I don't think ikester was modding the board at that time because of the hurricane in Florida. He said he lost power. When he got back on the board things had sort of spiraled out of control. It's kinda hard to reign in things and administer discipline when things get too far gone. It's best to just draw a line and start from that point.
And that is why I tried to get Russ to make another forum. He can still do this and not lose his links in his favorites by just closing this one, leaving up the threads for referrence. And opening a new one se we can start afresh.
I think any real moderating has to have a set of rules so everyone knows where the line is. It is still a judgment call by the moderator but at least he/she has something to point to. Plus the rules don't have to be set in stone. They can be clarified or modified if there are problems with implementation.
For example, there should be a rule about "rude" remarks or posts. However, one man's rude is another man's statement of fact. The rules regarding rude behavior should be bounded to allow certain freedom of speech without allowing hateful remarks. Perhaps a consensus is needed as to what will be allowed and what will not.
I find that people who would rather have free reign because of their immaturity. Will test the bounderies of the rules regardless if they are written or not. It will always be a constant war of: Where did I break the rule? What do you mean I broke a rule, I don't see it. Why are you always picking on me? Why can't you mod the other side for a change? You always picking on the evolutionists. Russ you choose a creationist for modding, why not an evolutionist also to even the score? See, sounds just like a child. And I have had several of these things already said to me already in open forum or PMs. So I know what kind of people I'm dealing with.
And on and on and on it goes. I did not volunteer to mod a nursery of children who waaa waaa everytime they get corrected.
It's like asking:
1) Why can't I call this person names?
2) Why can't I make a sterotype that degrades the person?
3) Why can't I insult the other member?
etc...
The question should be not why can't I, but why would you want to?
What makes you feel that a debate warrants insults in order to win it? Is your arguement that weak?
As I said on one blog to a person who was insulting with every post. If evolution has mountains of evidence to support it, why do you resort to this other tactic when you should be busy talking about this mountains of evidence because it would take all your time to talk about.
Of course the guys only response was to insult more. So I told him by not addressing the question he actually answered it by his response. At which point he resorted to cussing me out. At which point I considered debate over, deleted all his nastiness, and blocked him for wasting my time as well as everyone elses.
Forums members...
Do you think I was to harsh? Because that is the way I would run the forum here. I don't put up with the dung.
