Who should the moderators be?

Question

In weeks, this community will receive some provisional moderators to help get this site started prior to the elections at the end of the beta. Please read this: Moderators Pro Tempore.

Please suggest some members of this community you feel would make excellent moderators (self nominations are okay).

Here are some basic guidelines:

• Each nomination should be a separate answer. Link the name to the user’s profile (parent and meta) so we can see their activity.
• The nominee should indicate their acceptance by editing the answer, adding that they accept the nomination. Optionally they can write something about themselves.
• Self nominations are okay, and even encouraged. Most sites have not had sufficient time for many users to stand out. Self nomination is simply a way to say, “I’m interested. Let my record speak for itself.” Links to other activities may be helpful: Area 51 participation, participation in other sites, blog posts reviewing or announcing the site, etc.

Here is what we are looking for in a Moderator...

We are seeking out members who are deeply engaged in the community’s development; members who:

• Have a reasonably high reputation score to indicate active, consistent participation.
• Show an interest in their meta’s community-building activities.
• Lead by example, showing patience and respect for their fellow community members in everything they write.
• Exhibit those intangible traits discussed in A Theory of Moderation.

Bonus points for:

• Members with participation in both meta and the parent site (i.e. interest in both community building and expertise in the field).
• Area 51 participation, social network referrals, or blogging about the site.
• Members who have already shown an interest or ability to promote their community.

Answer 1

I nominate Brian Campbell (meta) because of his obvious enthusiasm, excellent meta posts, and experience with the SO engine.

Brian, if you accept, please give us some more information about yourself and your experience.

I accept the nomination to be a moderator pro tempore. I cannot commit at this time to being a moderator beyond the beta period, but I am willing to accept the duties of a moderator until the official election, and at that time I may decide to run again, but I may step down.

I have extensive experience with the StackExchange platform. I have been a contributor at StackOverflow for over a year and a half, and am among the top 250 users in reputation there. I am familiar with all of the moderator tools available to those without a ♦ next to their name; I am relatively frequently involved in discussions about whether to close or make a question CW. I have also been involved somewhat at meta.so, to try and make the platform as a whole better.

As mentioned, I've participated pretty heavily in boardgames.se, as well as meta, to try and definite what this site should be about. I would love to see this site succeed, as I find it one of the best formats for asking and answering questions on any given topic.

I have participated in BoardGameGeek in the past, though it's been a few years since I've been active there. I also host and administer the Looney Labs Fan Wiki and Icehouse Games Wiki.

As far as games go, I like a wide range, but tend to lean towards abstracts, Euros, and game systems like playing cards and Icehouse, while I also play a lot of word games and party games. The game I play most seriously is Go, though I'm not all that good (double digit kyu, for those who are familiar with the game). I also do medieval recreation in the SCA, and so I've learned and teach a good number of medieval board and card games.

In my professional life, I'm a programmer, as you might guess from my StackOverflow reputation. My education is in computer science, though I studied math and linguistics fairly extensively as well. Other hobbies of mine include juggling and archery, and I commute to work by bicycle.

And finally, my approach to moderation. As a moderator, I would take the consensus of the community very seriously. If there is a community consensus on an issue, such as what is on and off topic, then that is what I will try to uphold. I am aware that the ♦ next to your name will make people take what you say and do more seriously, and so I would be very careful to be even-handed, and not take action unless there is a clear community consensus, or there is an emergency and no consensus immediately apparent. For instance, I would be very reluctant to unilaterally close a question, unless it was very clearly inappropriate and needed immediate attention.

That said, part of the job of a moderator is to help lead the community. In cases in which consensus is not readily apparent, the moderator can be a tie-breaking voice, speaking with more authority. Our discussions are not votes; I may choose the slightly less popular choice, if I believe that it is more consistent with the mission of the community or more likely to lead the community to a better place. I will not act against a clear consensus, but I will make decisions when no consensus can be reached and no further discussion is likely to be productive.

Please let me know if you have any questions about me or my approach to moderation. Thank you for the nomination!

Answer 2

I nominate bigown (meta). He is in the top 10 users in rep so far, demonstrating that he's contributing actively. He has participated quite a lot in meta, and has shown an even-handed approach to many of the topics. He is already a moderator at programmers.se, where he contributes heavily and actively, demonstrating that he has at least some experience with moderating this sort of community.

bigown, do you accept this nomination? If so, please edit it to add some more information to this nomination about yourself, your approach to moderation, and the like.

Answer 3

I would like to nominate Pat Ludwig/meta. Not just because he has the highest reputation score currently, but because of the activity, detail of answers and commitment to the site.

Well, 2 negative votes already so this may be wasted effort, but nothing ventured, nothing gained right? :)

I accept this nomination.

I'll state up front that my qualifications in terms of stackexchange/stackoverflow experience are slight. I'm currently the #2 rep'd user of rpg.stackexchange.com (3500 rep), plus #1 here. While I haven't actively participated in previous SE sites, I have been reading Joel Spolsky's blog for many years and I did witness the founding of stackoverflow.com. It seemed a great idea, but in my work I didn't have a pressing need for the answers offered there. Periodically I checked back in and discovered the RPG SE in August. I jumped in with both feet and committed here as well.

I've been playing games all of my life. I think first "real" boardgame was Risk, but I progressed into various SPI games, D&D, Star Fleet Battles, Battletech. Then I was introduced to Civilization. Wow, that was an eye-opener! My favorite 3 games of all time still are:

• Advanced Civilization
• Empires in Arms
• Age of Renaissance

I've been deeply involved in many facets of the game industry over the years.

