Over the course of the last few months we have devoloped a pretty close friendship here. So I don't take what you have said here to heart. But I do want to know what you mean by a few of the things you said here. You say I lack focus, which at times is very tue, but please be more specific. Also you describe it as a 24x7 thing, like im always in some kind of stupor. I am always looking to learn more about myself and how to improve as a person. I am a little concerned about your comment that I should not be allowed to run the place by myself. No one mod should ever be able to take over the sub and run it solo. I have absolutely no desire to do so, and I feel that your comment portrays me as someone who wants that power.

Based on what you have said I get the impression that you have somehow lost faith in me. I am disappointed token. You had so much positive stuff to say about the others but you painted me as kind of ditz and a megalomaniac.

Edit: please also describe my "wreckless potential".

part 2.

tl;dr: Of all of the mods, I figured you needed the least defense.

I appreciate that at least. I just want r/conspiracy to be a great place.

I would simmer down on the image flair a bit if I were you. This place is starting to look like the front page.

Hey he requested it. I'm thinking of shrinking it.

I see many have it now, and we even have a meme for self posts now? Hard to take a conspiracy seriously even without the memes.

Many? There are currently 2 users with icon flair. Those are me and HomegrownTerran. I did give imjulianassange a Mr. Burns icon but he reapectfully declined that as his user flair and I am now reworking his flair. I'm sorry if you do not like the idea of users having a piece of icon flair here. I want to be able to work something out with the mods about awarding icon flair to the biggest contributors here. I thought a lot about how to implement this. I decided to give it a test run and see how everyone reacted. Some seemed interested, others did not. No one really seemed to mind that I have had it for about 2 months now.

As far as the posts go, I don't control what gets submitted, nor do the moderators here like to pull content unless it's obvious spam or hate propaganda. So we let the users decide what is good and what is not. That is the way it should be. If we do too much, we get blamed for pulling things even if it isn't relevant. People get really defensive about moderators deliberately removing their posts, even if it is just a stupid meme picture.

He's talking about the meme (the tophat guy) you used for the self-post icon. Perhaps a meme wasn't the best choice there. I'll do some thinking/digging and see if I can offer a better solution for that. The default reddit icon is alway translucent compared to every other icon. <-- this bothers me the most (the lack of emphasis - it's like reddit is hiding self-posts).

Give me 24 hours. I'll think of something.

i was thinking something conspiracy related may be appropriate. Maybe a pyramid or something similar.

That was my initial thought (a pyramid or something), but... it also needs to reflect "self-post" in some way (new readers need some hints). Check the one I suggested (other comment). See how you feel about that one (generic, gets the point across, and won't be "invisible" like the default).

Maybe a conspiracy guy on the corner screaming into a megaphone holding a picket sign?

Found it.

20% of original size looks about right... and quite crisp, even in MS Paint.

EDIT: If you're unfamiliar, it's Eddie from the movie Network, giving his "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." rant.

EDIT2: I also note the clock says 4:20. :)

So that's three, pardon me for getting it wrong but at a birds Eye the place gets cluttered up quickly. What purpose do they serve other than drawing attention to certain posters, a feature already in place (friends). I prefer things cleaner but I don't speak for everyone.

I like my icon flair. Some people like to be easily identified here. Others do not. I like being easily recognized.

Try this one.

It needs downsized to the correct size for a submission icon. I found that 40% of this size is about right, in my tests with MS Paint. However, I know that GIMP or Photoshop will give a cleaner, crisper result... so I'm just linking to the image... will let you tinker.

"wreckless potential" - having a great idea (and I mean a great idea), but no clear path to accomplishing/implementing it.

In a realtime environment (like a 50k member subreddit), trial and error isn't the best approach. From time to time, you tend to brush up against this dilemma without actually crossing any lines of objection, which causes me "butterflies in my stomach".

It's a thrill a minute. Great for you younger folk, but this old geezer can't keep up with that... it upsets my sensitive digestion.

