Mod Qualifications

[adb22791]

Ok, so I was on IRC the other day and I joined a few channels just to check out the channels and users, etc. I noticed one channel was recruiting moderators for their forum... based on post counts!!
I asked "Why are you guys recruiting based on post counts?" and was promptly kicked and banned. No big loss though :).
So... do any of you guys recruit mods based on post counts? I personally find that ridiculus.

[SoftWareRevue]

Although post count can be an indicator of someone's willingness to help and understanding of your community's guidelines, I don't give it much weight in evaluating someone as a possible moderator.

I tend to look at, willingness to help and understanding of the community's guidelines (Did I just say post count?), length of membership, how they interact with other members, and their ability to follow directions.

Maybe you just missed the other requirements and insulted them by asking why they're recruiting based on post count alone.

[Scott]

I've seen things like this a few times; "Sign up and make 300 posts and you'll become a mod". I think these are just attempts to make people post - maybe they work, I don't know.

When looking for mods, I would expect them to be pretty active, so naturally their post count would be higher than average but post count alone is a pretty inacurate assessment of what that user is like IMO.

[adb22791]

Maybe you just missed the other requirements and insulted them by asking why they're recruiting based on post count alone.

It clearly said in their topic..

[#<edited>] Welcome to the home of <edited> - Please Register to the forums and enjoy your stay! Currently looking Moderators and will judge staff on post counts (This means valuable posting and not 1 line posts)

[Jan]

That's pretty scary when I think of a few high post count members on some forums :nervous: Maybe their way of figuring that is that, if they manage to get a high post count without getting banned, they must be okay?

[spechackers]

i donot personally agree with it, coz post count must not be taken into consideration.

[adb22791]

Here are my mod qualifications:
A mod must...
-Have a good relationship with the users
-Behave well and follow the rules
-Be mature, and act accordingly
-Be active

I guess post counts can fall into activeness, but I will choose the user with a 14 post count who follows those guidelines over the user with a 1400 post count that does not follow them.

[Scott]

I guess post counts can fall into activeness, but I will choose the user with a 14 post count who follows those guidelines over the user with a 1400 post count that does not follow them.

If there was someone on my forum who didn't follow the rules, they wouldn't have a post count of 1400 but I know what you're trying to say.

[Doug]

I think a post count is important because *generally* it represents activity level and length of membership, but I completely disagree with making it the sole basis for picking who should and should not be a moderator.

There are plenty of members at plenty of forums who have 250 posts which are generally longer and more detailed, and there are plenty of members who have 500 one liner posts, and spam a lot. Which one would you rather have be a moderator?

At the better moderated forums, like WHT, SitePoint, here, etc., if you spam a lot, you won't get the chance to have too many posts, but on other sites, spamming is as good as gold.

- Doug

[linux-tech]

Post count is very relevant in the qualification factor, as is experience with the field for the forum, at least in my opinion.

A user's post count will generally indicate how active they are, how knowledgable they are, and what their expertise in the area is. In addition, it will also help to determine whether or not the users will "play well" with others.

Back in the day (well before I started the business), I started an online game. Within 2 days of having the ads up, I was swamped with "Do you want staff" requests. My response was the same then as it is today : "You need to become an established member of the game/community, then come talk to me". Post count is a good way to do this.

[adb22791]

If there was someone on my forum who didn't follow the rules, they wouldn't have a post count of 1400 but I know what you're trying to say.
Not the rules, but the guidelines I use for choosing a mod.

[spechackers]

Here are my mod qualifications:
A mod must...
-Have a good relationship with the users
-Behave well and follow the rules
-Be mature, and act accordingly
-Be active

I guess post counts can fall into activeness, but I will choose the user with a 14 post count who follows those guidelines over the user with a 1400 post count that does not follow them.

I agree with it 100 %

[Aussie Bob]

Having a reasonable post would definently be a considerationary factor, but not the only one, when choosing mods.

You wouldn't choose a mod with a post count of 5 posts, but that person might be better qualified to mod a forum. They need a reasonable post count, as this gives the current mods a chance to evaluate them, and see how they interact with other members.