Do you know your forum members by first name? Do you know things that are going on in their lives, such as maybe they confide things to you that are happening in real life? Or, do you keep an emotional wall between you and your forum members, treating the forum more like a business?
How friendly are you with forum members?
- Thread starter Beverly
- Start date
"As friendly as possible without poking their private lives too much."
I do know some of my online friends' first names. Added them on Facebook, saw general things about their lives, but most of the times that's all. Sometimes we do talk about private matters a bit, but not that often, and only with ones we really trust. I think we really should be friendly with the forum members but also know when to stop and act professional as a moderator or an administrator. Still, that shouldn't stop us from getting to know them more.
I do know some of my online friends' first names. Added them on Facebook, saw general things about their lives, but most of the times that's all. Sometimes we do talk about private matters a bit, but not that often, and only with ones we really trust. I think we really should be friendly with the forum members but also know when to stop and act professional as a moderator or an administrator. Still, that shouldn't stop us from getting to know them more.
As friendly as possible. I'm here to make friends and show my members a good time. We all need to get along in order to make the community a great atmosphere. Only some of my members know my facebook information. A lot of them don't like facebook.
Forces of Steel
Resident
A positive relationship between a staff member and a regular member adds shelf life to ANY forum.
As friendly as possible without prying into their personal lives too much. Pretty much anyone who makes a topic introducing themselves on my board is bombarded with people asking questions to get to know them better (since the introductions area of my board is also a Q&A area at the same time) so as soon as someone even introduces themselves they get met with people wanting to get to know them really well in a friendly manner.
Yes, I do. Number of them. Thing is, people do not need to disclose identity and this is a big part why people feel so at home on the internet. So yes, I am friendly, but would never start prying and asking people for details.
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