APPLICATIONWhat date did you register as a CS member?: I joined on the 28th of July, 2009
How many posts have you made in the forum (at the time of applying):7683
Without posting your age, are you old enough (and willing) to risk seeing adult content when screening posts that are waiting for moderator approval: I am both old enough and willing to view adult content without being disturbed or offended. Furthermore, I am open-minded, and willing to witness views which may challenge my own ideas without bias.
How many days a week do you usually visit CS?I visit CS every single day. If I do not have access to a computer, I get online via my iPod or cellphone. I can access help tickets from both of these.
How many hours per day do you usually spend on CS, on a day that you do visit?I spend a minimum of three hours a day on CS, but on average I am online from four to five hours on a weekday, and eight to nine on a weekend. I can spend a maximum of twelve hours online a day, during events, holidays or high-pressure times. I can also access the computer at low-activity times, since I operate on a different timezone to most of the CS population.
Have you moderated on any other forums before? If so, please link to them:I have moderated the
Jellybean Dragons, and I am currently an artist for them. This has given me a realistic idea of some of the problems that I might face as a global mod. This is a very popular and competitive community, and I have witnessed and helped to mediate conflict, both amongst other staff members and the community. This is a community in which many of the users are in their tweens or early teens, and as a result, tempers can fray and people can react passionately. This experience has taught me to keep a cool head, stay objective, open-minded and unbiased, and not to give up, for I have stuck with it and enjoyed my time there, despite several high-pressure situations.
I have also been an artist for the
Rune Dragons, which is a very different community, where the median age is higher and the atmosphere amongst community members is much more mature and supportive. I have seen and worked with a very different sort of team here, and enjoyed it greatly.
I am also a roleplay moderator for the Warriors of Isket.
Now the important question: Why do you want to be a moderator for CS?I joined the General Helper team of CS in late August last year, because I wanted to help other members have the positive experience which I have had on this site. In this time, I have answered questions, greeted and helped new members, and answered help tickets. I have loved working to help the site in a non-official capacity, and I have made some wonderful friends and found the experience rewarding overall.
However, I would really like to start doing more. I am hard-working, diligent and reliable, and I think that I could put long hours into helping to maintain the behind-the-scenes effort which goes into running CS. I have gotten a taste of what needs to be done through help tickets and speaking to staff members, and I think that I would enjoy doing these tasks, and do my best to keep up with them. I also have a realistic idea of what goes into this sort of role. I know that it is high-pressure, time-consuming, and that global moderators need to behave well at all times due to being in the public eye. I am aware of the commitment which this role requires, and am prepared to behave in a way which lives up to CS's ideals. I am also aware that I may become unpopular by holding up CS's rules. I have witnessed this happening to perfectly nice people, and while I will try to avoid this and stay friendly, I will not avoid work to be popular and liked.
I haven't grown tired of being a General Helper, and no matter what happens, I will stay on the Introduction board (because it's become a second home to me).
I want to continue to give other users the positive experience which I have had on CS, and go further to do so.
Can you think of any particular skills you can bring to the position:I speak almost-fluent Afrikaans and terrible Zulu, which admittedly, is not helpful on a site where much of the population is from Europe and North America.
However, I have worked with children at my horse-riding yard for many years, so I am patient, calm and know how to calm people down but stay firm and in control.
I also teach debating at a township school once a week, to children who do not speak English at home and come from troubled backgrounds, and so I know how to work with people in that respect, and am capable of mediating conflict.
I can be online when not many other staff members are (because of my interesting Central African Time time zone) and have almost constant internet access during the term due to my university, and access on my phone when I don't.
I have experience in handling tickets, answering questions and other General Helper duties. I am competent in Oekaki, the workings of the site, basic forum coding, and I am getting better at rarities, slowly but surely, and know where to send people when I cannot answer their questions.
Thanks for your time!