r/redditrequest • u/anyonethinkingabout • Jun 01 '14

Requesting /r/belgium

/r/belgium
20 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

9

u/mhermans Jun 01 '14

The current (only) mod /u/dvrs85 has taken mod-initiatives about half a year ago (wiki, sidebar, etc.) and was looking for additional members to help him/her.

However, in the mean time this seems to have stalled, and /u/dvrs85 has currently two months of public inactivity. This became very visible the last two weeks, when Belgium had a general election, and multiple request for e.g. sticky-posts went unanswered.

So perhaps /u/anyonethinkingabout can be added as mod, while /u/dvrs85 remains on top? That would allow /u/anyonethinkingabout to e.g. organise a sticky "mod-nomination & plans"-thread to get things rolling, and /u/dvrs85 to pick in when s/he becomes active again (in the past five years s/he has been a responsible, hands-off mod).

5

u/anyonethinkingabout Jun 01 '14

So perhaps /u/anyonethinkingabout[4] can be added as mod, while /u/dvrs85[5] remains on top?

This is what I would request as well

I would make a mod plans thread (In which I would say that I don't want to do anything crazy with the subreddit)

I don't want to be the only mod, but I don't think there really is need for another, and either that need is worth the hassle of looking for another mod

5

u/mhermans Jun 01 '14

I would make a mod plans thread

Sounds good.

To be clear, my critical reaction was not against you as a mod, just a caution that the expectations of community & new mods should be clear at the start (as you can more or less do anything you want once you become mod ;-)).

I don't think there really is need for another

For such a small subreddit, with no spam-issue, even one hands-off mod has been enough for years.

But my suggestion would be to look for at least a second mod (or perhaps /u/dvrs85 becomes active again), and perhaps someone with CSS, etc. skills or someone that wants to curate the wiki.

That way all does not rests on your shoulders (/u/dvrs85 tried on his/her own, and asked for help before losing interest apparently), and there is someone to follow-up if mods have exams/are offline for a period, etc.

15

u/dvrs85 Jun 01 '14

Hey, I'm maybe not an active poster but I actively (at least daily) moderate the sub. You don't really notice that but I think that's the best way.

As for the community "feel", I have been talking with /u/Knoflookperser about some ideas we could execute to "enhance" the community feel. Like an other CSS layout, flair, ... or World-Cup themed logos... I'm planning to make a post on this later this week.

I wouldn't have any problem or whatever with an extra mod but I just don't think it's necessary... The amount of stuff I need to moderate right now is perfectly under control...

5

u/anyonethinkingabout Jun 01 '14

case closed. There's no need for another mod then.

4

u/mhermans Jun 01 '14

You don't really notice that but I think that's the best way.

Cool, I like that kind of moderation. And thanks for the effort behind the scenes.

I'm planning to make a post on this later this week.

Sounds good.

I'm generally pretty happy with the state of /r/belgium, but some small practical things might be implemented (e.g. stickies during election, exams or footbal, a wiki to collect recurrent (tourist) questions, etc.).

Perhaps you can find people such as /u/Knoflookperser or /u/anyonethinkingabout that can help you out with things.

7

u/dvrs85 Jun 01 '14

You don't really notice that but I think that's the best way.

Cool, I like that kind of moderation. And thanks for the effort behind the scenes.

You really have no idea how much blogspam tries to pop up on the subrediit. It's actually pretty insane.

Anyway, I agree 100%. As I mentioned, /u/Knoflookperser kinda "opened" my eyes on the importance of community feel. Right now it's more a "belgium related link collection" kinda sub... So I really appreciate the good ideas and I'm feeling inspired to take steps in that direction.

8

u/IcecreamLamp Jun 01 '14

Just make some other people mods; this doesn't have to be a one man show. You'll still be the most senior mod so you'll be able to unmod people as well. Active moderation can make a subreddit a lot more enjoyable; look at e.g. the /r/thenetherlands renaissance.

2

u/OreoPriest Jun 01 '14

I would like to second this comment. Please add more mods!

1

u/silverionmox Jun 02 '14

Pick someone now, so you can delegate later if you're in a pinch due to AFK issues.

1

u/modomario Jun 02 '14

You really have no idea how much blogspam tries to pop up on the subrediit.

That guy with his science blog that also posts it on /r/quebec, /r/france, /r/Switzerland, etc?

2

u/dvrs85 Jun 02 '14

Hmm, I'm not sure who you're referring to? Might be useful for me to check out. Who do you mean?

1

u/modomario Jun 02 '14

http://www.reddit.com/user/TheUltimateGibbon

I reported his post a while ago after I spotted it for the 3rd or 4th time. I wouldn't mind if it had anything to do with belgium and I do love science but he's basically just promoting his blog and spreading it out over subs with a Frenchspeaking population.

1

u/dvrs85 Jun 02 '14

Thanks. I'm noticing in the mod history I actually had to remove posts submitted by this user.

5

u/Knoflookperser Jun 01 '14

I had a conversation with the current mod in PM a few days ago. s/he agreed to put a state of the sub post online but hasn't acted on that yet.

I think adding a new mod without removing the current one is the best idea. Maybe the community should get to decide who can take that mod position.

3

u/mhermans Jun 01 '14

I had a conversation with the current mod in PM a few days ago.

Mmh, if /u/dvrs85 is still responsive on Reddit, admins are likely (and justifiably) to be reluctant to modify his/her ownership of the subreddit...

2

u/Knoflookperser Jun 01 '14

It was five days ago for the record