Moderators Identy

vicsig · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:29 pm

Do you think moderators should be allowed to remain unknown to the users of Railpage Australia™ Forums? (this includes marking their online status as "hidden")

Or have a signature which has their name and forum(s) they moderate.

ie:

--------
Jo Blogs

Chrismas Island Trains
Bass Straight Ferries

350M-1196T-691M · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:33 pm

No, everyone should know who the mods AND admins are.

vicsig · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:36 pm

A good example is QRIG. He has his name and forums he moderates in his signature.

I also have an issue with Admin's not replying to my PMs when it concerns a legal matter. However this is being taken up in PM until such time I get sick of waiting for a reply when I know they have read my PMs.

Chris.

Vicsig Website - http://www.vicsig.net
Everything you need to know about Victorian Trains/Trams.

350M-1196T-691M · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:38 pm

Webslave · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 4:10 pm

vicsig · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 4:12 pm

Webslave · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 4:22 pm

vicsig · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 4:23 pm

Leading by example.

Creates more trust/respect in moderators.

and lots of other things.

I certinally have more respect for the moderators that have names and don't hide behind a keyboard.

Also gives that personal touch.

I used to have my name in my signature, but these days have no need.

Chris.

Vicsig Website - http://www.vicsig.net
Everything you need to know about Victorian Trains/Trams.

chrisr001 · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 4:33 pm

if mod's don't want to give out their full name, then they should at least put their first name.
e.g Mod - Joe Smith could be Mod - Joe

BUT, they have to be their REAL first names

John of Melbourne · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 10:42 pm

I'm not a moderator, although I was once asked if I would be interested in becoming one.

I use a pseudonym because I wish to remain anonymous. I work in the railway industry and wish to be free to post messages here without any connection to my job. This is not just so that the other Railpage Australia™ Forums members don't know who I am, but also so that my employer and colleagues don't know who I am on here. Although I am careful to not post information that I know to be priveleged, it does give me some freedom that I would not feel that I had if my identity was known.

Whilst people can abuse the use of a pseudonym, people can abuse almost anything, so that should not in itself be a reason to insist that people use their real names.

Admittedly the suggestion was that only moderators have to use their real names, but I don't see why I should be prevented from becoming a moderator simply because I wish to remain anonymous.

What advantage does the use of a real name have? As far as I can see the only advantage is to allow people to be identified outside Railpage Australia™ Forums, and I don't see any necessity for that except in the unlikely(?) case of someone wanting to take legal action against a moderator. But to cover that possibility it could be made a requirement that the Railpage Australia™ Forums administrators know the identity of the moderators.

There may be a problem with people posting under several aliases, especially if they abuse that to, for example, support their other selves in an argument or such, but again I don't see that the possibility of some abuse should prevent others from doing so. I have thought of also posting some messages here under my real identity, although so far have not had the need to. But if I wished to, then why not? Again, I suppose that it could be a requirement that anybody wishing to do so has to be known to the administrators.

Riccardo · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 10:47 pm

Hear, hear. I have the same reasoning as JoM and hence the same response. I feel no need to tell people who I am unless it relates to something off-board, and for 99.5% of you lot that is not going to happen.

Given what I've seen under "Railpage Australia™ Privacy" these personal recriminations happen or are made worse by the fact that the participants know each other.

This may preceed Railpage Australia™ Forums creation, but if it didn't, then gives me good reason to not disclose my identity. I too, could walk in front of your shot, drive my car too fast or slow for your liking, or tell you to your face that an X class is a heap of smeg and annoy you thereby. But if I do, I'd rather not read about it again in these forums.

If you need to get in touch, drop a comment at the Transport Textbook or on my blog.

VRfan · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:51 am

I don't think it should be necessary for a moderator to give out their real name. However, I think there should be a list on here of who moderates what forums. eg: I only concentrate on the MSTS forums and I don't get involved in moderating the other forums under "Railpage Australia™ Moderators" unless there is something pretty serious in there.

I think what we should have is a locked, sticky thread in the "Railpage Australia™" forum which lists who moderates what. This way, if someone has a problem, they know who to contact, etc...

James Brook

Victorian Railfan Website
http://vr.railpage.org.au/

Australian Bulldogs for MSTS!

dthead · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 10:00 am

nazarail · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 10:07 am

vicsig · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 10:08 am