PMs with Mods

If a member recieves a PM from a moderator pertaining to the member's participation in a thread and the Forum Guidelines involved, and then said member queries said moderator for further clarification, isn't it reasonable to expect a reply from the moderator?

What is an acceptable course of action for the curious member who really would like his question answered?

Go over his head

You can RTM that shit.

I'm sure that you already know that.

If it's Mokoa that you are referring to, then good luck. He'll just ignore any messages that you send him.

You can try putting your dick between your legs like in Silence of The Lambs and try your luck. I heard that he only replies to hooktards he is banging or hooktard prospects that are waiting to be verified.

Wow! Maybe someone should start a thread on him.

If it's Mokoa that you are referring to, then good luck. He'll just ignore any messages that you send him. Originally Posted by Simon Riley

I've had limited, but successful, correspondence with Mokoa in the past. But I will keep an eye out for your warning just the same.

On a seperate but related matter - what about when a PM is sent on a thread that is in clear violation of Forum Guidelines (at least to my understanding) and crickets and more crickets while the thread runs merrily along?

You would think that a mod would send an explanation of his decision to not act on the RTM, to encourage future "business," so to speak. They can't keep track of every thread in a timely manner and presumably value the alerts from concerned membership. But why bother if your voice is ignored?

Or, Is that the intent? To hope we'll all eventually just shut up and go away?

I don't really know Johnny. I would guess that some wheels squeak more than others. In that case, some dumb-fucks may decide to turn up the volume and ignore said wheel.

Of course, this rarely ever works out, since these wheels tend to fall off the fucking car and bring everything to a halt.

I suggest talking with your friends and decide to RTM the same post. That should get someone's attention.

If the problem is grave, then create a thread and seek answers publicly to your question. I'm sure that others that feel the same would join you in your cause.

I try to reply to any pm sent to me as soon as practical. I have not received any pm from you but I did address and fix your rtm concerning my lack of discretion in my faux review of dr dew. However, your comment in the review as why I had not explained myself was irrelevant. I saw no need to explain myself to you in the thread, only fix it. If you were also expecting a pm from me with an apology or explanation, that also is not applicable or required to fulfill any need of closure.

There are times we have 10-40 Pms in our inbox per day. Some are important and we must put out the fires and some are petty irrelevant grade school whining. We all have real world jobs and are not always available at the moment someone sends a pm or even an rtm.

Normally, the first thing I do when logging on is look at the rtm's and fix what's needed and leave alone the petty non rule breaking rtm.

If anyone sends me a pm I will always answer. If I don't answer right away it's not because I don't love each and everyone of you. It's because I am either shaking my head with a face palm, laughing, or just going WTF and fixing the issue before it becomes a problem. Then again, there are times when we have to investigate something and we may not be able to answer the same day or request Admin for more investigating.

What Providers and Hobbiests forget is there are many volunteers like us behind the scenes trying to keep the civility and smooth running of this board. We catch things more than we miss things which is why we rely on the rtm's. There are 3 individuals in San Antonio alone who I can count on seeing multiple rtm's per day for both important issues and BS issues. Not every action of moderators and admin will be popular by everyone but we do the best we can. All mods and admin have, do, and will make mistakes. We fix it, lick our wounds and we move on.

I try to reply to any pm sent to me as soon as practical. I have not received any pm from you

My question was not related to you specifically.


but I did address and fix your rtm concerning my lack of discretion in my faux review of dr dew.

And yet, here you are AGAIN being indiscreet. Why isn't my RTM being protected by Forum Guideline #9 - "No form of private communications between members ..." instead of being disclosed in open forums?

However, your comment in the review as why I had not explained myself was irrelevant. I saw no need to explain myself to you in the thread, only fix it.

This is a disappointing answer. You owe(d) the board an explanation as to why you lied about your lack of discretion when first challenged. You're a moderator, a TRUSTED member of the staff. If we can't beleieve what you say when you say it...

I was merely the one pointing it out.

If you were also expecting a pm from me with an apology or explanation, that also is not applicable or required to fulfill any need of closure.

Agreed. I want(ed) no pound of flesh. Just transparency.

There are times we have 10-40 Pms in our inbox per day. Some are important and we must put out the fires and some are petty irrelevant grade school whining.

I expected as much. But I assume you appreciate members pointing to where fires burn, or are soon to burn?

We all have real world jobs

This is what an irrelevancy looks like. See the difference?

and are not always available at the moment someone sends a pm or even an rtm.

Of course.

Normally, the first thing I do when logging on is look at the rtm's and fix what's needed and leave alone the petty non rule breaking rtm.

This gets to the crux of my comment in this thread: wouldn't it make sense to "train" the membership on what is and isn't rule-breaking? Sure, it would be more time consuming at first. But, isn't an ounce of prevention better than a poud of cure?

If anyone sends me a pm I will always answer.

Good to know. No offense, but that ought be a baseline expectation.

If I don't answer right away it's not because I don't love each and everyone of you. It's because I am either shaking my head with a face palm, laughing, or just going WTF and fixing the issue before it becomes a problem.

I imagine much of your time is spent in this way.

Then again, there are times when we have to investigate something and we may not be able to answer the same day or request Admin for more investigating.

Okay.

