Moderators: Stand Up and Be Counted

[golok]

While I was riding against the wind on a rainy day to the office, a thought flashed across my mind.

Who are these Bladeforums moderators? Where do they come from? Are they young people, old people?

I am inquisitive by nature. It has been four months since I ventured into this Kingdom of 1001 Blades and the Moderators have struck me as some kind of senior members of the Supreme Council of Knifemen.

How are moderators selected? Is it on the basis of merit and experience? Are they senior citizens with impeccable credentials and holders of lofty offices in the corporate world?

Are there any or many women among them? My impression is that these moderators who are known by all kinds of exotic Call-Signs sound like quite a mature lot.
Some of them have a great sense of humour. Most of them are fairly intelligent. Quite often, they proffered some gems of knowledge of rare quality. At times, they sound quite constrained in their replies, even though one can feel they want to say more but are restrained, perhaps, by the office they hold.
Are there CEOs among these moderators, who perhaps after a long day at the boardroom making multi-million-dollar decisions, deigned to come down and have a fun time at the Bladeforums, indulging in a hobby unspoken in their high office.
How many moderators are there altogether? Are they all working part time? Are some of them members of Mensa? Or may be some of them are true-blue soldiers of fortune? Can some of them be men of the cloth. At the computer, they answer to forum members, at most times, they answer to God?

These are some of the things that run through my mind. One of the reasons for asking so many questions is because Bladeforums moderators strike me as some of the most interesting people in the entire forum.
Actually, I would like to see thumbnail pictures of all of them in some part of the forum - masked or unmasked. That would really be fun.
I suppose the common interest among the moderators would be the unadulterated passion for knives.
Without sounding sycophantic or ingratiating, I for one actually learn quite a bit from a number of these people. That's another reason why I am curious as to what manner of men are these people.

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Make Love your strongest weapon. Compassion your shield and forgiveness your armour.

[This message has been edited by golok (edited 01-04-2001).]

 

[HUNTER3897]

I think the way Mike chooses them is by looking at whoever has the longest posts that actually don't say anything and also by analyzing who uses the biggest words. Of course, Mike would be the best person to answer this. Mensa Mike, you out there?

Jim McCullough

 

[Paracelsus]

Jim is right.

Being a moderator to me means actually being stupid enough to have volunteered to do your best to help folks out which then makes you a moving target in any skirmish where people are shooting at each other. It's dangerous. Sometimes exciting. And nobody gets paid for it or does it full time.

I'm pretty sure we all share a passion for knives, and for the most part, we like people. I am otherwise pretty normal, age 41, with a house, 2 kids (boy 10, girl 7), two cats, two cars, only one wife, and some other stuff. There are many ways in which my namesake Theophratus Bombastus von Honeheim (Paracelsus) and I are similar. He is one of my personal hero's, so I use his name.

I get paid to do science and create stuff for a small pharmaceutical company. Bladeforums is a creative and emotional outlet for me. It is a place were I come come, hang out, and share my knowledge and confusions with other responsible mature adults

Paracelsus

 

[Cougar Allen]

The main qualification is being stupid enough to take the job. In order to moderate any of the busier forums you also have to have no life.

There is only one woman the last I looked, Donna Barnes of the Filipino Combat Arts Forum. CEOs of various knife companies moderate their forums....

I love the idea of thumbnail portraits of masked moderators! I don't have a jpg of myself with a paper bag over my head ... but ... would you be satisfied if I find a pic of someone else with a paper bag over his head somewhere on the net and post a link to it? It would save trouble ... and one paper bag looks pretty much like another....

-Cougar :{)

 

[HUNTER3897]

Cougar,

You forgot to tell us which multi-million dollar company you are the CEO for. And what about that exotic call sign? Take your mask off and let's see who you really are!

 

[BRAM]

One can be asked to do moderating.. "I mean it takes no time or thought..It won't interfere with your normal life"..yeah right..So like the rest of you I said yes..Of course I've known Mike for about 10 years ...and I consider him a friend and fellow martial artist...
Of course I love being shot at, sniped at , yelled at..cause the other side of the coin is the people who actually read what I say..
they don't have to agree but the fact they read it>???GREAT..
I teach the use of knife..I teach martial arts.. I design knives.. I draw..I write...
I do sculpture...
I LOVE steel..

I like moderating.. I've met some great people.

yup, I'm a parent, cat owner...
I'm a typical crazy MENSAN...
happy new year to you all..

 

[Gollnick]

Here's two of the three that moderate the Balisong Forum

How are moderators selected? Is it on the basis of merit and experience?

We are appointed by Mike at his discretion. Why did he select me? Probably my stylish, sexy good looks.

Are there CEOs among these moderators? No me, thankfully. My charity work brings me into contact with these folks occationally and I find them very stressful.

Are they all working part time? I think some work full-time. Some of us don't work in the usual sense.

