Your main arguments here are that you know the rules and you want to help the forums. You say as long as we put our support with you, you can win. I still haven't seen a reason why we should vote for you. You haven't said what you'll do to make things better, you haven't really listed a mission statement. In all honesty, you don't seem qualified. You have a very minimal post count, hell it's lower than mine and i'm pretty inactive here.
You keep mentioning that you can win a debate, well change my mind. What makes you stand out from the pack? You compared yourself to the lead candidates from the other parties and said with our support you can beat them, well with the numbers on our side, anyone in our party can beat them. Why are you better or more qualified then anybody in our party? You have well known posters in our party such as habs, gunslinger, killjoy, etc. What makes you better than any of them?
All the questions you are asking will be answered as I respond to LSN80. Also, I have posted what I will do to make things better, I have posted a mission statement, I have explained in the post you quoted and many more what separates me from everyone else, and why I am better or more qualified than anyone else. You apparently overlooked it or simply didn't read it when I did. You could start with the PPM thread.
I understand what you're saying here, but what convinced you that the rules you "broke" were accurately enforced? After all, there was significant debate regarding both the spamming infraction and the signature rule violation, and you felt you were being unfairly scrutinized by the "good ole boys club". If you became a member of the good ole boys club, how would you deal with a poster who was insistent they did nothing wrong, and that you as a Mod was being anal?
What convinced me? That's quite easy to answer. As I made note of, I had originally thought what I did fell within the rules for different reasons, and I thought my logic therein was reasonable as to why I thought what I did fell within the rules. It was made clear to me that regardless of my logic I was outside of the rules and that the punishments fit the crime. It's as simple as that. I didn't feel unfairly scrutinized for getting the infractions.
When I received the infractions I made no noise about it, I didn't complain about them, and I understood why I got them. I felt that they were being blown out of proportion to reflect negatively on me in this election, and that the unfair scrutiny was coming at me for trying to explain why I thought I was within the rules. Rather than being civil and professional, someone felt it necessary to mock me, make fun of me, and then accuse me of arguing when I was trying to explain myself, and then accuse me of having a bad attitude when I expressed discord with that.
I had thought simply stating that I was done with the conversation and why fell within the rules of spam, I found out otherwise. I had thought that the way I used the language in my sig was acceptable by sig rules, I found out otherwise. I still do not agree with it, but that doesn't mean I also don't acknowledge that under their definitions of the rules I was in violation of them and received the just punishment for them. You can still disagree with people, and see it their way at the same time. All in all I've come out of it with a crystal clear understanding of those rules, revisited the rule book to make sure I am clear on the others, and am more than well equipped to enforce them as the job mandates.
As for how I would deal with a poster who was insistent they did nothing wrong, and that I as a Mod was being anal, let me inform you that this is one of the most important things that separates me from everyone else running and a lot of the people on staff. Rather than make accusations at them, talk down to them, make resentful and hurtful comments at them, I would simply observe patience and explain it in the most polite way possible. I would approach it like this
"I understand what you are saying, and I see why you thought what you did was within the rules. However, this is the policy and under it you in fact were in violation of the rules. I understand your displeasure with it and how you feel, but these are the rules and this is how they are enforced"
It's called empathy, compassion, understanding, sensitivity and simple decency. I don't see a lot of that with the current staff and I don't think you'll be getting any of that from anyone else. I find it of the utmost importance that you treat people kindly and with care, especially when they are very upset and coming at you with venom. That's the most important time to show that you understand, that you care, and that you're not their enemy, but that you are trying to help them understand where they went wrong. That will be my approach from day one, and I can most certainly guarantee you it will be met with a positive response and great appreciation from those who I encounter.
In what way do you believe you've successfully pushed the status quo? Ergo, if you've done so, what have you come to understand regarding those "deep waters" after testing them that other candidates do not?
First of all, by running. The status quo has been that only long standing members in the right circles really had a chance, that they were the only ones capable of really running and putting up a fight, and I am showing day in and day out that determination, dedication to your cause, and the courage to stand up against anything that comes to you in not something devoid of lesser known members or that a lesser known doesn't have what it takes to go with the perceived "big boys" of the site.
I have also pushed the status quo in conversation repeatedly. Read my sig "Bringing original thought to a thread near you" I stand by that, and that's exactly what I always try to do. A lot of what you read in any number of given threads are people rehashing the same statements, the same points, and the same arguments. I always try to bring in a perspective that has been overlooked, or bring other relevant information to light regarding the given topic. That has been a cornerstone of my success thus far as a lesser known poster making an impact. If I was simply saying the same thing everyone else was I wouldn't be standing out, but I am.
What I have come to understand about those "deep waters" is that as long as you are willing to swim hard against the current you can make a difference, you can drive discussion without being a big name, and you can make people stand up and take notice of you for your worth not your so called "place on the totem pole". I think this is something that the other candidates have no sight of. Everyone seems to think that it's solely about being beloved by all, and simply posting everywhere you can to get noticed. It's almost a quantity over quality mentality and a "boys club" mentality that you have rub the right elbows to be anyone within the hierarchy of the community. I believe that as long as you are willing to work hard, you show a true dedication, and you can get people to notice these traits in you as I have, your fate is in your own hands.
