Moderator (s) needed - apply within, please.

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Hello,
My name is Brian Dierking, and my Fauna ID is brd7666. I have been a Fauna member for several years now. I am in my mid 40's and have been into reptiles for over 30 years. How many of you can remember your parents saying, "get that thing out of here", well I heard it all the time. I was always bringing home a snake, and all kinds of stuff. I have been breeding snakes for about 20 years now, and I have had all kinds. My main focus now is on boas and ball pythons, but I have had cornsnakes, kingsnakes, and milksnakes. I like all reptiles, but you can't have them all. I have seen a lot over the years, met a lot of nice people, and had some fun times. I always like meeting people and making new friends.

I believe Faunaclassifieds.com has some of the best features and functions to help the entire reptile community. I also believe the BOI is the best tool available anywhere that anyone can benefit from regardless of who you are. The BOI has helped all kinds of people in a lot of ways, you can do a name search on someone to find out if they are good or bad, you can post your experience regarding a transaction you had, both as a seller or buyer, good or bad, and even try to work out differences in a transaction that was not as expected. So the BOI serves the future, the present, and the past, it's full of history.

I would like to help this site, especially the BOI because I believe we need it. Without it all of the bad guys would come out from everywhere. I also believe the BOI needs to be cleaned up a bit and I would like to help do that so that the site will be more enjoyable for everyone and even respected on a higher level. I believe with a little cleaning, more people will participate making it even better for all of us.

I don't have a lot of posts to my name here and there are a few reasons for that. One reason is the drama that can be associated with some of the threads, name calling, mud slinging, or whatever, we have all seen it. Another reason is, if I see a thread is going well then there is no reason to post, I don't post just to see my name up on the screen, if I don't feel I can contribute in a positive way then I don't post.

I believe being a mod needs to be taken seriously. It requires dedication, time, and the desire to make things better. There are also those times when someone can be upset with a mod when that mod has to perform some kind of disciplinary action for the best interest of the site. I know that can result in a member getting mad at that mod. I am really not worried about stuff like that. If something has to be done, then it needs to be done, and that is all there is to it.

I visit several sites and post on them as well. I have a small site of my own, but it does not have forums or anything like that. I am not a mod on any other site. I am currently unemployed and going to college full time so I can do a career change. I have spare time I can devote to making this site better for all of us. My goal would be to make this site better. I hope it will be around for years to come.

I believe all of the people who were nominated would do a good job, so regardless, the site can't lose. Thanks for reading my little story, and good luck to everyone.

If anyone has any questions they would like to ask, please feel free to do so.

Brian Dierking
 
Hello, My name is Nicholas Hrabowski and I'm an alcoh... errrrrr ...oops ...sorry ...wrong speech. :eek:

I'm Nick, 29, self employed (web design & freelance draftsman) and have owned reptiles, amphibians, aquatics and various mammals (actually, only cats and dogs :p) for as long as I can remember. I've owned dozens of herp species (from tree frogs, to reticulated pythons). Although, I've bred Ball pythons and Red Tail Boas for a while, this has primarily been a hobby of mine. I don't necessarily know a lot about a little (regarding fauna subject matter), however, I do know a little about a lot. Because of this, I believe that I can give any needed input throughout the various forums on FC (as opposed to focusing on just one area).

I am an Admin/Moderator for Herper Forums. That forum has yet to go live, so I currently do not have any credible moderating experience. I agreed to moderate that forum because I've always been interested in the thought processes behind problem solving, involved with moderating. The Webslave's posts (on figuring out how to create a fair median) capture my attention. I do not find the work to be painstaking...instead, I honestly enjoy it. I do plan to be a Mod there for as long as they'll have me, however, there is no need to worry about any conflict of interest. Bashing FC, or any other forum, will not be tolerated (it'll be treated as one of our members, bashing another of our members). The way I see it, ALL Herp forums are working towards the same goals...and any pointless, community-splitting drama will be tossed out the door. I absolutely do have FC's best interests in mind...I think my actions since I've come here, show that.

