I'm the KING OF THE WORLD!

Or queen. Why? Because I'm an administrator of a FORUM! That's right. If you don't like how I run this place, too bad for you, you can just go pack it. What's that? You want me to stop being mean? Oh boo hoo, poor baby, maybe YOU should stop being such a dumbass and whiner, maybe then someday you can understand half of what it takes to be as awesome as me. Cause you're just a n00b and you know what else? I don't like your face. So unless you're kissing my ass every minute on this forum I'll happily ban you and rid this place of one more l0zerrr.

Funny...there seem to be a lot of those lately...Oh well. You just can't stand how awesome I am. That's right!

...Wow I even started to hate myself while I typed that example. We've all probably seen at least one mod or admin like that. Nobody can stand them, yet why are there still so many?

Could it be that some of us are like that and might not even realise it?

This isn't an article about avoiding asshole admins. I think we all know one when we see one...Unless, maybe, it's the one looking back at us in the mirror?

No way, you think, never in a million years could you be one of those intolerable, pretentious bitchy snobs you take pains to avoid, and gripe to your friends about having to deal with. Well I always hope not, but I decided to write this up based on the possibility that some folks out there may be giving off the wrong impressions on their websites. One very different from what they think they're giving off.

There's no one way to diagnose it, but instead there are a few warning signs that I'll outline, from experience. First...

"If you don't like how I enforce things, too bad. I'm not softening myself up for anyone."

Everyone has the right to make whatever rules they want to, right? Of course! So why is the above a warning sign? Because as an administrator it's a little bit different. While you should never change your rules if you don't want to change them, you need to think of how you come across to your members. If they take offence to what you tell them, consider that and ask yourself whether you're speaking kindly-but-firmly {good} or coming off as a bitch {bad}. If you word something like this:

"I understand you don't like this rule but we have it for a reason and at this time it isn't changing. Please comply or you will be [banned/warned/etc.}."

...you will still get your point across and I don't think anyone could legitimately accuse you of nastiness.

"I don't like you."

You don't have to like everyone on your board. And you probably won't. But enforcing the rules should never bring your personal gripes against someone into play. Keep those likes and dislikes of members out of your administrating or before long you will be known as a gameowner who plays favourites...and least favourites...and who doesn't give a whit about people's feelings.

"This character application--if it could be called that--reeks of Mary Sue's armpits for about 100 reasons and I'm going to list them all right now in detail. You came up with a clever name for the title--and the niceness and praise ends right here...{proceeds for another 5 screens of barbed critiquing}..."

While constructive criticism is welcome for any character application that could do well in your RPG if it just had some things tweaked, personally, long-winded stompings of bios, full of snarkiness and holier-than-thou comments, disgust me to no end and I'm not alone. If the application is that hopeless I don't see any other reason to waste 3 hours writing up a scathing review other than to enjoy cutting someone else down. If you want to, go ahead...you won't be admired or respected for it as a kind and considerate gameowner if that is how you deal with members whose skills are not up to your standards. It is more productive to be brief and polite by saying something like,

"I admire your effort and thank you for trying out at our game. However, the level of writing that your application demonstrates is not up to the game's minimum standards--this is a game for more experienced players--and it would be unfair to accept this only to see you unable to keep up. If you'd like to polish up on your skills and get an idea of what we are looking for I encourage you to check out our guides/roleplays/approved bios. If you have any questions just ask."

It can be easier than some might think to let an administrating position go to their head. I hope this can shed some light on it and help people avoid this pitfall!