I'm glad you're there doing what you do. Sorry if it sounded otherwise.

Your still talking kind of cryptically here. So by wreckless potential you mean having good ideas, no way to implement them? Wreckless potential to me means that I have the potential to harm this sub. While all moderators have the ability to harm the sub, I was singled out for my wreckless potential? Why is that? At what point did I brush up against this dilemma? I need specifics here man, otherwise I am still here scratching my head wondering what you meant.

specific example

We discussed the flair icons when I was a mod. You wanted them. I didn't object to having them, but I wanted a clear plan... a clear purpose. I wanted to see that they'd be meaningful and desirable to the community before implementing them (rather than being "just decoration" ... or worse... "moderators putting labels on people").

brushing up against it...

I still don't know where we're at on this issue, but I see we've started to get the flair icons. Are they "just decoration"? Do they have "symbolic meaning"? (I'm scratching my head in bewilderment.)

I don't object to them. I don't object to you implementing them. I'm just wondering what we're doing with them?

Well after talking about it and talking about it I just decided to take some initiative and start making them. There is no rhyme or reason to it. Is that a bad thing? I don't understand how this crosses any lines. Does there need to be a clear plan on the icon flair? Is it really that important? In my mind this is a very insignificant thing to be worried about. By just giving them out randomly to one user I have already created a heavy demand. People now want to see this implemented on a wider scale. So yes there was a plan.

I just decided to take some initiative and start making them.

And this is the part that gives me butterflies. It's exciting as hell. But, I'm an old man. Give me a break. (And give me a cool icon, dammit. I want the classic Calvin-pissing-on-my-username icon.)

When I get home your username will be so covered in urine that will think R Kelly just paid you a visit.

Cool.

I'll take something like: ̿ ̿̿'̿'\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪●)=/̵͇̿̿/'̿̿ ̿ ̿ ̿ If you're in the mood. ☺

Hay! I got to the top of the r/conspiracy-page!

okay. i guess i have to keep this username for a while.

So that was your objection? Jealousy? LMFAO. =)

Calvin-pissing-on-my-username. I want it!

....

....

... please?

I sent you a PM to clarify some of it. But I'll throw a few more points in here...

You are extremely active... in many aspects of this subredddit's managment. This has pros and cons. See my comment about illuminatedwax for contrast.

I didn't mean to insult you. I like you and I think you're doing a good job in trying to push things forward. You have powerful passion (a definite plus), but not always a clear objective (leaving me scratching my head in bewilderment, sometimes).

I have no complaints about you, you're one of the more trusted members of this community... I just figured I'd let the others know what it's like trying to stay out of your way when you get active. ;)

I still do not understand what you mean? I always accept input from the other mods about any decision I make here. Sometimes after I toss an idea out there to the mods and get no input one way or another I will just do things and see the reactions. So far no one has objected to any of the changes I have made or things I have done. Yes, I do play with the CSS, but not in the same manner as ambiversive. Mostly just for flair and to tag websites with images instead of the generic picture not found icon. I have personally made quite a few thumbnails in photoshop for sites that show with blank thumbs or with ads. I do it because it looks better than the reddit alien with a camera and a question mark.

Long story short, there are so many mods here that we sometimes feel like we have to beat around the bush on certain things and they never get done. I am the guy who will actually take those ideas and try to make it a reality, and I guess that would be a reason for you to think that you guys need to stay out of my way. But in fact I crave input from the other mods. It's just kind of tough to get that sometimes when you don't have a working concept to show them.

But in fact I crave input from the other mods. It's just kind of tough to get that sometimes when you don't have a working concept to show them.

This. It's the only thing I regret about my resignation. You kind of needed me (man I'm a long-winded, chatty, talkative type. I love the discussions we had - I just felt like I was always dominating them, though.).

