people need to read this

[Yvonne Belisle]

It has come to my attention that many members of the board do not understand that unless a moderator posts in the forum they moderate with "Moderato Mode" in bold writing that they are nothing more than a member just like the rest of us. Also moderators are not moderators outside thier forums so if any of us post in a forum like I am doing here it is just us. There is no reason to assume that they speak for staff they do not. THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. Being as they speak for themselves they are voicing their personal opinion not anyone elses. Hopefully this will clear up some peoples confusion.

[Man/Wolf]

We understand that. It would have been nice if you had included this disclaimer yesterday when you slammed the members of Just Silly. It would also have been nice if you had defended your postition and opinion instead of deleting the thread and all of our comments to you.
You made us feel bad when all we are trying to do is have fun.
I know this is a community. I also live in a community. I don't shop in every store, I don't socialize with every person. I shop where I feel comfortable and I socialize with people who share common interests. That is no one's business but mine. In turn, I don't have to respond to every post on every forum here on MW.
Although you didn't say it in so many words, you intimated that you could get the Just Silly forum removed since you were instrumental in getting it created. That didn't sound like an opinion.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

[Margie]

Thank you for that clarification Yvonne. I think everyone should realize that. Back on topic-thank you very much.

[Phoenix Blue]

I'm pretty sure I missed something here. . . but I think the silliness was getting a bit out of hand, as it was disturbing conversations in other forums.

There's a place for everything. Goddess knows I don't take myself seriously most of the time. . . but I don't often venture over to Just Silly because, frequently, it's too silly for my taste. This isn't a problem, until I'm subjected to it on the forums I do frequent.

Ehh, that's just my 2¢. Like I said, I missed something. . . I don't know what may have transpired among you guys recently, and I'm not really looking to get involved regardless.

[Margie]

Yvonne didn't mention Just Silly at all. Her post was an FYI and whatever anyone else took from it is their own. Back on topic-thank you very much.

[shnen]

I would like to agree with and thank Yvonne for bringing this to light.
There are Mods going WAY beyond their calls of duty.. but, can they go to other threads and bring themselves off their pedistals???

~~Very well said Wolf...

[Yvonne Belisle]

As a member of this forum I can post my opinion and ask questions in any forum that is relevent to the question just like you.

[materra]

Are these rules posted anywhere? I would like to know, as I feel bad not knowing what I had done wrong having a post removed. It seems as if there are "laws" of the community I need to know. This seemed the time and place to ask. Thank you.

[Margie]

Originally posted by shnen
I would like to agree with and thank Yvonne for bringing this to light.
There are Mods going WAY beyond their calls of duty.. but, can they go to other threads and bring themselves off their pedistals???

~~Very well said Wolf...

Thank you for your *opinion*.

[Margie]

Originally posted by materra
Are these rules posted anywhere? I would like to know, as I feel bad not knowing what I had done wrong having a post removed. It seems as if there are "laws" of the community I need to know. This seemed the time and place to ask. Thank you.

The only rule is to respect others and their paths.

[faeriedust]

um did i miss something important???????? :confused: are there rules i don't know about? i want to make sure i don't upset anyone with any posts i might make ?????????

[shnen]

Originally posted by Margie


Thank you for your *opinion*.

You are very *welcome*...

this matter should probably be handled privately since now there are people who *obviously* don't know what has gone on...

[Yvonne Belisle]

Some people were under the mistaken impression that mods had more power than we do and that if we post it is how the whole of Mystic Wicks feels I felt it important that the members know that this isn't the case as there have been problems in the past with people being unable to tell if a moderator was being a moderator or simply being a member of this community.

If you had a post that was moved then the staff of that forum felt you would get more or better answers to your question in a different section of this community.

[shnen]

Originally posted by faeriedust
um did i miss something important???????? :confused: are there rules i don't know about? i want to make sure i don't upset anyone with any posts i might make ?????????

