Today I present the final part of our Ask a Moderator series. For the last four weeks, I've been putting questions, submitted by the community, to the folks who help keep this site humming along day-in and day-out so you could get a better picture of who these people actually are, and why they put so much time and effort into WinCustomize.
With this being the final set, I'd like to thank all of the moderators who participated, and all the users who submitted questions. I hope everyone's found this series entertaining and informative. Hopefully we'll be able to do more of these in the future
Question 1 -
How many hours a day do you mod? (HG_Eliminator)
 Wizop WOM |
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Total, probably 5 hours, at least. Never really counted. Am on 16-17 hours a day, even if I'am not in front of the computer, but check things out all the time. |
 Super Wizop Koasati |
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Hard to say. I spend as much time here as possible, but don't know how much time I spend on any one thing. |
 Wizop starone |
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As far as modding, anywhere from 1 to 2 hours, depending. |
 Sir Zubaz |
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I am here all day reading the forums. I check the queue every five hours or so to see if there is anything that needs my attention |
 Wizop Quentin94 |
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When i'm not too sick and i can be in front of my PC?... All the day  |
 Overseer Fuzzy Logic |
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Depends. Some days I'm here a couple of hours, other days all day. I usually try to have breaks. The longest I've done in one continuous effort was 4½ hours. Some mental case decided it might be fun to mess with the ratings so I had to do an emergency clean up - took 4½ hours, sigh... only took me 30 seconds to exile him though Sometimes when you are investigating possible rips you could spend hours looking at other sites. So, how long do I mod? - as long as it takes... |
 Big Cheese KarmaGirl |
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Depends on the day and how many submissions there are. I like to also keep up on the forums, even if I don't actively comment. |
 Admin Jafo |
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At the moment...about 2 or 3, [house renovations/construction happening]. Normally it's more than 50% of the day, the longest stint was about 30-something hours with 4 off for sleep. |
 Wizop Erk. |
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As soon as I get home from work, I hit the mod queues in the sections I have access to ..the length of time depends on what's waiting. I download and test everything I moderate, so some days take a little longer than others if there's been heavy upload activity. |
 Super Wizop Snowman |
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That very much depends on how many uploads needs to be traken care of. |
 Snidely Whiplash |
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I'm usually in and out of the site numerous times daily. i spend maybe 2 hours a day looking thru the mod queue. |
 Moderator elvee |
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It is hard to say but I try to give myself an hour or two each day, more on weekends. |
Question 2 -
What made you accept the invite/want to be a mod? (Quentin94)
| Wizop WOM |
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I've been with this site , seems like forever, and as a non skinner I wanted to help in some way. I subscribed so when I was askeded, I accepted as another way to give back. |
| Super Wizop Koasati |
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Jafo, and DavidK locked me a room with no computer  , and refused to let me have any coffee  until I accepted the offer. 
Seriously, I wanted to help in whatever way I could. |
| Wizop starone |
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Enjoy the site, and was glad to be able to contribute. |
| Sir Zubaz |
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I wanted to be able to rub RomanDA's face in the mud that I had a higher rank than him. 
Just kidding (sorta)! I wanted to help Zoomba and Jafo and everyone who makes this place happen. I thought I had something to add to what they did. |
| Wizop Quentin94 |
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I Love this site I wanted to help moderation team and wanted to contribute to the site. |
| Overseer Fuzzy Logic |
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I wanted to help out and do something useful and worthwhile. |
| Big Cheese KarmaGirl |
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I'm not sure either happened. LOL When WC started, there weren't many community members that were interested, and there weren't a lot of Stardock employees in general. So, since I was active in the skinning communities, I started moderating. |
| Admin Jafo |
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As a mod? .... after the ill-fated week I lasted as admin on skinz.org I saw it as a second chance to 'prove' it wasn't me that 'killed' skinz.org... |
| Wizop Erk. |
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I wanted to be able to 'give back' to the site I'd come to know & love, after a few years of mostly 'taking' [downloading] things. It gives me a sense of worth [or value] to be able to help out. |
| Super Wizop Snowman |
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One would be quite a tosser if one did'nt accept....... |
| Snidely Whiplash |
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I had ot be talked into it, honestly. Boxxi and Jafo contacted me regarding it and I asked for specifics. After talking to Brad and Koop, i decided to give it a shot. |
| Moderator elvee |
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I love WC and all the folks here. Not being a skinner, I have always did what I could to help out. When I recieved the invite, I saw it as a chance to help in ways I couldn't before. |
Question 3 -
When you begin your WC rounds, what's the first thing you check? (Quentin94)
| Wizop WOM |
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I check the Q's first, then the admin forum, the libraries and lastly, the forum. |
| Super Wizop Koasati |
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Community forum, Admin/Moderator forums, then the queue. |
| Wizop starone |
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The first thing is what needs to be modded, the second is the admin board, then forums. |
| Sir Zubaz |
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I check the Super-secret moderator forums to see what happened overnight. That tells me if the spam level is high or if there's a hot topic in the forums or the like. Then I check the queues I moderate. Then I head to the forums to see if anything jumps out at me as needing attention. |
| Wizop Quentin94 |
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Admin forums, Moderation Queue, My replies, PM, Galleries, News, Articles, Forums, and my skins. |
| Overseer Fuzzy Logic |
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The first thing is the moderator forum so I know if I've missed anything. Next, I get to the skin queues. After that is done, I have a quiet read of the forum. |
| Big Cheese KarmaGirl |
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I first look in the moderator queues to see what is in there. I then check the Admin and moderator forums to see if there is anything that I need to look into. Then I go out on the forums to see what is up. |
| Admin Jafo |
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First...the Forums - Recent Posts ...to check for 'wild activity'/multiple responses that could indicate a 'flame'.
