More like Aboslute Incompetence:

[ekcoL]

Without you Baka I've taken up chain-smoking and turned to hardcore drugs .

But at least someone else agrees with me to some extent. Any suggestions mate?

[webmaster]

My suggestions were re-training and informing moderators to a greater extent, and yes, firing a few. The forum needs revamping and reorganisation.
We need to rekindle the proactive spirit and probably lynch a few people in the process.
The thing which annoyed me the most was the inconcsistency on the forum. I do think that moderators should be more consistent, but also more lax. I understand the PG13+ rating on the forum, but sometimes I think moderators are far too strict.
The emphasis should be on having fun. The inconcsistencies cause people to be unsure whether or not they can do certain things.
Moderators should more actively engage with each other (I have seen mod discussions recently), and operate as a more cohesive unit.
Another thing which should take place in my opinion, is that imput from regular users is encouraged more.
If the moderator team functions more competently, general user input and participation is reinforced, then the Absolute Anime forums can become as enjoyable, if not more enjoyable, than they once were.

If you encourage moderators to work together and talk about issues concerning the forum and its use, get some consistency, more actively seek to improve the forum, as opposed to expecting it to be a self-perpetuating entity, I'm certain AA will be a better place. .

Sounds like some good ideas, but do you have any thoughts about how to accomplish some of them? Would you be able to write up some kind of training tutorial? What kind of revamping and reorganization? And what about inconsistencies? Can you point to some examples so I can see? General user input is always welcomed. How can it be encouraged more?

[ekcoL]

An example of inconsistency is one that I have pointed out in the Talent Section. I pointed this out when a poem was deleted for defamation, though it contained nil profanities and did not explicitly state the actual person.
By that logic quite a few other poems should not be allowed.

You must realise that being banned, I am out of the loop and I have not scanned the forums for quite some time, so it is hard for me to find recent or even past examples.
I looked at the moderator actions list and randomly clicked on mod actions, this was the first one I accessed: http://www.absoluteanime.com/forum/view ... &start=128 Though I think that this is silly, I don't think that it is necessary to lock this thread. It's just younger kids having fun.

http://www.absoluteanime.com/forum/view ... hp?t=18414
Perhaps instead of taking this action, the moderator could have encouraged the user to actively post or encouraged the user to give an opinion as to how the problem this user sees with the forum could be fixed.

These were just 2 examples I got from the first page in about 2 minutes. Keep in mind that I was very limited in being able to access certain threads because of the amount that have been moved to Questionable Threads.
I'm not saying that these actions were completely wrong, just that they could have been better, keeping in mind the actual forum.


I do have some thoughts which I will detail at a later date because I do not have the time right now.
I did offer some advice in the moderator discussion section quite some time ago; if you are interested in reading those threads.
On the weekend I can probably dedicate some time to drafting some ideas for a moderator tutorial.

[webmaster]

An example of inconsistency is one that I have pointed out in the Talent Section. I pointed this out when a poem was deleted for defamation, though it contained nil profanities and did not explicitly state the actual person.
By that logic quite a few other poems should not be allowed.

You must realise that being banned, I am out of the loop and I have not scanned the forums for quite some time, so it is hard for me to find recent or even past examples.
I looked at the moderator actions list and randomly clicked on mod actions, this was the first one I accessed: http://www.absoluteanime.com/forum/view ... &start=128 Though I think that this is silly, I don't think that it is necessary to lock this thread. It's just younger kids having fun.

http://www.absoluteanime.com/forum/view ... hp?t=18414
Perhaps instead of taking this action, the moderator could have encouraged the user to actively post or encouraged the user to give an opinion as to how the problem this user sees with the forum could be fixed.

These were just 2 examples I got from the first page in about 2 minutes. Keep in mind that I was very limited in being able to access certain threads because of the amount that have been moved to Questionable Threads.
I'm not saying that these actions were completely wrong, just that they could have been better, keeping in mind the actual forum.


