SDN Security Forum in "Santa" mode for next 10 days

Question

Dear gurus,
In an attempt to close some threads neglected by the OP's this year and achieve SDN's goals with regards to ponits (see the Welcome thread about the UN food program and other donations made by SAP based on annual contributions) I will be combing through selected threads from the current year and closing them as moderator.
It will be impossible to do a perfect and complete job of this, but I will try my best to be fair and concentrate on those who have contributed valueable inputs of information but not been recognized appropriately.
Feel welcome to post links to threads which you feel are candidates for me to take a look into, or even add to the "FAQ & Memorable threads" sticky. You can also contact me via my Business Card details.
Also please close your own threads and do not dump them all to the top again unless there is a good reason to comment further (the comment field is not mandatory!)
Cheers and merry christmas to all,
Julius

Answer 1

Julius Bussche wrote:
> Dear gurus,
>
> In an attempt to close some threads neglected by the OP's this year and achieve SDN's goals with regards to ponits (see the Welcome thread about the UN food program and other donations made by SAP based on annual contributions) I will be combing through selected threads from the current year and closing them as moderator.
>
> It will be impossible to do a perfect and complete job of this, but I will try my best to be fair and concentrate on those who have contributed valueable inputs of information but not been recognized appropriately.
>
> Feel welcome to post links to threads which you feel are candidates for me to take a look into, or even add to the "FAQ & Memorable threads" sticky. You can also contact me via my Business Card details.
>
> Also please close your own threads and do not dump them all to the top again unless there is a good reason to comment further (the comment field is not mandatory!)
>
> Cheers and merry christmas to all,
> Julius
Dear Julius,
I find this procedure objectionable for three reasons:
The community on SDN has failed to achieve its goals. But achieved they must be!! So now the leaders of said community will force the accomplishment of what the community could or would not ... by expressing the approval of the site owner over the community. How does that sound in your ears?
I always understood these forums to be exchange platforms for experts.  I cannot see where judgment of 'contributed valueable inputs of information but not been recognized appropriately' comes into that picture. That sounds more like a consolation gift on a beauty contest.
Putting a 'Santa' - cloak around it only makes the whole affair even more dubious.
Personally, I feel offended.
Cheers,
Mylène
Edited by: Mylène Dorias on Dec 16, 2009 6:32 PM
ETA: yet another argument: by extending your role from 'moderator' to 'jury' you are crossing an invisible border. future searchers will no longer know who closed/assigned rewards to a thread: was it the OP or one of the "staff"? that leaves at least a trace of doubt.
Having said that: merry Christmas, everybody and enjoy the holidays.