Second...the Admin/Moderator Forums ...to check if there's been any issues within the past 6 hours since I was last on. |
| Wizop Erk. |
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I check the front page of WC for relevant news, and to see what's been going on, then I hit the moderation queues, then finally the forums. I usually have an idea whats waiting anyway, as I usually have a browser window open to WC and the admin forums whilst at work, to keep an eye on the [WC] forums [for spam, etc]. |
| Super Wizop Snowman |
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I check for new (public) uploads in the libraries, then onto the modding queue. |
| Snidely Whiplash |
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I go first to the Windowblinds que to see if there's anything there that blows me away. if there is, i pass it on thru to the public library. the second place i go is the wallpaper que and leave comments regarding those. |
| Moderator elvee |
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Routine...Check the forums, Load up Admin forums, Check Mod Queue, Then back to forums...the recent posts that is. Finally I load up WC Browser for skins. |
Question 4 -
Do you still try to skin?
| Wizop WOM |
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I can barely use a paint program, so the answer is no, and never have. Tried one of those canned puch button programs but was to embarrassed to upload it. |
| Super Wizop Koasati |
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Heck yes....... I'm addicted ya know.  I do a lot of stuff, experimenting and whatnot, but don't upload as much as I used to. |
| Wizop starone |
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Yes, but....still working on the same blind it seems. |
| Sir Zubaz |
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Have you seen my skins?
In addition to making me more aware of how I state my opinions, being a mod has cut down on my "skinning". All a part of Zoomba's master plan I think. |
| Wizop Quentin94 |
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Are you kidding? YES  |
| Overseer Fuzzy Logic |
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I don't really have the time. I'd like to add Vista features to my skins, but I just end up banging the keyboard - SKS6 just gives me pc rage... |
| Big Cheese KarmaGirl |
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Oh, I try....and I fail miserably. I think I'll stick with my camera for my art and let the more talented people create the skins. |
| Admin Jafo |
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Yes....I do a wee bit...but I don't have the time to devote to it any more [otherwise I'd be doing the Litestep theme/s for the new Community Skin project/s]...but I have been tweaking the odd Winamp skin [quicker to do]. |
| Wizop Erk. |
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No ...personally I felt I wasn't that good at it anyway |
| Super Wizop Snowman |
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It's exactly 2 years since I quit skinning, and can't really say I miss it
But yes, I have tried picking it up again, but I never get any further than opening up Paintshop Pro. |
| Snidely Whiplash |
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Nope. I was never a skinner to begin with. i leave the skinning to the guys and gals who actually know what they're doing and have the talent to take concepts in their minds and finalize them with skins we are all privileged to use. |
| Moderator elvee |
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I wish I could do it in the first place! I Have alot of respect to those that can, but I try a little here and there. |
Question 5 -
What does your significant other/friends/pets/family think of the amount of time you spend on the site?
| Wizop WOM |
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As I'am single and the kids are grown, except for my 5 year old grand daughter, I have no problems in this area. When she calls, I come running. She comes first. |
| Super Wizop Koasati |
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My wife, and kids used to think we were all nuts, now they know we are for a fact.
It bothered Julie at first, but not anymore. She doesn't get skinning, but she gets that I love it. |
| Wizop starone |
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Well, granddaughter thinks she is the only one entitled to my time (and is constantly talking), so have to be sporadic. Pet doesn't complain as long as he gets a petting now and then (and gratefully he doesn't talk.) |
| Sir Zubaz |
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My family puts up with it. The oldest daughter is more interested now that I have the DeskScapes beta installed but otherwise could care less. My wife is more understanding after a visit to Stardock HQ and the realization that yes, they are real people on the other end of the line. |
| Wizop Quentin94 |
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My Family understand it hehe. Friends? hum with the marriage and divorce i lost some many (and my health don't allow me to leave the apart so...), the only best friend i still have in France, well she understand me she's like me .
So the only ones to cry about the time i spend on the site and skinning are my cats Well i can understand i often forget to give them food or water thought i often forget to eat too |
| Overseer Fuzzy Logic |
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Friends? Family? |
| Big Cheese KarmaGirl |
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My husband has threatened many times to chuck my laptop out the window. Need I say more? |
| Admin Jafo |
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Keeps me off the streets and out of the pubs...so not all bad. My cat usually spits a dummy about 2am and demands I call it a day... |
| Wizop Erk. |
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Most people I talk to about it initially show interest, but when I start getting technical, I see that familiar 'glazed look' in their eyes |
| Super Wizop Snowman |
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Oh boy.... Basically skinning ruined my marriage - or rather, my addiction to skinning did!
So I've sure seen the downside of being in this business.
Living on my own now (though in a relationship) does give me all the time I need/want to spend on WC, but from past experience, I have "seen the light" and am now able to leave the PC behind and tend to real-life as well. |
| Snidely Whiplash |
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Oh, my pups don't seem to mind very much. as long as i take a break and pet them or take them outside every now and then, they're cool with me being here. |
| Moderator elvee |
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My Wife doesn't mind so much as she used to as long as I make time for her My Cats? Well as long as I feed them, give them some love and keep the Cat Box clean, They are Happy.  |