I'd trust my attempt at sobriety to the person who best understands the tried and true methods as shown by science and psychology. Sure, those with addiction issues may understand what you've gone through(as an alcoholic), but those with training , I'd argue, would know best.
That is specifically why a lot of substance abuse counselors are former users who've turned their lives around by using those tried and true methods as shown by science and psychology.
It's essentially been announced since the beginning that this is a popularity contest. I have no doubt in my mind that you are intelligent, have good work ethic, and possess certain skills that would make you a good moderator. You have a presence, so to speak, that can't be denied. But being that this is a popularity contest in many ways, what have/will you do to convince people that you are the most likeable candidate?
To that I say, anything. What
must I do? I think the first thing would be, being completely open and honest with them about who I am, what I am about, and what my intentions are which I have done so far. I'd also say that if you want a fearless leader, look no further. As for likability, I can't MAKE anyone like me. That's a purely preferential and objective issue. What I can do however is give it my best to get you to believe in me and support me. I would think that my openness, desire, determination, vision, and goal should make me likable enough. Just the fact that I pursue my goal so relentlessly and show the qualities of a leader in doing so should make people take notice and say "Ya know what, I think this is the guy for the job". Everyone has told me it can't be done and that I have no shot. Yet here I am still, fighting it out, right in the faces of my opponents. What is not to like about someone who goes for it against all odds, refuses to take no for an answer, and fights until the end?
Maybe so, but how much stock do you believe people who are voting will care about this?
That's a good question and I'll be honest, I don't know. I think if the voters are truly interested in voting in the best candidate it is something they should be very concerned with. I would have to ask "Do you want to see your support and your vote thrown away on someone who simply doesn't take the job seriously enough, and therefore fails you in that position as they are not prepared for what lies ahead, and simply want to win to show that they are more popular than the next guy?". That's something to think about for every voter, and I can guarantee that I will not be a wasted vote. I have been there before on other websites, I have been an administrator before overseeing a large forum before, I know what it takes to do the job, and I've got what it takes to get the job done.
I'm inclined to agree with you here, mostly. The biggest issue I know regarding CoCo in my two years on this site is that he doesn't finish much of what he started, and I believe he'll take that same attitude into the being a Mod as well. But he, along with you, have repeatedly stated your desire to change the status quo. How will you do so in a more effective way then him?
First of all he is running to be in a spam section that doesn't have a moderator because it doesn't really need one. That alone should show you how serious he takes the election and the people rallying behind him, which is a direct reflection of how he will treat the position. In changing the status quo, what I aim to do for starters I outlined above in talking about how you treat people. That is one of the biggest changes I will bring, empathy, compassion, understanding, sensitivity and simple decency. People don't consider what they say and how it makes others feel, or the way they treat others and how it makes them feel. I promise to treat everyone as I stated above and that is the definition of what I mean when I say I will be a more accessible moderator and a moderator of the people.
I also want to change the status quo in a way that Coco and Crock have not even conceptualized in making the voice of the people more loudly heard. How do I plan on doing this? I've outlined it before. I want to create an open forum that serves as a direct public link to me to listen to the peoples wants, desires, complaints, ideals, and so on. More so than that I want to do it so that as a person in power I can push and bring forth changes that they want to see made in any way THE PEOPLE see fit. I'd especially like to work with posters who have difficulties putting their thoughts into words or making well thought out posts, and try to work as a filter for them to help improve their posts, or an aid of sorts that they can come to and ask for advice and guidance in improving as posters. I believe this could bring more of an overall improvement to the forums than anything else proposed by any other candidate and be yet another way as a moderator to reach out to the members of the forum to show that we are here for them and are there to help improve their experience on the forum by helping them grow as posters.
What skills do you possess as a newer member that Crock, who has been here as long as I, does not?
I would have to start with experience. I've been to the show before, I've taken on these responsibilities before, and so the transition would be very easy for me. What skills do I have? I have leadership skills, organizational skills, interpersonal skills, and so on and so forth. I can't say that Crock has none of these but I can say I do have all of them. Also remember, I may be new to you as a poster but I have been around in one form or another for longer than you, crock, and most of the other establishment and long standing members. What relevance is this? Well, what it means is that I am very in-tune with the site to a degree that exceeds or rivals anyone here who technically has been around as a poster longer. I have watched it change and develop over the course of years and years beginning as far back as 2005-06, watched many of the establishment come and go, and always held a deep understanding of the culture of WZ that enables me to relate, act, and move forward with the progress that it makes.
But you joined the forum before the elections were announced. What made you decide to join the forums after watching for so long, especially if you had much to offer?
