[Discussion] History forum - more stringency?

Post by **K. A. Pital** » 2008-09-04 10:37am

I'm sorry I kind of missed the discussion on N&P (let it also be known that I will support the finalized measures proposed in that thread).

There is another forum which people think requires a little more stringency. This PM was sent to me by Thanas, but to be frank, there are many strange and too general RARs spawning around (the two last threads being an prime example).

PM from Thanas wrote:I am concerned about the recent threads of what-ifs showing up in the history subforum.

We have one RAR thread in there already (here). I for one believe that serious what-ifs (like this one)have a great potential for serious discussion, but RAR threads like this are an absolute waste of bandwith since they consist of one question and two lines of text. No info is gained that way.

Feel free to distribute my PM as freely as you like. I also do not care about anonimity.

Regards,
Thanas

It is my feeling as well that too many RAR threads are slipping into history. I have nothing against alt-histories, but if they are too general and too many, I thought we were going to put the more generic ones, especially WWI and WWII RARs, into Off-Topic?

Especially as I see some RARs don't even generate much interest in the History forum, which makes the threads purposeless.

What are your thoughts, esteemed colleagues?

Post by **Coyote** » 2008-09-04 10:43am

We need a mod there-- who will do just exactly that. Flush 'em to OT.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2008-09-04 10:58am

Coyote wrote:We need a mod there-- who will do just exactly that. Flush 'em to OT.

I can step in and mod History until a permanent mod crew is appointed.

Post by **Coyote** » 2008-09-04 11:51am

RedImperator wrote:
Coyote wrote:We need a mod there-- who will do just exactly that. Flush 'em to OT.
I can step in and mod History until a permanent mod crew is appointed.

I certainly have no objections to that.

Post by **K. A. Pital** » 2008-09-04 12:42pm

Me neither, full support of such a measure.

GrandMasterTerwynn · Post by **GrandMasterTerwynn** » 2008-09-04 12:57pm

Weren't we discussing moderating staff for the History forum? What ever became of that?

Post by **Coyote** » 2008-09-04 01:05pm

We were discussing that; we were coming to an agreement on measures for N&P; we'd also agreed on the revokation of a negative title..

We have a full combo plate, of which it is only half-eaten!

Connor MacLeod · Post by **Connor MacLeod** » 2008-09-04 02:53pm

Could we start a new thread for mod recommendations? For wherever the Admins and supermods and mods (and Mike of course) decide where they might be needed?

Edit: As for History, why not just outlaw RAR threads in anyplace other than testing? If they're interesting to anyone I imagine they can either be asked to be moved elsewhere (mod discretion) or interest in the thread iwll keep it afloat.

IF anyone breaks the rules then just be ruthless to them (I have no problem with mod discretion here.)

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2008-09-04 04:44pm

I'd be willing to toss my hat in for the History subforum only--I mean, it's just a subforum, fairly low traffic, and as everyone knows I'm one of the more intensely interested individuals on the board in history, though indeed it's been the somewhat less serious attitude of the place that has deterred me from posting (that and the need to rewrite most of my essays of interest). But since everyone originally agreed that Stas was a solid moderator for the place, but now everyone seems to think (and he certainly is!) he's more suitable for N&P--well, I'd be willing to do it. Since it's a subforum, does the moderator there even need to be a full moderator? A minimod with lock privileges for other peoples' threads seems quite sufficient, and I'd be happy doing it (I've stated before I don't really want to get involved in moderation, but I'd make an exception for being a minimod in a forum with interesting topics).

Post by **Coyote** » 2008-09-04 05:40pm

Stas and Marina both could probably share such a responsibility.

In fact, consider this to be my official nomination of both of them!

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2008-09-04 05:45pm

Shep was nominated as well the last time around, and I think he'd do well there.

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2008-09-04 06:34pm

I was in favor of Stas, but I think he would be one of the best put forth for N&P, and given the volume of work that place needs I don't want to throw more at him, even if it is something so minor.

I do actually think Shep could do well there - looking at the threads, most of them are military history, and this really is his thing. I suggest him and DZ.

Post by **Coyote** » 2008-09-04 06:45pm

Stas mentioned being short of time as we were going into the STGOD, so it seems that the History forum demands would be pretty minor. N&P would be a bit more of a mouthful to chew. But if Stas has time for N&P, hell, I'd withdraw the nomination for History and apply it there.

Stas, Stas,.... what's Russian for 'Uber Alles'? Applying that phrase to a Russian just wouldn't feel right.

Post by **Surlethe** » 2008-09-04 07:10pm

Stas, Marina, and Shep are all good choices -- perhaps, if Stas works in N&P, his domain could also be extended to include History?

Post by **Coyote** » 2008-09-04 07:14pm

I would also be willing to do minimod duties in History-- it'd be much like what I do for the Mess, already, if it leaves Stas time for N&P.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2008-09-04 07:42pm

Remember, this is all subject to the Will Of Mike.

Publius · Post by **Publius** » 2008-09-04 09:01pm

LadyTevar wrote:Remember, this is all subject to the Will Of Mike.

This need not be said; all questions of policy and administration are subject to his imprimatur or veto as a matter of course.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2008-09-04 10:42pm

Just as a for the record no votes please. Feel free to post thoughts or ideas but we have, as the Senate, provided several names and the final selection of a Mod remains woutside fo our control.

Post by **Coyote** » 2008-09-04 11:23pm

Can we stage a "vote as recommendation/endorsement"? A seal of group approval for Mike to judge when weighing merits?

Post by **K. A. Pital** » 2008-09-05 12:57am

Um...

Given my current job workload, which is increased, I think I'd be hardly able to mod the N&P without a huge crew of co-moderators.

History requires two mods at best. Me and Shep or Marina could easily do it - History has a minor volume of new content put forth, it's more about quality than just spawning news articles.

Just keep in mind that I am a family person with a wife now, and my time constraints grew heavier.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2008-09-05 01:53am

Oh, you'd not be asked to do it alone if you were selected. Our recommendation to Mike was around adding four new moderators to N&P, in addition to the four already assigned (though 2 - 3 of those are also supermods, IIRC, so they don't have nearly as much time to pay on the forum). Basically to have six moderators dedicated to handling N&P.

Hmm. A dedicated "recommendation" thread for the two boards might be suitable so that all the names named are easily available in one place for the board leadership to look over?

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2008-09-05 02:52pm

now, now, we all know that most of this shit will calm the fuck down after January 20th. Lets lance that boil and pack the wounds with sterile bandages, it's the only way to treat an abcess.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2008-09-06 10:53pm

Coyote wrote:Can we stage a "vote as recommendation/endorsement"? A seal of group approval for Mike to judge when weighing merits?

We could though I would say its the sort of vote where i would not but an actual quorum on it nor would a vote spam be neccessary (in my mind at least). As its definately in the vein of a resolution and not a formal policy vote I won't stop anyone just let my recommendation be out there.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2008-09-06 11:20pm

Let's do the N&P material first. Selecting moderators for the sub forum is at this time, no different then making them full moderators and currently far down the stack of things that need to happen.

And to be honest we can have Edi, Hipper and which ever Supermod hold until we have it all pat and down.