I think the key here is RESPECT... and there seems to be a major lack of it going around... from all parties (myself included), which is why I now bow out gracefully...

[Danustouch]

Posting as a member, here, because it is not my forum....but...I think that if you had something to say in response to Yvonne's post, it should have been in regards to THIS post. Talking about posts she's made in other threads, in other forums, only serves to continue the tension that has occurred. Furthermore, if you have a problem with the way moderators are handling certain situation, the responsibility is yours to bring that to the attention of OTHER moderators, or the Administrators, so that we can discuss it in Staff Forum, and try to come to some resolution. Furthermore, I'm hearing you say that you think we are going above and beyond our duties, and yet you are not stating specific cases where this has occurred. Please bring them to the table, PM me, one of the other mods, or admins, AS the situations occur, so that we can handle them.

I think that alot of this may be misunderstandings of our "duties", or perhaps a misunderstanding of when we are in official Mod Mode, and when we are speaking just as a member. I also feel that in order for this situation to be handled, you have to bring it to the attention of the person whose action you disagreed with AT the time, IN pm, AND to another moderator or admin.

Just my opinion, as a member.

[WandererInGray]

Originally posted by shnen
this matter should probably be handled privately since now there are people who *obviously* don't know what has gone on...

Here here. *soft smile*

Moderators? Can we get these threads turned off and respectfully ask that the people involved in this take it to PMs?

I have no idea what happened, and I don't care. All I know is respect runs both ways. Some people find serious dicussions in silly things and others find them in serious dicussion. To slam either one for the way they chose to express themselves I feel is a violation of the rule of this forum.

There's a reason, from what I've seen, why we have a Just Talk and a Just Silly. And no reason the two cannot co-exist.

*shrugs* But that's just my two cents and hopefully to be shut down with the rest of it. *smiles*

[Xander67]

OK, I need to say something!

I love this place I really do, What ever happened to Mols rule?

where in there does it say we should go around makeing sure that every thread is on topic at all times...

yes from what I have seen the threads do go off topic slightly, but then usually sometimes they go back on topic..

to see a community which I hold dear in my heart become soooo preocupied with whether a thread is on topic or not, to me that is sad.

therre are people in this community who need our love and support. People actually learn alot from the wonderful posts by some of the many talented people here...

ok, a few words about just silly,
there are alot of really wonderful people in there.
Did you know that in the Silly forum there is no fighting at all.
did you know that in the silly forum, we respect each others paths
did you know that in the silly forum, we have a support network in place . did you know that Just silly is NOT JUST SILLY :)

yes we venture out into the other forums at times and we can be serious... but what is wrong with a bit of humor now and then
of course we wouldnt put Bouncey Boingy men in a thread asking for help or support for someone who is sad or has a serious problem...but they know that in the Just silly hug thread they will always get a hug!

I dont like to see the my home divided like this.
mabey the some of us need to be a bit more careful not to get out of hand with our silliness, I have a habbit of it, and I appologise if my silliness gets the best of me sometimes, butit is who I am ...

I love you all......and I think we need to settle this... :)

thank you

[Danustouch]

Hmmm..okay..just a quick observation..Materra..if a post of yours was moved, it was probably not because you broke any "Rule". Most of the time that threads are moved, they are moved because they would be more appropriate in another forum. Sometimes, for instance, if a thread becomes Silly (i.e, a ton of smilies or inside jokes, or banter which aren't applicable to the topic you've posted), they will be moved to Just Silly, which was created partly FOR that purpose, so that threads do not lose their original intent. Sometimes, if you post a thread asking a question dealing with magick, it will be moved to the Magick and Rituals forum. Basically, we just try to keep threads flowing in some sort of order, remaining on topic, and specific topics, in the correct forum. Hope that clears up some of the confusion.

