Diaspora Moderator - Ironing Man

Steven Ruiz said:🤣
When I was first appointed as a moderator for the Diaspora section, that actually marked the very beginning of the Diaspora community itself. Honestly, I was the very first mod there... so, if you ask me, the Diaspora started going downhill from that exact moment. What’s your take on all that? 🙏 👍

Also, let me tell you, the Diaspora definitely wasn't some reliable hub for information back when I was running things, and anyone on the forum who has been around longer than you can certainly vouch for that... 😉 (though, whether you like it or not, providing info is one of the core functions of these forums, whether it's the Diaspora section or any other sub-forum)
And, by the way, every single one of those moderators mentioned above faced their fair share of criticism... coming from all sorts of directions... 😉

Users with more seniority than me????? Well, I guess that’s your problem right there—you tend to jump to conclusions far too quickly. For the record, this isn't my original handle; it's my second one. And no, you don't need to go digging around now, because that specific handle hasn't been banned... 😉😉

There are plenty of people on this site who still remember exactly what you were up to when you were first given moderator status, but I really don't feel like wasting my energy looking up all that nonsense right now. As for Secund, Het, or even Skattemus—if everyone had stayed as "normal" as they were back then, this forum probably wouldn't be facing half the issues it does today. 😉

You’re forgetting one little thing here... the admins also have a full view of everything I've been up to. 😉
Just like they can see all of ambermason16's work and everything the other moderators have been doing.
And, by the way, I'm well aware that this isn't your first handle, and I actually know what your original username was, so don't you worry about your words carrying zero weight when it comes to me... 😉

Steven Ruiz said:You’re forgetting one little thing here... the admins also have a full view of everything I've been up to. 😉
Just like they can see all of ambermason16's work and everything the other moderators have been doing.
And, by the way, I'm well aware that this isn't your first handle, and I actually know what your original username was, so don't you worry about your words carrying zero weight when it comes to me... 😉

You really haven't the slightest clue what my original handle was...🙄🙄

I am quite certain the admins have eyes on everything, and frankly, it seems they are perfectly content with how things unfolded and how they are currently playing out. That’s why I’ve largely given up hope that anything will actually change. When you were appointed as a moderator for the second time, I simply stopped visiting the Diaspora community, much like many others did. I suppose I just have a low tolerance for arrogance and that condescending tone people seem to adopt. In a strange way, though, I suppose I should thank you, because you effectively "cured" me of my addiction to this forum. If there were just a few more people like you and perhaps a few more like me, this whole place might actually turn a corner...😁😁

Well, of course I don't know... 🙂

hollowtrucker77 said:Oh, come on, stop talking nonsense if you don't actually understand what happened or why.
I was the one who banned Vilko, and it definitely wasn't because of some random post in the chat.
Got it?

To whom it may concern, whichever sounds better to you,😉

You banned my husband just because he used an old username from two years ago—which is totally fine, and he isn't even complaining about that part.

But you banned ante62, and then what? You had to go and ban Vilko for two months too?

What could Vilko have possibly done that was so "terrible" that he's been locked out of THIS THREAD for years... should he file a zalba or just leave a COMMENT????????

I haven't been able to follow everything being written here lately, but I do look back at everything he's dealt with, and he has complained about the moderators the least.

And one last thing: WHY DID YOU DELETE what was being written? Nothing said was bad toward the mods... it was just general opinions.

Over the last seven years, this Diaspora has really gotten on my nerves... Vilko spends hours personally responding to people and helping anyone who needs it. Just look at how many threads he's started and how much people rely on his input.
helping individuals.

I'm sure there are a few users who don't care, BUT the vast majority reach out via PM to say thanks for his posts and for everything he shares.

Since you guys are supposedly so fair, why did you delete the last two posts published here? 🤷

With thanks, 🙂
Vilko's wife

Vera Verica K.

Roger Robinson682 said:You really haven't the slightest clue what my original handle was...🙄🙄

I am quite certain the admins have eyes on everything, and frankly, it seems they are perfectly content with how things unfolded and how they are currently playing out. That’s why I’ve largely given up hope that anything will actually change. When you were appointed as a moderator for the second time, I simply stopped visiting the Diaspora community, much like many others did. I suppose I just have a low tolerance for arrogance and that condescending tone people seem to adopt. In a strange way, though, I suppose I should thank you, because you effectively "cured" me of my addiction to this forum. If there were just a few more people like you and perhaps a few more like me, this whole place might actually turn a corner...😁😁

I don't know, personally I've never noticed Steven Ruiz being arrogant; she just talks normally.
Sometimes I check out the Photography subforum where she moderates now, and the vibe there is actually great. It's not like she's schizophrenic and switches personalities for every single subforum. 😕

It's a different story when some people just want to burn the whole thing down, but in my opinion, anarchy isn't the solution. 🤷

Roger Robinson682 said:You really haven't the slightest clue what my original handle was...🙄🙄

I am quite certain the admins have eyes on everything, and frankly, it seems they are perfectly content with how things unfolded and how they are currently playing out. That’s why I’ve largely given up hope that anything will actually change. When you were appointed as a moderator for the second time, I simply stopped visiting the Diaspora community, much like many others did. I suppose I just have a low tolerance for arrogance and that condescending tone people seem to adopt. In a strange way, though, I suppose I should thank you, because you effectively "cured" me of my addiction to this forum. If there were just a few more people like you and perhaps a few more like me, this whole place might actually turn a corner...😁😁

Look, Roger, I’m right there with you. I’m fed up with moderators acting like this: 🙂

My conscience is clear. I’ve met some good people here, helped a few out, but then you’ve got others who just jump in to answer the same repetitive questions from people who didn't even bother using the search bar or scrolling through a thread—and they don't even get penalized for it. To me, that's just as bad as trolling.