I do have some thoughts which I will detail at a later date because I do not have the time right now.
I did offer some advice in the moderator discussion section quite some time ago; if you are interested in reading those threads.
On the weekend I can probably dedicate some time to drafting some ideas for a moderator tutorial.

I agree with you stance on both of the examples you provided. I have unlocked those threads and sent a private message to the people who locked them. That won't take care of the larger issue, however. I am anxious to see what kind of advice, tutorial, or other solutions you can come up with to help train moderators to be more consistant, since apparently my list of rules does not seem to be clear enough.

[ekcoL]

The rules that you stated as to how moderators are supposed to moderate the forum are fine, though quite general. The fact that they are general isn't necessarily negative; they're timeless and can be extrapolated to determine how moderators should go about certain issues which may arise. However, the main problem is that too many of the moderators cannot utilise the process of logical deduction to derive the meaning and appropriate action inferred.

They need to be told, and there is no one to tell them.

[webmaster]

I have updated the Moderator Guidelines, and posted them in the Forum Rules & Guidelines posts so that everyone can get an idea about how moderating is supposed to take place. Hopefully this will help out somewhat.

If general users are aware of the moderator guidelines, perhaps they will feel more comfortable when a moderator takes a specific action, and more confident to alert someone if they think a moderator has taken an inappropriate action.

I would still love to have some kind of tutorial, though. I think that would really help out a lot.

[Mai]

.

It's taken me a while to figure out what to say to this. I'm not one to talk butttttttttt.....

I kind of do agree with Locke. There have been times where I think he's completely wrong and makes more accusations rather than trying to help out. But I suppose, this time he really is trying to help. Which is why I've gained more respect for him.

Other then that, I wanted to say something..But I doubt it'll be taken into consideration... Whatever works.

SO. At any rate. Every forum has its up and downs. I know that when I first registered here there was barely three people on at once. So I left for a month or so. There was nothing to do and no one to talk to. Like every other forum, it all starts out a bit rusty and takes longer for people to latch on and call it home.

A few months later I came back and everything was different. It was more of a family to people rather than a forum. People came here and fell in love. AA was, and probably still is a place we all can call home. It's a tight little family.

Then as months passed it was..Say June and more users came. People started to spread their wings and befriend different people. Needless to say, AA became more diverse.

And that's what makes a forum..People all over the world come together and talk about something they like. In this case, 'it' being Anime.

And since AA is about more than one Anime/Manga..It's more um...Capable for opinions. Everyone has their own opinions and states them. The way a forum is supposed to be.

ALL forums are this way! There is no way a forum can be perfect! And I'll never have a harmful word against this place because I've met numerous people from being here. I've learned a lot about different cultures, countries and people who come from different places by being a member at AA.

So..Yeah. Just needed to get that out.

On a different note, I've noticed how AA users have made sides. There's been more flame wars then ever before. I can't blame anyone other then my self and a few other people for that. The people who are extremely active and are all over the place tend to make an impression on users. Especially those who are younger then us. And lets face it, there are a lot of younger users on here.

Maybe it isn't the moderator's faults. It could just be EVERYONE'S fault that AA has taken this sudden turn. I mean..Yeah, all forums are like this..I've lready said that, but maybe instead of just talking about it Cold, Lock, ect, how about you actually try to improve what we have? Why not take the part of the mentor? Or the teacher? When you act a certain way, people tend to take a bit of those actions and blend them in with their own.

Well, I don't know. All I'm trying to say is that AA once was a tiny community. And ever since we've accepted and gotten to know so many new people it's changed. And it's not a bad change..By any means necessary. It's just the type of change every forum will take. And lets face it, AA's only been up for a few years or so. Who's to say it won't change? It probably will change, in a lot more ways then one.

----

[Edit Note: While writing this..I stumbled..Okay..more like searched..For a thread. Something Dretlin and I put together to show people what AA's been through. And I'll show you again:]

A.A. In a Nutshell

October- November '04

Anigus's Rants...
Anigus's Rant's..As told by Yami Haga Ryuzaki

Not many of you were around for these, but Anigus (Me)was the ruler of yelling at people obsessing over pixels. But these are actually quite funny. “Pixels aren’t hot!” and “Ta-Ta” were the most used comments of this stage. But by the time you guys registered, the long lost name Anigus had finally disappeared...(Long story short my omputer hates me and decided the internet wasn't worth it's time )

Spam has arrived!!

