May I say something?
Yes, I know I can.
I apologize to the forum and Steven. He knows why. I haven't had the time to moderate appropriately since last year: personal things. I had to eat some humble soup...
Anyway, when I finally realized I wasn't doing my job, mx_tifosi stepped in (thanks, man, you're brave).
He started to work for YOU as I had it then: in certain disarray.
Severals posts have said why and pointed to some guilty parties. I don't agree completely with them: I think it's my fault... I'm the one that passed a torch that burnt.
Some of you know we used to have the more peaceful forum on Earth (or so it seems now).
To tell you the truth, you need to devote two to four hours daily to this site, if you want to go to bed happy with the forum.
Now we are trying to change things. Not much, just a little: I'm posting again and although i haven't closed that many threads nor deleted so many comments, I'm learning to do that. Others are learning toleration and good humour.
Let's hope we can do it: the four of us are doing this as a team, so veiled references to the style of one of us will not go far, from our perspective: we like each other and we talk a lot about what to do. Those references can be to how good someone is (we are not) or how bad someone is (we are not, either).
If I've learned something in those five years I've spent here is that the best way to moderate doesn't depend on style. I think it depends on
leading the forum, by example.
Those that complain about free speech and find it too stressful for their taste should stop for a moment and ponder how
we are able to take it: I've been insulted, despised, ridiculed, but also loved by some. If you ask me, I simply try to see the person behind the comment. I have pity for some, which makes easy to moderate, I have admiration for some, but over all, I have true interest in all of you.
It's much harder to show restrain and to talk to people sincerely about what they are passing through than to ban them, believe me. You wouldn't believe the number and length of PMs I've sent...
I know some of you are unhappy and it shows, very clearly, in your posts. I try to be a friend then: do you really believe people is fighting about Hamilton or Alonso?
No, guys: I think they are fighting because they don't have a good job, because they are lonely, because they don't have enough money, because their loves are few and away. Either you get
that or you don't get the Internet, I think. All we can do is to change "feelings" into "learning": mods and members, we are all together in this process.
The magic of
our team (mods AND members) is this, if there is one: we do not think ourselves above any other. We love you (yeah, that's a very latin thing to say, ain't it?).
That's
precisely why some times we have to ban people and lock threads: we don't want you to go away from the forum in a saddest state than when you came in. Every time we lock or ban we know we have failed, but... guess what: we're almost human. We have jobs, sons, girlfriends, classes.
Do you know something? It's soooo easy to convert grumpiness and ignorance into cooperation and intelligence... from my point of view, all you need is love (and time!!!).
Certainly, we are no dictators, nor you are subjects: forget about that. This is not what the GREAT F1Technical forum is about.
So, do not pose as "drama queens" nor try to give us a "pathetic" view of you, poor souls, under the harsh and unjust fist of tyranny. We're too old (and too "enginerish") for that. We've moderated for YEARS people in that position. I'm pretty sure that appeals to "my right to bash" make us think: "this guy had a bad week and he thinks we are soft or stupid". Well, we are not.
Do not underestimate us,
do not compare me with a tyrant: it's better a tyrant, if you ask me... He won't make you feel guilty
nor give you the love he has in his heart, to try to make you feel well, as I try to do.
So, in the end, give us another 10 or 20 years and we'll get the knack of it (more or less like Lotus or Force India).
Do we need stricter or softer moderation? I say firmly: neither.
We are great moderators
and you are great members. This is the best site you can find, let's move on, there is so much to talk about and so much to learn... no other forum offers
that, they are boring after a while, we are not. Even Google recognizes it.
