The "other board" gets a new moderator

Because I think this is probably of interest to the community as a whole, I'll post it here... I've just received word that Patrick Curran is going to be moderating and helping out at GMS.

He's apparently left Epoch and is going into a different industry, but wanted a way to stay in touch with the community.

I haven't had the chance to see Patrick's skills in mediating disputes, but with a background in human resources and being probably one of the most stand-up, well liked and respected people in the gay side of the industry, I really can't imagine a better person to get things back under control at GMS. If it also means that JP is gone, then the combination of those two events should signal a significant, positive shift.

Kudos to Mark and to Patrick. I hope that both will also continue to be contributors here at GWW.

Who said Jp was gone? I love Patrick. I believe he is Intense Cash Jerry's neighbor. However, I didn't understand the "I am going to be a hands off moderator" post. Aren't mods suppose to be making posts, engaging the community, helping shape the course the board takes? Maybe I am missing something.

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Originally Posted by abostonboy

Who said Jp was gone? I love Patrick. I believe he is Intense Cash Jerry's neighbor. However, I didn't understand the "I am going to be a hands off moderator" post. Aren't mods suppose to be making posts, engaging the community, helping shape the course the board takes? Maybe I am missing something.

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Mark confirmed that Patrick would be the only moderator.

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Originally Posted by deanb

Mark confirmed that Patrick would be the only moderator.

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That is AMAZING news and I really hope that the statement is at face value and not a case of, for example, JP sticking around acting as a moderator but with a different title.

To answer Lloyd's comment... I think it really depends. GWW is a mostly "hands off" community as far as moderation goes. I think I've had to step in and post a comment to a thread, or send a couple of PMs maybe a small handful of times total since I've been a moderator here. I don't think any of the other moderators have been any more active. That's the point that a lot of people don't seem to get. Competent moderation is very low key and is proactive, so usually, very little effort is required, and if it's done correctly, the board participants should barely be aware that it's even happening.

Of course, the postings that moderators do are (in my opinion, at least) generally less a part of moderation per se and more just the individual (who happens to be a moderator) contributing to the community.

Perhaps with his comment, Patrick (and Mark) are seeking to reassure the remaining GMS posters that the board will not be censored as it was under JP's watch.

All in all, this sounds like a very, very positive move for that community. It's delightful to hear that Mark jumped in so quickly to resolve the issue.

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Originally Posted by gaybucks_chip

GWW is a mostly "hands off" community as far as moderation goes. I think I've had to step in and post a comment to a thread, or send a couple of PMs maybe a small handful of times total since I've been a moderator here. I don't think any of the other moderators have been any more active. That's the point that a lot of people don't seem to get. Competent moderation is very low key and is proactive, so usually, very little effort is required, and if it's done correctly, the board participants should barely be aware that it's even happening.

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Be careful. Looks like a few mods are no longer mods for being hands off.

has patrick been active on webmaster boards in the past?

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Originally Posted by basschick

has patrick been active on webmaster boards in the past?

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I don't think he has been very active in the past, while that could be a problem, from what I know, GMS is his only responsibility with IntenseCash. I think it would only be fair to give him a chance. I have said in the past I like JP, and I think he has great business ideas, but I don't think moderating a board is one of them. I doubt Patrick will ever call anyone a "blubbercunt" or an "ass hat"

i dont think it will change a thing..

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Originally Posted by mickey

i dont think it will change a thing..

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It's good PR.

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Originally Posted by abostonboy

It's good PR.

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Thats true, even if nothing really does change, just the appearance of change can affect a bunch. Hell we have a whole presidential candidate based on that.n:cheerleader:

As I said, I love Patrick. And I still love Mark.

However, how "newsworthy" is a board getting a moderator? With all due respect to the parties involved, is it the fact that GMS FINALLY has a moderator or the name of the new moderator that is newsworthy.

I honestly don't care who moderates a board as long as SOMEONE does.

Kudos to GMS for finally realizing they need a moderator!

i'd say that after a board has had a moderator that caused a great deal of controversy that a new mod is news. and since the last mod wasn't all that popular as a mod, probably a good idea to get the word out...

I agree that ordinarily another board getting a new moderator is pretty meaningless.

The reason I thought it was newsworthy is because nearly everyone (except JP and Mark) agreed that JP is the world's worst moderator and was actively destroying the GMS community through his arrogance and complete lack of social skills.

The fact that Mark finally realized this and brought someone in who is the polar opposite of JP in terms of social skills and diplomacy will, I think, make an enormous difference in the experiences everyone has in that community. And to the extent that having two (or possibly more) healthy online webmaster communities is beneficial to the gay adult industry as a whole, it's worth at least mentioning.

i dunno. i like mark a lot, but i felt rather betrayed that he allowed jp to go on for as long as he did. i was shocked that so many people were allowed to be attacked and treated so badly and before jp was mod, i was shocked and dismayed that people were allowed to attack upstanding community members - or anyone else - without being stopped.

patrick is a nice person but i thought perhaps someone with experience would have been a good idea. on the other hand, i suppose someone with experience will have existing relationships with other webmasters, and might be accused of favoritism if they take any action.

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Originally Posted by gaybucks_chip

I agree that ordinarily another board getting a new moderator is pretty meaningless.

