How to be a outstanding Virtual Doctor Forum Member?

[Philgo]

Thanks Sarrkazztic

[ecrosson]

I think it takes patience, and tolerance to be a good member too. As well as a knowledge of things I.T. helps of course.
I enjoy this forum more than many others on the net that I also belong to, and visit. I find that this is the only one I consistently come back to, and check out every day just to see what's new, and how I can learn a bit more today.
I try to treat others the way I would like to be treated myself, sometimes hard, but always worthwhile to do.

By the way, I thought "TJolly" just came back, he was posting just a while ago it seemed; has he been let go again?
He seemed to have a pretty good knowledge base, sorry to see him go.
I hope he can make it back soon...

ecrosson (not ecross's son)

[Byan]

for what did he get banned for anyway?

I searched his posts and I can't find anything horrible..
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sea...earchid=439698

must have been deleted...


I have never known TJolly to do anything horrible..

anyways, this forum has pretty high standards..., if you take a look at some other forums.., you'll find forums for just for flaming people and stuff like that..

I think that is the reason they didn't want to open a OT forum, they were afraid it would turn into one of those...

A good member need to be open to new possiblities.., repect the opinions of other memebers and such, and do your best to answer other people's questions..

[SuperSparks]

Whenever a member is banned, it is always done for a good reason, and it is never a decision that is taken lightly. Much discussion takes place in our private moderators forum before such action is taken, and there will always have been several warnings issued to the member before a ban is imposed. However, what will never happen, is that we will openly discuss why a member was banned. It's not fair on them, for a start, as they aren't in a position to answer back.

Having got somewhere around 8,000 posts as a member before I became a moderator, and never once had a warning about any of my posts, here is the SuperSparks' condensed guide to the AUP:

• Always be polite to other members at all times
  
  Keep the language clean
  
  Do not discuss illegal activities

That's pretty much all I've found that I've ever needed to remember, and it's stood me in good stead for years.

[Sarrkazztic]

Here here Sparky.....noticed one thing that rings true here too....I have never been called on the carpet for anything I have posted at vdr.....only time I was ever contacted by a mod or admin here was to ask me to be a mod....


I have always tried to post in a style or manner that if my twin boys were to read I would be okay with what they read......While I am probably one of the more lenient moderators here.....that is what I strive for....a family environs.

[Nix]

Ok, I would agree with the general consensus so far but have one thing to add.

If you are going to be critical of the board, it's members or the moderators then know when to back down or say enough is enough.

As previosuly mentioned the moderators do discuss things before making decisions and in most cases will either PM or explain in situ why a thread has been locked, modified or deleted.

Discussion of these decsions with the mods can be healthy to clear the air and make sure the member(s) involved are not still angry / annoyed etc, but there comes a time when going over the same old stuff again and again does nothing for the relationships of those involved.

Sometimes it's simply time to get over it and move on.

At the end of the day "the judges decision is final" and as Thumper says to Bambi "Mama always says, 'If you can't say something nice, don't nothing at all".

Life is too short - enjoy it while you can.

[BIG JOHN]

Very good post Nix You are a fine example of what a good member is, thank you. BJ

[Byan]

Originally posted by SuperSparks
However, what will never happen, is that we will openly discuss why a member was banned. It's not fair on them, for a start, as they aren't in a position to answer back.

k, I guess that is true..


I wasn't looking for anything specific.., I was just curious cause I have never known TJolly to do anything wrong

anyways, nevermind..

[Nix]

Originally posted by BIG JOHN
You are a fine example of what a good member is

Thanks.

[Toolman55]

First, let me say that finding this forum has helped me so much I can't begin to explain it. I come here here day to read up on the different problems, and especially the solutions that have been offered. I hope to have the opportunity to learn much more, and actually be able to contibute in the future.

But I must take issue with one of Big John's criteria for being a good member: 3. A member that does not criticize decisions made by the staff and administration. Most of us are professionals & have been doing our jobs a very long time.

Big John, you've probably forgotten more about computing than I can hope to absorb. And tomorrow, I wouldn't hesitate to ask your opinion on one problem or another. But that last rule sounds just a bit ballsy to me. If all of your (managements) decisions are just ones, we (the membership) would never have a reason to question them. But, just supposin', they weren't? Don't we all have a right to question what we feel is wrong? I just feel that you are projecting an "I'm right, even if I'm wrong" attitude, and you shouldn't be questioned.

Now, maybe my "perceptions" are off tonight and you didn't mean to portray it this way. Or maybe it's my never--ending issues with authority figures . But if I feel if somethings wrong that I should be able to voice my opinion about it (in a polite manner, of course).

Now, after having got that off my chest, let me say I have no idea what TJolly did or said to cause this ruckas. And I have seen instances of "corrective" action being taken with members that have come close to crossing the line, so I have no doubt that TJolly's removal was not done on some tyrannical whim.

I just think that questions can be a healthy thing. Thanks for listening.

Toolman

[OilPatch197]

hmm, interesting thinking Toolman.

[Nix]

Toolman, having had a couple of low level 'discussions' with Big John and some of the other mods over the past 3.5 years in regards to things I have posted, I know for a fact that they are a reasonable bunch and that's what I was implying in my post.

You can be critical to a degree, but know that at some point enough is enough and that you will agree to disagree.

Maybe BJ's point should have read

3. A member that does not continually criticize decisions made by the staff and administration or raise past issues for repeated discussion. Most of us are professionals & have been doing our jobs a very long time.

Btw I'm not a mod just a long serving member who has been here long enough to see people come and go and know how to be part of a well oiled machine.

EDIT
I'm not saying that I won't complain if it's needed, but there has to be an understanding that when you get a group of people together, everyone is going to have different views and personalities.

You can either work to be part of a cohesive team or you can be the person that spoils it for everyone else.

Btw I'm not saying that this was Tjolly as my dealings with him have always been more than pleasant. I'm just talking generalities.

[BIG JOHN]

Originally posted by Toolman55
Don't we all have a right to question what we feel is wrong?
Toolman

Yes the members do have a right to ask questions. We the management have privacy issues we have to adhere to & there are some questions we just cannot answer. When a member ask's these type of questions & they are still not satisfied with what they are told, then become pests with constant pm's then thats when the line has to be drawn. BJ

[SuperSparks]

I don't want to put words into BJ's mouth, but I'm certain that's what he meant. I feel sure that I can speak on behalf of all of the staff and say we don't have any problem with genuine constructive criticism. Nor with questions as to why a particular action was taken.

But these things are often best done in private. I locked a thread that I thought violated the AUP a while back, and explained why. The member concerned sent me a private message explaining why he thought it was OK. I realised I was wrong, and the thread was reopened with an apology. That's all it needs, and there are no ruffled feathers on either side. On the other hand, a thread in Feedback demanding to know why something was done, always by one of a small group of members who have nothing to do with the original thread, and whos only participation in the forums is to complain, doesn't tend to go down so well.

[nganvu]

Am I missing something? : TJolly was banned, then back. Now he's banned again? . No, I hope he's not.