benhall.1 wrote:
Nanohedron wrote:
I don't normally read WTB topics myself...
Except you do, don't you? Personally, in my capacity as Mod, I read every single post there is.
Perhaps you should have asked me this privately.
But no, actually, I don't. A difference in moderating style, I would say. Interesting that this never came up until now! Just goes to show how compatible our particular ways must be. Yours is more immediate and the diligent expression of your caring attitude toward both the membership, and your responsibilities to them. Instead, I use first impressions to gauge the likelihood of there being any problems, but otherwise I leave Chiffers to play in peace and contact me for moderatorial intervention as needed. It's not that I don't care, but as a mod I started out rather rockily, and in wrestling, over time, with how I should express my own capacity as a mod, I remembered history, and (Warning: it's going to get thick and abstruse, here) was particularly impressed by the Tokugawa policy of
laissez-faire involvement, which is to say as little as necessary, in the affairs of the people. The policy was based on the proposition that too much scrutiny will hinder thriving - IIRC, the analogy used was that of fish doing better when the water was allowed to be naturally weedy rather than keeping the water clear, so they could shelter in peace as they need - and I thought the policy was philosophically a good one. So that's my model. I don't think it's necessarily better than any other, but it works for me, and, I hope, for the Board as well. Additionally it gives me some space in turn, and that's a good thing.

Of course, the Tokugawa regimes actually did keep their thumb hard on the populace, but it was limited to such things as freedom of travel, clothing laws, taxation and records, etc. Fortunately I don't need to go as far.
