X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: f996b,df34f5abef6c876 X-Google-Attributes: gidf996b,public X-Google-Thread: 110f55,b8eefa97496bc7d,start X-Google-Attributes: gid110f55,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1994-04-16 11:54:34 PST Path: gmd.de!nntp.gmd.de!Germany.EU.net!EU.net!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!overload.lbl.gov!dog.ee.lbl.gov!newshub.nosc.mil!crash!news.sprintlink.net!sashimi.wwa.com!gagme.wwa.com!not-for-mail From: boba@gagme.wwa.com (Bob Allison) Newsgroups: alt.ascii-art,alt.binaries.pictures.ascii Subject: TALK - What a moderator deos Date: 16 Apr 1994 13:54:34 -0500 Organization: WorldWide Access (SM) Chicagoland Internet Services 312-282-8605 708-367-1871 Lines: 63 Message-ID: <2opc9a$60k@gagme.wwa.com> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: gagme.wwa.com In article , DR J wrote: > [3-D art and talk about it] > >Now for the discussion bit. I see that there has been a request for >discussion over creating a moderated rec ascii newsgroup and I was wondering >if somebody (i.e. you, Scarecrow!) could clarify the role of the moderator. > >For the time that I've been reading alt.a-a, the only letters that I haven't >wanted to see are the 'lose money fast' ones and the occasional flame bait >stuff that appears from time to time. Am I right in thinking that the group >moderator would simply cut these letters out? > >One guy who wrote in seemed to be worried about the power exercised by the >moderator. I'm happy as long as all the posts are vetted for relevance. The >group is about art, so any pictures, requests or discussions about ascii art >should be allowed in. I guess there will be some protests about taste, but >has anybody really come across any ascii art that was tasteless or offensive? > >Just my 2p. (we don't use cents over here!) Well, while some people have expressed views that indicate they only believe there are two extremes, total access no matter what the consequences or a dictator for a moderator who will cut out anything s/he doesn't like or deny access to a poster s/he doesn't like. There are things between these two extremes. Good minimal moderation is nothing more having one person volunteer to wade through and cut out the same frequently asked questions and off-topic stuff. This is a great help to busy people and is a real saving to the Net by cutting wasted bandwidth. But that's all a moderator does. S/he doesn't cut out anything on topic, ond does not put "moderator's notes" within someone else's message. The moderator posts like everybody else. Reader's should have a right to know their on topic article will be posted. A moderator is not a king or queen, they are servants of the Net doing a job to cut waste. With rec.arts.ascii, there would be an estimated 100-150 posts a day. That's high traffic to begin with. So you know there's going to be quite a number of off-topic post right away. And with ASCII art, there are a lot of frequently asked questions. How many times do you want to read 'how do I have my sig added' or 'how do I view an animation' After a while it's just a waste of Net resources, and a waste of time for busy people. Because I believe in passing everything on topic, I will make a digest for those who cannot even handle wading through all that's left after cutting the FAQs and off-topic posts. >I'll vote yes if somebody can tell me again how I go about it. The CFV will have simple intstruction on how to vote. -- _ _ | |_ ___| |_ __ _ ___ __ _ ___ _ _ _ ___ __ __ ____ __ __ _ _ __ ___ _ _ _ | o\ o \ o\ o` |@/ o / o` / o | ' ' / o_)\ V V /\ V V / o` | / c/ o \ ' ' | |_n_/___/_n_/__n_| \__,\__n_\__,|_|_|_\___|o\_/\_/ \_/\_/\__n_|o\__\___/_|_|_| /__/ /__/