And Shnen, I don't know what you mean about coming down off our Pedastals. I know I post in MOST forums here at MW, at least once in a while...I don't happen to post AS MUCH in Just Silly, because it's so time consuming...allow me to give you an example. Suppose I wanted to reply to "In a Valley, near a stream, there's a place called perfect", To understand what EXACTLY I was replying to, I'd have to go through seven pages of posts, and read every one, to get the "flow" of the thread. That takes alot of time. If I run across a great joke,I'll post it in Just Silly. But my interests are not in general conversation, or "chatting", as much as they are in posting topic oriented threads, discussing history, politics, health, or herbalism. The fact that I don't post in Just Silly too often, doesn't mean that I think it's below me, simply that it doesn't capture my interest as much. Thats why we HAVE so many diversified forums, after all. So we can each post in the threads which interest us the most.

[shnen]

Danus... it wasn't meant towards all the mods... ok?
and anyone is always welcome in the sillies... as long as there is a respect for us as well. :)

We are always being hounded for not going into other forums... I hope now the hounding will stop. I post where I am comfortable and where I will be understood.

Xander... well said :D

[WandererInGray]

Originally posted by Danustouch
But my interests are not in general conversation, or "chatting", as much as they are in posting topic oriented threads, discussing history, politics, health, or herbalism. The fact that I don't post in Just Silly too often, doesn't mean that I think it's below me, simply that it doesn't capture my interest as much. Thats why we HAVE so many diversified forums, after all. So we can each post in the threads which interest us the most.

*smiles* I think you hit the nail right on the head there, Danustouch. Some people like forums just for the chatting...and maybe they go to other forums and read, but don't post much for whatever reason. Others come here for the indepth discussion, but don't much feel like chatting.

One of the reason I love this place is because of the diversity of the forums...and the FACT that there are forums so you don't have to search through the chatty threads to find the serious discussion....or vice versa.

[Yvonne Belisle]

Wandereringray It is very important that people understand mods are just basically members. A situation occured because some people wern't aware of that fact. How many new members know this. If the thread had stayed on topic I think it probably should have been stuck so new members would know that if any mod posts a thread or reply it is just them as a member not the voice of mystic wicks. I took my reply to a new thread rather than put it in here and I did attempt to keep this off the main boards via pm and emails sadly some people were unable to do that and rather than leave the people that wanted to know what happened in the dark I took it to another thread and replied. Considering what I wanted to say was far less polite than what I typed I am pretty pleased with it.

[Phoenix Blue]

Quoth shnen:
We are always being hounded for not going into other forums...
**Blinks** You are?

[Margie]

Originally posted by shnen
We are always being hounded for not going into other forums... I hope now the hounding will stop. I post where I am comfortable and where I will be understood.

My apologies if you feel hounded for not going into other forums. I think it's believed that there is an "us" and "them" line and if you have been asked or "hounded" as you say to go into other forums it is only to blur that line.

[materra]

Thank you for the kind clarifications. I now have a better grasp on things and appreciate the time you took to address my concern. I obviously don't quite get it, but appreciate the time all took to answer it and other questions.

[Danustouch]

And none of us said, that people SHOULDNT just post in Just Silly. I don't know where they have gotten that idea from. I've never seen a mod say in words..."People shouldnt' post in just silly, or they should make an effort to post in all forums".

[Xander67]

I think we all need to take a deep breath,

read my post again :D

and know I love you all.

[Danustouch]

And incidentally, I don't know WHO hounded you to take part in more forums, or why??? It seems to me, that I don't know all the details of what you are talking about..so I can't really address the issue. If you'd like to PM me, or any of the other mods, or admins, stating EXACTLY what has happened, or made you feel Hounded, i'm sure that some resolution could be found. I keep getting the feeling that there is a lot more here then meets the eye, possibly conversations that have taken place Privately, are effecting the goings on of the board. I think the only way for this to be solved, is for ALL of the details, to be laid open, upon the table.

