Hey guys...

To me there has been some confusion as of late as to what we on staff do and I thought that I would just share some of my thoughts.

First off just to give you some background...

Positions here at TN include:

Moderators - Mods of course moderate and can close threads, move threads all that sort of thing.

Editors - (which is what I am) We only can create news stories, add to the database and things like that. We have no admin rights, so we can't close threads or move things either.

Admin - Alex, Steven, Katie, and Graham run the site from the top level basically. They all do a LOT that you guys don't see as well.

Also...

Pay - This has been one of the most hillarious things to me. A lot of people assume that the staff here gets paid. We don't. We get zero $. We all do what we do because we love this site and love the amusement industry/parks/coasters, etc.

Duties - As said before everyone on staff here is volunteer. We do this on our own free time. We do have responsibilities and requirements that are asked of us, but when you're working with a volunteer staff you can't expect to have CNN every day (we do have lives after all).

I'm sure I'm leaving out a lot and maybe some of the other staffers would like to comment as well.

But I just wanted to share my perspective with the TN membership as a whole.

A lot is going on at this site, even though you might not see it on the boards or on the site, there is a lot of work that goes on (for no pay!)

Thanks for reading.

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

For that Wes, you get a 200% raise. In fact, you can have my salary.

Moderators #1 job is to participate on the site. Their #2 duty is to keep an eye out on problem members (especially those that pop out of nowhere) as well as problem threads/posts. However, they can't be everywhere... hence why we have the "Help Us Out" forum as well as a way to report posts. Moderators respond to all of them. In fact, I added a moderator recently to help with the workload.

Those with Navy Blue, Teal, or Purple names aren't moderators (unless you're Kyle Rehm (purple name)... he's the Senior Moderator). So, don't expect those staff to moderate because they are doing other things for TN (such as posting stories, maintaining our database, working on SpeedZone, and other things).

While we are an all volunteer staff, we drive them hard to do their best. However, no single staffer puts more time into the site than I do. 90 percent of what I do is behind the scenes, and I'm extremely glad when I can participate and help out the staff whenever I can.

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ThrillNetwork Webmaster/Systems Administrator -- My Official Fansite -- Get Firefox!
Everytime I ride a coaster, it valleys. I've never been on a stalled coaster or had one roll back (except Wicked Twister and what was Superman: Ultimate Escape, which does that by design).

He gets a raise and I don't? How rude!! (My sarcasm precedes me!)

It is not easy being a staffer. I know us admins do a lot behind the scenes that most of you know nothing about. My job is just making sure that news is updated as best as possible, making sure the database and speedzone have fresh content, and editing all of the special features that come in before they are posted.

The editors work is hard, searching for stories, reworking them, verifying sources, and keeping up with special features. The database editors make sure all parks are updated as best as possible, and speedzone judges NL and RCT tracks, and starting to write tutorials for people learning NL.

The mods, I think have the hardest work. They deal with the spam, unruly members (yes we get those on occasion.) and so on. They are always on guard and get the brunt of frustration when it comes to the boards.

I know I have dealt with that aspect, just a tiny bit. It's not easy. It takes a dedicated person to volunteer for a site like this. It may not seem hard from the outside, but there's more then meets the eye. I know I don't say this a lot, but all of the staff here is awesome and they work damn hard for nothing.

They all deserve raises....not that we can pay them or anything.

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~ThrillNetwork's Social Networking Director~
This signature is up for rent.

Cool!... uh wait.

Katie, you can have my salary. How's that?

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

Just to clear up something that a few of you still seem to be confused about and to expand on what Steven said above:

Of all the administrators (Alex W, Steven, Jerry, Katie, Clint, and Graham), only Graham and Steven are able to assist us in moderating/regulating discussions on board, which includes closing/merging threads and suspending members. All other admins can only report threads/posts/members to us....they cannot do anything about it.

Also, even though all the leads (Kyle Rehm, Bryan Wood, and Kyle L) do technically have the moderating powers, Kyle Rehm is a moderator, while the other two editors, so the same rules apply as well....only Kyle Rehm is able to assist us in moderating.

