Moderators and trainee moderators

[dfreely]

I've been confused about this for some time...

1. What is a "trainee moderator"?

2. Why does there seem to be hundreds of moderators and trainee moderators? I've seen much bigger forums that are maintained by far fewer moderators. Is it simply a meaningless rank thing here?

[osiris]

1. A Trainee Moderator doesnt have as many abilities as a full Moderator. They can move/lock topics but they cannot ban members, for example. Eventually, when a TM has enough experience, they are promoted to Moderator (or, if they have no proven their worth, they either stay on as a TM for longer or they are demoted).

2. At Fanmail.biz a huge part of the moderating tasks is dealing with feedback. Obviously other (even larger) forums can manage without as many members of the moderating team, however they dont have to check each feedback topic (of which there are hundreds a day) and add them into the prize draw. The moderating team are not just responsible for keeping members in check (moving topics, reprimanding members if need be... handling the paperwork, as it were) but we also help answer questions about sending fanmail and complete address requests. It takes a big team (especially as the forum is international, meaning there are timezones that need covering)

[dfreely]

1. Makes sense. I haven't seen below-moderators ranks in forums in a very long time.

2. It doesn't look like there are hundreds of feedback topics a day, in fact, it doesn't even look like there are a hundred a day. And it looks like the admin does the majority of the "added to prize draw" responses, unless the actual action of adding people to the prize draw is something else. Obviously, you guys can run the forum whichever way you'd like, it was just shocking to see the excessive number of moderators and trainees when I first joined.

[missmaexox]

It doesn't look like there are hundreds of feedback topics a day, in fact, it doesn't even look like there are a hundred a day. And it looks like the admin does the majority of the "added to prize draw" responses, unless the actual action of adding people to the prize draw is something else. Obviously, you guys can run the forum whichever way you'd like, it was just shocking to see the excessive number of moderators and trainees when I first joined.

That's not true. There are actually a bunch a day, some days its more or less than usual, but there are probably a hundred or so each day. Maybe a little less, but still.

And, as admin does probably half of the contest prize draw, the other half is done by moderators and global moderators who need to add people to the draw. Next time you are on the Feedback forum, look for someone that's not admin who is adding someone to the draw.

Very nice question! {thumb2}
-Kelsey

[Selise]

Another reason is because it can take a while to learn all the "ins and outs" so to say of Autograph Collecting, it's important for Moderators and Trainee Moderators to understand the concepts and proper usage of IRC's, Venue Collecting etc. It takes time to learn all the "lingo" and be able to not only understand it, but explain it to people who don't know or are new to autograph collecting.

Plus, this is an international forum, and it does take it's toll as not all TM's and Mods can be on all day every day!

[dfreely]

And, as admin does probably half of the contest prize draw, the other half is done by moderators and global moderators who need to add people to the draw. Next time you are on the Feedback forum, look for someone that's not admin who is adding someone to the draw.

Yes, I do realize the admin isn't the only one doing the prize draw, but it does seem like he does the majority of them, and only a few moderators cover the rest.

Another reason is because it can take a while to learn all the "ins and outs" so to say of Autograph Collecting, it's important for Moderators and Trainee Moderators to understand the concepts and proper usage of IRC's, Venue Collecting etc. It takes time to learn all the "lingo" and be able to not only understand it, but explain it to people who don't know or are new to autograph collecting.

I'm not really sure what you're trying to say here, that you need good knowledge of autograph collecting to become a moderator, or that you become a moderator because you've gained good knowledge of autograph collecting.. or neither?

Plus, this is an international forum, and it does take it's toll as not all TM's and Mods can be on all day every day!

Most forums are international.

I don't want any of you to think is a knock on you or anything, I just find it so ridiculous that there is ~100 moderators/trainees running this forum, when it seems like it would do just as well with ~10.