When you are in a chat room without a mod, the swearing, abuse etc is out of control. The minute a mod comes in, displaying their *, it all stops.
They go - it starts again.

So the * is a good deterrent, but wouldn't it be good for mods to have the ability NOT to use it, so that they can enter chatrooms mainly unobserved and catch out the offenders unawares?

Then they can switch on their flashing blue * and give the idiots a surprise as well as a booting


And, of course, if everyone's aware that mods aren't neccesarily going to advertise their presence, a lot of ppl will be a lot more careful with their behaviour.

Edited at 17:34 Tue 20/06/06 (BST)

It’s a good idea, but moderators do need to be visible for other reasons apart from dealing with abusive users.

Hopefully more moderator coverage will make being in the chat rooms more cosy, and this is something Admin are in the process of implementing with the new ‘Moderator Recruitment’ section, but it will take a while for things to even out due to different time zones etc. I know what it’s like to see abusive users in action and no moderators online, very frustrating.

If things pan out you should find the rooms being covered more of the time, so there would be no need for undercover moderators. But…I have heard rumours of a guest with booting capabilities, although this is yet to be confirmed.

Anyway, don’t you need a dodgy moustache to go undercover?

Edited at 18:16 Tue 20/06/06 (BST)

yer great idea martin mate, but say if sum 1 needs a mod for antoher reason apart from bullying etc, like having probs wit a tourny or sumuts, then the person wnt be able to see the mod in the room.

ACTUALLY martin thts a fantastic idea- if u need a mod and u cnt see thm due to invisibility, they can simply click the 'find mod' button

You're right martin, I have lost count of the number of times I've logged in and there are people being abusive to each other.

I think it's a great idea as well, not sure about the undercover being a guest though, might stand out a little in the members bar!

Good enough idea but im sure the Majority of ppl know Mods by name now and not just they're magic little * !! Could be wrong though

The majority of DECENT ppl definitely do paula, but maybe not a lot of the ones who start trouble in chat rooms.

But if a mod came into the chat room, but without the *, and logged half way down the list in alphabetical order instead of at the top, how many ppl are going to instantly notice?

Better still, if mods could be totally invisible, ie not showing as in chatrooms, then no-one could ever be sure if a mod was watching them.

As Pool_life said, there are reasons for mods to be visible, but even if they just had the facility to be invisible, a lot less ppl would risk a banning by acting up.

this idea sounds good, and also this won't be a big hit but because of the abusers in the game i.e during a game with the new system we carn't just leave as it gets recorded so maybe a check on the main chat so you know who the culpruts are if there are now visible mods online.

Im not entierly sure but i think mods can enter a room 'invisable' already....i could be wrong though

Brilliant idea Martin, and i mustn't of found the "invisibility button" yet!!

Or you could put the Mods down the bottom of the list so you can't see them unless you search for them? But that is a good idea martin, would stop all the annoying abuse flying around the chat rooms!

what bout if nick hired spys who couldnt boot people but have instant comunication with a mod at all times if there is 1 on?

all members can do that by pressing the "find mod" button

I think we should hook up with MI6, CIA, FBI, KGB and for the Irish, the boy scouts....that should sort them out.

But…I have heard rumours of a guest with booting capabilities, although this is yet to be confirmed.

Ive heard theres a few of these Mike

This is a great thread which i feel would be even more usefull the way things seem to be just now..

(and yes Martin, i'm posting in the middle of my wedding! Thats dedication for ya!)

The way i interprit this is that it could be used negatively and positively, the way i think it could sway towards the positive side is if the mods could view chat without going into the room, taking necessary action and then leaving without anyone knowing. another way could be through the use of a chat log which could be saved into a document within the funkypool database which mods/admins could read and therefore take necessary action, againwithout entering the chat room.

Kev.

if the mods could view chat without going into the room,

Who says we cant?

When someone in a chat room is being abusive and there is no moderator or admin online i think the whole room should put that person on ignore and tell them you are all doing so beforehand, they will soon get fed up of talking to themselves

Btw i dont wish to wear plain clothes, I want a purple Pimp outfit...with a feather boa and a jester hat. Or no clothes at all. The current outfit is way too itchy and the colours dont go well with my eyes *sigh*