Mod Overkill

[FormerDnForumer]

Rules rules rules. Endless rules.

It's an indicator of how petty and small-minded the mods can be that this thread could not have existed even a year ago without being locked or deleted. There's something completely maddening--and AMAZING--about being chastised by a moderator when you run a business that takes in millions every year. It's sort of like "who are you to talk to me like that? Jesus" LOL

I agree with doc com's post. There are a zillion rules here and they're like stop signs that get in the way of deals. You could nuke half of the categories, delete all the stupid gossip and pettiness and basically encourage an atmosphere of BUSINESS rather than shit-flinging.

I use this board every day and think it has potential to be much better, but I don't take it seriously in any way. The spam PM's was too much for me as well.

[nicedomains]

I'm going to paste a response I posted to one of Don's threads calling for the closure of certain geo threads, this seems like a more appropriate place for it -

I must say, like many here I get tired of seeing post after post being closed or deleted for borderline rule 'bending' if you even can call it that. It hurts the marketplace here to over-mod it. I have missed a couple purchases I wanted to make when sellers were updating their posts once every couple days lowering prices, updating offers, etc. I subscribe to these threads without posting to find out when is a good time to make an offer, then the thread gets closed and the seller goes elsewhere to sell feeling handcuffed because he/she may get warning points if they start another thread...

[Tia Wood]

Can't we all....

just get along?

Now let's take our testosterone and calm it down...

Calmer....



Calmer....



Calmer...



Good, guys. See we can do this....

Now turn to the person next to you and say "I love you, man".



Now. Let's all group hug. No excuses. Focus, you too.



I'm proud of you guys.

[biggedon]

The way so many are insulting Don I would not be surprised to see him resign. Which would be a big loss.

BTW, what is the big deal about using the example(.) com format in the subject line?

Thanks for the support Trader, but these guys accusations don't bother me.

i could take them on two, three or four at a time.

Well...in response to trader's post a few above, nobody wants to insult Don, surely not me...I have tried to ignore this for awhile but saw the thread here posted by another member and decided to vent about it. I did not start the thread, nor did Acro.

He was not singled out by me but rather I used the term "mystery mod" until he gladly made it be known that he was the person in question by so many people lately including myself and proceeded to warn other members not to "jump on this bandwagon". Sounds alot like intimidation to me.

He can't expect to go around referring to us the forum members with his various name calling and then use his attacking manner like he has done in this thread a few posts before his nice warm fuzzy post above about scripts, movies, and actors when it's usually gustapo tough guy tactics all the time when you disagree with him on the forum or he disagrees with you and not have it come back at him eventually when people just get fed up with it. He is not better than any of us just because he is a mod and can edit forum posts. It would be different if he were the owner of this site but he is not.

Unless I am clearly misleading people or there is a major problem with my sales post (like a valid complaint from a concerned member) then it should simply be left alone because without us, the active members, this forum will cease to exist and without good domains like the ones myself and others post for sale from time to time then the buyers don't do much business here and the place becomes quite barren like it did for awhile not long ago. We are'nt really here to do much other than discuss things and buy and sell domains. When we come here and start selling domains again it seems a certain someone goes out of their way to lock down the post for just about any reason they can find along with closing any discussions they don't find agreeable to them. Some people can easily seperate business & personal in general. Others for some reason or another have a much harder time doing so and I think in this specific case that is probably the culprit.

It simply does'nt take a rocket scientist to know when to exercise some discretion and that a sales post does NOT need to be locked & closed. It's become like a constant aggravating game lately and this forum just is'nt a fun place anymore, it's becoming cold & overly rigid lately imo. This is my personal opinion on the matter and with all due respect to all parties involved.

lol focus

"when we come here" .... who the hell is we?

nobody goes out their way to seek your threads out.

when i visit the forum, i use the "today's post" link which shows all threads created or bumped up on that day. i go down the line, page to page.

your thread was closed just like any other member who is in violation.

no special consideration given, because you ain't special here...only in your own world.

though you may have been talking about a "mystery mod", i knew who you were referring to and since i'm not one to "throw a rock and hide his hand".

i had no problem letting you know i closed the thread.


i ain't scared!