My experience with FC has been very fulfilling. Initially its helped me financially, and more recently its provided me with an awesome social outlet. Although (out of the nom list) I do not have the best qualifications for the job...I do, however, believe that I'd be able to pick up on things relatively quickly. I am now familiar with FC policies, and can get straight to work without much of a learning curve. Since I work from home...committing the necessary hours to moderating is not an issue with me (FC is on my browser for the majority of my day...every day).

I'm confident that I'd be a fair Mod. I go into a thread without having my mind set. I know full well that I might leave any given thread with a different perspective on the topic at hand. I've given Karma to people I strongly disagree with, because their post got me thinking. I've reported people that I agree with, because although they may have said the right thing (IMO), they said it the wrong way (profanity, insults, etc...). I don't form any determinations about something/someone, based on any single event/post. Growing up in NYC has taught me to appreciate the diversity of opinions, philosophies, etc... My point is, I'm open minded and try to look at things objectively.

I know that many (if not most) of my posts reside in HELL, hence my credibility is probably lacking. Credibility that I believe is essential in preserve the outstanding reputation of the Mod System. Also (on more than one occasion :eek:), I have not conducted myself in a manner befitting of a "potential" Mod. I know all this, but I'd like to think that my pro's outweigh my con's.

My goal of becoming a Mod, isn't to gain any kind of social status. Its to take FULL advantage of this great median, by contributing what I can. Faunaclassifieds isn't just another forum...its a HERP forum, and many of our livelihoods depend on this forum (and others like it) representing themselves in a positive light. We're being bombarded from all sides with the threat of bogus restrictions, based on ignorant unfounded prejudices. FC is the message (as representative of all of us) that lawmakers and the public will see. For that reason I DO appreciate the responsibilities that helping moderate this forum will entail. Its much more than just banning a trouble maker...its helping build a stronger community by doing the necessary things, enabling it to blossom. Basically, I am not taking the potential of me being a mod, lightly...I DO know whats at stake here.

If I were to be a mod, I would not disappointed you guys...I'd try my best to make sure that wont happen! Having said that, I'd like to thank my mother (in advance) for what will probably be the only vote for Polasian :).

Regardless of how this turns out...if FC ever needs any help...and you guys (the membership, Mods & Rich) feel that I can offer it, then you don't even have to ask...just tell me when and where.

Good luck to all the nominees...I'm sure that whoever gets the vote, will do an amazing job. :yesnod:

Now...the following are some photos from my FC Mod 2010 campaign trail (yes...I shamelessly hired a photographer to follow me around)...

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My turn now. Lets see, My name is Mark Batch And I am 22 years old and I live in the great and expensive state of New York. I have been involved with reptiles as long as I could say "Reptiles". It started at an early age when I would go out to the fields with my mother and catch garter snakes. So I would say I have had this passion for 18 years.

I feel that this opportunity would give me a excellent chance to be an even more positive asset to this great site we call Fauna. I currently keep a vast array of animals within my collection. Including ball pythons (of course), Hogg island boas, Bearded dragons, and Crested geckos. I try to help out here as it is whenever I feel I can make a positive comment on a thread that seems like it is kind of being led off topic.

Some other sites I frequent include ball-pythons.net, kingsnake.com , the Bush League, and avid herpers. But when It comes to answers to questions I may have Fauna in a sense is my home.

I believe any of the nominees will be a great choice and I hope that I could be graced with an opportunity to make myself a little more well known within the community as the guy who will go out of his way to help when he can.

Thank you for reading and for the consideration of me being a moderator for Fauna !
 
Hello fellow Fauna members. DAND (Dave) here. Most of you already know who I am. For those who don't, I have been a member here since late 2003 and as you can see if you look to the left that I have made a few posts over the past 6 1/2 years and from that it would be safe to guess that I enjoy participating in the various forums Fauna has to offer.

I have kept a wide variety of animals over the past 4 decades and even know I am now working on my 5th decade I am still learning. I enjoy passing on the knowledge I do have to other people and try and go out of my way to help others. I have had a number of members contact me (new as well as older members) asking questions about this site and I will continue to help all those out who contact me. I try and welcome every new member who comes here to Fauna and if I become a moderator or not I will continue to do so too.

