Policy Change Regarding Anonymous Staff Accounts

[HAL]

The policy of anonymous staff accounts is being modified. The Forum is changing to be run as most other forums are run - with member staff accounts (not anonymous). All new Administrators/Moderators in the future will simply have their member account promoted. All current moderators have been given the option of staying anonymous if they choose to, or they can have their member account promoted and close down their anonymous account now.

The current active Admin accounts - Admin1 and AdminA are being closed and the holders of these accounts will be operating under their member names. The Admins are -

HAL
Madbunny

Many of you already knew this.

What we have been doing here is not the norm for a forum. The norm is that members who are dedicated to the forum and who know how to debate and post within the rules have their member accounts promoted to moderators - that's where moderators come from. I'm sure those of you who frequent other forums know this. That's the way thousands of forums operate and that's how we are changing this forum to operate. It will also make it easier and faster for your moderators to respond to your needs. You will also see them posting and debating in threads because they are members, just like everyone else. Also, as in thousands of other forums, the member moderators exhibit, in their posts, the higher skill, wit, and knowledge that made them a moderator in the first place, and that's a good way for other members to learn by example.

You may ask how this policy will affect your daily posting habits on the forum. The answer is that it won't. So please continue to enjoy the forum and be assured that we stand ready to help whether anonymous or not. And if I chime into threads here and there don't be surprised - after all I'm a member too.

I'll try to answer a few questions about the policy change, but it's really very straightforward.

Thanks.

[pianodwarf]

While I would prefer to remain anonymous, I don't think it's fair for me to do so inasmuch as future mods and admins will not have that option.  Also, if the current admins are "coming out", I suppose I should probably do so as well.  (It will also make it easier to be a mod, since I will no longer have to have two different browsers open, one for myself and one for my mod account.)  All that being the case, please close my mod account and promote pianodwarf.  Thanks.

[HAL]

All that being the case, please close my mod account and promote pianodwarf.  Thanks.

Will do, It may be later today until I get to it though because I need to assign your member name to the boards.

Thanks.

[jetson]

I'm in.  Shut down my mod account!  Perfect timing, the beginning of a new year!

[pianodwarf]

No rush, obviously.  Whenever you have time.

I hope this change will work out.  I've been a moderator on other boards that had the "one account" system, and I remember being accused of abusing my moderator status merely for expressing views that were unpopular.  (I was going to give an example here but decided not to because it's too controversial and might derail the discussion.)  Fortunately, the admins never saw it that way and generally told the others that they were in the wrong.

On the other hand, I guess I can see where some participants here, particularly theists, might feel like they're not getting a fair shake because they don't know who's telling them to read the board rules and so on.  I suppose considerations like that are more important.

In any event, I will say this right now: to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest, I will speak/act as a moderator only in threads in which I am not participating.

[Agamemnon]

It is done for you and jetson.

[Gnu Ordure]

About time too, it was getting tiring having more than one account.

So please close down my Mod_11, AdminA25, Mod_B20 and Ambassador Pony accounts.

Thanks.

[Agamemnon]

And here, all this time, I had you pegged as AdminX, Gnu.

[HAL]

About time too, it was getting tiring having more than one account.

So please close down my Mod_11, AdminA25, Mod_B20 and Ambassador Pony accounts.

Thanks.

I should close down your Gnu Ordure account is what I should do.

[Ambassador Pony]

Gnu, do you still want these two accounts?

Agent40

Ur mom

Or, are you done with them?

[Str82Hell]

Now we'd like to know which member is which mod/admin

[Agamemnon]

Gnu, do you still want these two accounts?

Are you done with AFadly, Pony? You've not logged in for a while, so I assume we can dump it now.

[Ambassador Pony]

God willing.

[Agamemnon]

Praise be upon YOU, Pony. lol

[Gnu Ordure]

Str8:

Now we'd like to know which member is which mod/admin

Yes, indeed. I have a good relationship with a couple of the mods* here; I'd like to integrate that information with their user-persona now that the rules have changed.

Why not tell us?

Gnu.

PS. A PM (in confidence) would do.

* Specifically, GlobalMod_011,  Mod_A25 and Op_014.

[Agamemnon]

I was A25.

[pianodwarf]

Now we'd like to know which member is which mod/admin

Not that it matters much in my case since I was a mod for only about three or four weeks before this change was implemented, but I was Moderator Twenty-Two.  That's because I'm twice as smart as Moderator Eleven.   

[jetson]

Now we'd like to know which member is which mod/admin

Not that it matters much in my case since I was a mod for only about three or four weeks before this change was implemented, but I was Moderator Twenty-Two.

Same here, too young to have possibly upset anyone!  Seriously

mod 23

[Agamemnon]

So, Gnu, who did you think A25 was?

[Gnu Ordure]

knot.

[Agamemnon]

Yeah I can see that.

[Str82Hell]

Please with house address and name of school your children are attending.

[Agamemnon]

lol, got a little grudge going there, Str8?

[Ambassador Pony]

.....Because we'd very much like to foster it.

Why not start a thread to air your grievances?

[Ashe]

I'm surprised and not surprised all at the same time by the names here. Very cool.

Anyhow, I claim A15 and PostalGirl.

[Larissa238]

I was always partial to Mod_11 because we got a nice chat going in my intro thread.

Thanks, Mod_11

[Gnu Ordure]

This is like opening presents.

I opened my A25, and I found an Agamemnon inside! Which is great, because I like Agamemnons. Hi, Aga!

<picks up Mod_11. Shakes it vigorously>

I know what this is.... don't tell me, don't tell me...

Oh.

I've got one of those. 

[Agamemnon]

lol, it's not every day you open a present and it's an Agamemnon, eh, Gnu?

I think Mod 11 may be experiencing technical difficulties, but I have a note to him.

I'm fairly certain he wants you to be able to open your present...

[Agga]

That's because I'm twice as smart as Moderator Eleven.   

True. But you're also twice as ugly. But who's counting?

I was always partial to Mod_11 because we got a nice chat going in my intro thread.

Thanks, Mod_11

On the contrary, thank you, L. Glad to have you aboard.

<picks up Mod_11. Shakes it vigorously>

And out fell your mate. Who, perhaps, won't be your mate anymore. Hopefully things won't change.




So now you all know who Eleven was[1]. Hate me as much as you like. I don't care cos I'm fuckin hard as fuckin nails. 

1.	I resigned due to incompatibility issues with bullshit