Don, in your own eyes you're doing the right thing but in fact you're acting like a true bureaucrat. Do you know why I don't list domains on DNForum anymore? Because when I have a real business need, you're bound to pop like Mr. No with a "we don't need that feature" answer, as if anyone really asked your moderating intervention. I'm referring to the request I made some time ago - and not to you in person - to ask for brokers for a particular region without disclosing the domain name. That refusal cost me the ability to justify my $400 I paid for Exclusive membership a few years ago, when I have to jump through hoops and seek other channels of finding a damn broker who works the Japanese market.

So no, Don, despite what you think about yourself, you're stifling a lot of the expected progress in this forum with regards to observing not the letter but the essence of the law.

With regards to your argument about activity and energy, I will ask again if you're getting paid for the position you're holding. Because if you are, that would explain the defensive approach you've been taking all along with respect to *any* change.

It's easy to be around, shoot the shit a bit when needed, delete a few posts and move a couple of threads when needed. The *real* challenge is to function in a manner that displays understanding, a grasp of common sense and a need to improve what's in place, not freeze it in time.

All my criticism above reflects my opinion of you as a moderator for the past couple of years. Times have changed, we need new "blood".

it's not what i think of myself, it's what and why my family loves me.
that reassures me that i'm doing the right thing for them.

i don't need ego to deal with you or others, i just follow the script until it's rewritten.

whether or not i get paid is really none of your business, but you already know the answer.
regardless, i was doing it for years for free and people would ask..."why you take all that crap from members and don't get paid?"

so money is not the motivator!

and again, your suggestion was self-serving and was not shown how it would benefit the forum as a whole.

but in your own eyes, you just saw it as a put-down.



that's fine too, but if Adam felt the change was needed then he would have acted.

since you and others always claim how you gonna run and tell him, but blame me because no change was made.

lol

[Gerry]

I agree with doc com's post. There are a zillion rules here and they're like stop signs that get in the way of deals. You could nuke half of the categories, delete all the stupid gossip and pettiness and basically encourage an atmosphere of BUSINESS rather than shit-flinging.

I was going to say that the "rules" was not so much an issue. But I guess it is. With 280 categories on where something goes and each has it own set of rules...

I use this board every day and think it has potential to be much better, but I don't take it seriously in any way. The spam PM's was too much for me as well.

I have also noticed an incredible increase in spam PM's.

That is something that needs to be strictly enforced. Too many new members (and a few old ones) are using this forum as a means to an end...buy something, sell something, broker this, try that...

If I screw up, fine. I screw up. There was a period of about 2 weeks where my threads were moved (received generated email - no real explanation but that is fine) and threads closed (NUMEROUS!).

The primary issue with threads being closed is I DID NOT KNOW THEY WERE CLOSED TO BEGIN WITH! It was only after that "48 hour" lapsed, I went back to the thread and found the thread closed.

I am not asking for a personalized memo. An automated email would be great. The reason the thread was closed is posted in the thread. In the automated email, simply direct the viewer back to that thread to see the reason it was closed.

DO inform members when a thread is closed rather than not do anything at all and leaving that member to think they are not getting any offers because...

[Dale Hubbard]

I'm going to paste a response I posted to one of Don's threads calling for the closure of certain geo threads, this seems like a more appropriate place for it -

I've had many run-ins here with various people including mods past and present, but ask yourself if you'd like the job. I've done it twice and my temperament and personality wasn't suited to it. I don't know how these guys manage to keep up trying to do the job without losing the plot. As I stated before in the thread you mention, I believe Don was 100% correct in buttoning down the 'Geo' rush.

This board operates under the rules which the owner and his officials decide. If you can do better, then go and open your own bloody forum.

[Tia Wood]

They already got your membership $$$ which doesn't renew and isn't refundable. There is no incentive for change around here. You guys should know that by now. The only answer is to deal with what's going on or stop using DNF as a place to do business. There are plenty of alternatives.

[Focus]

no special consideration given, because you ain't special here...only in your own world.

though you may have been talking about a "mystery mod", i knew who you were referring to and since i'm not one to "throw a rock and hide his hand".

i had no problem letting you know i closed the thread.


i ain't scared!

Well since I got no PM whatsoever from you about your closing of BOTH of my sales threads and you did'nt even bother to notate them as to why they were locked nor give me a chance to correct something you saw as needing fixing, then obviously you chose to keep it a mystery and did in fact "hide" as you normally do, except we all know it's you because the others mods don't act like you do or harass people nearly as much.

