Warbird Information Exchange

There are a lot of interesting opinions here on moderation and I will be taking them into consideration when developing the future moderation policy.

Just remember a few things:
1. We're all volunteers, no one gets paid. What little revenue is generated by the site goes to its operational expenses. And those revenues have dropped 60% from this time 2 years ago. Donations have helped off set that but don't think we're generating a paycheck.

2. To have instant response to transgressions would require 4-5 times as many moderators as we've ever had. At some point it is up to the community to decide what they want. Nothing infuriates a troll more than being ignored.

3. The rules are in place, not because I want to rule with an iron fist, but because I want us all to enjoy it here. I could crack down hard all the time, but I try to give people the benefit of the doubt and the majority of those banned had way more opportunities to mend there ways than they should have. The only instant bans that were performed were for those who dared me to ban them. In those case I try to be obliging.

And on a personal note, I work 6 days a week and have a 1-1.5 hour commute each way. I don't have as much time as I used to have to devote to the site much less the forum in particular. I most certainly can't read every post and monitor every word written. I don't expect my mods to either. Ignore the trolls, if it's something really bad then PM me or a mod. We will try to deal with it in a timely fashion but be patience, we're only human (except JDK, he's from down under, i think they are like elves or something, James is definately tall enough to be one)

And if all 4000+ registered member signed up to donate $2 a month then I will be perfectly willing to hire a full time moderator.

_________________
Scott Rose
Editor-In-Chief/Webmaster
Warbirds Resource Group - Warbird Information Exchange - Warbird Registry

Be civil, be polite, be nice.... or be elsewhere.
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Scott,

Start manufacturing some WIX branded tampons. Judging by many of the threads lately you will be able to retire off the revenue.

Ryan

I believe there is a need for mods. They are able to sort out misconceptions, or ruffled feathers and allow the conversation to build and grow in a positive way. It's not an easy job, and sometimes it means bluntly shutting this or that person down to prevent things falling apart all the way.

I like much of what I have seen here...and sometimes completly miss the point and anger of the flame wars from people that end up getting banned. The mods care enough to give a brief overveiw of why there were bans. That's really straightforward of them.

Some of the recent thoughts in this thread include folks not wanting to hear certain subjects in this forum, such as personal stories of family members. I can see their point, as it can dilute the focus on the planes themselves. I also like the respect many of the members include that they take part in restoring, flying and caring for warbirds as their own form of dedication to the people that served in these planes......

...that said, I'm suggesting adding a forum focused on people such as pilots, crew,whatever- that have great stories from their time with all forms of warbirds. Some of the posters have great resources to post wondeful pictures of heros in their mounts; they could go here. Others have Aunt Rosie The Riveter stories, some know Joe The Old Guy next door that turned out to have been a pilot in some amazing moment in time.

I believe that adding this as a forum may take some pressure off the mods, as it allows an area for this portion of warbird knowledge and discussion.It clears out the other forums and those not so interested in this part have a better time of it looking at what they most enjoy.

Today I attened an event at Planes of Fame hosted by Jimmy Dolittle's granddaughter, who as a writer is recording stories of WWII vets of all sorts. She brought together a number of folks interveiwed in her new book, and they spoke in person. To meet a fellow who stood on the deck of the Nevada and was strafed by Japanese planes at Pearl Harbor, a Doolittle Raider, a Rosie The Riveter, A Wac.....was most amazing, and put a whole new perspective on some many things I have heard about for years. I wish there was an area on WIX to pass along these personal stories from all manner of folks involved in all the generations of warbirds- including our current heros of the jet age. It seems like WIXers would be among the most interested in this perspective....and it may help sort out some of the issues the mods have to deal with on at least this subject.

I have a lot of thoughts here but they're a muddy mess so in random order:

Scotts's rule #2 is "No Profanity - The future of the warbird movement is the kids, as such I try to make the WRG as a whole kid friendly. So no profanity. Posts with profanity will be edited"

Well thats OK but no means none at all right. Virtually every thread lately has at least one post with various forms of it. Nobody is stupid enough to not realize what a$$ or sh/t means. (mind you I'm an adult and use such language regularly and have no problem with swearing unless you're one of those poor folk who can't complete a sentence without it).

Rule #6 "Politics - It has become evident that discussions of a political nature cannot be done in an objective fashion about this subject that people are so passionate about. So, unfortunately, political discussion is prohibited as of March 19, 2007. You have been warned, so anybody who posts a political post or baits a political discussion will be banned for 30 days, repeat offenders will be banned permanently"

We're almost all adults here, and I frankly don't see how subject like the TSA can be discussed without politics entering the fray. In my opinion, when trying to shut down political statements sometimes the moderator has contributed to the rucus by the manner of his response.

Anyway if we all have to "stick to the rules" Why does it appear the punishment associated with those rules isn't followed? Maybe Scott needs to give moderators the power to suspend members? Has anyone actually received a 14 or 30 day suspension like threatened in the rules? Or is it just a warning or two via pm then ban?