And to those of you who do appreciate our work and do help us out by reporting posts and threads, on behalf of the moderating staff, we thank you very much for all your help and support. It really makes us feel better about our jobs know you all are there for us, because in reality, your support and appreciation is our true payoff. And the rest of the staff feels the same way as well.

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ThrillNetwork Lead Moderator (Originally known as Hurricane)

It's time to play some DEFENSE!

I would like to give my appreciation to all the staff members here.

I was recently made a moderator at CoasterCravers, and I write the reviews and top ten.
And let me tell you, it's way harder than you think it is.

It's a lot of writing and a lot of time taken out of your life. As if we aren't all busy enough with school and what not already.

So you all have my appreciation. You're doing a spectacular job. Keep it up!

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Steven, I want half of my TN 401K to go to Katie, since she's feeling a little shortchanged.

Sometimes, moderating isn't easy, but it helps keep things running on a stable keel, and it makes the site better. That's why I lace up the jackboots every day.

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ThrillNetwork Lead Moderator
My neighbor got a big new house, and all I got was his lousy payments

401k? Isn't that the capacity of my old computer?

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

Awww you guys really do love me! How sweet!

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~ThrillNetwork's Social Networking Director~
This signature is up for rent.

You know, I think I will forgo my salary altogether and do what other leaders do when times are tough... set their salary at $1.

Oh wait, that would be an incalculatable raise for me.

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ThrillNetwork Webmaster/Systems Administrator -- My Official Fansite -- Get Firefox!
Everytime I ride a coaster, it valleys. I've never been on a stalled coaster or had one roll back (except Wicked Twister and what was Superman: Ultimate Escape, which does that by design).

I think I missed the job qualification of "sense of humor".

Yes, I am the killjoy of many threads.

I wasn't a staff member here right away. I was a regular poster and had my run-ins with the staff (even tried to get banned too). It is very tough on the "other side" but it can be equally as gratifying...I think. I haven't exactly figured that out yet.

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Wow Wes...way to forget Speedzone staffers....

(Thanks to those that REPRESENTED me)

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Thornton to Heatley all day, every day.

Don't be hatin' just because the Canes won the Cup this year. lol

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

I did not know you guys did not get paid. I had often wondered. My hat is off to all of you. This is a lot of work for volunteers

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Please remain seated until the ride comes to a full and complete stop.

^^ The SHarks will win next year!
Sorry I love the Sharks.
Anyway I didnt think you got payed.
It would seem like a pretty sweet deal.

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All hail Mr. Six! lol

Thanks Sandy and Steel! You get one free spam for the day. NOT!
*runs and hides before the Mods get me*

It is nice to be appreciated for what we do.

We also accept cash in our PayPal accounts.

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

Actually I thought that you guys got paid too. Even though you don't thank you for all that you guys do and for keeping ThrillNetwork such a great site (the best one on the internet). But don't tell that to the other sites

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darn, and here I was thinking this was going to fund my early retirement.

Oh darn, we just sent out a press release.

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

As a long timer thanks for what you do, On days when I'm home and too tired from work to do the work I need to do around here I like to see what is up and this site is the best for coaster info... Keep it up.

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From a newbies point of veiw, you guys all do a great job of keeping this website going, and keeping the content up to date and appropriate. I think this site has the most family friendly forum atmosphere that I've seen on coaster sites. TPR content can frequently be rated R and your apparent rival is sometimes PG, but you guys get a great G rating!

Oh, but it WILL fund your early retirement, it just won't do it very well.

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ThrillNetwork Lead Moderator
My neighbor got a big new house, and all I got was his lousy payments

I know how tough the work on a site can be, especially when everyone is here on their own time volunteering. I work permanently on staff at one website and help out at a few other sites in the coaster community when needed, and none of it is easy work; especially when you have everything that comes with being a high school senior to worry about.

So hats off to the staff here at TN. You all do a wonderful job around here.

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Point Xtreme: Your Xtreme Guide to America's Roller Coast!

8 bits and Goomba-stomping fun is all you need for a fun afternoon. Forget shooting and thousands of polygons, I want bits and funny sounds.