Okay, now this is the time in A.A. history where spam takes it's uproar..Oh gawrsh I even remember most of the names!!

-Anubis's mom
-Panik’s Mom
-Raphael’s Mom
-Alistair’s Wife

For some reason they had an odd attraction for Inuyasha and the Yu-Gi-Oh forums..

Moving on...

The rarest of species..
Yea, you know what I'm talking 'bout.. Way back when in October of '04 there was rarely more than three users on daily!!!!!
I think perhaps the most active user of the day was a female..Inuyasha1342, with 500 posts. But, of course..the user mysteriously disappeared

Eventually, as time progressed we got the luckiest of the bunch:


Jesus Christ- (aka Emissary Of Despair-> Jesus-> Rainmaker-> jimmyjohnjames-> aka....er-..you get the point. )

Symos- Quaker has arrived!!! Yes, of course we all knew that he was worth the moderator title..but, no one and I mean NO ONE!! dared to ask for him to get the job. Meanies!! JK. Loves

Enda- Ahhhh..Yesy..Enderino, perhaps the most loved..well..uhmm..most influential I remember the days, wayyy back when...Where him and Bun_ny faught endlessly.. Who ever won? any who....

December- January '04
D4rk Hackings..A time of shadowed users

After the D4rk attack, sooo many people's posts and threads were deleted. I only know of a few loves who're still active after the day..
Symos(Quaker)
-:Ð.R.E.T.L.?.N:-
noodles87( Stupid..why'd you leave us here alll alone!?!?! )

It sent Absolute Anime in an uproar...I guess you could say we all crumbled to his feet. Yes, eventually we all mde it back..livelier then ever!!
Wich introduces to the first stage EVER or soam on A.A.

Oh joy..boy this time was like the spam-a-thon of A.A. which brings us too!!!...

(Drum roll please)


Spam-a-thon of '04

Spam left, and spam right. What to do, what to do? we had so little moderators at the time..and now we have so many!!

One of the biggest spammers alive was..yes, BLue Eyes White Dragon (Blue Destiny of Darts)AS Ender so nicely said last time...

Blue Eyes White Dragon signs on Absolute Anime
Blue Eyes White Dragon bashes head on keyboard
Blue Eyes White Dragon replies a post to every Yu-Hi-Oh thread
Blue Eyes White Dragon repeats this several thousand times. (give or take 9000)
(-Ender ¬.¬)


Although users continueously spammed and flamed we recruited one of the most memorable users on A.A..Do I even need to say her name? Well I will..




Dark Lilly

She was perhaps the best user on A.A. She kept Spam down and kept herself respectably in line.

We love youDark Lilly, And this is our dedication to you!!!

(So loves, dedicate your time here at A.A. to Dark Lilly Bye putting.."Long Live Dark Lilly"in your signatures.

Or don't and I will never-ever speak to you again. JK.)

Once again...moving on....


The 3 knuckle head top Mods

Which brings us to, the infamous BAKA-TENSHI!!!

He was the highlight of everyday. Perhaps the only reason some moderators stayed here!!

Bwahahahahahah!!MJ and her shiny glove have come to make us laugh to oblivion!!Yes ladies and gents, i am talking about Anner The Mad Hatter and her Famous, histerical and enthralling avatar oooooooof PIKACHU!!!

Now comes the extremely outspoken and confused person on A.A Locke!!(aka Vedder aka Disciple ofMalice) He's probably stolen the title from Ender of ass kickery.. Or just borrowed it?

New Years '04-'05!!!
We all most likely were extremely drunk on New ears, therefor I won't bother typing anything about that day.

February- March 05

The Golden Days!!

As we progress times changed and so did users. This was when A.A. was in it's golden years. Spam was up but everyone was generally happy. It was like Eutopia!!

