Excuse me???

[James]

PM_Mamma00,

I have a moderators job in a couple forums. I have not received any specific tasks or charges to go with the job, so I kind of make it up as I go along. I'm willing to step out on a limb and say that this is probably true of most other moderators (see even on a limb I hedge my bett).

I interpret my job as to facilititate and spark a free flow of ideas of varying complexity and sophistication from variously complex and sophisticated people. I sometimes try coaxing discourse from people on the more serious topics, I may even be reduced to begging in the future as I try to get chapter operations discussions as many views from people as topics about barbie dolls and curly hair problems.

The criteria that is in my mind when I look through posts is simple:

1. I don't view the forums I moderate as owned by me, so dissenting opinion or various forms of expression are fine.

2. I am not overly concerned if a topic becomes passionate or controversial (which so far hasn't happened in topcis such as: Meeting times).

3. I do want everyone to feel comfortable to post and that their thoughts are appreciated.

So in order for me to censor a post:

It would have to be inflammatory in such a way that others were afraid or intimidated to post in the thread. Or it not only would have to be off topic, but also be interfering with a threads normal progress.

Just a glimpse inside the mind of one of the moderators.

Oh, and feel free to challenge in public, sometimes public scrutiny is the best reality check any of us can have.