The Official Website of AgoraCart and Agora.cgi
AgoraCart.com Demos Download AgoraCart User Manuals & Wiki Gold Members Forum Go Gold Now! Gold Version Memberships

AgoraCart.com

About
Features
Download
Payment Gateways
Send a Donation
Founders Club
BLOG: News & Updates

Showcases & Demos

AgoraCart Demos
Shop Live Stores

Downloads & Add-ons

Gold Version Downloads
DBwizz Database Mgr.
AgoraCart.com Store

Help & Support

User Manuals
Gold Version Users Forum
Gold Version Chat
Tech Support
Certified Agora Pros
Certified Designers
Hire a Freelancer

Gold Version Members

Member Benefits
Join Today!
Gold Members Home
Gold Version Users Forum
Gold Version Chat Rooms
Gold Version Downloads

For Store Owners

Merchant Accounts
Cool Resources
Advertise Here
"Powered by" Logos
Web Hosting Search

Misc.

Contact Us
MEET's Talking Guide
The Ancient Greek Agora






AgoraCart Free User Forums

This is the official FAQ and Cool Tips guide For the AgoraCart shopping Cart software


Official Sponsors of the AgoraCart Project:

       


RegisterSearchFAQLog in
Reply to topic Page 1 of 1
Evolving Guidelines fer Moderators and volunteeers
Author Message
Reply with quote
Post Evolving Guidelines fer Moderators and volunteeers 
Howdy,

this is mostly fer moderators and volunteers that wish to help in the various forums (yahoo, agoraguide, and this one).

One of the goals I envision for this project is to provide a positive experience to folks as they seek answers to their ecommerce needs. Volunteers and Volunteer moderators play a significant role in the tone and the appearance of how the whole project is perceived. One thing that I want to avoid is setting up the moderators as forum police forces. I would rather encourage the communities to support themselves and let the moderators and volunteers assisst as they can and then let the moderators prune redundancy and also move inappropriate behaviors off the forums in an appropriate fashion.

So, here are some guidelines:

1) spam is not allowed. this is a tough one to totally define. I don't mind a few jokes or well wishes fer holidays and/or troubled times fer some members. What I don't like is messages about other carts, porno, mortagages, business opportunities, web hosting, web design, and everything else out there. Basically these are posts saying... come check out our services and products. These folks can be banned by a moderator and should be. Moderators, then delete all relevant posts to the infraction.

2) the forums should revolve around the community and all of us as people. So have fun, but do keep it under check. Chatter in the forums can clog the searches so keep it to a minimum (prune it later... like around 6 months later). If you find a thread that is mostly social and is over 6 months old, clip the posts and portions that do not relate to the solution, then add a post/comment that the thread has been pruned by a moderator. So keep this in mind... Such lightheartedness is nice and fun as long as it's not dominating the forums or clogging the searches for solutions. let what is tasteful remain until 6 months or so from the main thread date. There are chat rooms available if folks want to chat with each other ... atleast for lifetime members.

3) Requests for web design (and related) services should be directed to the upcoming AgoraPros.com site. Here folks can post a project and then service providers can bid on them. This will help keep such business appropriate yet with an external solution to spamming the forums.

4) Requests for web hosting services should be directed to the WebsiteHostGuide.com site. Folks can look for hosting and even for agoracart friendly hosting. However, I don't want folks to feel like they can't ask for references on providers they are considering on using. This will help keep such business appropriate yet with an external solution to spamming the forums.

5) Tag lines & signature line. This was an issue in the past. The new idear is to let them be. The only things to watch fer here and should be counselled on and/or banned are:


    - those that make posts with 10-20+ lines of websites and info
    - listing of competing carts
    - listing of template sites
    - listing or porn/adult oriented sites
    - listing of gambling/casino sites
    - listings regarding s-ex drugs/helpers and mental health drugs
    - listing of MLM opportunities (2-tier affiliate programs or less are okay)
    - other paid hacks & add-ons sites that I specifically list later


6) Members Only topics in free areas. members only files should be discussed in members only forums. Moderators and volunteers should suggest that solutions exist over in the appropriate areas or that they have better luck in the members only forum. Please don't slam down on them hard and use strong language. this only creates a bad impression and a gustopo type feeling to the community.

