Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria"

Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (Full Version)

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crazyml -> Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 10:35:04 AM)
I wonder if the mods would be kind enough to post a list of the forum mentors, along with the guidelines they are meant to operate by, and the screening criteria that are used as part of the selection process. I ask in the interests of transparency, and to see if this info can shed any light on some of the rather "courageous" choices of mentor. Many thanks in advance.

Blonderfluff -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 10:46:17 AM)
I cannot speak to the screening process because I really have no idea. I will be more than happy to say that I am a mentor.

crazyml -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 11:09:43 AM)
I don't want to ask you to betray any confidences, but are you able to share the guidelines you operate under as a mentor?

Blonderfluff -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 11:16:00 AM)
There is a welcome form letter we send out when someone posts here for the first time. It outlines TOS, explains and points out the various Forums, and it lets them know that if they have any questions, that they can feel free to CMail their mentor with any questions. That's it. We don't interfere with their posting, or try to guide or help if we are not asked. We merely welcome them, and offer any help on a one to one basis.

LadyConstanze -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 11:21:17 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Blonderfluff There is a welcome form letter we send out when someone posts here for the first time. It outlines TOS, explains and points out the various Forums, and it lets them know that if they have any questions, that they can feel free to CMail their mentor with any questions. That's it. We don't interfere with their posting, or try to guide or help if we are not asked. We merely welcome them, and offer any help on a one to one basis. I think that is actually a super excellent idea, if they have somebody they can ask, it might just make them feel a bit more comfortable

FelineRanger -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 11:23:56 AM)
If there was something specific done, such as removal of a response, isn't that a question better directed toward that particular moderator?

VideoAdminChi -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 11:34:53 AM)
Gamma is in charge of the mentor program. He has limited availability today, and we are dealing with some other issues, but I will let him know about this thread.

VideoAdminGamma -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 12:26:33 PM)
Screening process initially was how long they have been a member, any violations and types, and the amount of time they had to help. After a few members were brought on board, I also started looking at if there had been conflicts between any that applied and existing mentors. Didn't want the possibility of conflicts in a group environment for a pilot program like this. A list of mentors will not be made public. I will not see them attacked further. They stepped forward to help, and because of one mistake made by one member, all of them are being subjected to vile and abusive accusations. As a moderator I have been subject to the same, it is part of my job, but I am not going to post a list that WILL be used by some to just attack them. If they want to say who they are, it is up to them. They make themselves known to new members with a welcome letter. Thanks you for being a part of CollarMe, Gamma quote: ORIGINAL: crazyml I wonder if the mods would be kind enough to post a list of the forum mentors, along with the guidelines they are meant to operate by, and the screening criteria that are used as part of the selection process. I ask in the interests of transparency, and to see if this info can shed any light on some of the rather "courageous" choices of mentor. Many thanks in advance.

ChatteParfaitt -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 12:40:08 PM)
I'm a mentor. As has been stated, we send a welcome letter and offer assistance. You may want to know the program is in the very early pilot stage, we've already discussed tweaking the letter. Just so you know, our purpose is to not to alter the forums in any way beyond offering help to new posters.

LadyPact -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 12:49:31 PM)
Hi ML, OK. I'm not Gamma, or Chi, or Mod Eleven or anybody else. Here's what I would have done...... If I would have instituted this program, which by the way is the same dang thing as "greeters" over there on Fet, I'd have hand selected a certain few who have ridiculously pleasant dispositions. (We have quite a few.) If lucky, they would also have decent knowledge of the site. (How to embed pics on posts and whatnot.) Asked if they had time to welcome new people to the site via email. (Again, just like Fet.) I'd have spent an hour or so, (probably less than) to draft a welcome letter that new folks should receive when they joined up. Maybe help new posters along...... This stuff that's been happening? No, I don't think it's how it should have gone. While I don't support the "newbie" section or the "kinder, gentler" version of CM, I don't think things should have gone down this way.

AthenaSurrenders -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 12:59:41 PM)
I've clearly missed some drama here. I thought the mentors were just sending out friendly emails to newcomers. I didn't realise there had been a big controversy over it. And obviously that means I'm not one, in case anyone was wondering. I was asked to send out some welcome letters a long time ago as part of a test scheme which fizzled out almost right away. I do support the idea of a newbie-friendly section of the forum though.

LadyPact -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 1:01:44 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders I've clearly missed some drama here. I thought the mentors were just sending out friendly emails to newcomers. I didn't realise there had been a big controversy over it. And obviously that means I'm not one, in case anyone was wondering. I was asked to send out some welcome letters a long time ago as part of a test scheme which fizzled out almost right away. I do support the idea of a newbie-friendly section of the forum though. Isn't it ironic? You'd have been on My short list.

