Ask the Mods questions about the Forums!

[Zucal]

I've never been a mod here, but I have elsewhere and have tried to split myself off as "mod me" and "normal me" and no, it does not work. No matter what you do, it won't work.

Exactly this. I have moderated in other places and the two modes sort of bleed into each other. You become more aware of what your personal posts sound like, but it becomes far easier to insert ~mod stuff~ into opinion posts and opinions into things that should be impartial. Adding fonts or colors makes you lazier about which is which, and makes you stand apart as part of ~scary ban-hammer people~ instead of another member of the community that also supervises.

[Megan]

This is a primary reason why I avoid personally commenting in contentious threads...

I'm not sure if that really answers it for you.

But that's a sad thing. I've sometimes wondered what one of you guys thinks about something, because you've commented on a related subject before in a way that interested or amused me, or at least made me say "Go on." And sometimes I have to keep wondering, possibly because you're restraining yourselves to avoid appearing unethical.

I don't know that you entirely answered my question because I was hoping there was another way around this, even if just a font change wouldn't do. Mostly, you made me wish I could bake a bunch of cupcakes for y'all.

Well, I guess I see why RIC was reluctant to suit up.

[Claw]

And sometimes I have to keep wondering, possibly because you're restraining yourselves to avoid appearing unethical.

I don't know that you entirely answered my question because I was hoping there was another way around this, even if just a font change wouldn't do.

Yes, unfortunately. I am sure there are plenty examples of where moderator thoughts are questioned as official stance. I don't know if there is a way around this, but we do discuss this sort of thing from time to time. Also, please don't interpret my statement about font color to mean we have some sort of official stance against it. A couple moderators do use different color text (or have used) and some of us try to preface posts with "my personal thoughts." Also, some of us share via PM or within side channels on IRC when asked.

Ironically, part of what makes a user appealing as a potential moderator is how they interact within the community. So, it is unfortunate that the relationship changes a bit when stepping to the dark side.

Mostly, you made me wish I could bake a bunch of cupcakes for y'all.

Cupcakes are always awesome!

Cheers,

-Claw

[Megan]

Awesome, but impractical to send even with fast cable. So I asked Jubal to help me make something else.

[Mad Rocket Scientist]

So, what is the "IRC Chat" exactly? How does it work, and why would someone use it instead of the forums? What do people talk about on it? With no organization like threads, how do people keep track of conversations? Thanks!

[Claw]

So, what is the "IRC Chat" exactly? How does it work, and why would someone use it instead of the forums? What do people talk about on it? With no organization like threads, how do people keep track of conversations? Thanks!

IRC is Internet Relay Chat. It's basically a chat room. People use it to discuss KSP (among other things, there are lots of IRC channels). There is an official KSP IRC "Chat Room" called #KSPOfficial. You can link there using the "IRC Chat" in the buttons at the top of the forum page.

People use it because it is a real time communication tool, rather than tracking a line of thought like a thread. Although some people keep track of chat logs too.

Cheers,

~Claw

[Mad Rocket Scientist]

IRC is Internet Relay Chat. It's basically a chat room. People use it to discuss KSP (among other things, there are lots of IRC channels). There is an official KSP IRC "Chat Room" called #KSPOfficial. You can link there using the "IRC Chat" in the buttons at the top of the forum page.

People use it because it is a real time communication tool, rather than tracking a line of thought like a thread. Although some people keep track of chat logs too.

Cheers,

~Claw

Thank you!

[Red Iron Crown]

Expanding a bit on what Claw said, there are many other channels on IRC about KSP, too. #KSPOfficial is the official channel set up by Squad and operated by some of your moderators and a couple of others (and has the same Community Rules as the forum). There's also #kspmodders where modders exchange ideas and help each other out (and most definitely has a different set of rules ), plus a few others like #CKAN devoted to particular mods. Any one can set up a channel, so there are many lesser known ones, too.

If you are thinking of giving it a try and have never used IRC before I suggest you read this first to get an idea of the basic ettiquette. And try not to fawn too much when scott_manley joins the chat.

[WinkAllKerb'']

(profil background msg color & txt color fun // forum view ; )

[Claw]

(profil background msg color & txt color fun // forum view ; )

Not sure what you're asking about Wink?

