Forum Moderators: rogerd
I'm wondering what the collective experience is around this issue. I'm in the process of turning some of my board members into moderators, and in the discussion around this issue, one of my members said:
"What I can also suggest (we have this on our reptile forums too) is that there is a moderators thread that is only viewable and accessible to designated mods, where important issues can be discussed in private - especially if it's regarding a sensative topic - it's a place for mods and admin to have "meetings" if you KWIM."
BUT at least one other member thinks this is creepy:
"I'd be especially annoyed at a mods only thread/forum. Its a bit like a "prefects room"".
However, I think I'm going to need such a thing to talk to the user moderators - are there any other ways to do this, that wouldn't be so in the face of the users? Email list maybe? Just wondering if there's some creative way of sorting this that I'm not seeing!
There is value in it because you can use it as a way to train your mods in how and what to edit. Sometimes there can be doubts and it gives the mods a place to seek consensus from the other mods.
The mod area is a good place to discuss the direction of the forum, and other business relative to the smooth running. There's nothing untoward to keeping these discussions private. My moderators have remarked that they enjoy the private forum because it stimulates camaraderie.
A private forum has nothing to do with elitism. It's just a practical matter.