HOWTO for Group Owners?

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Whistle_Pig

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I've looked around for this, and it's entirely possible I've missed it. I'd like to read up on how to do the various things I ought to be doing as a group owner. The "edit group" link brings up only limited functions, and I don't see any capability (maybe it isn't there) to move posts. Some explanation of the philosophical distinction, if there is one, between discussions and a forum would be good to have.

Also, I have in my notifications 1 unapproved group message, but that link takes me to a page which shows only a summary for the group, and has no listed messages. So, is there a forum glitch, or is there something I need to do to show me all messages waiting for moderation?

Thanks for any advice here.
 

Stephra

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Also, I have in my notifications 1 unapproved group message, but that link takes me to a page which shows only a summary for the group, and has no listed messages. So, is there a forum glitch, or is there something I need to do to show me all messages waiting for moderation?.

I have the same thing. I can't find any messages either, so I chalked it up to forum glitch.
 

rolygate

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OK, the trouble is - very few people know about any of this, including the Moderators. You are absolutely right, a Guide to Social Group Operation would be very useful. The trouble is I've no idea who could write it, it would need to be someone who has run one for a long time and knows all the wrinkles.

I'll ask Angus who the longest-serving social group organizers are, maybe they can come up with something.
 

Mary Kay

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You got that unapproved post message because somebody posted a reply/new thread in the social group's join page. (where you have to go to click join, it's also the area that shows you your members names and avitars).

What you have to do is look down in the discussion area where it says
"Social Group Discussions" you will find that someone has posted there thinking it's your groups forum area. Look to the right next to the post or new thread and you will see a box..click it. The whole line will turn yellow.

Now go down to your controls on the bottom of the page on the right hand side that says 'moderation", click it

The drop down box will say "Approve Thread" click it

Go to the box next to to the moderation box..it will say GO..click it. Done and done.

Now you need to P.M. the member and tell them to post again but in the FORUM so people will see and respond.

To get all your controls working in the forum area..you HAVE to click the box on the right hand side to activate the controls for that post or thread. (it will turn yellow):)

You need to click on the box and turn the thread yellow if you want to lock or unlock it.

You need to go in the thread and click on the box to turn ONE post yellow to delete ect.

As Social group owns (mods) we cannot fully delete a thread. We can soft delete which means the title can be seen by members but not the content. It can also be retrieved if needed or if one of us just has a hissy fit (me). There needs to be some acountability to members and forum mods or the forums will look like gap toothed 6 year olds.
But as stated before you can change or alter the title if that is offensive too. Lock and Report it to the forum mods is the best policy when that kind of thing happens.

I am not sure we as Social group owners (mods) have the lofty powers needed to move a thread to another area outside our own forum, or even what the point would be. You can always pester a forum mod to do it!
:pLGD is very good at moving threads..ask HIM!

You can condense a thread, but that is kind of annoying to read.

To update/change a thread title or to delete a thread rather then close it, go into the thread and click edit on the the FIRST post. Once in edit click "advanced"..scroll down a bit and you will see the thread title..change or delete it and click "save Changes"

I suggest you start a practice thread in your forum and play with all the controls, that's how I learned and taught others.
If anything blows up P.M. Roly, SJ and Angus..not me!!!!:facepalm:

The Social group area is a big pain in the computer! It is basicly a holding and info area. Once you get the 5 members needed to start a Forum..you hardly ever need to go there again. Posting needs to be blocked in there at that time. or the two areas need to be combined.
We need a redo guys. It took me a week to figure out what that unapprove post was all about.

Hope that helped you guys!:D
 

Whistle_Pig

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Hey, thanks for the help, but I'm not sure ...

You got that unapproved post message because somebody posted a reply/new thread in the social group's join page. (where you have to go to click join, it's also the area that shows you your members names and avitars).

What you have to do is look down in the discussion area where it says "Social Group Discussions" you will find that someone has posted there thinking it's your groups forum area.

No, no new threads started in the discussions. Pretty easy for me to see that, since there are only 4 of them.

And, as far as I can tell, no new replies posted in any of the discussion threads either -- but then maybe I can see them as group owner, and others can't? But none of the replies looks any different from those that I'm sure other members can see, due to there being replies to them. And nothing with a posted date in the last couple days either. Shouldn't the vBulletin software somehow flag replies visually if they need approval?


I am not sure we as Social group owners (mods) have the lofty powers needed to move a thread to another area outside our own forum

I don't want to do that. Just move from a thread where it's OT (thread specifically created for informational posts) to one where it fits better. I don't want the threads I've started for specific purposes to get littered with cruft.

or even what the point would be. You can always pester a forum mod to do it!

I suspect they have enough do do already, and to me it just makes sense (to me) that the group owner should have that capability.

What I need to do, unless it is a glitch in the vBulletin software, is find that sucker. But AFAICT, the software won't show it to me.

