Moderator Abuse of Power and Priveledge

Gotta agree 110% with that thought...always reminded of the old white man's overbite routine...some middle aged white dude trying to sound like he's from the hood...pathetic at best.

 

why dont we put up a poll and rate SJMST (sam) on how he is doing as a nyts moderator?

i bet he will rank up there in at least 90%+ approval. and you know what, i will start that poll right now so everyone can see the difference!

now compare sjmst's approval rating with ghost's approval rating.

this is sjmst's moderator rating:

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92530

Remember, please vote on Sam's moderating skills.....and not about if you like him as a person or dislike him as a person!!

 

Could somebody please put a link up to this Ferrari bashing thread.... I looked briefly and couldn't seem to find it.

 

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87343

I looked up my previous posts, I see constructive critism but you can judge.

 

Thanks......

While I can see the argument that it might belong the Lambo section I wouldn't have moved it, please allow me to share my perspective as a mod. When somebody starts a thread in a regional forum I always assume they want to discuss the matter among their geographical peers. There are a lot of discussions in the various regional forums that could technically be moved but I really don't feel that it is my place to tell people they can't have a regional discussion of an issue. If a particular person or discussion topic were taking over a regional section I could see stepping in but thats really the only time I would consider moving a thread out of one of the regional forums. I don't mean to be an apologist for Vik but in my brief observation of the NYTS section it really doesn't seem like he has been filibustering with hate for Ferrari and the couple of threads he has started about Lamborghinis don't seem to be overwhelming the rest of the discussions.

If you have the time I would like the chance to discuss things with you privately, my phone number has been PMed.

 

At its core, all of this discussion stems from the EC situation -- some are upset with how that was handled and the over-aggressive moderating is mostly a defensive byproduct of trying to ensure that we don't go back to those days. I think whart's summary best charactorizes the EC situation where, intentional or not (and I don't think it was intentional), it was very much a situation where the "code speak" made more people feel unwelcome than it did in adding value to the site. I think the EC objections had little to do with individuals or personalities, but was simply a byproduct of the language. As far as I could tell, the EC guys were active and passionate enthusiasts and I personally wish they were still here from a site content standpoint. On the other hand, the "code speak" was a long-running joke that ran way, way, way, way too long such that, after the first few weeks, it was no longer funny. Maybe 1 or 2 out 100 coded messages were still funny (ok, hilarious), but 100 out of 100 of them were difficult or impossible to decipher and the language clearly made many others feel uncomfortable about responding. In my opinion, the language had to go for the betterment of the site, but it's too bad the members left as well. It's pretty clear that EC and non-EC are basically the same at the core, it's a mystery to me why something as trivial as language could create a long-term divide. The site would be off if everyone forgot the past and simply moved forward with the single rule that some approximation of English would be native language on Fchat. The latter has happened, the former has not.

 

haven't had an opportunity to read through all the posts and comments but as a personal perspective, Vik has always been a class-act member, level headed individual and a fair mod. i consider him a close friend. as always, this is a personal opinion from my own book.

 

I CONSIDER YOU A CLASS ACT 24/7 ALSO.....................

 

I think we've now lapsed into the silly stage of "my daddy can beat up your daddy." I find it a bit disingenius to have taken what was already a wildly embarassing thread and spread the cancer to another thread.

Further, at this stage, your friends rating is only a hair better than Vik's, so either you've disproved your own theory or all of Vik's friends have now cast a vote against your beloved sjmst.

If I were Vik, I would shut down this thread in a NY minute. Serves limited purpose other than to incite the masses (all three of them)

 

a fan .....that's embarrassing.......
the feeling is mutual, brother.
have a great super sunday, b

 

Actually very few people said they do not like Sam most voted either they don't have a clue or that they like Sam. Un-like in Vik's poll most people where the votes were focused around yes or no with very few people voting they don't have a clue.

 

Also interesting to note the difference in wording on the two polls (see below)...poll for Vik infers he should be "removed", while poll for SJMST simply ask "is he a good or bad moderator"...then for Vik, it's "have you noticed disturbing trends", vs for SJMST it's "is he doing his job in an unbiased fashion"?

My advice would be that as long as you're going to drop to this level of silliness, you should use similar wording for both, and as the results below indicate, even with you stacking the deck a bit, your boy is winning only by a wimpy .41%...not statistically all that meaningful, especially when your expected result was 90+%:

View Poll Results: Should Vik (aka Ghost) be removed as a Moderator?
Yes, I too have noticed disturbing trends 49.59%
No, I feel he is doing an appropriate job in an unbiased manner 41.32%
I am undecided or don't wish to answer for fear or other reasons 9.09%

View Poll Results: Is SJMST (sam) a good or bad nyts moderator?
YES, I feel he is doing an appropriate job in an unbiased manner 50.00%
NO, I feel he is biased and doing harm to the nyts section 10.00%
I have no clue. 40.00%

 

Agree with that, but still does not support the guys view that 90%+ would be high on the guy. "Not having a clue" in my eyes is akin to abstaining. If folks are so wildly supportive, why indicate otherwise?

I love my wife...if she asked me "do you love me", she'd probably clock me in the head if I said "no clue"

 

Bill

This is the problem and this isn't the opinion of a gang banger it's the opinion of a respected member of the International Ferrari community and a Sponsor of Ferrari Racing Teams.

"I have not posted on the tri state section because nothing is intersting to me anymore. it feels more like lambo chat than ferrari chat."

Zach, Josh, Dan, I, and others agree that this is the issue.

Best

 

why would you want to shut it down? because there are people that disagree with your point of view. just becasue some members are not happy and are criticizing a moderator we have to shut it down? have you every thought that maybe something good mightcome out of this thread and is going to make this site better? running away or hidding your head in the sand is not going to solve any problems.

