I've sent a PM offering this challenge to the fab four on "that other site":
"OK Fellas.
I think it's time that as moderators, you open yourself up to a little scrutiny.
I say this because apparently, there is a chasm between you all as moderators, and members.
The purpose behind this is to give insight in a public setting. Much like any community hearing to say, vote on what they see as performance issues of the zoning board, mayor, etc.
There are a lot, I mean a lot, of people who were put off by Jens response that the mods know more about personal behavior or a persons intent. And along with Bill's recent issues, it's just been way to hot around here. We need to be clear of a few things here:
1. We are not sitting directly across from one another, so we really don't "know" about ones behavior or intent because we lack the one critical piece to make that call. Physical interaction. Now reasonable conclusions can be drawn once a "history" is built. But random bursts do not constitute a persons actual intent or make up. I'm ex-military, served three combat tours, and have had the same soldiers that wigged out afraid to die, step up and be ready to go like a madman regardless. So do I judge based on wigging out? Or stepping up? Easy one there. Let him get it out of his system, monitor and move on.
2. Consider this. If a member is not satisfied with your answer if PM'd, it appears to be the simplistic reply is "Leave, who cares?" Now, I can't be totally sure how you draw your conclusions. But there seems to be quite a few members who question how you do.
3. And three, regarding who know what regarding personal behavior, anyone who follows this site intently like some of us do, know just as much as the mods. The only thing we don't know, is how a person reacts personally to you via PM. But in open threads, unless we can't read, we see everything that you do.
And keep this in mind, many of us members save the pages of "hot" threads or PM's beacuase we know they'll be erased. They may be erased here, but facts get around by other means.
All this being said, and I've said this before, you have a heckuva job to do. Bill, I've said this to you on many occasions. But whatever you do, personal feelings absolutely cannot, cannot, be a part of the decision making process. Jens, you even acknowledge that you can't keep up with all that goes on here. Who can? We all have real lives to live.
Now others may take it out of PM first, but I won't. I offer this challenge to you.
1. I will open a post in the Chat section. The rules are simple. I will set up a simple polls.
A. Mods performance good? Yes or No.
B. Fair/Balanced? Yes or No
C. Term limits for mods? Yes or No.
D. Policies? Good? Too Strict?
The allow for comment. Comments may be directed to a specific mod, but the following must be adhered to:
1. Comments must be strictly based on performance or policy. Whether they think you're a jerk or not they can keep to themselves. Terms like overbearing, oppressive, etc. along those lines are acceptable. Calling someone an arse is not.
2. I moderate this thread only. I make the judgement call on a post or will ask it to be edited for content.
3. Moderators do not reply. You sit, and take it. Digest it and then reflect.
4. Thread will be open for access for two weeks. Then it will be closed.
5. After the two weeks, you each post a reply individually, not collectively, responding to the group.
6. After a month, the post will be removed.
Right now, no one feels they have a voice because well, as moderators, you control it. If it's posted publicly, you can delete or edit. Via PM, know one may ever know how someone felt about a situation.
I certainly hope you all are up to the challenge. I think you should be interested in what your members think. And please note, there are no skewed questions. It's as black and white as it can get.
I am saving this thread. And will mark it everday awaiting your individual responses. I fully expect you all to possibly discuss as a group amongst yourselves to decide on how to respond to this.
Just remember, the great and the small gets called on to face the crowd regardless of the size or purpose. I have faith that you all are capable of the same.
What say you? I'd like to get it going by 5.9.09."