Excuse me? You are starting to irritate me a bit token. I don't need anyone to help me do what I do. I really enjoy your input as our opinions on thing about the sub contrasted quite nicely, but this is kind of turning into you talking down to me like I am a child and I really don't appreciate that.

edit:sorry

I think you're misinterpreting. I didn't mean to describe you as "helpless". But, you said yourself that you crave other input and I was one of the more talkative "inputters", so to speak. By resigning, I deprived you of something I had been giving. That's all.

Okay, gotcha. I'm still kind of left with the impression that you lack faith in my ability to help lead this community. I'm kind of doubting myself now. Thinking about resigning.

Bullshit.

You stay or I'll kick your ass. As long as you have the rest of those people on your team, you are leading this subreddit. And I have no objection to that.

I'm not so sure any more. I'll have to think this through. As you pointed out, I have some pretty glaring negative qualities, and I can potentially ruin this sub by trying to improve it. I like the way it is, and if it means resigning then so be it. As long as I have the power to do things like make icon flair I can't stop myself. It's like a disease or something.

http://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/qrhs5/inside_info_on_the_rconspiracy_mods/c3zvpie?context=3

You'll see that my criticism is also my respect... for your fearlessness.

Thanks man. The only thing to fear is fear itself.

I meant every word I've said here (the praises and the criticisms).

I believe that you are the defacto leader and I believe you're doing a great job.

And if you really take time to think about it you'll see I was trying to help you.

If you're going to be as active as you are, you're going to run into people who object to what you do and they'll be far less kind than I have been. As a moderator, you have bull's eyes painted on your back, your chest, and your forehead. Please take my mild criticism as a test run... for future potential criticisms (some of which won't be even remotely friendly).

You're not "crazy" and you're not "shitting in our waters" (the kinds of accusations I've withstood for 3 years).

While I don't want to sound arrogant or dismissive or whatever, you still need to hear this as one of this community's leaders: If constructive criticism from a friend and ally has you feeling uncertain about your work, just think how it will be if someone comes at you with a rope and a mob carrying torches and pitchforks.

You're nowhere near this, but as a moderator... it's always a potential. And if it ever happened, you know who'd be standing next to you, shouting "I'm Spartacus!" at the top of their lungs, right? It'd be me.

You are awesome. Sorry if I seemed a bit defensive. If it were some random troll I didn't care about it would roll right off my back. But it's you. That is what had me doubting myself. Give me a million torch and pitchfork mobs over one Brutus.

At least now you're aware of where you stand... defacto leadership isn't like becoming a mod. When you become a mod, you get notification... something changes... you get new features and widgets and stuff.

When you emerge as a defacto leader, you get no notification. There is no new feature set, there are no new widgets. Just you, realizing where you stand. That "pointy feeling" you sensed in your ribs... that was my finger, not a dagger.

I think my work is now done here.

Peace.

This reminds me of that episode of the Simpsons where homer has a guy name Karl come into his life and helped him succeed. Almost like a guardian angel. This is how I've come to see you even before this conversation. I not only respect you, I look up to you. I hope to be as wise as you someday. You have helped me more than you know, and I am forever in your debt. Most people are never lucky enough to actually get a gift from Santa. Do you believe in fate, Token? I believe in convergence, which is that fate is real in the sense that for any given multiversal outcome there are several convergence points at which all possible outcomes for any given decision are the same. I have felt this inside for many years. I have also felt... Something. A sense of euphoria when I am following my fate and a disphoria when I run from it. Some people would call this simple reward pathways that are being activated/ignored, but it's more than that. I can tell by the feelings in my gut (literally) if I am following my true path or if I am just guessing. I have always been a skeptic about ESP and the like, but the more I nurse the idea in my mind the more I realize that we may all be psychic creatures, we just do not how to listen. Or I might just be experiencing the prodrome phase of schizophrenia. Lol.

This reminds me of that episode of the Simpsons where homer has a guy name Karl come into his life and helped him succeed. Almost like a guardian angel.