Valentines Day~~~> Why do I even bother explaining this [horrid] day?

Well, I guess I will anyways..

THe crazy V-Day, a time for lovers and a time for haters to hide from the lovin!!

We had sooo many "I love you" , "kisses for Valentines day" ect..threads. Quite annoying. But, I guess since it was full of tender lovin' care then all is well and dany.

Any-who, this is the day and age of A.A. where Yu-Gi-Oh forums become extremely over populated..Spam everywhere you turn around!!!

But it's all dandy because we got *throws confetti*

Yami-Haga-Ryuzaki!!!!! The original Yu-Gi-Oh junkie

April- May '05

Some more mods to love!!!

I hence here by announce April the best month everI soooo got my Moderatore title in April. And I daresay the webmaster doesn't regret it!!*Mai's head inflates* Or he does and is just avoiding the inevitable *Mai's head deflates slowly *

Bwahahha (Dum roll please) On comes -:Ð.R.E.T.L.?.N:- and Vedder. To of the biggest sillies on A.A. but we love you guys all the same.

-:Ð.R.E.T.L.?.N:- ...What to say. Wat to saY? I think only one thing is needed to be stated here... Hot.

I think this is the best time rather than ever to say that A.A. was reaching the climax of it's happy stage. We gots our selves some lovely new members.
*Re-throws confetti once thrown on Yami-Haga-Ryuzaki*


June- August '05

Stickies-R-Us

Yes, through these three months stickies overthrow threads in Pointless Chit Chat Forum. but hey, with our uber moderating abilities we cleaned it out. No harm done

Miss Picasso
Towards July we get out Leonardo Da Vinci!!! Aka Miss. Picaso. Anner The Mad Hatter's stupendous thread Welcome To Anner's is brought to life!!Go Anna!!

During this time I leave to get bossed aorund by military Brats No harm done!!I was back in a few weeks.

Ah, yes...Did I mention the Queen of A.A. yet? No well..oops.

Queen Of Absolute Anime

Yes, our lovely Strawberries-N-Cream won everyone's heart!!

She captured Locke, ericdbz and..Dna's heart. LONG LIVE SNC!!!!!

She brought a new meaning to gay pride.

(Where'd she wonder off to? )

Strees Me out Month

Users magically disappear and reappear in school!!! One fantabulous user, Merrick is gone!!FOREVER!! but all is good, I can still see him at the bus stop.

Well it's off to see the wizard!! the wonderful wizard of oz..er..well..people ran away in fear for school!!!

Enda- Went to college!! Great! Who else am i going to aimlessly annoy?

Dark Lilly- Awwww, my lovelie is getting life back on trck!!!*thumbs up*

Baka-Tenshi- Now, I don't even know why he retired!!!!

noodles87- No! My Noo-noo, I labeled you my noo-noo and you just go *POOF* and leave us all here looking for you!! This better not be a serious game of Hide And Seek.!! If it is..I already lost..

September- october 29th '05

New Found Glory of the newest Moderator Generation!!

We may have lost our beloved Moderaotrs and Top Mods but will forever more have:

Princess Serena
Nozomi
OtakumetalheadXII(<3>

Moderator Tension begins to get hotter..(Oh dear god.. )

Anner The Mad Hatter FINALLY comes back and greats us all with her stupendous work. (Missed your beautiful art1!*emo tear*)

... ...

ENDER!!! Well this little doll comes out from hiding at college and puts us all in our place. (Damn Him!!! JK Love )

Mai's one year anniversary: October 30th . Been here 364 days!! Only one day left!!


( ...If I forgot anything forgive me but this took like an hour to type.. )

<3>Mai<

Boom-Bang,

\Mai/

[[Batman]]

Wow,Mai o_o

I actually learned something about AA ^^; I feel like such a newb. ¬.¬

[Pr1celess]

Wow,Mai o_o

I actually learned something about AA ^^; I feel like such a newb. ¬.¬

I've been here off and on since 2004 and.. I, feel worse than you Blaise lmao..