<<I don't really have time to moderate this group well, I pretty much approve membership requests and leave us all to behave like Masons, but word has come to me that I should have stepped in and chastised one or two folks for inappropriate commentary. >>


I don’t think there is any content I would like to see deleted here…..

I also think that this needs to be an open forum (yet moderated) in which Freemasons and Non-Freemasons can openly and reasonably discuss things (as best they can without violating obligations) without fear of having fair, and even extreme, comment deleted by a moderator acting a censor.. .. Moderators who try to be censors are BAD..

How often do you log in to approve requests and look at this tribe Coach???

If someone tried to fill this tribe with many “Masons are the tool of the Illuminati” themed threads – would you be here to see it?? While I don’t think such stuff should be automatically deleted (that’s censorship) if it dominated the Tribe it would wreak it. If I wanted to deal with that stuff I would be in the conspiracy theory tribe… IF there was a call from members to delete or ban a person – would you be here to take action???

Another concern is that requests to join the Tribe might be slowly responded to. I think it is important to keep the Tribe vibrant – and new members are really important to achieve that. Over the last few months I have had a few Private Messages from two people looking for support to get in…. I think the (perceived) slow response may well hurt interest in this Tribe… I also think more posts would be good – but that is the responsibility of members not a moderator and hence a side issue..


Jimmy - << Best just let people police themselves unless someone is totally out of line ....then crush them like a bug.... >>

I agree.

I like moderated tribes because there is a latent threat of blocking a user who gets very abusive and very disruptive …


I think good moderators are anti-interventionist & anti-confrontational and wait to see if problems resolve themselves. If they don’t they warn/admonish to manage people & conflict without it getting to personal and before taking further action. Moderators who ban, rather than warn, are not good.


Coach C <<Do you approve of the current "hands off - freedom of speech" approach I've been taking? >.

So the answer is yes, I approve of your “hand off – freedom of speech” approach if is not absenteeism…

I also think you policy of admitting people to the tribe is good but the tribe should stay moderated in case we ever have problems..


Coach C <<If you do not, who do you think I should pass Moderator to? >>

Aside from my concerns about how often you check this tribe often enough – I cannot see why I should not support you as moderator…

I also agree that there is no content here that should have been deleted by you as moderator…

And lastly – thanks for starting the thread to consult us…

Fraternally

Bloke…