Lack of European moderators.

[Vicke 3,189]

Hey guys.

 

I might be the only one, but is Jonke/Dreamwalker the only European moderator?

 

If he is, that is something that i think needs to be dealt with.

Why?

 

Because i think almost everyone want at least some moderators to be on all the time, for good feedback, and to get something done quickly. The American ones are not suppose to stay up 24/7 just because of the forum.

 

I know in some cases where i have reported someone and it have taken about 1-2 hours for it to get deleted. That would not have been a problem if it were more European moderators since they would have probably been awake and been able to deal with it.

 

So to make this short, more European moderators.

[PonyEcho 1,610]

yeah iv'e noticed this too but its never been a gap where no moderators were on just that there aren't enough on so yeah more EU mod would be nice , i would volunteer but i'm probably the worst candidate atm. how about we make Vicke in to some kind of super mod part mod part something else that we could get from a toys r us store

[Yellow Diamond 7,575]

Having more moderators from around the world---and thus a variety of timezones---would be ideal. Bear in mind, however, that simply recruiting members who happen to be living in different timezones for the sake of doing so is overemphasizing one attribute when a number of other things (e.g., reliability, activity, maturity, etc.) must be taken into account. It won't matter very much if we bring aboard ten moderators from Europe when only one of them will actually be productive. (This is not to imply our European members are not productive, however. It is simply an example of the difficulties involved.) In essence, we have to weigh a number of variables.

 

Given that the bulk of the fandom (and this site's membership) finds its home in the United States, activity during down hours in the US (~1:00-6:00 AM) is not terribly critical. Furthermore, since a number of our members are also in middle school and high school, they cannot afford to be on at all hours of the night. As I understand it, it is not a pervasive issue.

 

Nevertheless, I am certain things to slip through the cracks. And you can trust me when I say that we are working slowly but surely to provide proactive service for all of our members, regardless of which continent they may call home.

Edited September 24, 2012 by Captain Equestria

[NavelColt 22,883]

Like C.E said, timezone is not at the top of totem pole for things staff look for in other staff, on forums, because individual maturity and capability come before that. If a mature, active person also happens to be in a timezone that is helpful for covering a broader time spectrum basis because of their continent location then that's just a plus, but it's certainly not a priority to hunt for timezone over the more crucial aspects.

[Lost 1,410]

I don't think we need more European mods specifically, more mods in general would be cool, the forums are growing fast so a few more mods to ease the pressure on the current mods would be good for everyone I guess.

 

I vote for more mods but don't mind what timezone they are from

[Vicke 3,189]

I don't think we need more European mods specifically, more mods in general would be cool, the forums are growing fast so a few more mods to ease the pressure on the current mods would be good for everyone I guess.

 

I vote for more mods but don't mind what timezone they are from

 

That would lead to every single moderator being online at the same time, and leaving them all offline at the same time.

A boat load of American ones would lead into a even slacker job.

[HomuraBL 851]

While I do agree more moderators in other timezones would help, they still need to fit the bill when it come to being able to do the job.

 

A boat load of American ones would lead into a even slacker job.

 

...In what sense? Is this a: Americans are fat and lazy joke? Or are you just saying that without other timezones it would be bad?

[Lost 1,410]

 

That would lead to every single moderator being online at the same time, and leaving them all offline at the same time.

A boat load of American ones would lead into a even slacker job.

 

But there's not that many active European forum members which leaves a smaller pool to pick from and moderate, I'm sure some people would find 24/7 moderation useful but in reality, the larger the community the longer the moderation times, I've been of forums where it took anywhere up to a day for mods to respond, even with them having mods in every timezone.

 

It would be nice to have another European moderator but as said above by CE and CD, the priority isn't timezone. More mods would be great, but someone shouldn't be picked just because they are from Europe.

[Vicke 3,189]

While I do agree more moderators in other timezones would help, they still need to fit the bill when it come to being able to do the job.

 

 

 

 

...In what sense? Is this a: Americans are fat and lazy joke? Or are you just saying that without other timezones it would be bad?

