CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

I remember when this started happening, around the third or fourth troll wave, when the mods went invisible so they could ban the trolls.


Well, to make it simple: II think it's a bad idea. I realize it has helped in troll waves in the past, but personally, It makes it seem like the mods aren't here. It makes it seem like the mods are distant from us community-people (something I know isn't true). I go to PM a mod, but I see no one. I'll report things, and I'll wait because I don't know which mod is on. Can't even a couple of mods come out of invisible mode, so I know who to PM/talk to? Or just to say "Hey" to?

The reason mods go invisible is so trolls won't know when a mod is on. If the mods were visible all the time the trolls would just wait until they were all gone and start their havoc then.

So no, invisible mode is not a bad idea, it's a good idea.

Are all of them invisible? Maybe having it half and half...

I feel like the invisible option is a double-edged sword, myself. On one hand, it's nice that the mods are invisible when there's a troll wave going on, but when things are quiet, it's sort of disheartening because you never see anybody around...

I'll speak for myself, at least. I've been in invisible mode a long time and I much prefer it. My only regret is that this does make it harder for anyone who just wants to ask a quick question.

However, one of the reasons I like CAA is because it is a forum, not a real-time community. I like to participate in discussions over time, posting my thoughts on the developments every few days instead of chatting back and forth over an hour. And though I realize this may sound antisocial, I don't necessarily want anyone talking to me just because I'm online. If you want to PM me saying, "Hey, how have things been going lately?" that's no problem, but I don't really seek instantaneous conversations.

I love invisible mode. It lets me get things done quickly. If someone has somthing to say to a staffer, PM them. If we are on, we will respond fairly quickly. But don't hold your breath on me coming out of invisible mode any time soon. ^^

I realize, but it takes away from the sense of community. I realize one poster won't affect administrative policies, but I feel like mods/admins are abit farther removed from us then they used to be: They are more moderators, rather than simply the cool guys who put on the mod hat when it is needful.

I don't want to attack anyone with this opinion, but really, it's gotten to the point I hardly see posts from anyone except Ashley, shatter, and a couple others, and those are rare. I miss being able to just chat and be friendly.

Would it help if I told you I see other mods on nearly every time I login? It's actually rare for me to login and NOT see a mod during my time online.

While I understand your frustration, I hope you can see things from our point of view.

What Mods? I thought they were Ninjas? O_o

ChristianKitsune wrote:What Mods? I thought they were Ninjas? O_o

Oh, well, just tell everyone, why don't you?

I really do have to agree with the rest of my staff here and say I much prefer ninja-mode. It's funny you mention "seeing me" Zarn because I haven't come out of invisible for like, a year now.

I don't see why it should affect a sense of community. Does seeing a name on a list really affect you that much? Why? We're still posting in threads, hanging with you guys...like Ark said, drop us a line and if we're on we'll respond.

Zarn Ishtare wrote:I realize, but it takes away from the sense of community. I realize one poster won't affect administrative policies, but I feel like mods/admins are abit farther removed from us then they used to be: They are more moderators, rather than simply the cool guys who put on the mod hat when it is needful.

How is an invisible mod different from a member that is simply never on at the same time as you? There are some people who have schedules different from mine that I rarely see online, but that doesn't mean we can't hold conversations. I post this mostly to show how I feel differently about this.

Zarn Ishtare wrote:I don't want to attack anyone with this opinion, but really, it's gotten to the point I hardly see posts from anyone except Ashley, shatter, and a couple others, and those are rare.

That's likely to be coincidental. I'm posting at about the same rate I always have, so it seems likely that for some reason you aren't involved in the same discussions. Anyone who discusses currently running manga or seinen sees my posts pretty frequently. It isn't as if we moderators have retreated to a secret cave to discuss matters of great import; we're still around and talking about anime.

ChristianKitsune wrote:What Mods? I thought they were Ninjas? O_o

Oh come on, Kitchan...everyone knows that Ninja's wear bright flourecent colors, metal plated headbands, and open-toed sandal boots...duh!

Anyway, my two cents on the matter is this--see no evil, there be no evil. If trolls or anything decide to hit the forum, they would be easier to catch if they DIDN'T know any mods or admins were online. And mods do kinda stick out like a pair of sore thumbs (No offense!) with their high post counts. Better any trolls or future trolls think that ANYONE with a post count of over 2,000 is a mod...or someone with LOADS of time on their hands.

I am no dirty ninja. I am a pirate. Captain Ark.

I don't have a problem with the invisible mode. Usually when I see trouble, I send a PM to not one, but usually 3 mods, and sometimes an admin. Doesn't take longer than 24 hours to get a response to the source of trouble.

ShatterheartArk wrote:I am no dirty ninja. I am a pirate. Captain Ark.

O.O

Ninja Pirate? ._.

ChristianKitsune wrote:O.O

Ninja Pirate? ._.

No, no. You're pronouncing it wrong. It's pronounced:

"Captain ARRRRRRRRRRRRK."

*Face Faults*

If he is captain...what does that make Mith and Ashley?

Commander and Admiral?

Ashley and Mith are not on my ship. CAA is a side project. Last time Ashley was on my ship, well. We won't talk about that. And I cannot have Mith one-uping my goatee with his. Alas, I am the only mod pirate on CAA.

Of course Captain.

ShatterheartArk wrote:Alas, I am the only mod pirate on CAA.

I'm the only mod wolf... just not a sea-wolf.

And on the topic at hand... I have to agree with uc. If I am online, I am usually doing something. That's why I almost never log on to my IM anymore; whenever I'm logged in I get interrupted. Again, not to be antisocial, but... when I'm in the middle of something, I'm kind of antisocial. If I want to chat, I'll log on to IM or go to the Chat.

Incidentally, I hate my telephone for the same reason. It's like somebody knocking on your front door -- kind of hard to ignore if you're in the middle of something.

But I'm totally cool with PMs and email!

I think we're missing the greater matter at hand. If, as uc says,
[quote="uc pseudonym"]It isn't as if we moderators have retreated to a secret cave to discuss matters of great import]
we must then ask the question of just who is protecting the secret cave! I mean, what with Cap'n Ark spending his time commerce raiding, and all the mods wasting their time with japanese cartoons ( ), that doesn't necessarily leave anyone at the cave. We don't want someone like Batman to turn it into a crime-fighting lair, you know.

(And for all the fuss about invisibility, I've seen both Mithrandir and ShatterheartArk in the chat.)

The secret cave is well-protected. Trust me.

[quote="Kaligraphic"]we must then ask the question of just who is protecting the secret cave! I mean, what with Cap'n Ark spending his time commerce raiding, and all the mods wasting their time with japanese cartoons ( ]
Dude. Everyone knows the Mods rent the cave out to Batman as a time-share. Get your head back in reality here.

So thats how they manage to get all the equipment...they charge Batman "rent" by getting tech from him.

Its all so clear now.

Exactly. Batman, the ultimate tech support.

Hey now. You would not BELIEVE how tough it is to get that skin-tight-suit-wearing dude out of my favorite chair. That's why I invented the bat-a-pult.

ROFL! .... I so wanna draw that Bat-a-pult... XD

So that's how come he fly!! oooh!

BATMAAN AWAaaaaaaaaaayyyy *crash*

I'm glad I brightened your day.