Are some of them members of Mensa? Not me. I had the hardest time getting my security system disarmed last night much less Mensa.

Or may be some of them are true-blue soldiers of fortune? Fortune is over-rated.

Can some of them be men of the cloth? Not me, but, again, I work with a lot of 'em and those folks I find to be peaceful and calming. They'd make good moderators.

They answer to God? Yes.




------------------
Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com

 

[Dexter Ewing]

Like Paracelsus said, I'm one of the ones who was stupid enough to take this job

I've been a knife nut for about 9 years. I've always had a fascination with tools, and saw the knife as such and pretty soon I bought my first knife, then the second, third...we all know what happens after that!

I fill my days by working full time at the WFU School of Medicine, the part time/hobby is playing with all these sharp objects and banging out articles for Knives Illustrated and Blade. Areas of interest include product evaluations, current industry trends, and company profiles. Been writing about knives for about 5 years. I possess a tremendous love for the hobby, and enjoy sharing my enthusiam through the forums and in print. So far, I'm the undisputed record holder of the most knives carried on one's person at one time

I've got a couple other tricks up my sleeve which will debut at this year's Blade Show. LOL Though knives consume most of my interests, other non-cutlery related interests of mine are pens and high powered flashlights

Special talents? Not many, except the keen sense of recognizing the basso profundo rumble of a certain big brown truck

As for a thumbnail sketch, this one below will do. I am pictured <a href="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=55151&a=4790097&p=20391220&Sequence=0&res=high">here</a> with fellow BF moderator Kit Carson, thus killing two birds with one stone.

Hmmm...on second thought it may have been better to have the sacks over our heads before taking the picture? LOL.

Through my work with the magazines and moderating here, I have met a lot of genuinely good people around the knife industry - fellow enthusiasts, makers, manufacturers, and retailers. I am honored to count all of them as friends of mine.

There ya have it!

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Proud member of AKTI, NCCKG, NCKK, and SCAK

In memory of James K. Mattis


[This message has been edited by Dexter Ewing (edited 01-03-2001).]

 

[shootist16]

I had been a member for almost two years when I volunteered to moderate a knife laws section. Mike was kind enough to create the forum and let me moderate.

I am currently a full time police officer. Before that I was in Military Intelligence.

I don't have many pictures of myself and I wouldn't want to scare anyone. I would probably make Vampire Gerbil look good.

Being a moderator is a lot like being a police officer in that I believe we should hold ourselves to a higher standard. There are several times that I have practiced restraint in things that I may have posted as a general member but will not as a moderator. I feel that our actions are a reflection on this forum and I will not intentionally do anything to discredit it. It is imperative that you be fair and unbiased.

Being a moderator is also quite a bit of responsibility. More than I originally thought.



------------------
Dennis Bible

 

[HUNTER3897]

I'm starting to feel like I don't belong. Besides Golok, I'm the only one here who isn't a Moderator. I think I will crawl back under my rock now.

Jim McCullough

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Next time you feel your life is sooo tough, read this- Some American Heroes

 

[Gus Kalanzis]

I have a real job so I will post lucidly later tonight replacing this drivel

, if I have time. (I do some volunteer tutoring of high school rug rats on Wednesdays.)

In short I am just a knife nut that is 45 years old I design software systems for large companies so I can afford knives, dog food, human food and shelter. I was dumb enough to accept the moderation of the Custom forum so in my case superior intelligence is not a qualification. I have advanced degrees in Math and Computer Science and in case you have not figured it out, the vocabulary of a 6 year old

(got through school by avoiding as much writing and taking as much math and science as I could).

Still have and carry the first stockman that was given to me by my dad when I was 4 years old. Had an otherwise normal childhood of loosing, breaking or blowing up most other objects given to me, so knife collecting must be in my blood. As far as a picture, I do not know if the forums is ready for an ugly Greek, but I will post a link or thumbnail from photopoint at some time.

I learn here from others (even some of the new folks) every day and the things I learn are not just about knives. I want to be considered a member here just like everyone else and my opinions should not carry any more weight than others. I do get upset when I see things posted that do not come close to the experience I have had with the same subject matter. I also get upset when I see behavior that I have never seen when a bunch of knife nuts are physically together.

Sometimes I am reluctant to post because of so many friends in the industry. Too easy to leave people and their work out. My opinions are only based on my experience and there a quite a few of us that have more experience than than I do. When some one asks for the "best" of whatever, no one can be sure they are not leaving out a deserving suggestion of the 4,000 + custom knife-makers out there.

All we can do is offer suggestions based on our experience.

So much for the thumbnail. With a chorus line like that one below I am worried about BF. The other problem is that I have at least met all those people except for VG. I have unwisely spent time with quite a few of 'em. Mike it is time for fresh moderator meat

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" The real art of living is too keep alive the longing in human beings to become greater versions of themselves." Laurens Van der Post.
In memory of James Mattis


[This message has been edited by Gus Kalanzis (edited 01-03-2001).]