7) Advanced topics in free areas. This is of course okay. However, if the idear is to recreate members only functions or those about to be produced, then these folks should be asked to take it to the members only sections. If no one answers a request, one could then suggest they try the other forums. the idear here is not to stiffle innovation and contributions but to encourage it, all the while protecting the long-term interests of the project: to be self sufficient thru donations and membership sales and also protecting the files used to drive such. Other wise the project becomes relegated to a hobby or sideline to be updated on a whim whenever I feel like making more features to suit my own needs.

8) Don't feel like you have to answer every question. If only the moderators answer, then others will never feel the need to contribute as they will feel overwelmed or not needed due just a few people that answer every single question. Encourage others as they contribute (make them feel welcome) and support their efforts to contribute. It will only help the community and make it so the pressure doesn't seem so great nor the need to answer all the posts yerself.

9) Moderators: Do not erase another moderators post, edit it, or top post it with a correction (the yer wrong dumdum feel to it). This can be seen as territorial and/or condescending . Moderators need to co-exist despite differences in style and this is grey area that can turn ugly, so refrain from it. Admins are only ones that should be dealing with a moderator's posting.

10) if a volunteer or Moderator becomes a negative aspect to the community, they will see a reduction in their allowances and duties until they can demonstrate a willingness to reset their goals in regards to the project. Basically we don't want forceful, domineering, or abrasive folks as moderators. This can also be unintentional, even if you mean well ... so watch fer that.

11) If many complaints about a moderator or volunteer are received, then the moderator in question will be advised and hopefully a new course in direction can be found. If not, they will be released from moderator rights.

12) Moderators and volunteers can list their businesses in their tag lines within the subjective taste of the myself (and ME only)

13) Deal with all posts with a positive and helpful manner. This will make you and the project look better.

14) if you find information that would be helpful to repost in a forum, make sure to give credit to the original poster (or the origin that they used). If another moderator posted it, make sure to let them know yer idears and ask them to repost their great post as a sticky.

15) if someone is becoming very agitated, send them to me (well tell me about it and I'll take it from there). Threats against other people and/or their businesses is not taken kindly to and is unlawful in many cases. Many don't know that they are breaking some very serious laws. So, please refer them to me or let me step in. try to diffuse it as fast as you can. Moderators, move all relevant posts to the "infraction" to the appropriate moderator areas (or delete if necessary).

16) If you are making money from services related to AgoraCart, please share and encourage competition. No one can do everything and it's better that lots of people get business than jsut one or two. If that doesn't convince you, then jsut remember I could personally horde all of the business and funnel it to AgoraCart services only.

17) Lead Moderator is the top moderator next to Mister Ed, but still can be over-ridden by any admin as to the functions of the forums (to maintain and protect the image and usefulness of the forums). So if a moderator or a volunteer has a question or an issue, they should consult with the Lead Moderator. If no resolution can be found and/or the Lead Moderator is unable to perform their duties on the specific situation, an admin should be sought out.

18) Lastly... remember, we all be human. We all have bad days and we all have good days. So, don't be too quick to judge or to clamp down on someone. It can be quicksand fer yerself and the rest of is too. Just keep yer cool and do yer best :)

anyway, I hope that helps. If I think of anything else, i'll post it. Hopefully this will make the forums friendlier and more open, yet protect the project as a whole.

ME



Last edited by Mister Ed on Wed Apr 16, 08 7:56 pm; edited 5 times in total

_________________
Vote Mister Ed for Prez 2012, for a REAL change.

Need Low Cost Startup Option? Try NiftyPay's Pay to Play
http://www.NiftyPay.com
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Reply with quote
Post  
Haven't been around much...like the rules...especially #8. Wink


_________________
Carol aka SouperMom
http://www.soupermom.com
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Reply with quote
Post  
hell-o
grin. great to see you posting again. if you're researching anything in particular just let me know. i'll save ya some headaches.
regards,
dan

Reply with quote
Post  
the main post was updated Smile

ME


_________________
Vote Mister Ed for Prez 2012, for a REAL change.

Need Low Cost Startup Option? Try NiftyPay's Pay to Play
http://www.NiftyPay.com
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:
Reply to topic Page 1 of 1
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum