Acceptance of an unknown administrator.

[SoftWareRevue]

Let's say you admined a community that you didn't own.

So, this isn't directed at community owners. It's directed more towards all them volunteers that take care.

What would be your feelings if the owner of the community, who did no administrative duties, installed an admin that wasn't active or known within the community?

But, this admin isn't installed to simply admin. He's installed to help out the current adminstration team with any issues they have.

Issues they have with either their community, or that owner that don't admin.

Would you accept someone being installed in this regard?

[Wheels]

When I started(or returned) on my cousin's forum, I was virtually unknown to the members there. I did help Kim set-up the forum a few years ago, but never posted anything and then I went offline until I got a computer last year.

I started helping out when Kim fell ill for awhile and didn't have time for the forum I was asked to help. Althouh some members were shocked an "unknown" was now an admin, most got used to it after awhile while a couple are waiting for Kim to take control again.

[Scott]

That depends. I do admin a forum I don't own and I trust the owner a lot therefore I would be happy to lit it last for a while until I had any concerns. At the end of the day, the owner is the owner, he/she can pretty much do what they want.

If, however, there proved to be problems - the new admin taking over with issues that were already being handled for example, I would bring this to the attention of the owner.

[writespeak]

Would you accept someone being installed in this regard?

For me, it would depend in part on the reasons for bringing in that admin and in a very big part on how that admin interacted with the rest of the team, listened to them, respected them, and so on. The respect has to go both ways.

Lois

[Jan]

But, this admin isn't installed to simply admin. He's installed to help out the current adminstration team with any issues they have.

Issues they have with either their community, or that owner that don't admin.
I actually know of someone who has been "employed" to do this. I don't think he was too active on the forum, as his job was to observe the community and the moderators. It'll take a bit of searching to find the article mentioning this, but from memory it was to do with moderator *culling*.

[CD Burnt]

gotta cull the m0d herd now and then!

[Doug]

Not sure what forum it is related to, but if it's WHT (it's big enough where it's a good example), I can see your point. What I would do is see how the relationship goes. Try talking to the person, getting to know him (using he), etc., and if things work out, great.

However, if he starts doing some radical changes that you, as a volunteer (and active) leader in the community think are wrong, it's probably best to say something along the lines of "Hey, I've been doing this for a while now, and look at the forum - it's doing well. What are your reasons for doing this? I have the following reasons as to why it may not work."

I did something similar at a forum I owned, but I still maintained control, and was an active member in the community. I, however, hired someone to manage certain aspects that I didn't have time to do. Him and the staff got along okay since he was pretty slow with changes, and asked their opinions (which is the proper way to handle such a situation) on his proposed changes, but I can see how if I told him "Go for it, you're the boss" that people would obviously be angry.

Accepting a position as an administrator in a community that you're not active in can cause problems. A lot of people are resentful of new faces in "their" community, and when you go ahead and stir the pot (even if it's for what you believe is better), it doesn't help much.

Volunteer moderators/administrators at a forum like WHT do A LOT. They should still be running the show, not someone with no experience at the community. All communities react differently to different changes, so most often, experience is needed to change things. There's always the option of the "things aren't working, I think I may have to stop doing this if things don't change" chat with the owner. That almost always gets things done, as long as you don't abuse it.

In short:

1. Make an effort. Try and get to know the person and see what he wants to do.
2. Wait and see how things go.
3. If they go well, carry on.
4. If they don't go well, say something. Talk to the owner, if necessary. Just because you aren't paid doesn't mean you shouldn't have a say. Heck, you should have more of a say since you have no material reason to stay.

Good luck! Phew. Long post. :P