prep4usmle
Administrator
Topics: 281
Posts: 1,160
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If interested to become a moderator please send me a private message.
Everything you always wanted to know about being a moderator:
Job description: Keep the forum in good order, eliminate problems, keep things on topic, and be diplomatic while doing so.
Powers: You have the power to delete posts. Simply click the "edit" link and you can edit it the same as if it were your own. You can delete a topic using the "thread tools" menu. You can also lock, move, split etc, by using the thread tools menu. We record moderators actions so, naturally, these powers shouldn't be abused.
Things moderators should attempt to eliminate:
- Using forums for commercial resons: sell/buy/trade materials.
- Disruption of a forum most commonly done with negative posts & insults.
- Spam: threads with only a link to a site and little or no discussion content.
- Double posts: clean it up by deleting one of the duplicates.
- Off topic threads: anything not suited to the forum it's posted in...
- Harassment of members, pornographic links/images
Moderator Functions:
Note: The moderator functions are found at the top of each thread and forum.
Deleting posts and threads: When a topic or post is completely unneccesary (pointless one word posts, flames, spam, etc) you can delete it. Please supply a reason for deletion where it asks simply so that if the poster will get an explanation. Note that to undelete a deleted post the quickest way is to select 'Show Deleted Posts' from the thread tools menu. To undelete a thread, select 'show deleted threads' in the menu at the bottom of your forum.
Moving threads: If a thread obviously fits in better with the subject of a forum other than the one it's been posted in, move it to the correct forum.
Splitting threads: If a thread goes far, far off topic, only do this if the original topic is being lost by a distracting second topic. To split a thread, select 'Edit/Move/Delete Posts' and check the posts you want to split, the select 'move to new thread' at the bottom and type the title for the new thread. You can also move posts to a different thread.
Merging threads: When threads are posted near the same time and both threads are on exactly the same topic merge the newer thread into the older one. Just select 'Merge Threads' from the thread tools menu.
Pin thread: This option makes a thread stick at the top of the forum. This should not be used very often.
Close thread: If a thread has become a serious problem which can't be rectified by deleting posts, and yet there's enough good content that the thread as a whole shouldn't be deleted, close the thread by selecting that option on the thread tools menu.
Bulk Edit Topics: This option can be useful to modify many topics at once. If a spammer drops in and posts 20 threads, for example, you can use this to delete them all at once.
Important PMs:
Note that moderators have the power to force members to get a popup notification that they have a new PM. Tick the 'important' checkbox when sending a moderating PM to force people to look at it. Regular members do not have this power to mark PMs as important. Use for moderating matters when you wish.
Moderator Notes:
In your mod CP you can view a list of most recent moderator notes, and you can access anyone's moderator notes through their profile. Use this to leave a record of issues with members for future reference.
Moderating History:
In the Mod CP you can view the moderator log history, and in each member's profile you can select to view topics or posts of that member which have been deleted. Use these options to get a better sense of how consistent a problem someone has been.
Reported Posts:
When a member reports a post as being bad, a new thread will automatically be created in this moderators forum containing their report. This thread will be titled "Post Reported:" followed by the nature of the problem and name of the forum which the report is coming from. Please resolve the situation as applicable.
Note of course that these report threads list the person who reported them as the thread creator, but the poster has no access to the moderators forum. The threads are automatically created when someone clicks the report button next to a post on the regular forums that they think is problematic.
Reports should be treated as confidential, to be discussed just with other moderators and the poster who did the reporting by pm. This is so as to avoid chance of the person whose post is reported taking offense and trying to exact revenge or otherwise being not nice.
If someone is detrimental to the quality of the site, you can suggest a ban from member profile page. Put a description of the problem. Additionally, you may wish to leave a note in a member's moderator notes to keep a record of the troubles they've caused.
Random Q&A:
Q: Can users undelete posts a moderator has deleted?
A: No, users can't undelete anything at all, even if they deleted it their self. When a post is deleted, no user can ever see any indication that it exists. (For example, if you're not an admin you can't see the deleted posts within this Moderator FAQ thread... that's because you're not a moderator of this moderators forum.)
Q: Does it matter how long a thread is? Is there ever a point at which you close it and maybe start a part II on account of length? Are long threads a server drain? That sort of thing.
A: No, the only problem with long threads it that to get that long they're usually off topic. (There's no significant server load difference between a long thread and two shorter threads which add to the same length... besides which, moderators needn't worry about server load, the webmaster handles that.)
Q: How do I go about finding the user's IP?
A: It's listed for moderators and admins in the bottom left of each post, below their name, title, location etc. Alternately, you can use the Mod CP to search the IPs of a member or match an existing IP to a member.[/quote]
Thank you!
Edited by prep4usmle on 04/28/08 - 12:28 PM
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| Dan Ivanov
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 106
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hello prep4usmle - its a good intention, because I sometimes dont have time to access the forum and there are already so many posts and threads for the same subject... now i think its a mess
a question: how the moderator is rewarded? i'm just curious 
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Dan
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| bbb
IM Program Coordinator
Topics: 32
Posts: 4,597
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I'd volunteer, but afraid during interview season that I wouldn't be able to keep up with it. Sorry.
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bbb - trying to combine common sense and humour into realistic answers, but not going to guess on anyone's chances of getting into a position....
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| prep4usmle
Administrator
Topics: 281
Posts: 1,160
|
Dan Ivanov wrote:
a question: how the moderator is rewarded? i'm just curious
Hi Dan,
The reward is faime and respect on forums, some extra features like: custom title/rank, mark PMs as important, increased number of PMs and attachments per post, more total space for attachments.
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| brucella2007
Forum Junior
Topics: 9
Posts: 72
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i had a few questions..about moderator requirements 
1) is there a minimum number of posts to qualify for a moderator
2) do u guys need any more currently?
3) whats the minimum time u need: is it ok to take time off eg if an exam is approaching
silly but relevant, i hope.
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| prep4usmle
Administrator
Topics: 281
Posts: 1,160
|
Hi,
There are no minimum requirements to apply for a moderator positon.
Exams are much more important, one should use the spare time for this job.
If interested please send me a private message!
Regards!
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