• Owner of Boldo's Armory game store (We've been in business since 1995, store opened in 1997, I've been a mostly silent partner since 2000)
• Competitive chess player for over 10 years
• Taught chess, ran tournaments (including one for nearly 200 kids)
• Ran dozens if not hundreds of games and demos at conventions
• Majored in Bridge at college (this is not what I told my parents!)
• Leader of the Austin BoardGame Group for 2 years

I have read, and agree to the Theory of Moderation. Almost all of the time, the community will be able to self-moderate this site and do it well. There will be a few occasions when a moderator will need to step in and quickly address a situation. I stand ready to take action when appropriate.

If there are any questions I can answer, please let me know.

--Pat

Answer 4

I'll go ahead and throw my hat into the ring as well. I'm interested in moderation because I like to help make sure that sites I'm very interested in can run as smoothly as possible, and think this would be a great learning experience as well.

While I'm relatively new to the StackExchange sites (been here just over five months now), the great attitudes of everyone here, plus the ability to help people, is what made me stay.

I contribute to both (StackOverflow as well as the Board Game beta, and while I don't have very high rep on SO, I feel it's because I answer in lower-traffic areas. I visit both sites every day.

I have moderated a community in LiveJournal in the past (which can be like herding cats some times), was a moderator for a MUD waaaaaay back in the day, and actually find moderating to be fascinating and rewarding.

I have been playing board games for as long as I can remember -- my wife and I don't have cable TV, and instead opt to play board games (and video games to some extent) as entertainment. I love Puerto Rico and Power Grid, and also play Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Chez Geek, Munchkin and Scrabble with regularity. I've picked up Chaos in the Old World and Horus Heresey, and will get to play them some day. I used to play tabletop games as well, but have switched over to board games for their accessiblity.

I would describe my moderation style as "slow-to-provoke, quick-to-respond". In the case of the poker spamming yesterday, I tried commenting on the user's questions to no avail. If I had been a moderator, as soon as the Spam and Moderation Required warnings came in, I would have most likely suspended them as well due to spamming and ignoring requests to stop.

Answer 5

Ok, we obviously need moderators, so I'll start by nominating myself. I love boardgames, play them a lot, and have been active here since the beta of stackoverflow. I'd love to help making this community a success. I'm not a deletionist but I hate spam and badly written questions.

That said, there are many fine people here who'd also make great moderators.

Answer 6

And another shameless self nomination.

As a 2 year+, 20k+ member of SO, I have some experience with the site mechanics including the mod tools. And I'm mostly aware of the (un)written rules on site behaviour. Besides I am a game addict. (hence my nickname which I carry for more than 5 years now).

I have been a moderator/administrator on some internet fora and a channel operator on an IRC channel. Experience with trolls and ill behaved users. The later are hard to cope with because you like to teach them how to behave but sometime they and the community do not fit together.

My primary goal is to be part of a great community for (board and card game lovers). The task of a moderator is to be like the oil in the machine. You don't see it often, its used to keep things going, and if you mess with it you get dirty ;-). And don't forget, you have to replace it when its no longer functional.

On the personal level. We have recently moved from the (small)city to a vilage called Nootdorp in the Netherlands (just 5 km east of Den Hague where I work as a software developer). I have a family, two sons. The oldest is becomming a game addict too which proves the investment finally pays of ;-). I collect games for 20 years now. We like to play games if we have time and energy but that is not to often. And of course I'm a dungeon master for 20 years now (I know OT, but experience can be relevant).

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I will check the site several times a day.

Answer 7

I'd like to nominate myself, as the meta area of this site has engaged me more than any other SE site. My reputation in both sites hopefully supports this.

I'm a grizzled freelance web developer of 10+ years experience, as such I've been involved in (and built) many web forums and moderated many of the arguments and personality clashes that occur within them. My first experience of moderation was as an #ircnewbies channel operator, back when my Windows 3.1 machine didn't have enough oomph for Mosaic!

I am an active user on Stack Overflow and also (most usefully in relation to this site), gaming.stackexchange.com. I've also submitted and contributed to a number of other beta sites on Area 51.

Stack Exchange is, in my opinion, the best Q&A system to appear in the last decade.

I use my full, real name on all sites and I'm happy to carry my professional reputation with me as a result.

Board/Card game wise I am a big fan of Diplomacy, but can also be found playing Chess, Poker, Scrabble and more recently, Carcassonne.

I'm UK based and so able to care for the site when the US moderators are asleep.

I am a married father of a 2 year old son, so I can display patience and tact in the face of provocation and immaturity, regardless of my energy levels ;)

Finally, above all else I'd like to try to keep to the central tenant of A Theory of Moderation:

We intended Stack Overflow and Server Fault to be mostly self-regulating....

Moderators are human exception handlers, there to deal with those (hopefully rare) exceptional conditions that should not normally happen...

Answer 8

I know the question discouraged self-nominations, but I'm the only one who knows me so - I'm throwing my hat in the ring.

I am active here (top 5 rep) and on rpg.stackexchange.com. I've only been boardgaming for about 4 years, but I've played more games than anyone else I know personally.

I really enjoy this SE and would love the opportunity to take on a moderation role - especially in a pro tempore capacity, because I have no moderation experience excepting that for my own, much smaller sites.

I game with a broad variety of people, including my wife, my son (14), his friends, "couple" friends, and more stereotypical "gamers".

I am the rules authority in my group - called upon for fairness in rulings as well as quick lookups in large manual.

Thanks for welcoming me to this SE, and I hope I'm able to participate as a moderator.