FAQ:Moderators and Assistants
Addition and Removal of Moderators and Assistants
Any user in good standing can apply to become a moderator on stock-specific board. For other boards, the principal moderator has broad discretion to appoint and remove assistant moderators.
This board does not have a moderator and I would like to take that position. How do I accomplish this?
Simply click on the "Add Me as Moderator" in the board's iBox. Your request will go into a queue that will be reviewed by a Site Admin, at which time you may be made the moderator if you meet all of the requirements. When applying you may receive an automated message that you have not met certain minimal requirements, such as not having recently made a sufficient number of posts to the board. However; if it is a low-volume or otherwise dormant board, please send a PM to IH Admin and your request will be reviewed and approved if appropriate.
I want to add an Assistant to the board, how do I do this (general topic boards)?
If you want the help and are trying to decide on someone to add, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Try to find someone who doesn't have a habit of violating the Terms of Use themselves. Moderators cannot regularly break the same rules they are in place to enforce.
- Lastly, please ask the person you would like to have as an Assistant before adding them. Some people don't have the time or simply don't want the responsibility. Plus, it's just common courtesy to get their approval first.
Adding an Assistant is something you can do yourself without the help of a Site Admin. On the Manage screen, click on "Manage Assistants", "Add an Assistant", type the alias you would like to add in the box provided and click on the correct Member from the list of matching names provided.
I want to be an Assistant on the board. How do I go about doing this?
For stock-specific boards, click on the Add Me As Moderator button. For general topic boards, this is typically done by the Moderator of the board and they are usually appreciative of offers to assist. So, just ask! If you do not have PM capability, you can PM Site Admins with a request to relay your request.
Failing the above, you are also welcome to ask a Site Admin. However, if the board is being moderated fairly based on the Terms of Use, we will most likely defer to the Moderator's decision.
I no longer want to Moderate this board, how do I get removed?
Smply hit the "Resign as Assistant" in the Manage mode. If you are the Moderator, simply hit the "Resign as Moderator" in the Manage mode.
Why was I removed as an Assistant on this board?
The Moderator, in most cases, decides who will and will not assist on the board. If you have been removed and you were an active Assistant, please feel free to ask a Site Admin if you would like to have the matter reviewed. In cases of moderating abuse, however, Site Admins do step in and remove Assistants.
Additionally, once a week an automated program runs removing Moderators and Assistants who have been inactive.
I was made an Assistant on a board and I don't know why.
It is preferred that Moderators ask Member's permission before they make them Assistants. Occasionally a Moderator adds Members they feel would fulfill these duties responsibly, without asking them. If you would like to remain in this role, then the Moderator and rest of the board members will most likely be very appreciative. If you don't have the time or inclination, not a problem. Simply click on the "Resign as Assistant" button in the Manage mode and you will be removed.
Why was I removed as Moderator on this board?
If you are an inactive Moderator, there is a utility that removes all Moderators who have not posted on the stock boards in more than 60 days. This puts the board up for adoption for Users who wish to be active in posting, moderating and updating the iBox. Additionally, if the board is a high volume board and you have not been actively moderating, Admin may replace you with a Member who has committed to managing the board.
If you are an active Moderator, it is likely you are very aware of why you have been removed. If an Admin has been discussing moderating abuses with you (removal of posts that were not Terms of Use violations, biased removals, continually removing your own posts), the decision has been made that this board needs someone different in this role.
Sometimes, there will be multiple complaints about the board, and Admin will review. If the evaluation indicates that there's a huge gap in moderating based on the TOU or clear, repeated moderator privilege abuse, then this would be cause for immediate removal. However; the complaints are not the determining factor; the actual moderating activities are. If you have been inactive in posting and/or moderating the board and someone else requests to take an active role on the board, Admin will likely make the change without consulting you.
Additionally, once a week an automated program runs removing Moderators and Assistants who have been inactive. iHub further reserves the right to remove any and all moderator/positions from any member at any time, at its sole discretion.
I'm an IRP and I added the other IRPs working this account. The Users cannot move on from the fact that the Mods are IRPs.
Filling a board's moderator/assistant roster with IRPs and/or having hundreds of posts mostly by IRPs is perceived as very negative by most site members. The observation of these conditions is legitimate topic of dialog. Board moderators would be well-advised to limit the assignment of multiple IRPs to assistant positions and to avoid monopolizing the dialog among themselves. Doing so could help keep the boards focused on the company instead of the promotion companies.
