The new title for this section...

[Tmaq]

The word "philosophy" should be banned.

Sure, sure.

We'll just sign a petition, then pass it along to the 'word police.'

-Tom

[PlatypusOfCarnage]

The word "philosophy" should be banned.

Bad Franc! Let's not get statist, here

[Hierophant]

I propose that we turn over this section to vertigo. He's the only bullshitter on this board who makes any sense.

[vertigo]

Gee, thanks!

[Brad Reddekopp]

Any thoughts on Francois' proposal?

vertigo, are you interested in being the moderator of this section?

You've been an active board member for a long time; you've given no indication that it would be a mistake to trust you with such a position; you seem to understand and accept the minimalist moderating policies of GOTG; you're clearly intelligent; you appear to find the subject matter interesting.

[vertigo]

I would like to know what duties I would be expected to peform. I think I understand the minimalist policies but just how minimalist are they?

In anticipation of the answer, I am supposing that I would be expected to remove spam and to correct missing quote tags and such. I think I should also attempt to steer discussions in fruitful directions, but I don't want people to feel that they can't discuss what they want to. Lastly, I guess I will move threads which don't belong in the section.

My aim for the section will be to have threads stay meaningful, rather than rehashing what has gone before. I will probably also attempt to keep the discussions logical by pointing out what seems to be incorrectly reasoned, and perhaps adding context where I think I can. I will always try to do this in a non-coercive way. I will also try not to stifle creativity. I am quite liberal in what I think may be reasoned about, but it must be reasoned about responsibly.

I'll be away for a week starting today, so will talk when I return.

[Brad Reddekopp]

Okay, that's fine. Your week away will provide time for feedback from anyone who might want to say something about your nomination.

Your aims sound fine and your suppositions about what would be asked of you are fairly accurate -- except that you wouldn't have to correct messed-up quote tags unless you really want to do so.

I think I understand the minimalist policies but just how minimalist are they?

Aside from removing spam and moving threads to more appropriate sections, censorship is a no-no, as you've obviously gathered by now. Even moving threads to more appropriate sections is not something that need be done very often unless you want to -- as I see it, that's mostly an aesthetic issue and can be done according to the preferences of the moderator.

[Tmaq]

That means he gets to pick the name, too, right?

-Tom

[Brad Reddekopp]

It will be up to him to pick the name or try to reach a consensus on the name or arrive at a name by some other method.

[Hierophant]

Yes, I think vertigo should propose a consensus based on a name of his choosing.

[~M~]

why does this forum need mods?

[Dil]

why does this forum need mods?

in short: spam and off-topic threads.

[Hierophant]

Why does this forum need mods? Well if there is a way we could ensure the good running of the board without mods, we'd do it. Message boards are built on the premise that autocracy is better. This is not our fault. In fact I have written a new constitution for this board which, when implemented, will eliminate autocracy as much as possible.

[MustangGT]

why does this forum need mods?

Private property is free to be run in the way that the owner of that property thinks best. Mods are needed to tend to that private property and keep it in line with the desires of the owner.

Its the same reason that gardens need gardeners, or cars need mechanics, or computer networks need network administrators, etc.

[Ratter]

I've got a forum of my own. As a demonstration, I removed the administration rights of every single admin, then changed the root admin password to complete gibberish. We've got around a dozen mods and no admins and the site works fine.