Forum Trouble

[oshta]

Another forum that a vist occational is having a little trouble, since september when the site changed software and started from scratch it has gained over 500 members, 20,000 posts. And now the admin has told us he's not going to be able to attend to the forum for the next 12weeks, and that he's not sure he can leave it to the (two) other moderaters!

- Apparently he has been threatend with legal action over the content of certain posts, including this morning when a complaint was sent directly to the hosting providers, who have threatend to take action against the site if I did not remove a post within 72 hours.

- Does anyone have any ideas what he/we/i can do help the site remain?


Thanks a lot, Daniel

[Swafe]

Rmove the post and say sorry?

Take on 2 more mods

Job done, I would have thought

[MD]

forums are very difficult places to run, its down to the judgement of the forum moderators, and they have to be good at what they do.

Although he probably has a disclaimer stating its the posters responsibility for what they write there is still a case that the owner must take action.

Its the same with any forum, you post something you shouldnt and you can be sued, any site should willingly help out authorities if occurances of foul play enter the fray and they could be sued or shut down as a result.

The owner has to get in more staff, he has to setout better rules than currently exist and they have to be effective in what they do.

If the company went straight to the host instead of the owner it is likely that posts have been reported in the past but never actioned, running a forum has responsibilities and owners have to be able to run and consistently control what is posted.

[0iD]

Most forums have at least 8-10 mods The more expansive the forums the more mods you need to police it. Just need some trustworthy voulenteers.

[oshta]

forums are very difficult places to run, its down to the judgement of the forum moderators, and they have to be good at what they do.

I think thats part of the problem, there are only two, plus him. He;s often busy, and will be busyer iminantly (sp) and the other two are not very computer literate, dont spend enought time on the forums, and often rather out of order, (ie excesive deleatation of aprorate and relevent threads etc)


Daniel

[XA04]

All i can suggest is, suggest to him to get more computer aliterate moderators, and remove all the content. Then apologise to the people complaining.

[Proplus]

Recruit more mods is a start, a 12 weeks period is a very long time, and all hell can break loose within that period. How much power are the mod's given in that forum? If they don't have banning/suspending rights, have the admin set up a temporary admin account in which either of the mods can log into when **** hits the fan.

[oshta]

ok
thanks guys,

- I'll ask him how much the mods can do
- And suggest he get a few more, although its still quite small, whould four be about right, i mean, its not a very big forum, only 500 members, and most of them arent exactly heavy posters!


Dainel

[0iD]

Ask David to rent out Vaul, he'll sort em out

Rent-a-mod

[Twigman]

Mass email to forum members:
FOrum closed for 12 weeks whilst i attend to other business.


Easy as

[Swafe]

But then people might forget, and never come back

I'm sure if hexus was closed for 3 months, some people would go positivly insane

[EvilMunky]

what is the forum and what was the content that was asked to be removed

[Twigman]

People could get a life and go outside over the summer!!!

(sorry...I'll leave now...)

Just email everyone again when it opens again

[oshta]

The forum is a about canals/narrowboats, i dont know what the complaint to the host was about.
- The thing is, during the summer is when its used most, becuase people go out on the boat, and then come back with problems they have encontered/created.


daniel

[Stringent]

Ask David to rent out Vaul, he'll sort em out

Rent-a-mod

LOL! That will give him ideas!

[Swafe]

LOL! That will give him ideas!

Good ones, with a bit of luck