Please let me know how that bettters this forum or helps members like myself conduct business when obviously their sales threads have no ill intentions with no trickery involved and I for instance in both those threads copied & pasted the last 30 days of stats in the thread WITH the traffic analysis and the exact domain name in the thread itself so there was absolutely no confusion to anyone except I guess, you. And if no "special" consideration is to be given to our length of time on the forum, perfect & high feedback ratings, membership level (like verified & exclusive) and other very crucial factors that do in fact make me and many others on here "special" as you put it, then why have any of it in the first place? What's the point?

You did'nt need to close my threads and you did'nt need to close half the others you constantly lock, you have done it to me countless times...it's getting old dude. Some of us are trying to make a living and have domains we need to sell and don't have time for your kindergarden cop tactics. I'm a businessman and trying to run my business so please don't interfere because I don't bother you when you are selling your typo domains on this forum that get 3 visitors and 1 click per month and you are asking ridiculous prices for them. In language you can relate to, please stop being a hater. Yeah, I said it!

"when we come here" .... who the hell is we?

All the people posting in this thread.

[Anthony Ng]

There's something completely maddening--and AMAZING--about being chastised by a moderator when you run a business that takes in millions every year. It's sort of like "who are you to talk to me like that? Jesus" LOL

That is exactly why Bill Gates is above the law ... or not?

They already got your membership $$$ which doesn't renew and isn't refundable. There is no incentive for change around here. You guys should know that by now. The only answer is to deal with what's going on or stop using DNF as a place to do business. There are plenty of alternatives.

The truth is, there is NOT any alternative of comparable capacity.

[Adam Dicker]

There been some valid points in the thread and they will help force change.

I would apreaciate it if we stuck to the valid points rather than attacking an individual.

-=DCG=-

[Raider]

i just follow the script until it's rewritten.

This is pretty much the way I see it... Your simply enforcing the rules of the forum, The problem you have though is; you enforce those rules more than other mods do, Does that make you a bad mod? of course not. I remember GiantDomains did the same when he was a mod, and he was not very well liked either, I liked him though, not because of the way he enforced the rules, but because of how helpful and courteous he was when I asked for support.

I think we should be talking more about changing the rules than trashing a moderator that enforces them......Just my 2 cents.

[PeterMan]

Perhaps a new rule should be that when a mod closes a thread they are required to post a reason and then send a PM to the member who started the thread...

[Acro]

But that's the whole point. I've never met Don in my life and there is no attack on the individual, other than the "outfit" he's wearing.

So Don, stop twisting what I said and bringing in your family and other such creative defense, because I am frankly sick and tired of this ball-busting approach.

Think: just yesterday you made a comment in my ad post - as a mod, as a user, it makes no difference - mocking the essence of my content about how "everyone all of a sudden has become an end-user specialist". And I believe that despite what I thought of that provoking comment - because ad threads are sales threads and they should be respected as such - I handled your cheeky response in a manner that showed substance and grace. Something that you lack in your attitude as a moderator right this moment.

I am not listing isolated incidents, it's a good 2 years' worth of little things that have accumulated and it's not a personal observation, it's shared among other users that apparently don't have the patience or the understanding of your family which you somehow inexplicably decided to bring into this argument.

I think that whether you're getting paid or not makes a difference because it proves the point about the incentives of your bureaucratic and inflexible behavior towards members that don't want a personal favor - as you claim - but want you to apply the "law" as a fair King Solomon, not as a dictator.

[Dale Hubbard]

This is pretty much the way I see it... Your simply enforcing the rules of the forum, The problem you have though is; you enforce those rules more than other mods do, Does that make you a bad mod? of course not. I remember GiantDomains did the same when he was a mod, and he was not very well liked either, I liked him though, not because of the way he enforced the rules, but because of how helpful and courteous he was when I asked for support.

I think we should be talking more about changing the rules than trashing a moderator that enforces them......Just my 2 cents.

Eva, I think you have it pretty much sewn up there. Dan (GD) was well-liked but he was a rude and curt person to many - just like me. But it's not fair to speak of the departed when they are not (visibly) here to reply.

