After the sad resignation of James, it is long over due to run a new set of moderator elections. Our numbers have dwindled from 8, across all the forums before we merged into the Community, to the 4 left today.

As moderators our role is to help keep things on topic (although we're only human, we go off topic as much as anybody), make sure that somebody doesn't post something you wouldn't want the kids to see, and generally help folks out with formatting tags and the like, so posts are easily readable.

We are responsible for enforcing the [Forum Rules] where needed, but intervention is rarely needed.

Our time is given on a voluntary basis and we don't receive any preferential treatment from PlusNet.

For this election we will be returning to the original format where candidates may volunteer themselves and don't require nomination by another member of the forums. This is to encourage as many candidates as possible.

We are looking to fill 2 places from this election so require a minimum of 4 candidates, and we intend to run another election early in the new year for a further 2 candidates.


STEP 1  

If you are interested in volunteering as a moderator please PM one of the existing moderators (Daniel Roger Barry Jonathan) with a short text (no more than 8 lines) explaining why you think that you  would make a good forum moderator. This text will be used as part of the public voting thread. This PM must be received by the existing moderators before Saturday 15th November 2008.

STEP 2  

The moderators will then assess that the candidates fit into the following criteria -

1. Must have been a customer of one of the PlusNet brands (PlusNet, FORCE9, Free-Online, Metronet or MAAF) for at least 6 months and currently be using a paid account from one of these brands.

2. Must be a regular poster on the forums. (There is no minimum post requirement, as we expect regular contributors to be most likely to be candidates.)

3.Can not have been banned or warned for forum conduct in the last three months.

4. And review the candidates previous posts to assess their suitability as moderators.

If the candidate does not fit within this criteria the moderators will inform them by PM.

STEP 3  

The moderators will post a list of the candidates, and enter it into a forum post. The community will be given 10 days to vote for their preferred candidate.

STEP 4  

After the vote is complete, the moderators will assess the voting process to ensure it was conducted in a fair manner. If there is any evidence of unfairness then the election will be declared null and void with the whole process having to be re-run.
If all is above board, they will contact the winner asking if they intend to take the role. Once this is confirmed it will be announced to the community as a whole.
The new moderators will serve an initial probation period of 3 months.

Jonathan
On behalf of the Moderating team.

Looking for more candidates - if you think you've got what it takes, please send in a PM!

B.

Surely if there is a requirement for four moderators then the minimum number of candidates required is one. If four people are available and suitable then make them moderators, and if only one person volunteers then their suitability can be assessed without an "election".

I would volunteer myself but I suspect I would be invalidated by a combination of strict adherence to excessive rules, misunderstood grammar and over-zealous moderation. I'll have my lawyer scan the conditions for a loophole.

I would be banned too - it's incredibly easy to get a warning. 
In view of the multiplicity of fora, I assume that moderators would be allowed to stick to their areas of interest?

As I've said, I'd be interested but cant qualifiy as I've only been on PN since september, if this rule could be waived, I'd be delighted to stand.

This election is also open to MAAF customers as well.

Barry / chillypenguin

Are you able to disclose how many people have volunteered themselves for this Moderator election so far as it currently stands?

Thanks

Andy

We are still going through the suitability selection process at present, so I don't want to pre-empt things.

But we are still looking for more volunteers 

There are still a few days left if you wish to volunteer.

  Your forum needs you! 
Provisional plan is to start the election on Friday 18 28.

Friday the 18th? Which month is that in? 

Sep '09   

OK, OK, fixed

Shouldn't you post a job spec. first?

Job Description

This exciting opportunity to join the lean, mean editing machine that is the moderator team would suit an individual / couple / pair / team with plenty of spare time and even more spare punctuation.

Your responsibilities will include :

The annotation of posts with scolding messages.
The formulation of secret handshakes and the practice of such.
The mangling of sentences in a self-defeating attempt to avoid ambiguity and to fend off potential pedantry, whilst disregarding the inclusion of the original purpose of the post/edit but aiming for an overall air of gravity, going forwards, despite the grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.

You should be available for private, behind-the-scenes discussions with other members of the secret sect in order to arrange even further-behind-the-scenes meetings with even smaller and more private subsets of the secret sects to which you may or may not belong. The purpose of each meeting will be to arrange further discussion about who to exclude from each level of hierarchy until a point is reached where you are the only one who is partaking in said discussions. At this point you will be declared the winner and the game can be reset. You may wish to play several rounds and keep a running score but that's optional. Nobody is forcing you.

As a moderator you will be responsible for upholding the Forum Rules. You will also be responsible for updating these as and when that is required. Word of warning though; Only chillypenguin updates the forum rules. He doesn't like it if you scratch the parchment.

Heh, that's actually surprisingly accurate

B.

Yes - very accurate.

I almost considered applying for a 'second round', just to see how the scores worked out.

I'm certain that with a little thought you may guess who I am

PS - I didn't get a PN Mug either.