 

But Jim, with all due respect, the issues associated with this section, and its history, go far beyond a single moderator and his actions. In fact, if there are people here who would be posting, but for the attitude of a moderator, I find it somewhat disingenuous that the whole thing surfaces, only now, in the context of a broadside that seems to come largely from the crew that left in protest, after Vik took action.

I also find it hard to believe that, if the people who would be posting here, 'but for' a pro-Lambo bias by a moderator really meant to address that issue, it could be done through the sorts of dialog you are very capable of~ and seem to enjoy~ having in other sections of this board, and on other boards. Indeed, you go head to head with Allen on his board without qualm, and Allen is far more anti-Ferrari than Vik seems to be.

My point is simply this: If there are folks here who want to contribute, please do. The actions of a moderator, if out of place, will-like many things in life- get taken care of. I'm sorry, but I just see this whole broadside against Vik as a smokescreen for something else, as I've said elsewhere in these threads. That is not meant to diminish your specific complaint about Vik, it's just that I have every confidence that the problem you complain about can be addressed here without putting it on the shoulders of one person.

You know I'll support any effort to broaden the base here, and to learn from others. I am open to that possibility. Are the folks that are calling for Vik's head willing to be equally open?

 

I have no problem going head to head with anyone BUT I think it should be in the proper forum. There are many sections of FCHAT where Ferrari Bashing is appropriate. The NY section should be about NY events etc. and not a place where a mod's personal bias is used to bash Ferrari's and when it's pointed out to him that these threads should be moved to the Lambo section responding as he did. IMO a mod should go out of his way to keep the section he's modding on track not to use it as a pulpit. I truly believe that Dan. Zach, Josh, Eli, and others have no hidden agenda and I know I don't. I, like Eli. think turning the NY section into Lambo chat is wrong especially as there's an approiate section for that kind of discussion.

 

Geez! Thank you all for the tremendous number of PM's, phone calls et al that you've provided. I appreciate the validations of fair moderations immensely. Unfortunately, my real job and other events have kept me incredibly busy and therefore unable to spend much time on FChat responding to these comments.

However, please don't take lack of response as acceptance of any of these allegations. Had I the time, I would respond to each one of them, as there are surprisingly easy to provide counter-perspectives.

I will briefly respond to Napolis' comments, since he keeps bringing up the same points. As it relates to the movement of the thread to the Lambo section, as I had noted to him in the original thread, I felt it was appropriate to keep it here given that the thread started on a NEW YORK based car and evolved into a dialogue between two NEW YORK based individuals. Additionally, MarkPDX, another moderator, who has been viewing all of this objectively has also noted that he too, would not have necessarily moved the thread either. This is his quote, earlier in this thread:

Because Napolis may not agree with Mark's or my decision does not reflect on either of our moderating abilities, IMHO.

Second, the point of Ferrari bashing is also off-mark. If anything, zjpj and I had an interesting exchange whereby we each offered for and against opinions, ending with a recognition that the argument on both sides had merit. I actually wish that other X vs. Y marque discussions were this "contentious." It would make it a pleasure to read. You can judge for yourself:

http://70.85.40.84/~ferrari/forum/showthread.php?t=87343

Additionally, I don't think Ferrari haters, typically START threads like how beautiful 355's are:

http://70.85.40.84/~ferrari/forum/showthread.php?t=92165

Or help their friends find their Ferrari's:

http://70.85.40.84/~ferrari/forum/showthread.php?t=86682

Or compliment Ferrari owners on their cars:

http://70.85.40.84/~ferrari/forum/showthread.php?t=90863

Third, as it relates to Lambo content, as many of you know, I have recently bought a Gallardo. I think it is only natural to feel excited about it. I view this board - and this region specifically - as a close community, and am partial to therefore sharing my excitement. This would continue to happen regardless of whether I am a moderator or not, so linking the two does not make sense to me.

Finally, it is not the job of the moderator to create content. I post what I post on Lambos as another user. If you feel there is Ferrari content lacking (which I don't BTW), and are genuinely interested in enhancing this community, then why not start a thread on something Ferrari-related yourself. Wouldn't that make sense, as opposed to criticising that you think there is nothing of interest for you to contribute to, and that is somehow the moderator's fault?

Best.

 

I haven't spent a lot of tme in the NYTS forum lately. Doesn't look like I've missed anything good...

 

Looks like most that would cast vote has done so.

As of now, ghost's approval rate is less than 1/2, at:

40.6%

 

Jim,

If you feel that there is a lack of interesting topics, why not post your own? Seems like a logical move to me.

 

Some do not post because they feel the forum is becoming an uninviting place where a moderator is biased in his moderating.
So the logical move will be to remove that moderator.

Those people are not newbies or trouble makers.
Jim, zach, Dan, Eli, Rehan, EdP, Josh and etc, they are longterm members, they have participated, they have contirbuted, they have earned credibility and respect here.
If they all feel that this forum is heading to the wrong direction due to one person's bias, then the situation should be carefully examed and evaluated, something should be done about it.

I know that there are also longterm, credible and respected members that vouch for ghost. However a good moderator should have a overwhelming support from the majority, not just half of people.
Look at the poll, numbers do not lie.
sjmst has a 3% disapproval rate, ghost has a 40% approval rate.
Enough said?

 

I think NYTS is on life support.

 

HEY WOODBALLS

IT WAS NICE AND QUIET BEFORE YOU CAME BACK...

GO BACK TO YOUR MIRROR, AND ASK YOURSELF " DO MORONS EVER CHANGE??"

 

C'mon guys... no personal attacks, now...