Moderating a good forum

Nareau · Post by **Nareau** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 10:31 am

As you might know, I'm trying to breathe life into the Asheville goth scene. I've got a website set up (http://www.the5thcircle.com), and I'm wanting to start a forum on the site. But I don't know much about moderating forums. Do you have any advice?

Nareau

Sir Diddimus · Post by **Sir Diddimus** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 12:01 pm

This could very well be a can of worms you are opening.....

I'd talk to Vader if I were you. I know I'd like to see an Asheville forum. It would be just another I would have to check daily, but I would enjoy it.

junkie christ · Post by **junkie christ** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 1:19 pm

same here, id love to see one. same drive to knox as it is to ashville for me...
talk to vader.
alot of people like ezboards........ might be a good place to start...

Post by **DarkVader** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 12:10 am

#1 - ezboards sucks. it just does. it's too slow, and too annoying. if at all possible host it yourself. barring that, get a hosting provider that will give you php and either mysql or postgresql database access.

#2 - decide why you want a forum, and come up with a reasonable set of rules. feel free to borrow from ours.

#3 - be aware that it's going to be a pain in the ass, and people will decide they don't like you because of some of your moderation decisions.

#4 - be very careful in your choices of moderators. pick people who are capable of being as fair and polite as possible.

#5 - be prepared to ban trolls. they'll keep coming back - just ban them again. they get bored with it and go away for a while - but they'll be back. they get more bored if you make their words disappear.

#6 - do not use YapBB software. it's terrible. it feels ok at first, but as soon as you start getting any real traffic, it slows to a crawl. I'm a reasonable fan of phpBB - it's what we use, it's what nashville uses, and it's what tristategothic uses.

beyond that, it's probably better to ask specific questions. and ask the nashville kids too - http://www.nashvillegothic.com/

Hardcoregirl · Post by **Hardcoregirl** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 6:35 am

DarkVader wrote:
#4 - be very careful in your choices of moderators. pick people who are capable of being as fair and polite as possible.

Whatever you do, don't give Buttercup any moderator powers, unless its a safe and happy land like Craftygoth..or the chat room..hehehe.

Sir Diddimus · Post by **Sir Diddimus** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 12:09 pm

Buttercup wrote:
DarkVader wrote:
#4 - be very careful in your choices of moderators. pick people who are capable of being as fair and polite as possible.

Whatever you do, don't give Buttercup any moderator powers, unless its a safe and happy land like Craftygoth..or the chat room..hehehe.

Yeah, that girl's an evil one for sure........ :lol:

junkie christ · Post by **junkie christ** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 8:57 am

DarkVader wrote:#. I'm a reasonable fan of phpBB - it's what we use, it's what nashville uses, and it's what tristategothic uses

speaking of that, remind me ive got a few questions i wanted to ask you about phpBB next time i see you.....

and yea EZ does suck, but if your not used to things(i.e. newbie), its a good place to figure stuff out a little better. trying apply it, baddddddd.