I’ve already had my say about Steven Ruiz, so I’m not going to repeat myself.

ambermason16 set her own tone the moment she showed up to moderate, and obviously, I'm not the only one who's "allergic" to it.
The best days on this site since she became a mod were the days when she wasn't around at all...

Charles Davis88 said:I don't know, personally I've never noticed Steven Ruiz being arrogant; she just talks normally.
Sometimes I check out the Photography subforum where she moderates now, and the vibe there is actually great. It's not like she's schizophrenic and switches personalities for every single subforum. 😕

It's a different story when some people just want to burn the whole thing down, but in my opinion, anarchy isn't the solution. 🤷

Nobody actually wants anarchy; they just want consistent rules applied to everyone. Every single moderator... though at this point, it’s starting to feel like pure science fiction or some kind of utopia.

Look, don't start with me about Steven Ruiz. 🙂 He’s not my best friend, or some VIP in my life, but let's be real here. When she was running things—especially right at the beginning, and even after—that PDF was great. All these clones that have popped up in the last two or three years, and the people who’ve totally crossed the line? That's not on her. In all these years, I haven't noticed any arrogance or that "talking down to people" vibe from her side.

My suggestions:
1. The current mod, ambermason16, needs to "normalize." By that, I mean stop this hyper-analytical obsession—which includes constantly closing threads, moving stuff around, deleting posts, and so on... (and look, I'm not saying offensive or off-topic stuff shouldn't be deleted), and just normalize how she talks to everyone. 🙂

2. If point number one isn't possible, then ambermason16 should hand over the reins to someone else who actually cares about this PDF, someone who will carry on the legacy of the previous mods who did a decent job. 🙂

3. This goes for all of us: stop making clones (yeah, I'm talking to those of you who spend your spare time doing this), stop fueling arguments, stop picking on the "newbies," stop mocking the unlucky souls who come here asking questions, stop being every kind of annoying person imaginable, stop trashing everything American, and just ignore the "know-it-alls"—let them just babble to themselves, etc... (you get the idea). 🙂

Look, it’s hard to give a clear example when someone shows up with either a tiny dustpan or a massive industrial broom and just sweeps all the posts away, leaving us with zero visibility.
For instance, two of my own posts—which had absolutely nothing to do with the moderator discussions in the CHATU—just vanished. No explanation, no PM, no warning card. Why? Only Strikalica knows the truth there...

It feels weird to me, honestly. Like, Skatte didn't even issue cards for those comments by frozenseal55 and mrtav hladan, and then suddenly you show up and decide to "enforce order." I genuinely thought this was all just Strikalica's territory. 🤷
Maybe she just missed them... I can only speculate at this point, because posts keep getting deleted and most people here have no clue why they’re suddenly getting hit with a yellow or a heavy red card.

Clones are everywhere, and they aren't just a problem within the Diaspora. Personally, I find the whole thing childish. I stand behind every single word I write, so I don't need some outside "help" to back me up...
All I know is this: if the active users stop agreeing with how things are being moderated and start questioning what's actually supporting the site, then the situation is pretty much beyond repair.

People have already been throwing out concrete suggestions on how to move forward.

I honestly believe the core issue here is the relationship between the mods and the users—specifically in this instance, it’s about ambermason16. It all comes down to her tone and how she carries herself, acting like she's the absolute boss who holds all the power while everyone else is just expected to bark at the stars.
Look at this: first, she drops an unnecessarily defensive post, and then she snaps back at Satru, arrogantly claiming his suggestions won't even be considered and suggesting the thread be shut down entirely. Instead of actually engaging in the discussion—especially now when everyone is participating in good faith to fix things—she should be trying to find common ground and contribute to a solution.

Besides, deleting posts that don't actually warrant deletion happens to anyone. Skatte has done it a few times herself, yet nobody says a single word against her because she’s a reasonable woman in terms of her behavior and communication.

As for clones, they really need to be punished immediately by having their profiles deleted or whatever the standard forum protocol dictates. I didn't even realize there was such an epidemic of clones within the Diaspora 😲.

By the way, comparing the Diaspora sub compared to Photography is like comparing apples to watermelons.
Photography is a niche thematic forum tied to one specific interest, whether it's a hobby or a profession. On the other hand, the Diaspora section is far more complex. People go to the photography forum to talk about photography, and that’s it. You don't see massive, explosive drama happening there.
Conversely, people come to the Diaspora section because they live abroad, used to live abroad, or have a deep desire to move overseas. It attracts a massive spectrum of people from all over the world, with wildly different careers and life interests.