 

[glockman99]

While I'm not a moderator, I SHOULD be.

. (...Come on Mike, there's GOTTA be a place for me here, SOMEWHERE...

.).

I'm 46 years old, a retired Deputy Sheriff, and am currently the Security/Parking Enforcement Supervisor at our local Community College. I have been married for the past 17 years to the SAME woman.

I am also a certifiable Knife Knutt, and a "collector" of Cold Steel knives.
.

.

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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663

 

[PhilL]

Yeah, they're all members of MENSA.

Here are some of the Moderators you look up to. Well, two of these guys are the Administrators, one isn't he's just a knife maker, but the rest all are or were Goderators in their own minds.

How many can you name?


No prizes will be awarded.

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"Will work 4 Knives!"
My PhotoPoint Site

 

[Kit Carson]

Geesh, Phil, did you have to put me between those two?

I'm 14, love poetry and don't drink or smoke

I'm the guy on the right on that pic Dex posted.

Been a knife maker for 28 years and full time for over 7 years.

 

[Joe Talmadge]

Phew! Not in the grass skirt lineup!

I was always kinda into knives, started reading the rec.knives newsgroup around the time it started up, maybe 10-12 years ago? Been a knife geek ever since. We talked on rec.knives for a while about how we should have some FAQs, and since no one was volunteering, I started writing them by myself. I wanted the FAQs to be at least reasonably authoritative, so I began heading to the garage and testing any claim I'd read but that made me suspicious. I started posting when the first webforum, recdotknives.com, appeared. When that forum eventually closed amidst an internecine s**tstorm, Earl invited me to moderate the Knife Design&Function forum and later the Knife Review Forum on knifeforums.com. A year or two later bladeforums.com started up, and a few months later Spark asked me to moderate the Knife Review forum here.

Geez, practically a reader's digest version of the history of knife nuts on the internet!

Joe

 

[golok]

What a great bunch of guys, you all are.
I never laughed so much in my life.

At the same time, I feel a bit like a garden toad in the company of giant creatures.

I normally don't partake in any chat group on the Net. That was until I came across Bladeforums.

For a while there, I had my doubts. Then I began to get some great answers about a lot of things I don't know about.

It soon dawned on me that there's a bunch of fun guys out there. So here I am. I am glad I came for a party that doesn't seem to end.

We all learn from one another. I am learning all the time - from everybody.

Thanks a heap!



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Make Love your strongest weapon. Compassion your shield and forgiveness your armour.

 

[Knife Outlet]

Better get in here while there is time. I'm a moderator because I arranged and paid for a forum for our company. Truthfully, I haven't had time to spend to make it a useful and beneficial forum so I'm going to have let it go and return to being a member.

Nevertheless, I'm one of the old timers at 56 years of age. I make my living doing e-commerce on the internet with a current crop of 4 e-stores including the knife e-store. Even though knives have become a business, I still like them and generally smile everytime we get something new in inventory and I get to check it out and image it for the site. The fun never goes away, I guess. Loved the grass skirt chorus line, by the way.

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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com

 

Best wishes from "Old Gruff & Grumm" to all who take care of us.

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D.T. UTZINGER

 

[Jim March]

I think in a lot of cases, the guy who gets the moderator slot for a forum *invented* the forum itself. The "knife laws" forum is an example.

Back on the old Knifeforums under Earl Stewart, Mike Turber was moderating the "General" forum loosely equivelent to "Main" here.

Earl decided a change was necessary, and back then UBB couldn't do multiple moderators per forum. Well, a lot of people liked Mike, myself included, and the controversy was threatening to shatter the whole thing. I came up with the idea of carving off part of "General's" business into an off-topic/humor/misc area I called "Community" to help keep General more "on-topic-knife", and have Mike moderate that. I floated the idea to Earl and Mike in private EMail but what I didn't know was that Mike and Spark were already pondering BF. Mike liked the idea of the Community forum, but as an administrator didn't feel a need to run it, so he offered it to me

.

That's how I ended up a "plankholder moderator".

Politics came later. We didn't have a moderator for a long time, and then when my first gun-rights trial was about to hit in December of '99, I asked for temp moderator rights so that I could manage a couple of threads related directly to the trial. It was *supposed* to be temporary but...they never yanked it

.

Speaking of which, I could use at least one co-moderator over there. My top choices would be Ken Cox or Yvsa, whichever would accept (or both) - they're both really good people, very sane, extremely pro-freedom and they took the opposite side from myself in the best real debate we ever had over there, the "Confederate thread":

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/000816.html

Jim

 

[Keith Montgomery]

This is a great thread. It is nice that you guys have taken the time to tell us a wee bit about yourselves. Without you guys this hobby would not be nearly as much fun.