Okay ... I just found it. But, there isn't an easy way to do it. What I mean is a query vBulletin would run to just list all the unapproved messages. Just like the "New Posts" link for the main forum. It looks like you have to visit every thread, and then you click the down arrow next to the down arrow for discussion tools (the one without a label), and then you can select all unapproved posts. But you have to visit all new pages of all threads with new messages to find them all -- at least that's what I can figure out. I'm actually surprised that vBulletin doesn't do a different style for unapproved posts.
 

Whistle_Pig

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OK, the trouble is - very few people know about any of this, including the Moderators. You are absolutely right, a Guide to Social Group Operation would be very useful. The trouble is I've no idea who could write it, it would need to be someone who has run one for a long time and knows all the wrinkles.

I'll ask Angus who the longest-serving social group organizers are, maybe they can come up with something.

Thank, Roly. I guess I'm surprised that the vBulletin software doesn't come with something like that already written. For example, MediaWiki has links in the default page layouts which take you to general Wiki help for MediaWiki. I actually did look around on the vBulletin site for some general user help, but I guess they don't provide that to non-paying visitors.
 

jj2

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I just skimmed MK's post and didn't see this---maybe just missed it.
I haven't done it yet, but I do believe you can move a post (within the social group) from one thread to another, but you have to copy and paste a link in the destination field.
I haven't tried to move anything from the main to a sub forum or vice-versa either---I guess I'll tend with that if and when I have to.

As for the Social Group area, it does come in handy for an idex for the ECF Library Annex---I got so much stored in there that I'd hate to have it blown away.
Otherwise, I must admit, it's pretty useless.
Totally off topic here, but it'd be nice if the annex was linked to the ECF Library.

As for deleting threads, it would be nice if they were hard deleted. If we can't do it, then an ECF forum mod should clean house now and then. Since they have more than enough to do, it would be nice if we could do it after such and such time.
 

Mary Kay

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Whistle..I just noticed you aren't listed on ECF's front page in social group forums..you have more then enough members! That's probably part of the problem..I see a few new posts too...were those the ones that needed to be approved?

JJ2, Maybe a hard delete after a time..but by then they should have slipped back a few pages. Out of sight out of mind. I just worry that if you get a social group mod that has a meltdown..then they will wipe out a whole forum. I use to own a small board and that happened. I could have killed the mod that did it..lots of info..poof!
 

Whistle_Pig

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I'm a bit reluctant to create a forum until I understand how to pull all the levers. I don't want to have to be approving posts all the time, and when I created the group, I specified that members could post without moderation. And that's what happened, up until recently. And I don't want to be pinging forum mods all the time for maintenance.
 

Mary Kay

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Whistle, once you get a forum running then the notices will stop..for the most part. I haven't had one in 6 months. A forum is easier to find and will give you more traffic and room. If you are still hesitant ask someone to co-mod with you..divide the work. You have several members who are more then qualified and personable.
BTW I was born in Denver..last time I visited was in the 70's though, we were stationed in Cheyenne.

Oh..you can't learn all the bells and whistles until you start the forum. The controls are different then in the Social group page.
the mods are very helpful, they held my hand for a while when I was passed down my 2 forums by Kate. JJ2 now has one of them.

JJ2, The forum I mentioned was not ECF! I hope you didn't think I meant you! You are doing a great job with W&B...you rock!
 
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Whistle_Pig

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I've seen the "How to Start a Group" topic. Not sure what the "automatically gets moved" thing is about.

MaryKay, I spent years as a software and database developer. The "test before deployment" mentality is pretty well ingrained in me. And, I've been burned more than a few times, in various endeavors, with jumping in before I felt comfortable with my level of knowledge. If this were phpBB or SMF, I'd just download the software, install it, and figure it out. That's just how I operate. It isn't a matter of the amount of work to do with moderation, it's feeling comfortable about how I proceed.

As far as organizing things into a manual, or HOWTO, I can do that. Question is where to put it. I was pondering signing up to be a wiki editor when the CMS news hit. OT, but I'm wondering whether the wiki will be converted / imported into the CMS -- if so, I'm already familiar with MediaWiki markup, and can start there.
 

Mary Kay

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Whistle! Wow! I just started playing with computers in 1999. My son worked for AOL and was my personal tech support. :blink: I can screw up turning the computer off and on!

I wish I knew about computers all I do is click stuff until I figure out what it does. Lu was on my speed dial for the first month and SJ helped me too.:)
Kate kinda of bailed out about that time and I was left with a forum and no idea what to do!

I think you might do well with the write up, Lord knows I just ramble. new forum owners could use a guide.
Just don't overthink it..it's easy enough once you play with the clicky stuff.
 

Mary Kay

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JJ2, I must been having a senior moment! :p

Whistle, The problem with making it too complicated and dry (overthought and precise) is that it goes over the head computer illiterates like myself. You need to make it clear and very simple. Trust me..my eyes cross when reading anything 'How to"

The migrating or moving thing is when you start your forum (or rather Angus starts it) he pushes a button..or writes a code, maybe waves a wand and the threads in your Social group duplicate into the forum.
 
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