Firstly, I hadn't joined for some time because I was a moderator and administrator for another website and my responsibilities required me to be there more than I could be here. I kept up with this website but didn't have the time to contribute to it in the capacity that I was at the site I was an admin and moderator. I also wasn't the poster when I first discovered WZ that I am now and felt that it wouldn't serve the site or myself very well for me to show up less than on par with some of the best as this is the premier wrestling forum on the net and has been for some time. I was on another wrestling forum for a long time and technically still am, but decided to get going here once I read some posts and was provoked to give my own input finally, after being at this for some time and honing my craft, being a moderator and admin, and really becoming a top notch poster elsewhere. Sometimes you just know when it's time and I felt it was the right time when I finally signed up here, to come on and show what I'm made of and contribute to WZ in the full capacity that I am capable of.
I agree with this. As a mod, I'm not just responsible for the News/CL section, but to look over all sections. You are a quality poster, you've shown this much in the short time you've been here. But there are many solid posters across the forum who are in the running to be a Moderator. What seperates you from them, as a poster?
I would have to reference you back to your question about how I have pushed the status quo.
Read my sig "Bringing original thought to a thread near you" I stand by that, and that's exactly what I always try to do. A lot of what you read in any number of given threads are people rehashing the same statements, the same points, and the same arguments. I always try to bring in a perspective that has been overlooked, or bring other relevant information to light regarding the given topic. That has been a cornerstone of my success thus far as a lesser known poster making an impact. If I was simply saying the same thing everyone else was I wouldn't be standing out, but I am.
That, and unlike many others I don't try to berate people for their beliefs or ideals. I think it's important to be able to accept other peoples opinions and ideals, to have a strong sense of tolerance for those that don't match your own or may even be offensive to you. Sometimes I think people need to observe the term "Agree to Disagree" when they often don't and then just get into flame wars and endless arguments where neither person is really accomplishing anything but antagonizing the other. It was for that very reason that stated I was disengaging from the conversation on the smoking ban, and it was that post that got me an infraction that has been so haughtily touted against me.
No they don't. Unfortunately, many people believe this. How will you change those minds?
Again, I don't know exactly. It's a philosophy and I can't entirely change that of others. I would have to say that the only real way is to elect me and let me show you. The only other thing I can think to do is to post links to some of my posts to show as much. Another way I could attempt to change peoples minds is to simply field questions to try and quell any doubts they may have
With most of the questions, I'm just giving you food for thought. But I'd like you to respond to these two questions:
1. What ideals of CoCo's do you believe you'ld be able to not only challenge, but that you'ld be able to demonstrate how he's wrong?
2. What will you demonstrate to others that will show that you're more deserving then Crock?
1. His idea that a sections that emphatically does not need a moderator needs one. Truthfully, Coco hasn't presented much else to challenge other than "How great he is" in his own mind. Because that is an opinion it's awfully hard to prove wrong in a sense, but his behavior is a good place to start.
2. It's not a matter of who is "deserving". If it were KB and Slyfox would have simply picked a new moderator that they felt "deserved" the position. What I can demonstrate though is that I do possess all the required skills, I have ideals that no one else does to benefit the site, that I want it more than the next guy, and that I will be able to perform the duties and tasks of the position better than anyone else. I will do this through my actions going forward in the elections, and point out other things through the elections that I have done to point to myself being the best choice.
I'm going to tell you something, and I want you to take this seriously. Most of the moderators on the site share this desire. As for myself, I had zero designs on becoming a Moderator before I was asked by Slyfox. It took some convincing, in fact, for me to do so. And I took the position without the slightest bit of of pretention, or a better then you attitude. If you saw behind the scenes, you'd see the large amount of work each of us do to improve this place, work that goes unnoticed and unthanked. My PM box is flooded with people asking me questions, requesting I post in threads, or help them in simple tasks. I respond to each and every one, never asking for thanks I often don't get. Are you equipped to be someone who does that? In essence, being a Mod is like being a volunteer. You're doing a sizeable amount of work with no pay and little thanks. Why would you want to undertake what Ive just described? Further, are you humble enough to do so?
I am glad you asked me this question. Am I equipped to do what you just described? Of course, if I was not aware of what the job required I wouldn't have made the first move at attempting to gain the position. As I've mentioned before I have done this in the past and even been the main man in charge of a sizable forum, one that collapsed after my exit as a matter of fact without my hard work, leadership and guidance, and relentless efforts to improve it. Why would I want to do it? Because I like to be of service to people, I like to work for the betterment of things that are greater than myself, I like to work hard whether I get recognition for it or not because I find it rewarding to do the work in general. Managing forums is something I've found that I like to do quite a bit and I'm jumping at the chance to moderate on my favorite forum of all.
I've wanted to be an integral part of the machine that makes this place go from day one just because I was such a big fan of it. I also want to do it because it lets me reach out to people on a larger scale. I can help people and make a difference in peoples day by giving a kind word, a word of advice, helping someone improve, helping take a burden off of someone else who is too busy to do some of the work around here, help make changes that improve the experience of members of the forum, help enforce the rules that keep this forum in order, on and on and on goes the list of ways I can make a difference here and in the lives of people with something as simple as a few performed tasks or a few typed words.