It's a completely different matter if you view the Diaspora section strictly as a place for visa information and logistics.
If that's the case, it will die out incredibly fast, because regular users aren't going to keep visiting constantly just to answer the exact same repetitive questions.

Here’s how I see it: Steven Ruiz was actually the most chill mod—reasonable vocabulary, kept things civil.
You guys gave her a hard time. Then ambermason16 stepped up with a more authoritative vibe (though not aggressive, unlike certain users here!), all in an attempt to establish some order since apparently Steven Ruiz's approach "wasn't working."

I think we're all being a bit too sensitive. We shouldn't take Reddit this seriously; nobody ever died from a cardboard cutout.
And if the rules state that moderator actions shouldn't be debated based on who's having a bad day, then maybe we could put that extra "effort" toward complaining where it actually matters. Whining and jumping down a mod's throat over every single move isn't productive for any subforum. For what it's worth, I was offered the chance to moderate the Diaspora section twice in the last three years, and both times I decided that taking on such an ungrateful job would be like shooting myself in the foot.

I don't see what ambermason16 did that was so terrible to warrant this much instant resentment. If my memory serves, some people decided right out of the gate that she couldn't be a mod because she's "unknown," doesn't live in the Diaspora, or "moderates Television." They never gave her a fair shake—just shut her down immediately.

Anyway, that's just my perspective as a user who rarely has issues with mods or the community in general.

frozenseal55 said:I honestly believe the core issue here is the relationship between the mods and the users—specifically in this instance, it’s about ambermason16. It all comes down to her tone and how she carries herself, acting like she's the absolute boss who holds all the power while everyone else is just expected to bark at the stars.
Look at this: first, she drops an unnecessarily defensive post, and then she snaps back at Satru, arrogantly claiming his suggestions won't even be considered and suggesting the thread be shut down entirely. Instead of actually engaging in the discussion—especially now when everyone is participating in good faith to fix things—she should be trying to find common ground and contribute to a solution.

Besides, deleting posts that don't actually warrant deletion happens to anyone. Skatte has done it a few times herself, yet nobody says a single word against her because she’s a reasonable woman in terms of her behavior and communication.

As for clones, they really need to be punished immediately by having their profiles deleted or whatever the standard forum protocol dictates. I didn't even realize there was such an epidemic of clones within the Diaspora 😲.

By the way, comparing the Diaspora sub compared to Photography is like comparing apples to watermelons.
Photography is a niche thematic forum tied to one specific interest, whether it's a hobby or a profession. On the other hand, the Diaspora section is far more complex. People go to the photography forum to talk about photography, and that’s it. You don't see massive, explosive drama happening there.
Conversely, people come to the Diaspora section because they live abroad, used to live abroad, or have a deep desire to move overseas. It attracts a massive spectrum of people from all over the world, with wildly different careers and life interests.

It's a completely different matter if you view the Diaspora section strictly as a place for visa information and logistics.
If that's the case, it will die out incredibly fast, because regular users aren't going to keep visiting constantly just to answer the exact same repetitive questions.

What if we just opened a dedicated sub-forum on the Diaspora site specifically for relocation Q&A?

As for comparing the Diaspora to Reddit...

The people over on Reddit are also all different types of individuals with totally different perspectives on life—people who post their creative work there, or at least their attempts at it. They comment on each other's stuff, throwing out their own value judgments on what others have produced.
If that isn't a powder keg of a situation, then I honestly don't know what is. 🙂

wiredsailor7 said:What if we just opened a dedicated sub-forum on the Diaspora site specifically for relocation Q&A?

Honestly, I think that’s a brilliant idea.🙂>

wiredsailor7 said:What if we just opened a dedicated sub-forum on the Diaspora site specifically for relocation Q&A?

Everything would be a hell of a lot easier if these paratroopers actually read the sub-forum rules—but let’s be real, we’re probably never going to get rid of them completely.
Steven Ruiz pointed out that people should Google things and dig through old threads before asking questions, but some people just lack the patience, the manners, or... well, the brains for that kind of approach. I deal with the exact same thing over in Social Science—it feels like five new threads pop up every single day asking stuff like "HELP! How do you say man in English?"
There is already a massive pinned thread full of links to specific language topics.

I might introduce something similar to the Diaspora site: a master thread organized by country alphabetically, and go for it, Mickey. Plus, maybe a bright, colorful warning telling people not to post unless they've done at least a baseline amount of research. Otherwise? Instant ban. 😈

The truth is, most people don't even know how to use Google. 😢

Charles Davis88 said:As for comparing the Diaspora to Reddit...

The people over on Reddit are also all different types of individuals with totally different perspectives on life—people who post their creative work there, or at least their attempts at it. They comment on each other's stuff, throwing out their own value judgments on what others have produced.
If that isn't a powder keg of a situation, then I honestly don't know what is. 🙂

Exactly, but let’s not forget the fact that we're talking about one very specific niche here; every single topic on Reddit revolves around photography.
I think the Diaspora is a much more complex beast because it covers such a massive range of subjects... though I see where you're coming from.