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Regarding our, or my, moderation

Shadowracer · 2009-06-30T23:53:28Z

Gentlmen, ladies.From a couple of the offhand comments I've seen made here from time to time, it seems there's an undercurrent of people thinking that we, or I, have somehow become a thread nazi.Firstly, it just isn't so. Check my profile and view all my posts and see just how many times we've actually even had to moderate here - and by here I mean here on the Delaware board. I realize that, in some folks eyes, enforcing a code of conduct is akin to censorship. I just want point out that we don't mind healthy debate...as long as its not the poison kind.With a speedway message board, there are three sides. On one side, you have the Speedway itself and its staff. Then there's the drivers and their crews. Then there's the fans. And the board is meant as a place where all three can intermingle. The bottom line, and the reason this board exists, is to share, acknowledge one another, and infect one another with the joy of racing, no matter what the poster's involvement. When there's strife, it all breaks down. Track management cannot involve itself in the squabbling, lest it make the track look bad and affect their bottom line. Remember that these are guys that are actually making their livelihood here - and while we don't always have to agree, they DO need to be treated fairly here too. The fans turn off, because the negativity drags their joy down...they're only here for the fun of it. And the drivers and crews end up left feeling like they're not allowed to say what they want to say and be heard, even though its their blood sweat and tears that are sustaining the other two sides. And the moderators buckle down and hope, please oh please, that they have the fortitude and wisdom to balance it all and be fair to all three sides. And when one side feels they are being treated unfairly, it hurts.I started doing my Shadow Reports on a whim. I was thrilled beyond thrilled, that the drivers and fans - especially the drivers, responded so favorably to them that I just had to keep doing them. Drivers, you're my heroes...I'll shout it from the rooftops...and the ONLY reason I still do those reports, is that you deserve the coverage. You deserve to have your hard work recognized.Now, Jeff and John have been very supportive of what I do here, and have been kind enough to basically let me have the run of the speedway so I can better do what I do. Its been probably the most fun I've had in my entire life...so you can imagine I'm somewhat beholden on a personal level to them too. So when the stuff hits the fan on the boards, it certainly does put me between a rock and a hard place. And its a place I don't want to be.I really don't recall how the hell I ended up moderating here. I thought I might be able to have a positive influence here and try to make it a fun place to hang out, and I think, as a group we've succeeded handsomely. But frankly, I'm here for the racing, and for the race reports. My fear is twofold: A) That my inability to moderate well here might take me out of management's good graces, even though it wasn't my moderating that got me there in the first place, and B) that my inability to moderate well might take me out of the driver's and crew's good graces because they didn't like something that I had to edit or whatever.I support my speedway. It has been my Fri night playground for the 40 years I have been on this earth, and I wouldn't trade my involvement, whether that be writing reports, wearing an orange wig on the front straightaway, or simply helping to print and fold the programs up on Friday afternoon.I support my drivers. You're the ones I come to see and write reports about. The guys who I'm hanging my breath on, every lap. Guys who cause my heart to freeze when someone crashes hard. As I've gotten older I've begun to think of you all as "my boys" (and girls) I support the fans. I sit in Richmond row, but I always make the rounds to go see DB1 just to make "old" jokes to him. Or to go over and see Jan and Vicky (can you imagine how thrilled I was to meet the original Hoppy's daughter?) Or to see Big Al in the center section, and to make sure, even though I'm not wearing the red nose anymore, that the kids around Richmond Row still get to fire a rocket balloon off every once in a while.I love everything to do with being involved at the speedway, yet I fear that because moderating here is also my job, that I'm going to lose the confidence of at least two of those sides everytime I make a mod decision. And that just sucks.I'm going to think on this, because really, moderating here was never in my "job description" within the Delaware Speedway community, yet here I am. And the inability to make everyone happy is making this a really sucky job.I don't want to moderate here any more really. But I don...

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Shadowracer

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Jul 01, 2009 11:56 am

(@shadowracer)

Member

Joined: 20 years ago

ï¿½Â ï¿½Â I for one hope you stay on as I enjoy your banter, your reports and yes your moderation. Just remember that when you are in no mans land in between two opposing forces sometimes you are going to get hit with shrapnal.

Thanks for the kind words. However, to clarify, I'm not going anywhere. Might throw the mod hat out, but the reports and such are still happening. That was never in question.

CHECK OUT THE "SHADOW REPORT" GROUP ON FACEBOOK FOR LIVE RACE PICS AND UPDATES

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TheVoice

Jul 01, 2009 4:03 pm

(@TheVoice)

Joined: 1 second ago

Hopefully this goes without saying, but the venting is purely therapeutic, with no intention of making your life difficult.

Keep layin' the hamma down! 😀

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Eeracer3

Jul 02, 2009 1:43 am

(@Eeracer3)

Joined: 1 second ago

You're doing a great job and a service that deserves our most deepest appreciation and thanks. You keep everyone informed and bring back great memories. My most heart felt thanks for everything you do. Keep up the great work.
You can't please everyone all the time. Some people need to be censored, because they let their heart over-rule their brain. It is a very passionate sport.

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jworacing

Jul 02, 2009 9:15 am

(@jworacing)

Joined: 1 second ago

If you are in doubt...talk it out! I'm sure by now John Houghton has read all this and is totally aware of what is going on. Have a couple of words with him and you should be golden. Meanwhile I'll keep posting things about hoe great Wilcox has been too "Juice Box" and that will make people happy and they won't be so grumpy LOL

Posts: 2480

Shadowracer

Moderator

Topic starter

Jul 02, 2009 9:32 am

(@shadowracer)

Member

Joined: 20 years ago

Hey all, and thank you for the kind words, although I wasn't actually looking for sympathy, encouragement, or even validation.

I simply wanted to vent a little and let everyone know what I'm feeling every time I have to put the mod hat on, and that I have three distinct points of view to accomodate and deal with. Everyone knows what a moderator does, but what most folks don't seem to realize is that its not a picnic, or a power trip.

Having to tell your peers "No, you can't say that here" is a big time downer. Especially when they don't quite seem to understand why. I'm just glad most guys took the time to get it.

I'm going to lock this one, not because of anything anyone has said, but because its run it course.

It turns out it wasn't really necessary, and I want to thank everyone sincerely for keeping the threads that prompted this one civil.

Nice work gents and ladies.

CHECK OUT THE "SHADOW REPORT" GROUP ON FACEBOOK FOR LIVE RACE PICS AND UPDATES

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