Moderators needed! Please volunteer and nominate

**chateauheart** · 07-18-2012, 09:21 PM

If it wasn't for the "messenger"'s heads-up (Profile Evaluation help: undergrad from unknown place and LOR from unknown professors), people would still be in that thread trying to argue with me about the importance of reference letters for overseas applicants (actually, someone still is). That's one thing I'll say about that.

I'm not a big fan of anonymity, the aggressive culture, and all that. But I have to say they do serve their purpose at times. And I have not seen any real, genuine hatred over in those boards that wasn't implicit here in the tone of some users over the years. Me? I'd be a lot more afraid of someone who holds a grudge and doesn't reveal it, than someone shouting "retard" at me all day. Thankfully, I don't think I have encountered that yet.

But in any case, please let this controversy die. I have went through a lot of unwarranted criticisms, and I've also seen fellow users go through a lot of unwarranted criticisms, sometimes for comments that other people have made (e.g. tm_guru being criticized for what another user said). And sometimes, worse, it was us hurling these criticisms at each other. Yet in the end most of us seem to have learned something from it, found peace with ourselves, and moved on. I don't think it's helpful to "flame back" at their board. tm_guru has actively endorsed some of the criticism; OneArmedEcon has moved on and continued to make solid contributions in threads that actually matter; and now I just need a good rest. That, I hope, concludes it.

(Edit: No, the genuine hatred I refer to wasn't concerning me - or at least I hope so. I don't think I was treated that unfairly in this recent dispute; I certainly haven't been insulted, and if I don't appear here for a while it'd be because I'm busy. That was just an observation I've made about the forums).

**jrdonsimoni** · 07-18-2012, 09:25 PM

Actually I found your comments on LORs useful, hence my asking about them, back in the thread. Now if the tone or behaviour of some users here make you feel uncomfortable, you are free to leave for another forum. I do find most of your interventions useful, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for them, because some of them have been directly relevant for me. But if I don't like a place, I don't stay. Up until 24h ago, this site was still vey useful and enjoyable, right now it's being dragged down by pointless debates. Can we just all please move on, at the end of the day, it's just a forum.

**OneArmedEcon** · 07-18-2012, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by applyingnow

how do we know if those stories are simply made up by the folks at EJRM to make TM look bad to future applicants?

Well in terms of the complaint that I downvoted a post and left negative rep, I can verify that there is some truth to that and the only person that could be is aspie_virgin (it was his first post on this forum, which in itself was not objectionable, just his username). And he's right that I didn't reply to his PM--because when I read it, I was headed out the door and then forgot to respond to it. That probably came across as rude, but it wasn't intended as a deliberate slight. Anyway, a few days later (in this thread) another poster or two called him out on his username; I refrained from commenting since at that point it would have seemed like piling on and he announced that he was quitting the forum. Then a month later, he decides to try to start a flame war between EJMR and TM. Whatever.

I regret that I neglected to share with him my concerns that his username might be perceived by others as offensive. Had I done so in a more timely manner, then this whole misunderstanding might have been avoided. As someone with a cousin who has Aspbergers as well as a friend from high school who has a younger brother, I am sympathetic to the struggles that "Aspies" have and probably should have been more supportive, but at the time, I did not realize that he actually had Aspberger's. It was a series of misunderstandings that apparently has festered into a level of resentment well beyond what's proportionate to the situation, but then that's part of the disorder. I'd invite the poster formerly known as aspie_virgin to contact me via PM and we can discuss this issue in greater detail. It was certainly never my intent for him to be bullied (that's why I didn't join in on the public commenting over his username on this thread).

**TomRod** · 07-18-2012, 10:53 PM

I want to let yall know I would like to be taken out of consideration for the mod post. At first I was interested,but the reality of the situation is that I am severely time crunched and have too many projects going on as it stands.

I would like to add my voice for mathemagician, who would be excellent, or Elliephant. Chateauheart may well make a good moderator in the future after becoming more temperate.

Good luck to the others, and here is to Erin making his mind up quickly.

**Catrina** · 07-20-2012, 12:26 AM

While I personally would have no problem with TM_guru as a moderator, at this point I think the best decision would be to avoid anyone who has been involved in any major controversy.

For the sake of peace, can we please just pick a non-controversial moderator?

**tm_member** · 07-20-2012, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Catrina

While I personally would have no problem with TM_guru as a moderator, at this point I think the best decision would be to avoid anyone who has been involved in any major controversy.

For the sake of peace, can we please just pick a non-controversial moderator?

Thanks for the vote of confidence despite my flaws.

Unless others turn it down I would not do it, but I think that almost any moderator is better than no moderator!

**econm** · 07-20-2012, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by mathemagician

I agree that we need mods and this conversation is not very productive at this point. I really had no interest in modding before but I sort of feel like volunteering now. I don't post a lot but I visit this site almost everyday.

Mathemagician grasps the big picture, avoids trivial arguments and feuds, doesn't tirelessly monitor threads in fear of dissent, and has a good sense of humor. I would support the move if he or she was appointed.

**eXcuvator** · 07-24-2012, 03:54 PM

Yeah, I'm also up for Mathemagician.

**Catrina** · 07-24-2012, 05:30 PM

I started a new thread with a poll (Let's Vote Already--Who Would You Like to be the Moderator?). Everyone please vote!

**GreenMan** · 07-24-2012, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by tm_guru

Thanks for the vote of confidence despite my flaws.

Unless others turn it down I would not do it, but I think that almost any moderator is better than no moderator!

That's unfortunate, I think you'd be excellent for the community. Thankfully, there's only a couple other names anyone else would recognize in the running. I have no idea how people who contribute nothing to this community are in the running/complicating the process, but I guess people are being too nice for their own good.