have good manners.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I don't accept forum staff members unless they are actually going to be active members FIRST and staff SECOND. A community is about members not staff... Staff actions are just something extra to participate in, they should never be the main course.

 

[Uaithne]

If staff members are only babysitting, then something is wrong. It would be a good time to review the site and figure out what's wrong with the community. Though even on the best of sites, there are definitely periods of time in which people feel as though they're babysitting.

I hire my staff members to be not just active members in the community but facilitators of conversation and roleplay. I expect them to take initiative and drive things forward while welcoming new members and adding to the overall experience.

 

[Nebulous]

Do your forum mods contribute real content to your site or are they just considered more like babysitters on your site, policing the content and members?

A good moderator does both, not one or the other.

 

[Thomasss]

They are not moderators if they are babysitters, and if they are considered a babysitter you are doing something wrong. A good moderator can both engage in the community and moderate the forums seamlessly. That is what makes a good moderator, as well an an admin. Moderators are there to enforce the rules and engage with the community, kind of like police officers do only we are not getting shot at with bullets. A moderator is to enforce the rules, be a happy face in the community, all while maintaining a professional but happy personality throughout the forum. It's a tough job when it's done right, but it's also rather fun and once you get the hang of moderating it becomes you and it's the easiest thing. 😛 Like me, been moderating for a few years now and it comes naturally to me. (Well, most of the time.) Hiring new moderators is also a plus because you can drill into their head what you want done. :lol:

(Police officers are far better than mods, it was just an example of comparison.)


Anyway, if they are babysitters than they are not a moderator and should not have the pretty colored name. That's just my opinion. Forums are not a daycare, and if your staff are the daycare workers you need a serious reform of community.

 

[Maestro]

Moderators have to engage in conversation and be an active member of the community. If they are there only to babysit something is definitely wrong.

Moderating should be second to being part of the community.

 

[Allenafaith]

I agree with everything that was said above. A moderator is someone who posts, talks to the community, engages in conversations all over the board and is someone that is trustworthy and nice to the members. If they can't do all of those things above, they shouldn't be a moderator. It's just my opinion, though.

 

[MrDawn]

Moderators should pretty much add content and take part in the community as well being committed as a staff member. I think it helps them keep up relations with the member base rather than be on there and lock or move topics.

 

[Deleted member 17779]

Do your forum mods contribute real content to your site or are they just considered more like babysitters on your site, policing the content and members?

A good moderator will do both. They will make contributions to the forum but they will also be there to make sure the ambiance of the forum isn't being harmed by spammers or rule breakers.

 

[Cosmic]

I think, in forums with a large enough mod team, there will always be mods who are interested in policing, and those who are interested in posting in topics and helping people. I think generally they're split about 50/50, with maybe a preference towards the policing bit.

 

[Mikaya]

They do contribute from time to time, which is expected of them. They do look after the forum, it's their job afterall. I don't really like the term 'babysitting' though, it sounds weird. 😛

 

[JohnyAF]

I think, in forums with a large enough mod team, there will always be mods who are interested in policing, and those who are interested in posting in topics and helping people. I think generally they're split about 50/50, with maybe a preference towards the policing bit.

Ya i totally accept to u. 50/50 may be the best. Keep everything in moderation.