Jo7
Time to quiz the newest member of the the team as she gets stuck in with modding the boards. Find out more about her love for DVD boxsets and polar bears.
What's been your most memorable experience as a moderator?
The first thing that springs to mind was trying to explain to my Gran what moderating was and that it was part of my job. She overheard me talking to my mum and asked what we were on about. It was a totally alien concept to her, especially since she had never even used a computer. I think she thought I was some kind of internet police which is possibly the worst definition for a moderator!
Do you ever have any difficulty balancing TheSite.org's editorial line with your own personal beliefs, how do you deal with this?
I wouldn't say I have difficulty but it's something you have to be aware of all the time. I think when you are moderating you consciously put yourself in a different mind-set and into the role of a mod. If you're clear about that role then it's easy to stop yourself from just giving your own personal opinion. I'm also pretty open-minded so I don't often have a burning desire to disagree with people or impose my personal views.
What do you do other than moderating?
I'm the newbie on the Communities Team here at YouthNet. I'm also involved in askTheSite, expert chats, daily polls, post of the week and anything else Jim V or Helen throw my way! When I'm not working I enjoy going to gigs, watching DVD box sets (as intensively as possible) and trying to keep fit.
If you had to be locked in a lift with another person who would it be and why?
David Lynch. I would love to talk to him about Twin Peaks, most definitely the best TV series of all time, in my opinion.
If you could change peoples' opinions on one subject, what would it be and why?
I went to an all girls school, and left at 16 to do my A levels at college. I found a lot of people, on finding out where I went to school, assumed I was really posh and arrogant which I'm glad to say I'm neither. The assumption that middle class people are all like this, don't live in the real world or have any real problems, really frustrates me. Even when people said 'I can't believe you went to private school you're so normal?!' I'd still be offended. I think generalisations about anything are so dangerous and it's usually only a small minority that can give a group of people a bad name.
"Even when people said 'I can't believe you went to private school you're so normal?!' I'd still be offended."
Do you learn from the posters' experiences?
Definitely, it helps put your own problems in perspective when you hear what other people might be going through. With so many different views on the boards there's always something that you can pick out and use in your own life.
If you could set up one new forum what would it be?
I'd have to agree with TashJ on this one and add a books forum. I read a lot on my commute to work and tend to rely on random recommendations from friends. It'd be great to have some more suggestions to refer to every time I'm on the hunt for my next read.
How does being a moderator fit with your career aims, if at all?
Moderating for me is about interacting with our users on TheSite.org and learning more and more about who we're reaching; encouraging a safe and fun environment for people to air their views. I hope in the future it will mean I can further my career at YouthNet by really knowing our audience.
What's your favourite thread?
Right now my favourite thread would be 'The Last Book you finished' in Entertainment. As if by magic, mine and TashJ's prayers have been answered although not a whole forum dedicated to it yet!
If I was... I'd be a... because....
If I was original I'd be coming up with another answer to this question! Instead I'm going with, if I was an animal I'd be a polar bear because I love the snow.
Jo7
Time to quiz the newest member of the the team as she gets stuck in with modding the boards. Find out more about her love for DVD boxsets and polar bears.
What's been your most memorable experience as a moderator?
The first thing that springs to mind was trying to explain to my Gran what moderating was and that it was part of my job. She overheard me talking to my mum and asked what we were on about. It was a totally alien concept to her, especially since she had never even used a computer. I think she thought I was some kind of internet police which is possibly the worst definition for a moderator!
Do you ever have any difficulty balancing TheSite.org's editorial line with your own personal beliefs, how do you deal with this?
I wouldn't say I have difficulty but it's something you have to be aware of all the time. I think when you are moderating you consciously put yourself in a different mind-set and into the role of a mod. If you're clear about that role then it's easy to stop yourself from just giving your own personal opinion. I'm also pretty open-minded so I don't often have a burning desire to disagree with people or impose my personal views.
What do you do other than moderating?
I'm the newbie on the Communities Team here at YouthNet. I'm also involved in askTheSite, expert chats, daily polls, post of the week and anything else Jim V or Helen throw my way! When I'm not working I enjoy going to gigs, watching DVD box sets (as intensively as possible) and trying to keep fit.
If you had to be locked in a lift with another person who would it be and why?
David Lynch. I would love to talk to him about Twin Peaks, most definitely the best TV series of all time, in my opinion.
If you could change peoples' opinions on one subject, what would it be and why?
I went to an all girls school, and left at 16 to do my A levels at college. I found a lot of people, on finding out where I went to school, assumed I was really posh and arrogant which I'm glad to say I'm neither. The assumption that middle class people are all like this, don't live in the real world or have any real problems, really frustrates me. Even when people said 'I can't believe you went to private school you're so normal?!' I'd still be offended. I think generalisations about anything are so dangerous and it's usually only a small minority that can give a group of people a bad name.
Do you learn from the posters' experiences?
Definitely, it helps put your own problems in perspective when you hear what other people might be going through. With so many different views on the boards there's always something that you can pick out and use in your own life.
If you could set up one new forum what would it be?
I'd have to agree with TashJ on this one and add a books forum. I read a lot on my commute to work and tend to rely on random recommendations from friends. It'd be great to have some more suggestions to refer to every time I'm on the hunt for my next read.
How does being a moderator fit with your career aims, if at all?
Moderating for me is about interacting with our users on TheSite.org and learning more and more about who we're reaching; encouraging a safe and fun environment for people to air their views. I hope in the future it will mean I can further my career at YouthNet by really knowing our audience.
What's your favourite thread?
Right now my favourite thread would be 'The Last Book you finished' in Entertainment. As if by magic, mine and TashJ's prayers have been answered although not a whole forum dedicated to it yet!
If I was... I'd be a... because....
If I was original I'd be coming up with another answer to this question! Instead I'm going with, if I was an animal I'd be a polar bear because I love the snow.