Hi all,

I've had the honour of being forum admin for the landyacht section for almost a year now. By enlarge it hasn't been a huge task as this section generally adheres to the rules very well.

However of late it appears there has been a move to administer not only by Laurie's forum rules, but also to moderate by a new set of rules that take into consideration the public image of the landyacht community on Seabreeze, something I'm not completely comfortable enforcing.

Also, as I would hate to monopolise this position for years on end without allowing a possibilty for change , I thought it might be a good idea to hold an election for a new administrator each year.

12 months ago when I offered to help Laurie administer this section, the main thing he was concerned about was that the admin was elected by the users of the forum. So, although I haven't discussed this with Laurie, I assume he would want this to occur again, although obviously, as this is his forum, he has the right to veto applicants as he sees fit.

Therefore I would like to call for inerested parties to nominate themselves or to nominate who they would like as an admin so we can elect another forumite to the position for the next 12 months.

So who's up to the task or who would you like to nominate for the position? As I said its not a difficult task by any means.

Cheers

Phil

Keep up the good work Phil you have my vote.
Cheers
vic (aus230)

Hillsy, "congrats" on your first year, you have Gizmo's and my vote if you feel
comfortable in continuing.

With the constant changing of the world and the evolving of the internet like Facebook, Twitter and My Space etc we feel that Seabreeze needs to be very mindful of its Public image and its role in the community.

Seabreeze should always keep the lines of communication open to its members in regards to their needs/interests/requirements of the forum. Being relevant to the changing times we are living in.

So any Administrator needs to be prepared to be receptive of these changing times.

Mrs Duck and Gizmo

If you are happy to continue hillsy, you have my vote.

If you want relief, I nominate Aus230. Hope you don't mind that Vic.

Thanks everyone, I'm happy to keep on going unless anyone is keen to give it a go. If not I will ask the same question again next year.

I would like to discuss that point Lachlan, its certainly not a thread hijack.

What is everyone's opinion on censoring threads or posts that do not break the forum rules.

How do we as a group decide which threads or topics should be deleted if we feel they portray us in a bad light and yet don't break the rules? I don't really want to run a poll each time this happens, nor do I want to delete a thread because the vocal minority or a group of anonymous members don't like it. Whether its a good or a bad thing, we all have the right to post within the rules on a public forum as do we have the right to not open a thread we don't want to read. How do we come to a happy compromise on this?

If someone puts up a post that is an unwise idea, should we let it be discussed so that it serves as a warning/lesson to others considering the same thing or hide it so that we don't put the thought in others heads?

I'm more than happy to go along with the groups decision, after all this landyacht section is nothing more than its members, I just need to know what that is. We could set rules like:- If more than a set number of non-anonymous members want a thread locked or deleted then it will be done but as I said this doesn't sit comfortably with me. (The reason I say non-anonymous is to stop one person from logging on several times to sway the vote).

Please let me know your thoughts but try and keep the emotions out of it so we can come to the best solution.

hills said...
What is everyone's opinion on censoring threads or posts that do not break the forum rules.

My opinion is no censoring.

The group is quite capable of self regulation. If an individual is making posts that one or more others feel are inappropriate, that can be expressed on the forum or a quiet word can be said via P.M.

No censoring.

thanks Hillsy for being so democratic and asking. I appreciate the opportunity of being asked. Having said that I feel you have done the job well and happy to see you continue for another year.

You have also raised a seperate and important topic one of possible censorship of posts/threads and should this happen? and if so whose role is it?

Personally I think that censorship is soemthing that should not be undertaken lightly. I believe there is a time for censorship(in particular covering what children can view or explotation or criminal activity etc) however the forum rules do cover these occasions. I do not beleive though that we should be censoring much else at this point.

The beauty of a forum such as this is we get chance to *talk* to people who have different views, perspectives, realities, ideas and more. No I do not have to agree with them (or you with me!) but I feel it is a fundamental foundation stone of our democracy to be able to voice our opinions, however ludicrous, without fear of censorship. If people truly object to a post they can always red thumb it. Respond to the content (not the person) why they don't agree or Ignore the post and let it die off from lack or replies.

Having said that sometimes I think some threads that have been in the landyacht forum area would do better in the section Shooting the Breeze, but thats JMHO

One thing that has struck me is the number of anonomyous people who stick thier head up and throw in posts that just provoke. Are you proud of your efforts? Are you do anything to advance the sport? Do you have any credibility? To those people I say stop playing Peter Pan, grow up, be honest and be constructive.

Off my soap box
Promo Girl

Thanks for a number of things Hillsy.
1) Letting some topics run when to many viewers they are getting a bit out of hand, and then freezing them when some line is crossed
2) Stepping up to the plate and taking the role when it was definitely needed
3) Being so unbiased (when I am sure that you would like to have put forward a view!)
4) Being so up front in offering to allow someone else to take over.

My vote... stay right where you are as long as you feel the want to carry on.

I do feel that some posts could be transferred to a "venting opinions" place, but then we all have the option to not reply, or read some of the left field things we see.

There was a question asked a wee while ago in relation to "how is this seen overseas".
This was actually more relevant than some people think IMHO, as Seabreeze is the only viable forum for the sport which I have come across, and in the last week or so I have been looking seriously for alternatives.

Keep it going guys and girls.

HI All
I have enjoyed this forum, the exchange of ideas and agree totally with the sentiments expressed above
Most of the contributers are positive constuctive people who have the sport of landyachting at heart
However as has been mentioned there are some who like to come in anonymously
and snipe from the side To them I say if you dont have the courage to put your name to your cheap shots then you are just a waste of space
I am glad to see that others think similarly and this forum is in good heart
I also would like to thank Phil for his efforts and hope he will continue to do the
good job he has already done

Best regards
Hiko NZ717
Graeme Faulkner

hills said...

if you keep your posts short and concise, this reduces the amount of time it takes us to do our job.

"Brevity respects the reader"

Good work on lasting a year Hillsy, I know it can be testing at times. You're doing a great job, keep it up!