TashJ
We caught up with one of our most experienced moderators, TashJ, who can usually be found lurking in the relationships forum. She told us about her love of books and TimTams.
What's been your most memorable experience as a moderator?
I haven't been a moderator on TheSite.org for very long, but I've been modding boards on and off for about five years. My most memorable experience was probably the night I went on a road trip with a couple of friends and a guy who I thought I was meeting for the first time. Found out the next morning, as part of some random conversation, that he was a regular poster on a board I moderated. After that, I kept trying to match up his in-person personality with his online one, and the whole experience was kind of surreal.
Do you ever have any difficulty balancing TheSite.org's editorial line with your own personal beliefs, how do you deal with this?
I guess it's just a different way of thinking. On the boards, I'm there to provide impartial advice so personal beliefs don't really come into it.
What do you do other than moderating?
I work on the marketing and communications team at YouthNet, trying to get the message about TheSite.org and do-it.org.uk out to as many people as possible. And when I'm not at work, I write, read, go touristing around London, watch reality TV and spend way too much time on public transport.
If you had to be locked in a lift with another person who would it be and why?
If I had to spend my lifetime locked in a lift with another person, it goes without saying that my husband Matt would be the first choice. But if it was a couple of hours, then perhaps I'd suggest JK Rowling (What can I say? My world is slightly more empty without the promise of more Harry Potter novels).
If you could change peoples' opinions on one subject, what would it be and why?
Right now, I'd like to change the opinion of whoever thought it necessary to including this question as I've spent 15 minutes trying to come up with an answer. There are heaps of things I disagree with in the world, but at the same time I'm quite happy, in a lot of cases, for there to be disagreement in the world. Perhaps, when it comes down to it, I'd just like to convince UK supermarkets to stock TimTams.
"I can think 'If this was a post on TheSite.org, what would I tell myself? What would other users tell me?' It's a useful way to try and be a little more impartial about my own dramas."
Do you learn from the posters' experiences?
Definitely - it's always useful to see how other people approach issues. I also find lately that when I come up against anything, I can think 'If this was a post on TheSite.org, what would I tell myself? What would other users tell me?' It's a useful way to try and be a little more impartial about my own dramas.
If you could set up one new forum what would it be?
Books. I can never read enough about books. Or enough books either.
How does being a moderator fit with your career aims, if at all?
Being a moderator isn't really a career aim as such, but more something I enjoy and try to get involved in where I can.
What's your favourite thread?
At the moment, I can't go past the recent wedding dress thread. I'm a sucker for weddings.
If I was... I'd be a... because....
If I was braver, I'd be a part of the group who are jumping out of a plane for YouthNet later this year, because I think it's a great cause. However, there are limits to my dedication, and parachuting from 15,000 feet is a considerable distance outside those limits.
TashJ
We caught up with one of our most experienced moderators, TashJ, who can usually be found lurking in the relationships forum. She told us about her love of books and TimTams.
What's been your most memorable experience as a moderator?
I haven't been a moderator on TheSite.org for very long, but I've been modding boards on and off for about five years. My most memorable experience was probably the night I went on a road trip with a couple of friends and a guy who I thought I was meeting for the first time. Found out the next morning, as part of some random conversation, that he was a regular poster on a board I moderated. After that, I kept trying to match up his in-person personality with his online one, and the whole experience was kind of surreal.
Do you ever have any difficulty balancing TheSite.org's editorial line with your own personal beliefs, how do you deal with this?
I guess it's just a different way of thinking. On the boards, I'm there to provide impartial advice so personal beliefs don't really come into it.
What do you do other than moderating?
I work on the marketing and communications team at YouthNet, trying to get the message about TheSite.org and do-it.org.uk out to as many people as possible. And when I'm not at work, I write, read, go touristing around London, watch reality TV and spend way too much time on public transport.
If you had to be locked in a lift with another person who would it be and why?
If I had to spend my lifetime locked in a lift with another person, it goes without saying that my husband Matt would be the first choice. But if it was a couple of hours, then perhaps I'd suggest JK Rowling (What can I say? My world is slightly more empty without the promise of more Harry Potter novels).
If you could change peoples' opinions on one subject, what would it be and why?
Right now, I'd like to change the opinion of whoever thought it necessary to including this question as I've spent 15 minutes trying to come up with an answer. There are heaps of things I disagree with in the world, but at the same time I'm quite happy, in a lot of cases, for there to be disagreement in the world. Perhaps, when it comes down to it, I'd just like to convince UK supermarkets to stock TimTams.
Do you learn from the posters' experiences?
Definitely - it's always useful to see how other people approach issues. I also find lately that when I come up against anything, I can think 'If this was a post on TheSite.org, what would I tell myself? What would other users tell me?' It's a useful way to try and be a little more impartial about my own dramas.
If you could set up one new forum what would it be?
Books. I can never read enough about books. Or enough books either.
How does being a moderator fit with your career aims, if at all?
Being a moderator isn't really a career aim as such, but more something I enjoy and try to get involved in where I can.
What's your favourite thread?
At the moment, I can't go past the recent wedding dress thread. I'm a sucker for weddings.
If I was... I'd be a... because....
If I was braver, I'd be a part of the group who are jumping out of a plane for YouthNet later this year, because I think it's a great cause. However, there are limits to my dedication, and parachuting from 15,000 feet is a considerable distance outside those limits.