The reason I thought it was newsworthy is because nearly everyone (except JP and Mark) agreed that JP is the world's worst moderator and was actively destroying the GMS community through his arrogance and complete lack of social skills.

The fact that Mark finally realized this and brought someone in who is the polar opposite of JP in terms of social skills and diplomacy will, I think, make an enormous difference in the experiences everyone has in that community. And to the extent that having two (or possibly more) healthy online webmaster communities is beneficial to the gay adult industry as a whole, it's worth at least mentioning.

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Originally Posted by basschick

but i thought perhaps someone with experience would have been a good idea.

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It's called on the job training. Let's just hope that it ain't JP that's doing the training.

I did not know there was another one. I always like reading some of the posts and catching up on a few things here and there.

As far as moderating a board - I do wish them all well. I moderate a few boards and admin a few others. I moderate those because I am usually online and can catch a spam post pretty quick and mostly "honorary" admins of the others (but can still offer advice from time to time)

I will say it is pretty difficult with some users. They might have a vast amount of knowledge but then their demeanor is sometimes less than desireable.

I must say Mark has done this all in a very clever way, Patrick just happened to become available at the same time as board members were leaving in droves and JP needed booting out.

I also note that it was never announced that JP had been dumped. All that was said was that Patrick was the only moderator.

I'm sure things will get much better now, I think Saddam Hussein would have been a better moderator than JP !!!!

a board where part of the posters think that it's okay to insult, degrade and flame other posters - as well as to post their personal info - may not be the place for OJT ;)

still, patrick is a smart guy so hopefully things will improve there.

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Originally Posted by abostonboy

It's called on the job training. Let's just hope that it ain't JP that's doing the training.

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When Mark bought the board, JP was supposedly not going to be part of it anymore. Just like what was said now.

Then, when Mark was gone at a show JP supposedly stepped in to help out because Mark was away. Like the camel getting his nose under the tent, JP became more and more involved. I don't think that when Mark first bought the board JP was considered a "moderator" but he still seemed to have total control when he wanted to, even changing the board and changing displays. Some were so off-color I probably would have disabled his access and moved servers so it would never happen again. Despite numerous events that would caused most people to shut out JP, Mark did not reign him in.

It is a good thing that there is now a new moderator. However, unless JP no longer has any access or moderator privileges, the effort will be moot in my opinion.

I left GMS for what I felt was a good reason. At this time I do not plan to increase the number of boards I monitor or post on as the return on investment is not worth the additional time. That is the danger of pissing off customers -- if they go somewhere else, you may not get them back.

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Originally Posted by forbiddenRed

I also note that it was never announced that JP had been dumped. All that was said was that Patrick was the only moderator.

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:cheerleader:
:cheerleader:
:cheerleader:


First Prize.

JP has never been listed as "moderator" but instead as "community founder." So if it's only window dressing and JP will still have free reign to demonstrate his incompetence and run roughshod over everyone, then little will change.

I would like to have more faith in Mark than that, but we'll see.

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Originally Posted by gaybucks_chip

JP has never been listed as "moderator" but instead as "community founder." So if it's only window dressing and JP will still have free reign to demonstrate his incompetence and run roughshod over everyone, then little will change.

I would like to have more faith in Mark than that, but we'll see.

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Chip, you shouldnt have been banned. Your banning will be undone Im sure. JP is on his way out. Mark knows the score, he must do. Same for Adam.

Thanks for that, Simon. And I'm glad to see you posting here more regularly on GWW. :)

I still haven't heard a peep from Mark, in spite of David's promises.

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Originally Posted by gaybucks_chip

Thanks for that, Simon. And I'm glad to see you posting here more regularly on GWW. :)

I still haven't heard a peep from Mark, in spite of David's promises.

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If you want me to have a chat with Patrick about it I will. I dont "know" him but Im happy to have a chat about getting you and Adam Mason back.

I really appreciate the thought. I'm actually good friends with Patrick; we (Gaybucks) were one of the original sponsors for the first Gay Phoenix Forum and AJ and I spent a lot of time with him and Sherri and the rest of the CCBill team during the planning process, as well as at a ton of industry events. It's because of knowing Patrick that I felt like the choice to have him as a moderator for GMS is a smart choice in several ways.

Nonetheless, as I've said before, I'm not exactly choked up about being banned from GMS, nor do I feel like, personally or professionally, there's any particular detriment at my/our end from not being able to post there.

But I do think that the actions taken and the comments made afterwards, both by JP and by Mark, were unprofessional and inappropriate. David (D&E/BSB) apparently agreed and promised that Mark would be contacting me, but that hasn't happened. And right when it happened, I made several overtures to Mark which were rebuffed/ignored.

So, while I sincerely appreciate the offer, I feel like, since Mark is the owner of the board, it would be appropriate for him to contact me and resolve the issue.

It was certainly interesting that GMS really took off the day after it was sold. One could conclude that the problem was never the board itself.

I am now "unbanned" over at GMS - my week of punishment is now over. But like Chip, I feel a little sore about how I was treated and despite apologising / explaining to Mark etc etc, he hasn't said - "fair point Adam, we over-reacted so please feel welcome and we're sorry too..."

Is there a "blubbercunt" smilie for Vbulletin?

i hope not - ewwwww!

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Originally Posted by abostonboy

Is there a "blubbercunt" smilie for Vbulletin?

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