[shnen]

Originally posted by Margie


My apologies if you feel hounded for not going into other forums. I think it's believed that there is an "us" and "them" line and if you have been asked or "hounded" as you say to go into other forums it is only to blur that line.

I am comfortable where I am comfortable. There is no us and them line, and if there is, I don't think it's just the "silliers" to take fault with... no one should take fault... but respect is a two way street... :)

[faeriedust]

ok i am only getting bits of pieces of this but i agree with xanders post. this place is too great for all this upset...........

[Danustouch]

Do you have AIM or Yahoo Instant Messenger Shnen?

Perhaps it would be good to hash all this out privately, and for everyone to lay all their cards out on the table...we really do want to resolve all of this.

[Xander67]

Thank you faeriedust :)

[WandererInGray]

Originally posted by Yvonne Thomas
It is very important that people understand mods are just basically members. A situation occured because some people wern't aware of that fact. How many new members know this. If the thread had stayed on topic I think it probably should have been stuck so new members would know that if any mod posts a thread or reply it is just them as a member not the voice of mystic wicks.

*smiles* Having come from another place where they attempted to introduce moderator-members (and failed quite spectacularly in my opinion)...I have to say that I have been extremely impressed and very very grateful for the jobs that you all as moderators and members of this forum do.

It is a difficult line to walk, and unfortunately there will probably always be cases where mistunderstandings happen in terms of just "who" is replying the moderator or the member.

But I do applaude you all for your efforts and just think that it's important on both sides to recognize that certain members MUST act in a moderator capacity and not to take them to task simply for doing their job. As well as moderators being aware that there will be instances where members either don't know or forget that there are moderators who must do their jobs and take things personally instead of just agreeing (or even disagreeing) and following the rule.

[faeriedust]

your welcome xander!!!!!!!!!!! anytime

[Yvonne Belisle]

Wanderer that is exactly why I started this thread. There was an assumption made by several members that I was speaking as a mod in a forum I don't moderate and that I was speaking for Mystic Wicks in general. I did not wish that mistaken impression to remain. I posted here because we have many new members who I also felt would probably like to know that when we post we aren't the voice of the site gods. We do occasionally need to be formal mods but most of the time we are just members of the community and people needed to know how to tell the difference to hopefully prevent further problems.

[Semele]

Admin/Site Owner Mode

This has been a long, drawn out situation and it is time to put it to a stop. Here are the basic points I see that need to be made.

1. There is one rule of the community...follow it and this wont happen again. It is a simple, yet all inclusive rule.

2.We are all members of the same community, this includes members, mods, admins, and owners. If a Mod or Admin goes into specific MOD mode, which will be highlighted as above, then they are respectfully asking that you listen to them and abide by whatever the content may be. If a member has a problem with a moderation they need to pm that mod. If that leaves them unsatisfied they may then pm an Admin or Owner. NO MORE ARGUING IN THREADS............BY ANYONE.

3. I never want to hear or read a phrase that says "the silliers", "the silly family"...etc. We are all a part of the same community. I don't want those of you who post more frequently in one forum to feel like you are excluded from anywhere else on the board. You can only be made to feel inferior if you allow it to happen.

4. There is no longer a specific rule about staying on topic, however it is common courtesy not to totally change a thread's topic or intent. If I start a thread asking for any advice, information, or support for Pituitary Adenoma's I would not like to see it changed to a joke fest or to a thread about breast Cancer. Going slightly off topic is fine, but don't change the entire thread...start a new one. Threads may be moved to a more appropriate forum occasionally. This is not done to slap anyones hand. It is done because another forum may have more traffic that is geared toward the topic of the thread. Say someone posts in Just Talk and asks if anyone knows anything about Tarot, well indeed there is a better place for that thread.

That's about it. Everyone please let bygones be bygones and get back to enjoying the community in the special way you all do. This is a message to the entire community, including all mods. There have been some hurt feelings and inappropriate behavior by many folks. I hope it ends.

End Admin/Owner Mode