Had some trouble with my mods :(

[Rigel Kentaurus]

So... in a not-so-unexpected turn of events, I had some trouble with my mods today.

Short story: One of them was completely against anything I did (create a forum, complain, change the edit time limit, complain, change the header, complain), he told me "Go somewhere else, let me have this place", I told him "This place is mine, I created it, I pay the bills, not going to happen".

So, I kicked him out.

So, he went and created a forum (should have done that from the beginning), ezboard? something like that. That is ok.

... but:
1) Taking some of my moderators with him - not ok (but then again, can force them to stay)
2) Coming back and promoting his new forum in posts and profile messages - not ok
3) PM'ing my users with "hey, we are migrating, this is the new URL" - not ok

Sigh* I am so annoyed right now.

Worst thing? He said "This content was created when I was there, ergo, it should be deleted", and actually asked the existing moderators to delete all threads (by him and others) before they resigned.

I have a backup, that is not the problem.

But hell, I am so glad I didn't give them access to the "Moderate spam" mod option, else they would be having fun one click mass deleting things I guess

Sorry, I just had to vent
So annoying !

 

[jmurrayhead]

hmmm...if so many left and caused damage, do you think that perhaps there is some good reason? Not trying to say you're doing something wrong, but maybe there is a good reason for their frustration. I don't agree with sabotage like that, however, and I have also taken members with me to my board. But I had good reasons. I certainly did not go about deleting posts at the old place (which ironically, I am still moderator of lol).

Anyway, none of them had access to physically delete the messages, right?

 

[Blandt]

starting a new place is fine ... fishing for members is NOT ... you should block their IPs all together

 

[Rigel Kentaurus]

starting a new place is fine ... fishing for members is NOT ... you should block their IPs all together

Yeah... I already did. It is not cool at all

It is funny, I was just re-reading the fact that if you give an admin "Manage Users" permission, they get "Mass Email". That is horrible. So, if I had wanted to delegate, say, changing nicks, I would've had a horrible problem now

 

[Rigel Kentaurus]

hmmm...if so many left and caused damage, do you think that perhaps there is some good reason? Not trying to say you're doing something wrong, but maybe there is a good reason for their frustration. I don't agree with sabotage like that, however, and I have also taken members with me to my board. But I had good reasons. I certainly did not go about deleting posts at the old place (which ironically, I am still moderator of lol).

Anyway, none of them had access to physically delete the messages, right?

Yes, there is good reason. I run a writers board. They want adult content in the site (erotic stories, etc), I do not. They are annoyed that I do not allow it, but hey, it's my site, if you want that, go somewhere else

They are right, I am limiting them. But not so much I can do, if I allow something I am personally uncomfortable it is no longer my site, it is someplace else, and to tell the truth, I do this as a hobby, I might as well close it and do something else than run a place I do not feel good in

Some mods and long-time members seem to want to shape the site the way the want. I do appreciate the involvement and concern, but some things are just too border line for me. At that point we had to break the relationship. Personally, it's sad.

They could not physically delete, but they can edit the content and make it blank. XenForo does not have version control, so it is as good as permanently deleting the content.

 

[jmurrayhead]

Yes, there is good reason. I run a writers board. They want adult content in the site (erotic stories, etc), I do not. They are annoyed that I do not allow it, but hey, it's my site, if you want that, go somewhere else

They are right, I am limiting them. But not so much I can do, if I allow something I am personally uncomfortable it is no longer my site, it is someplace else, and to tell the truth, I do this as a hobby, I might as well close it and do something else than run a place I do not feel good in

Some mods and long-time members seem to want to shape the site the way the want. I do appreciate the involvement and concern, but some things are just too border line for me. At that point we had to break the relationship. Personally, it's sad.

They could not physically delete, but they can edit the content and make it blank. XenForo does not have version control, so it is as good as permanently deleting the content.

I agree with you 100%. If you don't want that content on your site, it's your choice. That's a shame they went and did that. Glad you have a backup.

 

[trilogy33]

If it's upsetting you this much, walk.
No bulletin board is worth your health and no less your sanity.
Take a local backup if you feel you may at some point return to this, maybe under a re-branding, who knows.
Hey best of luck anyways, never easy.

 

[Bevypoo]

Managing boards is never easy, especially the moderator part and even more so when they are volunteers and not actually employees. Community boards will always be filled with some sort of drama as its the nature of them kind like a chat room.

You did the right thing it is your Community not theirs. Sometimes I find this problem on our boards where our moderators wont agree with changes that have been made and borderline throw a fit over it, but at the end of the day you have to do what is right for you and your community. They have nothing to loose you have everything to lose.

I have a lot of experience dealing with these types of situations if you ever want some friendly advice feel free to pm me

 

[Mark.B]

I know the feeling here, I've had my fill of it over the years. Although things aren't too dramatic right now, I am nonetheless in the middle of making a major decision about whether to carry on at all after nine years. I just grow tired of some people's attitudes and yes, it does affect your health.

