Townhall Meeting

This was slated to be a grander thread, instead, it will simply be a place where I post the candidates answers to the questions users submitted to me, with brief user response.

I picked 6 questions for each candidate, some are the same for both, many are different.

Let's get started!


Each user can post once in this thread. Post should contain a grade for each candidate's answers and brief reasoning. Any non-constructive comments will be deleted, multiple attempts to post non-constructive comments will result in a two week ban.

Corpse's Questions:

Question 1: What do you say to a forum user who has lost faith in both candidates after watching the election process unfold over the past few days? Do you really have the necessary constraint, maturity and respect to become an administrator?

If I am to be 100% honest, I don't blame anyone for losing faith in this. Dramatic behavior has overtaken the forum, it's quite that simple. It's going to be very difficult to climb back out of that hole, but KJ has survived for nearly 5 years now, and I have faith the userbases' resolve is far greater than any drama that has or will occur.

And I do believe I have the necessary constrait for what it takes to be an administrator now. Last year, no. And I believe I have displayed constraint over the course of 2009. Do I have the maturity for what it takes to become an administrator? Yes, I do believe I do now. Last year, no. I have shown complete respect towards everyone this year, while not always receiving it back. Which is to be expected as both a regular member of this forum or part of the staff, and I understand that now.

Question 2: How do you defend the use of such unknown, and in some cases virtually non-contributing, posters as your moderating team? Some forum members have shown their scepticism regarding this, and what good is a moderating team that forum members cannot trust or respect?

I can see why many would not trust an unknown, but I don't understand why there would be no respect. I believe it's their respect to lose. The unknown factor is however a very important part of my campaign. My campaign is certainly not the "safest" in it bringing some unknown factors, such as a few moderators posters are unsure about. But it's very important because it factors in with the current environment at WOKJ. The environment at WOKJ has become very, very negative. And it keeps getting worse and worse. One of these reasons is because of how some members of the community have grown so close to one another. The personal level of it all. It's great to have a close community, but not when it means personal issues are put before forum issues. That creates conflict, which leads to drama, which leads to an unhealthy forum environment for all.

So I found it critical to include new posters, and posters with little background to moderate the forum, rather than members who are rooted deep within KJ, that has caused WOKJ to fail at many forum issues over the years. It's time to turn the page, and I ask that everyone at least be respectful towards them.

Question 3: How, if at all, would you attempt to enhance the box office tracking experience at WOKJ?

This question actually ties in with Question 2 very much. The environment of the forum, clearly at a very negative level right now, has spilled over into many parts of the forum, not just the Water Cooler where it typically begins. There has to be a way to push that negative environment back into the Water Cooler and contain it there while working to resolve the conflict where it began, not elsewhere on the forum.

But to answer the question in detail, the solution to enchancing the box office tracking experience, I believe is simple. And that's discussion combined with new methods to discuss and enjoy the Box office. One example of this is Live Chat which I hope to add to the forum, but it may not be for a few months since adding it before the next phpBB board update coming up isn't the best idea. Live Chat and the early box office numbers would really start a new discussion not seen at WOKJ before, as would many of the topics everyone is used to. Combining the traditional, with the new, would be my approach to this issue.

Question 4: We've heard a lot through this election process about your role in the downfall of BOF. What did you learn from that situation that can help you if you become an admin here?

I was the biggest part of the downfall of BOF. I do not deny that, and I accept that. But you have to remember, that was over 3 years ago. That's no excuse for my actions, but three years is a very long time to think about things, and realize you made a mistake in your actions. I believe my biggest mistakes are behind me, I got them out of the way early on, and if anything, my role in the downfall of BOF will help me become a better administrator for WOKJ if elected. Sometimes it takes the opportunity to prove yourself to prove yourself.

Question 5: You have a past history of lies, and while they may be insignificant, they were still lies. How has that experience changed you, and why should users trust you going forward?

A question I would like to ask in response to this is: Have my lies harmed WOKJ? As far I can tell, they have harmed me so much more. This certainly doesn't excuse me, or make it better somehow that I lied, I admit it was wrong. But it was also personal, and personal issues are better left outside the forum like I have mentioned before. I came to realize this late last year and decided to stop it in a big way. Perhaps not the best way, but I saw it as a new beginning, and hope others will give me the chance to prove to them those days ended on Dec. 21, 2008.

Question 6: If it became your responsibility to run this same election a year from now, what would you change about the process?

The biggest problem with the process this year was the elimination of candidates seen unfit to run after votes had already been cast. A mistake that I and anyone else will surely learn from. So the elimination of a candidate seen as unfit by the owners/staff would most definitely occur before votes would be cast. Another change is more strict guidelines about the threads related to the election process. There should be a thread specifically for debate between all the candidates, a thread specifically for user discussion, and a thread designed for everybody to discuss the election process. This year however, the specific threads began to merge with off topic discussion and possible confusion on the purpose of each thread created.