Cheers,

~Claw

[WinkAllKerb'']

this <= and that => http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/members/80108-WinkAllKerb not asking anithing just amused i don't need much sometime ; )

[Mad Rocket Scientist]

If I check "Make votes public" will people be able to see the poll results?

[HoloYolo]

How do you become a mod?

[Mad Rocket Scientist]

How do you become a mod?

Here I am again, answering questions for mods. I will accept my ninjaing without complaint, as it is my due.

If mods are being "Hired" then there will be a thread, which you can reply to, or you will get a PM from a moderator, which you can either accept or decline. You can't be a moderator if you're under 18. After you are chosen as a moderator, you will be required to complete the moderator challenge: Run a 2 mile obstacle course, with a backpack full of rocks, then detect which posts are bots, out of 50, in 6 minutes, and if you miss more than one, you are disqualified.

Then you play "Whack-A-Troll", where you hit rubber trolls, which pop out of a plastic panel, using the correct infringement hammer for each case, from the lowly "Minor infraction" hammer to the "Ban" hammer, avoiding the "Jokesters" which look exactly like trolls, but tend to use ";)" instead of ":rolleyes:".

Then you have to recount the forum rules, backwards, while dodging gunfire, and walking on your hands.

Then comes the $10,000 deposit in KasperVld's Swiss bank account... But I've already told you to much.

(Note: I know NOTHING about the moderator selection process, except for some jokes made by other moderators.)

(I believe the bit before the "Moderator Challenge" is true, but you didn't hear it from me.)

[Claw]

If I check "Make votes public" will people be able to see the poll results?

That option allows users to see how other users voted, which is maybe different than what you mean by "see the results."

How do you become a mod?

While Mad Rocket scientist stumbled upon some of the secrets, the way mods have been brought on board often varies a bit with the personality of the Community Manager. For a while now, moderators have been selected from the community at large and invited directly. In the past, I believe there was a process for users to apply to become a moderator, but I don't recall how long ago that was.

Cheers,

-Claw

[Mad Rocket Scientist]

That option allows users to see how other users voted, which is maybe different than what you mean by "see the results."

While Mad Rocket scientist stumbled upon some of the secrets, the way mods have been brought on board often varies a bit with the personality of the Community Manager. For a while now, moderators have been selected from the community at large and invited directly. In the past, I believe there was a process for users to apply to become a moderator, but I don't recall how long ago that was.

Cheers,

-Claw

So, if I didn't check that box, would another user be able to see what is being voted for, just not who voted for what? Or would only the OP be able to see what was being voted for. Or does checking the box mean that everyone can see who voted for what? Thanks a lot, and sorry for ambiguity.

[Claw]

Users can view results of the poll, even without voting. That box will attach user names to specific poll votes, which means any user can see not only poll results, but which users voted vor what.

Cheers,

-Claw

[Zucal]

In the past, I believe there was a process for users to apply to become a moderator, but I don't recall how long ago that was.

A good while ago. You can find a few of the application announcements if you go back through the Announcements subforum.

[SemiaCloud]

What does a troll's post usually look like?

[Master Tao]

What does a troll's post usually look like?

Like this.

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[Dres]

Like this.

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Weird, I wonder where those bullet points in the spoiler come from, its not in the BB-code... <Serious Not Troll, Highlight it yourself.

Anyway, my question:

What is the farthest a purely troll account has gotten before it gets taken down? What about bot accounts?

[DuoDex]

Bot? Ban. Usually we catch them in the queue, but sometimes they get one or two posts through.

Troll? Depends. Usually they get from 10-30 posts through, then we realize they are a troll and take appropriate steps. For all the trolls out there, please feel free to respond snarkily to posts asking you to stop cursing or flaming. It really helps us detect you.

[Mad Rocket Scientist]

Users can view results of the poll, even without voting. That box will attach user names to specific poll votes, which means any user can see not only poll results, but which users voted vor what.

Cheers,

-Claw

Thank you!

[basic.syntax]

I'm often wanting to look through old posts, but the Articles category page doesn't seem to support that. Could a page control be added to it? The Blogs category has a page control.

[Supernovy]

I looked through the admin settings, but could only find a thing that lets me adjust the amount of articles per page, not enable or disable the ability to change pages.

It might be a vBulletin bug, but I haven't found anything written about it in my brief time searching.