We are starting to get to know you better.

I got 6-8 new users in the same day, all know each other, all came from another forum they were unhappy with. So I thought, fantastic, more new people to mould into loyal regulars.

…Only to find out they’re extreme liberal PC pansy far-left types !!!!!! The forums turned into a warzone over night, all my old regs vs this new clique that signed up. Because they signed up, visited the debate section, and didn’t hide their liberalism for very long. They weren’t shy getting involved that’s for sure.

I’ve always been an Al Murray/Alf Garnett banter un-PC type. So the forums developed into a PC-free zone.

This new clique went around claiming everyone were Nazis, racists, the old regs fought back, unfortunately I was in bed at the time. But they were at it for hours.

I settled the disputes in the end with a few firm warmings and banned their ringleader.. but it has forced me to divert the forum into a new atmosphere. One that is more politically neutral – this means I no longer reply to any thread where my personal political opinions can come into play. This way my old loyal regs won’t follow me and thus won’t clash with the new regs, who are recruiting more of their liberal friends from their old forum.

I guess my point is to other community owners, when creating your atmosphere at first.. be very careful.. and prepare for the future and think about any future members you may suddenly have register that may clash with your atmosphere!

Interestingly, the travel example you give is probably an example where we would be able to engage in conversation – but in the case of lots of the issues that come up we wouldn’t want to, nor would it be appropriate for us to relate our personal experiences. Having looked back at my initial comment I perhaps laboured the ‘can’t be friends’ point too much – I guess I mean friends in the true sense of the word, rather than in the ‘can’t be friendly’ sense of the word.

Helen – Avoiding being ‘friends’ can be a beneficial standpoint, as it can reduce any claims of favouritism should you have to use any intervention powers. That being said, you don’t want to be too distant – you need to be involved in the community and have a good relationship with your members.

Just because you are in a position of trust, why can’t you be friends with your members? Surely you trust your friends?

Comments from first time contributors are moderated on this blog, due to people not respecting the ‘no keywords in the name field’ restriction.