What Providers and Hobbiests forget is there are many volunteers like us behind the scenes trying to keep the civility and smooth running of this board.

I haven't forgotten. But didn't you volunteer to be a volunteer? Are you suggesting because you're a volunteer working FOR membership you don't have to be accountable TO membership?

We catch things more than we miss things which is why we rely on the rtm's.

That you do. And with great regularity. My querie aside, this is generally a very well operated board. And your contribution to that is considerable, from my limited viewpoint.


There are 3 individuals in San Antonio alone who I can count on seeing multiple rtm's per day for both important issues and BS issues.


Remember, the pyschologists say Indifference is the greatest cruelty.

Not every action of moderators and admin will be popular by everyone but we do the best we can. All mods and admin have, do, and will make mistakes. We fix it, lick our wounds and we move on. Originally Posted by Von Spieler

So, as to my question in this thread. My RTM was not acted upon and I don't know why. Either I misinterpret the guidelines or the mod who received my RTM chooses to ignore the guideline.

Who do I PM (I don't know which mod read my RTM - doesn't it just go into a common queue)? And after what length of time?

I am perfectly capable of starting an open thread of my own, but generally find that to be a bit much. It isn't that big of a deal. But not insignificant either.


I appreciate the dialogue Von. And you too, Simon. You seem to know a fair amount about these workings. Maybe we've met in a previous lifetime.

... I suggest talking with your friends and decide to RTM the same post .... Originally Posted by Simon Riley

I tend to be a bit of a lone wolf. But maybe I could put out an ISO looking for volunteers? Any idea how one might word it to not seem too obvious?

If a member recieves a PM from a moderator pertaining to the member's participation in a thread and the Forum Guidelines involved, and then said member queries said moderator for further clarification, isn't it reasonable to expect a reply from the moderator?

You do not remotely understand the number of requests they get daily. If it is serious enough they act and if they don't you were probably misunderstanding the intent of the guideline.

What is an acceptable course of action for the curious member who really would like his question answered? Originally Posted by JohnnyYanks

If you are set in your opinion the either make it a topic for public discussion by starting a CoEd thread about it which gets you input and opinions from others or quietly RTM which makes it visible to EVERY MOD or Forward a copy of your PM to an ADMIN.

Something I've learned over the years in interacting with the people that make the decisions here is that when I do not get a response I am usually wrong. If they take action and simply do not respond I am happy with the result.

The problem with "educating the membership" is that the membership grows daily and the relevant members change over time

I've had limited, but successful, correspondence with Mokoa in the past. But I will keep an eye out for your warning just the same.

On a seperate but related matter - what about when a PM is sent on a thread that is in clear violation of Forum Guidelines (at least to my understanding) and crickets and more crickets while the thread runs merrily along?

Typically, from interactions with you over the years, I would suggest that your understanding of the guidelines is lacking and often some twist on the actual intent of the owners of the board.

You are not the only one and often , until challenged, even MODs and an occasional ADMIN misunderstands a guideline.

You would think that a mod would send an explanation of his decision to not act on the RTM, to encourage future "business," so to speak. They can't keep track of every thread in a timely manner and presumably value the alerts from concerned membership. But why bother if your voice is ignored?

I agree totally but over time have found that RTMing a thread is something they typically show disdain for. You need to keep in mind they are there to feel important and get all the free pussy by running interference for the ladies..... They typically do not understnad the amount of work required until ON THE JOB!

Or, Is that the intent? To hope we'll all eventually just shut up and go away? Originally Posted by JohnnyYanks

EXACTLY! Except for the ladies that might show their appreciation for their actions in some more tangible way.

So, as to my question in this thread. My RTM was not acted upon and I don't know why. Either I misinterpret the guidelines or the mod who received my RTM chooses to ignore the guideline.

Who do I PM (I don't know which mod read my RTM - doesn't it just go into a common queue)? And after what length of time?

Every MOD can see your RTM and often there is discussion about it before any action. Who responds to you might be a subject of discussion.

As to who to PM should you feel the need, ANY of the Admins of the board but the one's that seem to show the most awareness of central/south texas issues are DickEmDown and MoJoJo

I am perfectly capable of starting an open thread of my own, but generally find that to be a bit much. It isn't that big of a deal. But not insignificant either.

It may be "a bit much" but it is harder for it to be ignored over time. And if a MOD is truly wrong certain members that love taking shots an inept MODs will join the feeding frenzy and help escalate your issue.

The thing about starting a thread that comes into play is when you are wrong and then ridiculed for having not known better. It happens....

I appreciate the dialogue Von. And you too, Simon. You seem to know a fair amount about these workings. Maybe we've met in a previous lifetime.
Originally Posted by JohnnyYanks

Makes ya wonder sometimes how they got to know so much!

I tend to be a bit of a lone wolf. But maybe I could put out an ISO looking for volunteers? Any idea how one might word it to not seem too obvious? Originally Posted by JohnnyYanks

You have a fan club. Crazy Marine and SOB are on your coattails.....

... You have a fan club. Crazy Marine and SOB are on your coattails..... Originally Posted by Whispers

No. I don't know either of those gents. And I rarely wear a coat. Certainly not a coat with tails.

Go over his head Originally Posted by rockerrick

Turn down for what!!!