Man, I'm glad you used this Homer Simpson analogy, rather than the Wesley Crusher version. I would have had to recant a few things if you'd gone this route. ;)

Peace

Haha. I don't even remember the Wesley Crusher version. I did watch quite a bit of star trek, but the Simpsons dominated my childhood.

Wesley "Boy Wonder" Crusher got visited by a "visitor/mentor" (they called this alien dude "the traveler")... who made him into a God. Corniest thing in all of the Star Trek series', if you ask me. Very glad you didn't go there. ;) The Simpsons reference was cool... since we're all a bunch of Homers anyway... either that or "giggity". ;)

As long as I have the power to do things like make icon flair I can't stop myself. It's like a disease or something.

And this is why you need to stay.

Powertripping at such a trivial level is the perfect place to learn to self-regulate. At least you're not banning people left and right (another "power" you have, but aren't "diseased" by <-- THINK ABOUT THIS).

Stay.

You're on the path. The right path, in fact.

When I resigned, I did so trusting that you'd emerge as the leader... with my full backing. The only thing you're actually struggling with is how to go about doing that.

And I'm going to tell you now.

Lay a piece of string on the table in front of you. Make it pretty straight.

Using only one hand, grab one end of the string and try to PUSH it across table.

You'll quickly realize that doesn't work.

But, if you pull it instead... so that it follows you... suddenly, you're leading.

Peace, bro.

And best wishes.

p.s. I edited the original post, above, to reference our discussion.

Sims, my overall impression of you is good. I don't see you as a bad guy in any way. Don't take anything deep to heart.

He thinks outside the box, and he's very community focused in a sort of flowery peace, love, and 1960's sort of way.

More 'herby' that flowery i shall have you know. Other than that a good summary!

Yeah he had nothing but good things to say about you, and neither do I. You are awesome. Do you have any negative things to say about me? Seems to be the theme today. Lol.

Do you have any negative things to say about me?

Sorry sins, that's classified, come back and request the information again in 50 years.

Joking aside you are more than welcome to come and stay in my cave anytime you want, just bring me some cider. I think all the mods are good people and have helped me a lot, of course some of them remain very elusive.

I think we should get in touch with Interpol regarding donbueno

I think that 9000sins is getting most critique here just because he's more active and attending than other mods. It's always easier to nitpick on those who stand out. When most moderators either prefer to stay in the shadows or would select their words very carefully, 9000sins often charges in head on. While by some this can be seen as a negative thing, it is in many ways an open minded and contributing quality, which in my opinion benefits community of /r/conspiracy greatly. It closes that gap between mods and subscribers and offers us content to work on together. Many of you could learn from that.

Thank you. I wasn't really sure how to characterize 9000sins. I didn't want to paint him as a cowboy gunslinger, but ... he does "shoot from the hip". It's a needed and valuable quality, but a quality that needs to be exercised in moderation (or moderated by community input). I like the guy. I was just unsure how to convey his moderation style to the public. It definitely is a style... assertive, experimental... and will definitely draw in the community.

My "nitpicking" is a verbal description of those "Nope." photos that frequent r/pics (you know... the ones where a guy is hanging from the side of a cliff with no safety harness). I may just be too timid about implementing new things and he isn't. He's gung-ho, that's for sure. And he deserves props for that. But... me... I'm over here clinging to a rock and covering my eyes, saying "Nope. Ain't happenin'"

I'm certain he's currently the defacto "leader" of the group, and doing a damn fine job of that.

What's made you decide to leave Tokin? It seems you would want to be a part of a strong moderation team like the one we have put together

Truth time.

When I came to reddit, 3 years ago, and started lurking, I was looking for a place to expose some people who had wronged me (yes, Google was involved, but so were a couple people I thought were my friends).

I strived, on a daily basis, to build my credibility here by getting involved in the community and such.

