Nichi-Bei Forum Moderation Report

- Do you perceive a problem with moderation of the Nichi-Bei forum or not?

First off, the major problem that I see is that it takes too long for posts to be posted on the Nichi-Bei forum, which is frustrating. The time lag between post submission and approval or non-post approval has sometimes taken days, which is overly frustating.

Regarding moderation, the Nichi-Bei forum seems to be where the majority of flames or disagreements come up here, from the two or so years of my experience. So I agree that moderation is necessary at a minimum.

I just don't see moderation working at the moment, though, for the reasons you mentioned in your second paragraph. For example, many posts have became less organized, and the such, I must admit that I just learned how to HTMLize hyperlinks a few months ago, thanks to my blog.

Second off, I feel like the Nichi-Bei forum has became a less important aspect. While, yes, the main aspect of this site is baseball in Japan, and that's how it should be, I still feel like it is an important and enlightening part of the site, when not boggled down with accumulating arguments.

Since August 1st, the number of posts and new posts have basically come to a halt with only 6 topics since then and a nominal amount of posts since then. That also has become frustrating, too, and has basically driven me away from the forum.

Though, I also understand the hostilities which tend to appear there. This, at times, can and does make the Nichi-Bei forum very frustrating and does drive people away from the forum. As I must say at times, I also get annoyed with the attitude at times, and sometimes don't always use the best judgment always.

So far, I haven't seen many problems with moderation there, except that it is slow and it lacks the editing to make the presentation (aka post) look a lot more clearer, as it the case with the lack of HTML. Right now, I wish I could offer a quick solution, but it is indeed a very difficult situation due to the nature of the forum over the last few months.

I don't know when it's taken me days to approve a message, because I have a habit of checking pending messages first thing in the morning. It was probably when I was away from my computer for a few days, but that doesn't happen often.

Also, I'll be the first to admit I can't stand HTML tagging URLs and cleaning things up like Michael does. I tried for the first couple weeks, but it drove me crazy. It's just something I don't do, and if I do it, I usually have an automatic way of doing it (like on my blog).

If people would rather have a hyperlink friendly and more MLB.com style hostile Nichi-Bei forum, I'll gladly give up my moderating duties. I was put there specifically to keep Michael's stress level low, and I think I did my job. Now I have to deal with my own level of annoyance, because some people don't like having their inflammatory messages deleted. I have more important things to worry about right now, so Michael, do what you have to do. I'm tired of this.

<BigManZam says>
- I have to deal with my own level of annoyance, because some people don't like having their inflammatory messages deleted. I have more important things to worry about right now, so Michael, do what you have to do. I'm tired of this.
</BigManZam says>

Such is the lot of the forum moderator. Anyone who can "herd the cats," as it were, on an Internet forum is a better man than I.

FWIW, although Nichi-Bei isn't a forum I post in very often, perhaps because of it's lack of Hanshin topics. I can't say I've ever noticed anything wrong with it. Gokuro-san and gambare to the moderator.