Notice Of New Moderating Approach

Don,

Awesome decision!

Hal

The conundrum that you can't have the job without the experience, and you can't get the experience without the job.

I would contend for the longevity of any site there need to be some trainees in the wings who are empowered to make simple decisions and work their way up - to fix typos, to fix links, to edit titles for clarity, etc. Essentially to splash around in the shallow end of the pool before swimming in the deep water of the hard decisions.

John,
There is very little to learn, the staff training page is a few paragraphs (around 400 words total). The learning curve for most people would be measured in a few minutes.

I do not think the issue is staffing, the issue is a lack of consideration of the mostly anonymous, 'know-it-all' posters who think they their opinions are facts and that the rest of us hang around waiting for their musings. If it was not this, then people would use private messages to advance their positions instead of publicly posting criticisms of the hard decisions. It is also supported in view of the number of staffers who get burned out on forums.
Don

I have been threatened physically more than a dozen times and my life threatened once.

By a pack of hardcore gangsta stamp collectors? I'm trying to picture this in my mind...

My life was threatened by an ebay seller whose counterfeit coins were discussed on the coin forum and I got them taken down.

To Whom It May Concern...

I wouldn't even have to pull the trigger. Once I put the laser dot on his forehead, my cats will do the rest.

Bobby - I LOVE IT !

Utter deniability. "The cats did it"

Seriously, we're waaaaay off topic. Feel free to delete the gun post. As an ex-cop, it was my first reaction to your being threatened, even though most of those turn out to be just blowhards acting tough.

I was threatened by a stamp collector here who posted off color jokes. He had he had no money at stake, he was only angry over having his free account locked.
Don

I carry a pair of sharpened tongs in a small of back holster with tips dipped in an exotic neurotoxin. If that does not work I use my Sig. If those fail I play Yoko Ono.

Oh, no, don't do Yoko - that is the most dangerous weapon!

I believe in keeping an ace up my sleeve in addition to other appropriate accoutrements on or nearby.

But Don, if you ever need the nuclear option, give me a call. I may know people:

Your ultimate weapon wouldn't work on me. I've paid to see Yoko in concert of my own free will. Twice.