Sometimes I get more stress in my "hobby" than I do in my paid employment. I just don't need it.

 

[trilogy33]

I know the feeling here

I was gonna like this post...but no. Just a casual nod.
Sincerely: Hey Mark, enjoyed your posts over the years on t'other side, so a thumbs up from me anyways for hanging in there.
I guess it's a bit like Godwin's Law (the Usenet version obviously)...in that, the longer you go on, the longer...you get my drift?

 

[CTXMedia]

Horrible when this happens.

Just don't let them dictate how you run your board. Be strong and take control.

I guarantee there will be members who feel the same as you, and who don't want adult content. They will stick with you.

Block the ex-mods IP addresses and post on your board with a simple and honest explanation of what has happened, letting your members know what has gone on. Keep it factual (and not emotional - yes, it will be hard, but you need to give a calm report so as not to alarm people). Tell your membership that you do not want adult content and that you won't ever have it on your board, so if people want that - go and visit the other board - hell, you could even provide a link to it so that those who want to post adult content can go elsewhere.

This way YOU are being honest and open (not underhand and deceitful) and people will respect you for it. You will then end up with a dedicated membership of people who really want to stay and appreciate your efforts, and support you in how you want to run your board.

Do this quickly so that the others cannot spoil things by spreading silly rumours.

Good luck, and if you need any advice - there's a whole coach load of admins hanging around here who can give you support.

Oh, one last thing ... don't stoop to their level. Ignore any attempts to goad you into retaliating or speaking out against them. Ignore them completely, block them as best you can and delete anything they may post on your board, and in a few weeks it'll settle down.

Cheers,
Shaun

PS. The last time this happened to me the guy managed to get 20 of my members to follow him, but got bored of the agro of running a forum in less than a month and the board ended up full of porn links a few months later ... lol

PPS. Let us know if their new forum gets overrun with porn over the next 12 months or so ... won't be much fun moderating that, and I don't imagine it would have the same general appeal. Chin up - get back into it - and leave the others to it.

 

[Marc]

So... in a not-so-unexpected turn of events, I had some trouble with my mods today.

Short story: One of them was completely against anything I did (create a forum, complain, change the edit time limit, complain, change the header, complain), he told me "Go somewhere else, let me have this place", I told him "This place is mine, I created it, I pay the bills, not going to happen".

So, I kicked him out.

Good choice

So, he went and created a forum (should have done that from the beginning), ezboard? something like that. That is ok
.... but:
1) Taking some of my moderators with him - not ok (but then again, can force them to stay)

Hope he/and they enjoy it LOL

2) Coming back and promoting his new forum in posts and profile messages - not ok
3) PM'ing my users with "hey, we are migrating, this is the new URL" - not ok

Would have only found he'd done it once and he would have been banned, instantly.

Sigh* I am so annoyed right now.

Worse thing you can do with a forum is let it get to you. Get a set of rules and moral guidelines you want to stick to, and stick to them. If someone is against the way you want to run your site, then they are on the wrong site and thats what you have to say.

Worst thing? He said "This content was created when I was there, ergo, it should be deleted",

And you are listening to him for what? To annoy yourself? Thats all you are doing.

and actually asked the existing moderators to delete all threads (by him and others) before they resigned.
I have a backup, that is not the problem.

Would ensure they can only soft delete topics ... and I mean every member of staff other than yourself until this goes away/you know who you can trust (and it will)

But hell, I am so glad I didn't give them access to the "Moderate spam" mod option, else they would be having fun one click mass deleting things I guess

Sorry, I just had to vent
So annoying !

Excuse my french but f***** em .... The world is full of annoying little idiots that have nothing better to do with their time other than complain over something that they think is massivly important to their tiny little worlds. One of my moderators uses a quote which he itterates almost constantly and it fits so many things so well that I will repeat it here.

This is another one of those poor folks, who have not been blessed with the process of evolution to the point where the cranium and the rectum have become detached

 

[Salty]

Ban IPs, don't let users PM until 10 posts, don't delete content, let the "kids" have their ez board.

 

[Floris]

There's always one that has to ruin it for the rest ..

If you are the founder and owner, just quietly remove him. If he takes 5 of his friends with him, so be it. Nothing you can do about it.

The content submitted to your site, while they are the author of it, has become your property, you're free to edit, move, delete .. and undelete it.

I would just archive his content, and from the ones that leave if they desire, and cut your losses. The sooner they don't bother with your board anymore, the sooner you can move on from it.

As frustrating as it all is. Idiots will remain idiots. And you have to choose what's the best for your site in the long run.

You will get trolls, you will get abusive moderators, and you will get people stealing your property, it just sucks if it's one idiot ..

 

[Ray]

Things like this happen, especially when you have direct contact with members/mods.
It's best not to pay too much attention, when things like this happen, just ban the guy(s) and if they are posting links, just replace those links with something else. i.e. http://----.com => http://****.com, they'll get tired and give up. Try to limit interaction with members.