AthenaSurrenders -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 1:06:34 PM)
I did wonder whether I should volunteer when it was suggested, but I didn't want to have to commit to a minimum level of activity. I figured if and when the newbie section was up I'd just try and be helpful there, since I really don't mind doing the 101 stuff. I also sort of suspected that they'd get a bunch of snark directed at them for perceived sucking up to the mods or unofficial hand-picking of the 'right' kind of posters, and to be honest I don't want to get a bunch of crap for trying to be nice. Whether people agree with the way this site is run, the mods get a bunch of shit and can never make everyone happy, I hope the mentors don't end up with the same attitude directed at them. Thanks for the (I think) compliment.

ChatteParfaitt -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 1:13:18 PM)
The issue that is still causing so much drama is the misconception that mentors are supposed to be nice to everyone no matter what. Given the range of people who choose to post here, that's just not always possible. I admit to being totally surprised at all the drama and bad feeling it's created. So if anyone can clue me in on why that's necessary, I'd appreciate it.

LadyConstanze -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 1:15:09 PM)
I find it a bit ridiculous how the mentors are attacked, most of them donate their own free time to make newbies feel a bit more welcome, help them out, make sure they get replies on the introduction thread, they have no obligation, no kickback, they do it because they are NICE. If I can just publicly say "Thanks guys, you are really trying to make a difference, something I'm too lazy to do and I wouldn't have your nice disposition when dealing with all-comers!" I heard that they were trashed at "another place", haven't looked because honestly,not interested in sour grapes, but the odd mentor was quite hurt about it, so congrats to all the bullies and backstabbers, because yeah, that makes things so much better. If they really wanted to do something instead of useless bitching and being poisonous little gnomes (they haven't quite matured into full trolls), they'd lead by example and be pleasant. Always easy to say "this is bad, this doesn't work", maybe they can use the energy they use for bitching to come up with an alternative, because obviously they are such sweet and gentle souls... Seriously, if the mentor problem works or doesn't work, just the fact that people are willing to invest energy into it and TRY it is enough to make me smile, because it shows that people do care.

njlauren -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 1:22:42 PM)
I don't know the drama in question, but it sounds like it is some think that a mentor is like a moderator, where in effect they are supposed to be 'above the fray', and that in some cases mentors have gotten into heated discussions with members, flamed someone, whatever, and the person on the other end feels hurt that a mentor could do that.... From the little I can see, it sounds like mentors are supposed to simply be members who are there to help newbies use the boards, and understand what collarchat is about, etc. However, I think that mentors are not mods (who work from a totally different angle), and it is kind of silly to assume mentors don't have their own opinions since they are members of these boards, and they aren't neutral. If the problem is that a newbie felt attacked by a mentor, if I read it right, then the problem to me is the newbie is assuming something that isn't true..it doesn't mean if the mentor was out of line, the way any of us on here can be, that a forum moderator or people running the board can't call them out, but that is a different role. Expecting mentors to be 'above the fray' takes away the very reason many of us are here, to hang out, exchange ideas and so forth, but we are still human. We would hope mentors would be people who generally are nice people, but even nice people are gonna lose it, happens. Since mentors are volunteers, and members of the forums, it is kind of lame for someone to whine about what a mentor said or something (again, if it violated TOS or other guidelines for members as a whole, different story).

PeonForHer -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 1:24:41 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders I did wonder whether I should volunteer when it was suggested, but I didn't want to have to commit to a minimum level of activity. I figured if and when the newbie section was up I'd just try and be helpful there, since I really don't mind doing the 101 stuff. I also sort of suspected that they'd get a bunch of snark directed at them for perceived sucking up to the mods or unofficial hand-picking of the 'right' kind of posters, and to be honest I don't want to get a bunch of crap for trying to be nice. Whether people agree with the way this site is run, the mods get a bunch of shit and can never make everyone happy, I hope the mentors don't end up with the same attitude directed at them. Thanks for the (I think) compliment. I was asked but in the end declined because I didn't want to commit to the minimum level of activity. I'm afraid I'm a bit lazy, basically. On the other hand I don't have any qualms about getting flak from others. Especially that kind of flak that's known here on CM as 'snark' - the general level of which is pretty feeble here, to be frank.

PeonForHer -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 1:26:40 PM)
quote: Expecting mentors to be 'above the fray' takes away the very reason many of us are here, to hang out, exchange ideas and so forth, but we are still human. I thought it was simply about putting on one's best manners with the relevant newbie, that's all. A few kind warnings - but leave them to it if they won't or can't listen.

TNDommeK -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 1:26:49 PM)
I'm still stuck on Gamma saying "any violation and types"... Have you seen my golden tickets? Lol But I can cool to newbs. Lasy Pact, there's a newbie section? If so I didn't pay enough attention to see it. It is Peon, we just send out nice hello and welcomes and they might ask us "where should I post this" or "where can I find that". That's about it.

PeonForHer -> RE: Forum mentors, guidelines and "screening criteria" (3/29/2014 1:35:29 PM)
FR Just to add, I'm very much in favour of a newbie section. In the way I've pictured that, newbies would be strongly directed there first. Long termers would turn up to talk to them as and when they felt like it, but most crucially, when they felt like being kind, helpful and patient. Said long termers would no doubt be nice in relation to certain newbies and their questions, but not others. If the latter, the long termer simply sods off and says nothing.

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