Posted by Rick [Rick] on April 02, 1999 at 21:38:03 {ppHCdFLRUMctB9oBIfGcFMFBt36Xyc}:
Dear Participants and Visitors to H2O:
I appreciate the current Moderators have busy lives, and don't blame them for the less than good discussion environment H2O has become.
This weekend I'll go over emails put aside until now, from those volunteering.
If you're someone who really cares about seeing this site benefit others and has faith we can overcome seemingly impossible odds to make it work, then why not volunteer?
We need volunteers who have had experience moderating religious forums and respect the views of all. You understand this forum is for discussions pertaining to Jehovah's Witnesses. You have moderated in situations where various forums were for various religious affiliations.
Although Jehovah's Witnesses with a balanced attitude who have read this forum for at least 1 year or longer are preferred as volunteers, we encourage anyone else with experience moderating other religious forums as described in last paragraph to apply.
I have had second thoughts about accepting as volunteers those who are opposed to Jehovah's Witnesses, or who are no longer Jehovah's Witnesses and have ruled out any possibility of returning no matter how favorable any changes are.
On the otherhand, I don't want overly zealous Witnesses who will go beyond our FPP and stifle discussions. I realize it's a balancing act, and I'll try to keep the avenues of communication open so you're not in a position of not knowing what's expected of you. I'll also listen to your feedback to improve the moderator processes.
Finally, I can't devote the time I need to making certain our moderators are staying on top of problems, acting overzealously, underzealously, or being a "referee" when disagreements arise amongst themselves. Therefore, I need volunteers for leadership roles on H2O who will help guide the development of our moderator efforts. Also, this individual (or these individuals) will help recruit new moderators, have the authority to ban repeat offenders from the H2O and decide the length of time they are banned, and deal with moderator dismissals (which we hope it never comes to).
Those in leadership roles should ideally have moderator experience on a religous forum (which is verified). Although baptized Witnesses are preferred, I think it's possible for exceptional non-witnesses or even those who disassociated due to teachings we now consider false (thus willing to return under the right circumstances). A high degree of experience, unbiased attitude, deep interest in our faith (perhaps because of a family member who is JW, or because they believe many of our teachings are true to the Bible), and faith in God is essential. Such ones are less likely to not want to give their identity, and therefore could act as liaisons for H2O if ever the media wants an interview. Of course the ideal is baptized JWs in good standing who are balanced and, due to unique circumstances, are able to reveal their identities. (If we don't find those willing to reveal their identities for leadership roles in site moderation then of course we will accept those wanting to remain anonymous.) With all that's going on, I understand if nobody feels safe enough to give out their identity (as I wouldn't at this point). But I won't rule out the possibility that those who have experience moderating religious forums have already had experience with giving out their identities publicly, and have no qualms about this.
I will not hide the fact I'm deeply disappointed the way things have gone, and feel I can't participate myself (because the hate postings have worn me down). I even removed my own post tonight I spent a lot of time putting up, a little word game, because I realized the board is so out of control that the majority of responses will probably be from those who have intense hatred for me. I realized then that I'm putting forth effort without being able to receive any benefits in return because few are left on H2O who care to hear my thoughts, beliefs or opinions. Part of this I blame on the inability to recruit enough moderators to weed out those who are full of hate, fabricate identities not to express different views but to degrade others. I realize that by putting the moderation into the hands of those who can act decisively and ban repeat offenders on the spot, the forum will be taken seriously by those who matter in this world: those who want to see JWs live productive and happy lives, see the oppression in this organization by a few power hungry individuals end, and see JWs find peace worshiping God based on factual information and scholarly understanding of the Bible. As it stands, H2O is failing in that respect.
I have tried and thus far failed, and need help. I have the technical expertise but lack the experience that I described above. Sometimes I feel my leading the moderators is an exercise in the blind leading the blind. H2O needs someone, and the real ideal is one or more professors in universities with some extra time to volunteer to oversee the moderators. They will have the guts to act based on what is right, not on emotions or sentimentalities. Just as it's not wrong to go into the world and get a university education that will inculcate values from our professors, it is not wrong to seek the help of those educated individuals who are willing to volunteer to lead the moderation of H2O for the benefit of JWs. There are other similar efforts for various religious faiths because these efforts meet the needs of members of those faiths. H2O meets the needs of the Jehovah's Witnesses community at a time when our leaders have put personal pride and men over humility and God. We need to turn this around, and it's not wrong to seek help from the outside to fulfill the goals important to every one of us.
Rick
P.S. Correspondence relating to this post should have the word "MODERATOR: " in all caps as
the beginning of the SUBJECT line. That way I can sort the emails by "M" for Moderator, and the emails won't get lost in the spam. Thanks you in advance for your consideration.