SMP Silver Salon Forum - What is a moderator?

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What does a
Silver Salon Forum
moderator do?

Important
Before you read this page take a moment and familiarize yourself with the
SMP Silver Salon Forums and the SSF Guidelines.

As you will see there are many different approaches to being a moderator.

Basically the moderator "seeds" the forum, checks in from time to time to make sure that the forum stays on subject/topic and if necessary, re-"seeds" the forum.

The most interesting forums usually have a moderator with some relevant interest and/or expertise.  It is a moderator's first job to be a guide, therefore the moderator doesn't have to be an expert on the forum's subject.

A moderator guides and directs general forum issues.   So, if a moderator should receive an e-mail question(s) about forum protocol, they would be expected to respond.   If a moderator receives a direct e-mail question like "What is Martele?", they are NOT obligated to answer a topical question like this.   Most forum moderators will recommend that the question be posted on the forum so all forum participants may respond.

Sometimes a user will post inappropriate messages and will ignore requests to stop posting such messages.   In this case, the moderator can request that SMP block the member's User ID and e-mail address from making future posts.   This is accomplished by contacting Forum Administrators and we will initiate the member's User ID and forum e-mail block.

That is it.

Of course you can make moderating a forum a bigger deal -- like the spectacular efforts of WEV & SWarter have done in the "American Silver before sterling" & "British / Irish Sterling" Forums.   So if the subject is a real passion (like it is for them) then you might want to do more; it is welcomed but isn't really necessary.

All of the above is subject to the approval of SMP.   But so far we have only had to make a few (after the fact [posting]) suggestions:

Images should not exceed 640 pixels in width at 72 dpi.
Subjects/Topics/Postings need to emphasize silver or other relevant metal working like gold, copper.
Links need to be really relevant to the forum and not just draw people away from the SMP forum.
No estimates, guesstimate's or rendering of a values. Please suggest a professional appraisal or to monitor auctions results to see what other similar items achieve.
Forum Etiquette
- Many times, discussions in the forums will lead to the expression of personal opinions. Everyone is entitled to their opinion as long as it is expressed in a courteous and respectful manner.
- Rude and inappropriate comments or posts will not be tolerated. The poster and their posts/inappropriate comments will be removed from the forums.
- Visitors or members who ask for help to identify a piece so they can turn around and sell it for more on commercial web sites (e.g., eBay) is considered poor conduct and a misuse of the SSF. These posts and posters are generally ignored by forum regulars. If necessary these posts and posters will be removed.

We are learning as we go, depending on your subject/topic interest the above and the SSF Guidelines may be modified without notice.

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