When I first started this site, I worked really really hard to make sure that every question was answered. However, as the forums grew bigger, it got harder and harder to do. Not only because there were more questions asked, but because more behind the scenes stuff needs to be accomplished now on a daily basis. Nowadays, I find myself spending most of my time working on the business aspects of the site - making contacts in the industry, promoting the site, improving the backend, making sure that advertising dollars cover the growing expenses, finding advertisers and site sponsors, managing advertising campaigns, etc. When I'm not doing that I'm replying to 25+ emails a day from members who lost their password, are having problems activating their accounts, etc. I have also somewhat taken up a policy of letting moderators handle problems as they see fit - basically letting the moderators completely lead the community.

Do you think this is a very bad thing? Can a forum grow with a behind-the-scenes admin? Or does everyone want to see that omnipresent admin going around answering questions and being the glue that holds the community together?

I have another question along these same lines. Right now the moderators are doing a fantastic job not only answering questions, but together leading a growing community. Do you think that moderators hold it against a forum with an absent admin? Sorta like they feel that if I don't care enough to make the time to answer questions, then they don't have the time either?

i know a little about forum moderating, but none about admining. i play for a Counter-Strike/Day of Defeat/Doom 3 (coming soon)/Nascar Racing clan called KORT (knights of the round table www.kortclan.com) and there are tons of moderators and a few admins. There is more than one admin though so its less of a stress persay on the admins. but there is only one admin that knows how to do the behind the scenes coding (we use PHP forums) I personally dont think its a bad thing, you as an admin have done a great job with this place and keeping it up and running, and i think most will respect that you will post and help as you can, but also have to maintain the sites expenses and other things. Just remember not one person can hold a community together. At KORT we think of ourselves as a large family instead of a clan of gamers. and thats what helps us stay together, just remembering that not one person can do all the jobs, and that its ok for someone not to be as active as someone else because they have other things they need to tend to. I personally love this site and frequent it as much as possible, this has been one of my biggest learning experience and i find myself learning every day just reading what people have to say.

Being a moderator myself of a DoD forum, Art Forum, Trading forum, and a Meetings and Minutes forum. i know thats its not only the moderators that help keep things inline, but also the people that continue to post and help out. I think Admins+Moderators+Good community == great atmosphere and overall great experience.

Thanks for the positive feedback Killertypo

Your very welcome. i always enjoy helping a community grow, especially one that i feel i can be a great part of.

No, they usually don't. Most people understand that there's life outside of the Internet, and sometimes it's unavoidable. For example, the owner of thecubhouse (A Yahoo Group) had to "live life" and couldn't keep up with the group like he had been. He gave me the job of moderator (basically with instructions to do nothing unless I need to) and hasn't been around for a week. Posting is at its normal rate, and everything's normal.

Greetings.
I have no experience in leading the pack but I have my points to deliver.
I personally think this is a hand-in-hand task. Yes, one should be devoted in what he/she started/does, but as moderators/colleagues, they should be able to understand you more enough than any one else. I mean, we, as members do not know how busy/tough is it at the back. But they should know.

Actually, I truly salute you and your fellow moderators for such good effort you guys put in. Not to mention that every question is answered with efforts plus all your time spent in maintaining this site.

From the day I joined daniweb till today, I learned a lot of stuffs, from a non-hardware literate person to a know-how-to-troubleshoot-the-computer girl. LOL.

Enough of that, but I just want to say that with great bonds among the moderators + the admin, there should be no problem.

I'm a super-moderator over at Webdeveloper.com and our community over there grew with pretty much an absent admin. The way it works now is that admin people have a few posts every week and just keep an eye on things. Admin keep in close contact with the moderators, and we have our own hidden forum dedicated to moderators chat, what needs fixing etc. Admin keep up to date on that forum, skim in and out of the others to make sure everything's running smoothly, but generally the moderators lead the site. It works pretty well I think.

However, I would caution that this community is built fundamentally around your personality Dani, so I wouldn't take the example of webdeveloper.com as fitting perfectly with your site. I think most people on the forum think of themselves as your friends - this forum has a far more personal touch than webdeveloper.com, so by all means spend less time answering every post, but don't disappear altogether!

That's my opinion anyway
Dave

Thanks for all your feedback. Don't worry Dave, I don't plan on leaving the site entirely. It's just that there is so much behind the scenes work to do that for the most part I don't really have the time to answer questions like my moderators do. I guess, however, it can be looked upon as that we each have different roles to play in running the site. And the site wouldn't exist without the moderators and it wouldn't exist without the admin, either. Comments?

Hello Dani,

I think that you have a nice balance of talented moderators with your drive to handle the business end of the site. Everyone here has their own role -- I go after limited C++ support, look for abuses in the new threads, get deep and dirty in the Linux forum, and see the Mac forum as paradise for me. Other equally skilled, but in different areas, go after Windows (in)Security, Web Design, and whatnot.

The staff invests time and energy into the community because we like it here, and we have something to contribute, and something to grow with. Do not feel bad that you are not everywhere. A burnt out admin will flame out the community. I would cut out a chunk of work that is your role, and stick with it. Remember to eat, bathe, and go on vacation.

Christian

I agree with kc0arf :cheesy: .

Very much the same for me... hehe.



I think we can allow her to sleep (sometimes), go to the bathroom, and watch a little TV.