I personally find the process an excellent way to get the community more involved with the site. You certainly do not see this happening elsewhere, and if more appropriate guidelines are placed, and better disticntion between the threads used for the election and the purpose of each, it can go very smooth and keep the forum moving forward with fresh and new ideas year round.




Why should I vote for you?
Because I'm bringing new ideas, and new methods that will only enhance the current format of WOKJ by eliminating the problems and giving the forum a fresh start that it deserves after years of drama that has brought it down.

My platform more than any other platform here at KJ gives the board insight on how the staff runs the forum, and also shows that the role of the Admin is not to make decision after decision, but rather to keep new ideas coming in, set up the rules and allow the forum to run itself, rather than be ran.

Torrino's Questions:

Question 1: What do you say to a forum user who has lost faith in both candidates after watching the election process unfold over the past few days? Do you really have the necessary constraint, maturity and respect to become an administrator?

That's unfortunate, but I think their reactions are instigated more by the ludicrosity of the election itself and the vocal, sometimes vicious supporters on both sides.

Question 2: Is Argos now officially part of your team as a moderator if you are to become WoKJ's next administrator? And if so, what will be his duties and responsibilities? Could you please clarify this, as there have been talks on the forum, but there have been no official updates (such as the moderator announcement poster in your signature).

Yes, Argos is officially a moderator. His duties and responsibilities are equivalent to those of all other moderators on my team. He is responsible for moderator duties like sticky-ing threads, moving threads that are not in their appropriate section, and editing posts. He will not be able to delete posts. In cases where a post is edited, he will have to sign his name in the text of the edited post, along with an explanation of why the post was edited.

As a moderator, he is also expected to extend himself to mediating uncomfortable situations between two posters, as well as participating in the "Moderator" forum, where he will vote on all administrative issues and discuss other issues. I will also ask moderators to contribute to "state of the forum" reports.

Question 3: How, if at all, would you attempt to enhance the box office tracking experience at WOKJ?

Tracking is a function of the main site. I will of course offer to help Eagle/loyal in this area, should he decide to update the main site.

Additionally, I am open to any suggestions from users on how to improve the Box Office section of the forum (e.g., if people find that the number of different threads related to a single movie is exhausting, I can discuss merging threads or smt. with moderators, but I plan to give users the benefit of the doubt in thread creation).

Question 4: During your time as a moderator, what was the biggest mistake that you made? How will you apply what you have learned if you become an admin here?

I regret making a thread about the fiasco, though the thread did turn out to be very entertaining! Realistically, though, I regret being somewhat of a hot-head. I think I've calmed down from my teenage days. I also regret how Eagle and bABA handled the situation where they abruptly stripped me of my title without any precedent or conversation about my problems. I plan to be more open with my moderators and encourage constructive criticism. I will also treat my moderators like regular posters and will not suppress them of their character or emotion. As I explained to McSteamy in the main discussion thread: I hope they will engage in trivial chit-chat, occasional banter, and the like, and believe that these engagements will improve their modding abilities. An impersonal moderator is less likely to understand contexts when problems arise.

Question 5: You seem to have a problem with your emotions during arguments. This is one of the worst traits an administrator can show, as they are charged to make logical and emotionless decisions on a daily basis. How will you address this issue going forward?

Well, there will be full transparency in my administration. Every action I take that requires administrative power (warning, banning, deleting posts) will be posted in "The Site" with an explanation.

Additionally, all administrative decisions will be discussed -- and if necessary, voted on (and all eight team members have an equal say in big decisions). You should not worry that my emotion is driving inappropriate action, as seven other people will have to approve these same actions.

Finally, I am subject to the same terms as any other member. If you take issue with my attitude, you may raise a claim in "The Site," which will be processed like any other claims (that is, moderators will discuss whether or not the claim is reasonable and whether the severity of the infraction merits a verbal warning, a formal warning, or a replacement administrator). After three warnings, I will relinquish my administrator title.

Question 6: If it became your responsibility to run this same election a year from now, what would you change about the process?

I will make sure that Eagle and loyal clarify who is unable to run before the first round, so we can avoid another Argos fiasco. I will make sure that election-related threads are open to all. Finally, I will offer to send PMs to all users of the forum that provide a sypnopsis of all candidate platforms.



Why should I vote for you?

Corpse: C

Torrino: B+

Corpse- B-

Torrino- A

Corpse's reponse to 2 is lacking since one of these new members had its little hissy fit rant proving negativity has nothing to do with how long somebody has been on a board. And no Karl im not going to post a grade because I don't believe an opinion can be expressed numerically or alphabetically.

Corpses responses were lacking, contained lots of fluff. B-

Torrinos responses were well thought out (especially #4 I agree 100%). A-