Dewmellon's Moderator Application

corn doggo · May 14, 2016

Myrmidous said: ↑

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Suggested Listening: Cold War Kids, First

It is hard to overcome your past: To a greater or lesser degree everything you do colors how people see you in the future. This is why the internet appeals to us so very much; at any point we can discard an anonymous identity and re-invent ourselves as someone better. It's the childhood dream come true: We really can pretend to be both a hero and a villain at the same time with no repercussions.

Disclaimer:
This is a second review of Dewmellon. The first was posted five months ago and deleted by this applicant for being non-positive (response linked here). I was banned from replying on this thread until recently when this author apologized and requested another review. Since that time I have had interactions with this applicant and the community at large that influences how I read this application.

This is one of the largest applications I have ever gone through. Since I have over a hundred reviews by this point that is saying quite a lot-- I may need to break this into two parts to fully address the post. Let's get started.

Dear Lord, you have a graphics art department. I am both genuinely concerned and slightly impressed: Custom banners on an application are uncommon.

Nice to meet you again, Ms. Mellon. Hopefully your second review doesn't trigger a hailstorm of demands to delete my posts.

For the non-'Muricans in the audience this is UTC-7. Recommend an update on your timezone to include the remaining 90% of the world, ma'am.

Not a bad thing, specializing in English isn't a drawback on an application. An incredible number of these applications list bi- or tri-lingual abilities; I was beginning to feel in the minority for speaking only one.

Only commenting here because I honestly do not know what the requirement is for this question. I cannot find anything that lists what "necessary means" consists of. Are screenshots OK? Do we need a notary to log chat printouts? There is no baseline, this question seems to be something along the lines of "can you provide reasonable evidence".

Sidenote: 10 minute spent researching what the heck "ezvid" and "lightshot" were. Educational.

PAUSE.

I commented heavily on the original portion of this application in the first review. Over the last five months I have read nearly every update and change this author made (good and bad). I have researched the issues mentioned, checked into past account names and read all of the backstory that can be found.

This portion of the application was originally over 1225 words. Most of that was extreme amounts of in-depth justifications for stunningly bad behavior. This current post is amazingly well condensed from the original, +1 to Dewmellon for attempting to bring this laundry list of sins down to "Twitter post" size.

UNPAUSE.

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Incoming ban explanations...

Remove.

These.

Ban.

Explanations.

Who is your audience for this application? Random forum users? Your best friends? CypriotMerks? Toss out the history, Plato.

If you are writing an appeal to average forum users then they do not care why you screwed up in the past. Going into detail on your sins gives them a crash course in why you make terrible decisions. Not a wise move.

If your goal is to influence your friends they are already on your side, they don't need more details on your bans. They'll support you (and resupport... and resupport...) no matter what you write here. You could talk about how you like to euthanize baby kittens and they would still hammer that "Support" button.

But if you are speaking to the guy who hires Moderators you're wasting effort. He already knows what you did. He demoted you for it. Bringing up details refreshes those memories, puts him back into that mindset and digs up every reason you shouldn't ever have a position of authority again.

Recommendation: Cut this to the bare minimum. Everyone involved in your past already knows what you did and why. Anyone not involved doesn't need the history; it makes you look bad.

Q: Have you ever been banned in the past? Why?
A: Yes. Grieving, Discussing Moderator chats, Dirt trading.

Special note: I find it interesting that you have removed any mention to your escapades as TheCarrotThief from your application. While this is an excellent move to improve your chances at Moderator I am a little torn on your motivations, ma'am.

Generally speaking this is my favorite part. Let me get a fresh drink before attempting to plow through this portion, I'm having flashbacks to the case study we had to do on David Berkowitz's interview tapes.

Proceed!

View attachment 116699
This is a poster child for flip-flop arguments.

Do not disqualify yourself in your own qualification. "This community has had a great impact on my life. I lied to the community/lied to friends" made me want to facepalm myself with a belt sander.

Why is this paragraph here? What is the goal? You begin with "This community made an impact on my life" and then immediately nosedive into all of the horrible things you've done to the playerbase. WHY??

If your opening is how much the players mean to you then continue with that theme. Talk about how you want to help the people you've met. Explain what they mean to you. Give examples of how community outreach is important as a Moderator. Make this into an actual supportive qualification.

Avoid mentioning how you've abused everyone harder than the last sterile needle in a heroin clinic. Not helping, ma'am.

This isn't a qualification-
Drop mentions of how you utterly failed as a Modera-
Stop mentioning the past-

STOP. You're not giving qualifications and explaining how you would be a good choice, you're saying that you used to be a Mod and did an OK job (so please forgive the massive screw-ups?).

This isn't a job application: This is a long excuse on how you were a Mod and should be again. Rewrite your qualifications. Capitalize on how much you enjoy helping others and how the server benefits when you have a position of authority. Remove mentions of "Hey, remember when I was Mod? Good times, right?"

+1. Write your entire application this way. You provided reasonably clear explanations of the qualities you have and how they would benefit the Moderating team.

"Remember when I was one of you? Good times, right? Let me back in!"

This is a good paragraph until the last couple sentences, ma'am. You detailed your experience with the community and gave good reasons to believe you enjoy interacting with the player base. Then you wrecked your U.S.S. Hope directly into the Rock of Nostalgia.

Remove the text that is highlighted in red. You'll notice the "tone" of the paragraph does not change-- This should be a serious indicator you may be "fluffing" a bit too much.

View attachment 116700

I am struggling to find where your focus is here, ma'am. You have a tendency to ramble more often than a nature hiker with Alzheimer's-- where are you going? You start with how loyalty is a good trait... but then detour through banning people, sidetrack into losing friendships and end up with going nuclear when you're out of options.

What is the qualification here? Are you highlighting loyalty? Dependability? Impartiality? You have so many subjects in one paragraph I can't tell what job quality you want to express.

Continued below...
Click to expand...

yes pls continue

nyxa · May 14, 2016

Support.

Dooku333 · May 15, 2016

Support, I'd kinda left when you were first mod but you were really helpful when I popped online from time to time. You are really friendly on the forums and you seem like a lovely person. Best of luck

gummi_minion156 · May 20, 2016

Full support, Dew!
You have great potential and I see that moderator tag next to your username in no time! I hope you get the position!

poggers · May 28, 2016

Bump for Dew~

vfhuuuuu · May 28, 2016

You have a good app, but it seems you have a lot of bans on your record. Neutral.

Teeler · May 28, 2016

Did you come back? Support

Daniella · May 28, 2016

Sorry, I can't give you support.

Km · May 29, 2016

Thread Locked on request.
If you disagree to this action, please report this post, and a moderator or administrator will reconsider it.

Kind regards,
The Staff

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Dewmellon's Moderator Application

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Dewmellon's Moderator Application

corn doggo Experienced Member

nyxa Experienced Member

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vfhuuuuu Active Member

Teeler i am kenough

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