I was made a moderator on another site prior to making my first post. The site is still in the works but were I to become a moderator here it would not interfere whatsoever. I have had some experience moderating here on Fauna a few years back when Rich had moderators for the various forums. I stared off with the Shows and Events forum and then the Kingsnake forum a short time later too. I post on a few other sites but nothing like I post here on Fauna. I have been asked numerous times if I sleep due to being seen online here at all hours and I see this would be beneficial to becoming a moderator being able to be online here as often as I am.

Over the years I have taken on more and more responsibilities at whatever position I have been in and in short time would become assistant and then manager, lead or foreman. I go at things 100% and I don't quit. I would see becoming a moderator here as my job and I would do my job properly and without cutting corners. I wouldn't embarrass Rich, this site or myself.

I enjoy participating on this site and I refer people here all the time be it word of mouth, shooting them a link or by handing out fliers at the shows I vend. Rich is asking for help and as I see it, he has specific shoes he wants to be filled and I understand that if I were voted to become a moderator I may have to curl my toes a bit and let it be known I am willing to do so.
 
Only three more resumes needed. Then we can move on to the next step....

(hint...hint)
 
WebSlave said:
Only three more resumes needed. Then we can move on to the next step....

(hint...hint)
Click to expand...


I would like to apologize to everyone about me being one of the last to get my response in. Our 3 year old son decided to spray my laptop keyboard with febreeze so we are down to one laptop for the next couple of weeks while mine is being fixed. Thankfully it was under the extended warranty and I have the accidental coverage as well.

For those who do not know me I am Jeffery Wise Sr and run our Lawn care and Landscaping Company as well as doing our Reptile business as a fun and enjoyable family hobby. I am currently a moderator at LeopardGeckoz.com which is a small website where not many members are present as well as herperforums where I am a moderator as well as administrator but the site is still in beta and has yet to launch.

Other than that when I had my laptop I did spend my free time on Fauna whether it was searching the forums or in chat.

With all that being said there are so many great nominees that Fauna can't go wrong with whoever is chosen to be a moderator. Whether it's just 1 person or 3 people the voting for others I believe will be hard because their are just so many good choices that whether or not I get a vote I will be happy with whoever is selected and will be representing Fauna and the community.

Jeff Wise
 
I dont even want to know what you have been doing with your laptop that it needed disinfecting

Resist the urge... those sites will get you in trouble. :rofl:
 
I'm Dean Arnold. I don't post much here. I was one of the original mods on Rich's cornsnakes.com site. I'd be happy to help here.
 
Hi my name is Laura Fopiano. Like Rick C. I was born and raised in So. Cal. in Orange county.

I started keeping herps in 1967. I was lucky to have a tolerant mother. In order to care for my pets I had to study behavior as there was little to no information available. Back then they called anoles chameleons and were sold at 5 and dime stores, however, the bulk of my collection were all field collected by me. I was lucky to have a grand mother that lived in the high desert where the bulk of my reptiles were obtained.

As I got older I still went into the field but caught and released my favorite treasures. I got my first Jackson chameleon in 1978, he was my pride and joy.

Like my other nominee's I have kept a wide variety of reptiles. I was the President of Southern California Herpetology Association from 2001-2004. As a club our responsibility was education and conservation. We did a lot of school and hands on presentations. My love of education made it very easy for me to talk about and teach responsible ownership and handling techniques to herpers of all ages.

I have been keeping and breeding boa constrictors for 10 years now. I was introduced to fauna through a club member and I will be forever grateful. This has been my home since 2002 and although I may lurk on a couple of other sites, I will always be here.
I have had the pleasure of meeting many members here through reptile shows in So Cal.

In 2005 my 10 year marriage ended and I really thought it was the end of me. Members here held my hand through fauna chat and phone lines. They held me up when I couldn't. They loved me until I was able to love myself. And through that rough time, I met my partner in chat (where else) I am now co-owner of BnL Exotix, in where our main focus is boa constrictors and a small colony of leopard geckos.

My ultimate passion is still field herping. I am constantly searching for new treasures in west-central Georgia where I have lived for the past 3 years.

In my 7 years here, I have seen many members come and go. This site has been the one constant in my ever changing life.
 
OK, thanks everyone. I'm going to lock this thread and move on to the next steps.
 
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