There doesn't seem to be much participation or activity in this forum these days.

Summertime!

I think they got ran off.

how are mods appointed?

the choice of other mods?

the choice of the forum/community?

I would guess its an elite club. I was never asked for an opinion. (laff, not that mine means much here anyway.)

You have to know someone to be someone.

No. It's not an elite club. A lot of them are people that the admin don't like very much. It's a form of punishment. I'm thinking that's why I was a moderator once.

Yeah, sort of like my networking group, we asked the guy who was always late to give a presentaton on puntuality. Hehehe...

Mods volunteer. It's actually difficult to find people who are willing to put up with all the nonsense.

Actually mods are easy to find. Good mods are what's hard to find. A good mod possesses the quality to take personal insult and brush it off, then continue the job that he/she is supposed to do. A good mod doesn't show favoritism or have a chip on thier shoulder. A good mod is someone who is above reproach and remains that way because he does have these qualities.

Sorry but I don't think a MOD should have to take an insult. Constructive criticism is one thing personal attacks is another.
Good or Bad is based on personal perception, what you feel is bad I might think the same person is doing a great job. In the end the only person that it should matter to is the owner of the Forum. Plus everyone shows some level of favortism. We aren't robots so we have emotions and this game tends to bring out some pretty bad ones once in a while.

I didn't say a mod should have to take a personal insult. I said he should be able to brush it off and make the proper discision afterwards. He shouldn't take a personal insult any more serious than an insult to anyone else in that forum. A user shouldn't have to take personal insults either.

Back on Topic:

Maybe a lot of people have left because of the way people interact with each other on this forum. Someone gets their feeling hurt and instead of accepting they were out of line they revert to trash/smash talk or personal insults.

OR

Maybe they haven't really left? Instead of stepping up to say something for fear of being attacked and ridiculed they just lurk in the shadows? No idea but when your in someone else's playground maybe people should learn a little respect goes along way.

Personally I don't feel anyone left this board because of a mod. If someone left because of a mod they were probably only looking for an excuse, basically one foot was already out the door they just needed someone to "BLAME".

The facebook page gets about 500 active visitors right now. I think the perception is that the facebook page is a far more respectful place to express an opinion. And I guarantee it's as tightly moderated, maybe more so. For whatever reason, it's accepted that the facebook page is going to be respectful, but this forum, certain members who believe they ARE the community can be very disrespectful of any opinion that differs from their own. They'll attack me, the game's author and owner of the forum, so any new member will have no doubt that they'll get raked over the coals if they go out on a limb and express an opinion.

The community is hundreds of thousands of people, not the 20 or 30 people who are actively playing the game and participating in the forum. The "elite" members who act as though they own the game and the forum need to be more open to other viewpoints about this game. There are many, and you are in the minority. I know this because I have the luxury of hearing a very diverse range of opinions through personal email.

Jp - I can see the wisdom in your words

The nonsense is only a problem if you allow it to be.