 

Why would i make such a joke in a serious thread?

What i'm saying is that if every moderator is American they will all either think

''Meeh, there are so many off us, someone else might as well do it''

Or

''Oh, a report. Better check it out. *This case is solved* oh.....''

 

There is only 1 moderator that is not from America, and giving him some help might be a good idea.

(Even tho i do 1-2 other moderators online)

 

 

I'm sorry if picked it up in a wrong way.

 

 

 

 

 

@@Lost,

I never said that it is something to prioritize.

I'm just giving a heads up. When they recruited 10 section moderators all of them were from America.

And to be honest, some of them was a bad choice. Even someone like me knew that.

Edited September 25, 2012 by Vicke

[Doctor XFizzle 8,670]

European moderators needed? I have a nominee who fits that description. The European part of it at least.

 

buckin CAPS LOCK PONY. Get it done.

 

But seriously, while it would be nice to cover multiple time zones, lots of factors have to be given serious consideration and weight over location for someone to serve the community the best they can as a mod.

[Whiteshade 1,427]

I am European, look at me enjoying a cup of Earl Grey, mod pls

 

Whilst we need more diversified time zones to cover the "dead times" where no or few mods are online, keep in mind that the majority of MLPforums users are also North American and thus would also be offline during dead time, unless they were the hardcore lurk until 6:00 am types (this group also includes some certain moderators). Moderator exposure is not perfectly proportional, but it's not as skewed as you think it is.

Edited September 26, 2012 by Whiteshade

[Jonke 3,743]

You could add Klopp to the EU mod group, at least for now. His wicked work schedule makes him available where other NA moderators are not.

[Klopp 2,050]

unless they were the hardcore lurk until 6:00 am types.

Yesh, the hardcore overnight lurkers are always causing mayhem 'round the forums. Luckily we have one of their kind on our side to slap them in the wrist when necessary. :3 *points to self*

[FedoraMemes 582]

But there's not that many active European forum members which leaves a smaller pool to pick from and moderate

Actually, there is quite a lot of European members who are very active. Vicke is an example, as well as me, and ProjectRKA is another example. I really can't see where you're coming from.

 

I agree with this idea, because sometimes when I come on, there are no mods on at all, which can be quite annoying as I think that they could miss a lot of things while they're offline, and remember, not everyone reports.

[Arylett Charnoa 4,919]

Actually, there is quite a lot of European members who are very active. Vicke is an example, as well as me, and ProjectRKA is another example. I really can't see where you're coming from.

 

I agree with this idea, because sometimes when I come on, there are no mods on at all, which can be quite annoying as I think that they could miss a lot of things while they're offline, and remember, not everyone reports.

 

Just because you don't see them on, doesn't mean they aren't. A lot of the moderating staff is invisible constantly. I myself have seen, at the times where I'm up at crazy unreasonable hours (like now, for instance), that there is at least one other moderator or administrator lurking invisibly around. Usually, there's two.

 

So I think we cover it, really.

 

And this is from a person who has no life or set schedule whatsoever to hinder her. So yes, I've been around on the forums at all kinds of weird and different times. Early morning, evening, afternoon, day time, you take your pick. I've been there at least several times.

[Finesthour 7,289]

Just because you don't see them on, doesn't mean they aren't. A lot of the moderating staff is invisible constantly.

 

Oh god, you made me want to make this image.

 

 

Joking aside, I don't think we really need a European moderator per say.

We have mods who go all night working, and the forums are extremely slow at night anyway.

[Vicke 3,189]

Just because you don't see them on, doesn't mean they aren't. A lot of the moderating staff is invisible constantly. I myself have seen, at the times where I'm up at crazy unreasonable hours (like now, for instance), that there is at least one other moderator or administrator lurking invisibly around. Usually, there's two.

 

So I think we cover it, really.

 

And this is from a person who has no life or set schedule whatsoever to hinder her. So yes, I've been around on the forums at all kinds of weird and different times. Early morning, evening, afternoon, day time, you take your pick. I've been there at least several times.

