Posted by Dinah on September 14, 2002, at 12:28:09
In reply to Re: Another idea » Dr. Bob, posted by mair on September 14, 2002, at 11:19:37
I like this board *because* Dr. Bob moderates it. I wouldn't participate so freely in a participant moderated board. I think that although Dr. Bob makes an error now and again, overall he does a great job.
I think a board where participant moderators had primary power, and where they rotated on a regular basis would be make for a board with expectations that would be even harder to predict than people complain they are now. Individual differences in moderators and what each considered to be civil (because it isn't and can't be an exact science) would make it extremely stressful to know what was safe to post and what would be considered a civil response to a post you made at any given time. The unspoken rules would change with each moderator change.
As far as deputies go, Dr. Bob has made it clear that deputies are only to intervene in an escalating situation. I don't anticipate intervening often at all. Rotating would be fine with me, but rotating or not I think it would be a good idea to have several deputies with the ability to intervene so that there would be an increased chance that someone would be on the board when needed. Deputy powers are circumscribed enough that there shouldn't be too much stepping on toes.
But there is a logical alternative to deputies. If we all realized that Dr. Bob isn't on the board at all times, emailed him the links to potentially objectionable posts, and didn't respond to provocation in the meantime, things wouldn't get out of hand. But with the turnover on the boards, especially the meds board, that may be a lot to ask.
Even then, we did without them for a long time, and can continue to do so. There will be the inevitable flare-ups, and my personal opinion is that some of the flare-ups caused some damage, but the board continued, as it will for as long as Dr. Bob decides to host it.
Just my 3 or 4 cents.
poster:Dinah
thread:7094
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020725/msgs/7424.html