I think one of the parameters of the job here is to just enforce the rules in a reasonable way and be prepared to justify that publicly which I think Don has always done.

For a mod, it's a thankless task, but if some of the detractors here would like to try the 'alternative' forums, they will be sorely underwhelmed.

But that's the whole point. I've never met Don in my life and there is no attack on the individual, other than the "outfit" he's wearing.

So Don, stop twisting what I said and bringing in your family and other such creative defense, because I am frankly sick and tired of this ball-busting approach.

Think: just yesterday you made a comment in my ad post - as a mod, as a user, it makes no difference - mocking the essence of my content about how "everyone all of a sudden has become an end-user specialist". And I believe that despite what I thought of that provoking comment - because ad threads are sales threads and they should be respected as such - I handled your cheeky response in a manner that showed substance and grace. Something that you lack in your attitude as a moderator right this moment.

I am not listing isolated incidents, it's a good 2 years' worth of little things that have accumulated and it's not a personal observation, it's shared among other users that apparently don't have the patience or the understanding of your family which you somehow inexplicably decided to bring into this argument.

I think that whether you're getting paid or not makes a difference because it proves the point about the incentives of your bureaucratic and inflexible behavior towards members that don't want a personal favor - as you claim - but want you to apply the "law" as a fair King Solomon, not as a dictator.

Theo, you have probably next to me the most conflictory personality on the forum. I'm not knocking you for that, but there has to be a little 'give and take' over the years with regard to mods and especially Don. You and I have been so close to being banned so many times, but remember that despite it actually happening, it could have happened more often. I don't think you're being fair, taking Don to task. Maybe you'd like to be proposed for a mod slot? Well, I know you would but what carnage would that present? You're very loquacious but you can be very self-sufficient I think. Just like me!

Most in jest

[Acro]

First off, please note that I didn't start this thread. But it's the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Don seems to like to take things personally, I only see his wall-like behavior to a series of issues that make me feel like I'm in kindergarten. And no, I have no mod aspirations, are you kidding me? All I want is Don to behave like the other moderators, and I will name them: John, Draggar, Admin etc. It's not a personality issue, it's an issue that has to do with how one deals with their moderator role.

[Focus]

For what it's worth..I'm 100% confident this is definitely the best domain sales/chat forum on the Internet, bar none. I know a certain mod will readily tell you if you don't like it to just go elsewhere but I don't think that is very sound advice, nor a reasonable solution. I know as a business owner myself I would not want an employee of mine telling my hard earned customer to do that anytime a conflict arose or a customer had a valid disagreement with my store policy, etc. That mindset won't get you very far.

The mod team right now is probably one of the best yet and a very cool bunch of guys that do a really great job imo, which is why I think this now major & ongoing issue with just one is becoming overly apparent and much more visible lately because of the whats been expressed in this thread and so much more that has not been brought up here. Thankfully, DNF's owner Adam who controls all of this and has the final say in everything seems to always be much more "for the people" than to refer to us as say something like "whiners & complainers" as someone else posted so eloquently in this thread. I would not even be here posting in this thread if my perfectly valid & honest sales thread was still open and active..I would be busy trying to sell my domain like I came here to do but am constantly hindered from doing so thanks to a certain someone who in my opinion abuses his power that has been bestowed for a much different purpose and not to close valid sales threads with good intentions.

[Dale Hubbard]

Fair enough Theo; I don't want a pissing match and I respect your views, although I think they may be contorted in this case.

[Acro]

I don't think I have anything else to add. Long gone are the days of "pissing matches" that entertained hordes of dnfer's I want to do business and I want to have the ability to feel less stressed out by being micro-managed in ways that I should not expect from a professional community forum.

[Focus]

Amen.

[Dale Hubbard]

I don't think I have anything else to add. Long gone are the days of "pissing matches" that entertained hordes of dnfer's I want to do business and I want to have the ability to feel less stressed out by being micro-managed in ways that I should not expect from a professional community forum.

The 'pissing matches' continue regardless of your apparent perception of them Theo. If you want to do business here, you'll have to be "micro-managed" by those that run it. When you own the forum and hire the mods/admins, you'll be able to be more dictatorial. So, you had a 'bum steer' -- move on and reap other rewards here. You know there ain't anywhere else to go.