 

But you are you Arylett.

When you are asleep your banana minions do your job.

Do not underestimate Miss.Banana woman man!

 

 

Actually, there is quite a lot of European members who are very active. Vicke is an example, as well as me, and ProjectRKA is another example. I really can't see where you're coming from.

 

I agree with this idea, because sometimes when I come on, there are no mods on at all, which can be quite annoying as I think that they could miss a lot of things while they're offline, and remember, not everyone reports.

 

Even though i am a very active and kind member it does not mean i am suitable for moderation.

I am very goofy and silly at times, and thats what killing my chance. And my English is not that great.

[FedoraMemes 582]

@@Vicke, I was actually listing European members who were active, not ones suitable for moderation, but ok.

 

@, that was something I didn't think of when I was typing. I know that there are mods who hide their activity, and I don't really know where I stand. I think that if they're hiding activity, then it helps them remain anonymous (mods are watching etc), but I also think it gives the community a feel of abandonment, which is kinda why the thread was made.

[Glaceon 793]

Well IMO it's ultimately up to the staff to decide if they need more people moderating or not. For I do not know their schedules and such. Also SEA timezone is such a pain. Barely anypony is online when I am. I would just let the admins/moderators decide if they need more.

[Killian Jones 2,655]

We had more EU moderators before. However Neikos left the team and I recently left as well. There has been a very low amount of moderators

 

It is not easy to find EU moderators or other time zones as many of the staff is restricted to NA time zones and other people.

 

It is difficult to select moderators, even I don't know any suitable EU members, and I see people from this time zone the most.

[Zoop 8,384]

I know that there are mods who hide their activity, and I don't really know where I stand. I think that if they're hiding activity, then it helps them remain anonymous (mods are watching etc), but I also think it gives the community a feel of abandonment, which is kinda why the thread was made.

 

Having a portion of the staff browsing while anonymous is a good way to keep people on their toes, and to keep potential trolls from being able to tell when exactly it might be 'safe' to strike.

 

More to the matter at hand though, Arylett and Klopp nailed this one fairly well - while we may only have a single European staffer at the present moment, we do have a number of North American staffers with extremely silly sleeping schedules that allow them to fill the same function.

 

And honestly, in most cases a brief gap between when an issue is reported and when it is dealt with isn't going to cause any huge amounts of harm, I'd say - especially when you consider that most of the warnings that get issued (every single one of which I am notified of and review) are for things like minimum character violations and off-topic posts.

[Arylett Charnoa 4,919]

@@Vicke, I was actually listing European members who were active, not ones suitable for moderation, but ok.

 

@, that was something I didn't think of when I was typing. I know that there are mods who hide their activity, and I don't really know where I stand. I think that if they're hiding activity, then it helps them remain anonymous (mods are watching etc), but I also think it gives the community a feel of abandonment, which is kinda why the thread was made.

 

Well, some people aren't invisible if it really bugs you. For instance, I'm visible all the time. (Which is probably why I receive so many PMs. @_@)

 

It is difficult to find suitable mods in the first place, regardless of the timezone. So I think we'll be focusing more on who is actually capable of being a mod, if they have enough time, etc., rather than if they fill in a niche timezone that barely anyone is on during.

[3005 332]

No matter the time of day I come online, I see moderators online. I do think the amount of global moderators needs to be increased and the amount of sectional moderators needs to be decreased, but the current system seems to be working fairly well, with several staff members available for assistance at any given time. I don't like moderators being hidden, honestly; I think it symbolizes a staff that isn't attentive, and this group of mods, admins, technicians, etc. clearly is.

[Zoop 8,384]

I don't like moderators being hidden, honestly; I think it symbolizes a staff that isn't attentive, and this group of mods, admins, technicians, etc. clearly is.

 

Aye. I can understand the concern, but rather than doing it one way or another I think the balance we've managed to strike so far between visible folks and invisible folks has worked fairly well. Gotta keep people on their toes somewhat, after all.