bethy wrote:I just would add that any new moderators to the forum (since it seems we'll need a whole new batch of them now) not be players or participants in the game itself. They should be more like referees or line judges. Follow the game? yes...know what's happening? yes. But don't actively participate in game play. Does that make any sense?
It eliminates the possibility that the mods might play favorites, or that
This makes sense in a way, but...
I don't think it's needed. I wish I hadn't gone through two hard drive crashes and a couple of burglaries since I wrote all my training materials for game 'ops (yeah, different than ARG play, but... <shrug> similar in spirit), because it really is possible to keep things on an even playing field and still allow the folks who are moderating to participate.
It would be one thing if they were being paid - you could easily hand down rules to say they weren't allowed to play, and it would be a completely reasonable expectation. But you have to remember that these are folks who are volunteering their time to do this... That
does make a big difference! <huge smile>
If I'm going to be moderating in a forum area (and I am
not saying I am - please don't think I'm thinking in that direction!!

), and I'm watching a puzzle being worked on, and all of a sudden, I have a light bulb moment...well, these are few and far between with me... I am way too likely to blurt it out. I'm not going to do so because I support Oppy or Tachy. I'm going to do so because I have a flippin' big mouth and can't help myself! <chuckle>
Will this make me a bad mod under the No Play scheme of things...or just a silly ol' lady who'd like to have a proud moment every now and again? Hopefully, the latter, though I've a hunch the light bulb flash may have blinded me...and my grand idea may be something highly entertaining...and well worth overlooking anyway...
It's not going to make me look sideways at you, just because you've indicated (in very polite language) that you think I'm something of a goofball for thinking I had discovered The Holy Grail... I'm going to look at you with awe...cuz while I love puzzles, I'm truly not very good at them... <rueful grin>
But whether I look at you sideways or with awe, if you call SomeYoungPosterChild the village idiot because you think he is one (or even because he really is), I'm going to deal with it...because it
should be dealt with. I will deal with it calmly, quietly, and carefully, so that your feelings are intact at the end of our conversation - because you deserve just as much respect as SomeYoungPosterChild deserves...