In the process, I managed to catch myself a stalker (the crackiswhack saga)... but I had to improvise a solution to actually expose them as a stalker. Because I'd already deleted a few usernames, it was easy enough to just do that again and circle around from behind and catch that scumbag in the act. Which I did.... as part of the r/conspiracy moderator team.

While I was a moderator, I explained my circumstances (far more thoroughly than in this brief comment). I explained that I came here with a hidden agenda (one of spiteful vengeance). But... really... once I was on the mod team, all I really wanted was to make sure YOU GUYS weren't getting shafted by the new selections. I no longer had the urge to seek vengeance on my former friend(s)... or Google (since they have now officially abandoned the thing that was irksome to me).

But, I also found myself being forced to consider making a new username... because I'm such a fucking ass sometimes. I'll gut and field dress a troll and eat it's entrails for breakfast, heart still beating, right in front of everyone... sometimes ruining an otherwise perfectly good post by someone else.

And, since I didn't want to maintain multiple usernames (I've established myself as an independent being, separate from that superficiality), I figured the thing to do was to be thankful for what I was allowed to see, and to use what little reputation I had left to let you people know who your mods are.

Providence (and this community) was kind to me when Autocoprophage surfaced last week trying to drag my name through the mud. I was stupified by the amount of support I got from the community during that thread. Really... It reminded me of that scene from A Beautiful Mind, where all those people put their pens on the table... or when all the kids stood on their desks in Dead Poets Society.

Anyway... I figure I do my best work in the ethers.

If the community ever wants or needs me back as a moderator, I'd be happy to try again (perhaps a generic "conspiracymoderator" username)... but ... I'm not really needed as a mod (at least it didn't seem like it while I was there); the ones you have are doing a great job, all I was doing was spamming their inboxes with long-winded garbage (only once, out of the 10 or so times I questioned soccer's deletions, was I ever right... he just moves very fast. I can't keep up).

I feel like I'm still part of the mod team in a way... I'm pretty sure that if I ever pointed out something bad going on, they'd be on it in a heartbeat. Likewise, I'm comfortable that I've earned a place of respect here in this community.

Related.

Interesting to read an (ex)mods view. For what its worth, you were a top mod and an asset to this subreddit, one of the more balanced mods i thought. I like the way things run around here most of the time. Often we, the 50,000+ subscribed readers, end up reading through a fair bit of mod-squabble in the comments. Sometimes its relevant, other times you should consider private messages, just my 1:50000th of an opinion. I check out r/conspiracy pretty much daily, like i said, i personally like the way this place is run, most of the time. Thanks for all the links to all the interesting shit i never knew existed, please don't mod to heavily......we'll downvote the trash and foolish BS between ourselves, thats what reddit was designed for, the good 'ol upvote/downvote. Peas.

[deleted]

You're quite welcome, Shultzie.

you never mention me :(

Thanks man. The only thing to fear is fear itself.

I meant every word I've said here (the praises and the criticisms).

I believe that you are the defacto leader and I believe you're doing a great job.

And if you really take time to think about it you'll see I was trying to help you.

If you're going to be as active as you are, you're going to run into people who object to what you do and they'll be far less kind than I have been. As a moderator, you have bull's eyes painted on your back, your chest, and your forehead. Please take my mild criticism as a test run... for future potential criticisms (some of which won't be even remotely friendly).

You're not "crazy" and you're not "shitting in our waters" (the kinds of accusations I've withstood for 3 years).

While I don't want to sound arrogant or dismissive or whatever, you still need to hear this as one of this community's leaders: If constructive criticism from a friend and ally has you feeling uncertain about your work, just think how it will be if someone comes at you with a rope and a mob carrying torches and pitchforks.

You're nowhere near this, but as a moderator... it's always a potential. And if it ever happened, you know who'd be standing next to you, shouting "I'm Spartacus!" at the top of their lungs, right? It'd be me.