How can you trust a total stranger with your forums?

[dojo]

I am pretty amazed to see how fast some of you are giving admin/mod positions to about anyone who's interested in this. In my experience the best way is to 1. have an admin (me) and 2. promote from my best members the few to become my mods. And, even so, you can never know they won't try to 'mess' your forum (had some experience with mods banning some good members or abusing their position)

And still, here you are, entrusting your new community to about anyone who'd want a position? Aren't you afraid you'll have problems?

 

[Luke]

I agree, some people just let strangers here all over their forums 🙁

 

[kavin]

Basics of administrative practices #1:
Never hire someone who you don't know.

You can hire an active user of your forum, or if you need to hire from outside, make sure you know them well before.

 

[David]

Well, unless you've met them in real life, everyone is a stranger, but an internet friend. There may not even be a real person on the other end. But it's how much you know about them which is important, even if you've never met them.

 

[Pinky]

I've been very surprised by this too. Always best to get to know new people before giving out staff positions.

 

[Hissae2]

I would never give out a staff position to someone I don't know well. I've never attempted to outside hire, never saw the need. I can survive on my own before opening and then hire dedicated members.

 

[Delirious]

I have open staff positions at my forum. The review spots are easy, they wont have any real power because they will just write reviews.

As for the moderator spots I am going to have to be very picky. It is hard to trust someone on the internet unless you have known them for years and have established a trust already. I have one person wanting to be a mod right now, yet I am still trying to decide to let them. I haven't known them long enough yet I don't think. They let me be a packager at their forum, yet there isn't much real power with that rank.

 

[Nuke]

Hell, I don't think I can even trust some people that I do know well sometimes. I mean, I've had great friends that became Ekunia/Nukia admins betray me in brutal ways. It's getting to where I can't really trust anyone in this day and age.

 

[tronik]

They have to "earn`trust over time to become a admin at my forum. However, I prefer to hire people that I know in person. But I do agree that some forums just hand out admin positions, especially the new forums.

 

[Nebulous]

Assuming you make regular backups, giving someone admin or mod powers in the wrong hands isnt that big of a risk. You can just restore your forum after the damage is done. Still, I only hire people Ive gotten to known on the forums and have a good feeling about.

 

[benjaminp]

Assuming you make regular backups, giving someone admin or mod powers in the wrong hands isnt that big of a risk. You can just restore your forum after the damage is done. Still, I only hire people Ive gotten to known on the forums and have a good feeling about.

You might only lose a bit of content, but you could possibly lose a few members.

I totally agree with the OP. I'd never give a admin/mod position to someone who I didn't know fairly well. Even when picking a "dedicated member", there's a chance you might get burned, but the chance is largely reduced.

I fear most people give staff positions away, not because staff are needed, but to try and give people an incentive to post and to increase activity.