Dear All:
In case you hadn't noticed my absence, I have been absent from moderating for a significant period of time. This was due to a sudden family emergency that required me to take on the role of home health aide. Our family was not prepared for this emergency either monetarily, logistically, or physically; so I've had to make many critical choices about how to prioritize my time. Unfortunately, this meant I had to prioritize health care, transportation, extra work hours, and minor construction ahead of you all.
Frankly, I figured you would all be fine for the most part. I've always said that you all make the forum what it is, not me. But, it doesn't change the fact that I have been delinquent in my duties to you all. And maybe I could have been forgiven myself after a few weeks of regular moderating and creating a good system for it, but after this period of time, it simply isn't fair to you for me to continue moderating.
I would have greatly preferred a transition phase, but it simply isn't something I can maintain due to my time constraints. Any plan I come up with is pretty regularly thrown to the wind, so I'll have to let the chips fall where they may. I'll try to check back more regularly than I have, but I genuinely can't make any strong commitments.
Thus, I'm looking for volunteers for moderation. Truly the forum only needs moderate moderation. Heavy daily commitments isn't necessarily required, as it can probably be mastered by a crew of a few taking different days.
Thank you for your time, and I apologize for the frustrations I have caused you. Please volunteer in the comment chain with your available commitment, and if there are people you would like to work with.
Is there anyone still using their Reddit KIA2 username here that precedes the jump to the .win lifeboat?
I had a different username for the Reddit days. I don't recall much about the pre .win days other than Dom & AntonioofVenice being mods.
Yeah, I am, though my pReddit name has numbers tacked on the end.
Me and, although it's been so long, I'm pretty sure I recognize other names. AoV, of course. I think Socratic. Alfredic? Mpetey? Again, it's been so long, but I think some of the oldetimers here have the same names from Reddit.
I'm still using the same name, although I've always been more of a lurker than a poster. I tend to only chime in when I have an input to make, or a silly dad joke to insert.
On a different topic, though, I was curious about how it works for new members to join. I saw someone mention that basically anyone new was effectively shadowbanned, until a certain out-of-reach condition was fulfilled. If so, then that would mean that we're effectively incapable of growing, only bleeding members, and would eventually become a dead community. What do you know about that, and is there anything you could change as a mod to make it easier for people to join? ln fact, would that even be something we would want, or are we comfortable with the few people already here?
Yeah, Dom implemented some filters that shadowban practically all new members, that's true.
Not sure how much power he plans to give over to the new mods, so don't even know if it would be in my power one way or the other, but I could see rolling back some of those filters, if we had an active mod base that could crack down on actual bad actors.
That was part of the problem. Dom wasn't around enough - and refused to institute new mods - so the board was constantly overrun by absolute fucking shitters (actual trolls, pedos, and Indians, but I repeat myself), so the filters did actually help make the board better...outside of stifling growth.
Again, though, the only reason that was "necessary" is we didn't have active moderation. So it all depends on who gets in as a new mod, how many of us/them there are, and what everyone wants to do. But I can certainly see opening things up more. But it's also dangerous; there are a lot of brigaders, so we would have to keep a close eye on new arrivals, one way or the other.
Honestly, this is one of the main places where I come to get my news, so I'd much rather the community stays alive. I would want it to grow, to be able to get more varied perspectives and prevent us from being so insular that we become a bubble that loses track of reality outside of our community, but as you said, any growth comes with the risk of bad actors.
Ever since you suggested becoming a mod 3-ish years ago, i personally supported you in the position. I tend to agree with the vast majority of your takes, which ironically probably made me seem less active than I was, since your posts already said what I would have wanted to say, making my input redundant beyond a simple upvote. I look forward to seeing what you can do.
If it is just the thresholds in the settings of the community, that is scored.co wide, so they can gain fake internet points in patriots.win or conspiracies or that giant streamer community whose name escapes me right now.