Staff membership?

[jojo98766]

What makes you part of the staff? I was just wondering, is there like a test and some training?

[Pi.R^2]

There's different types of staff, and different ways to get involved.

chat moderators- moderate the chat function. Selected, I think, by the head of chat and other chat moderators. Tends to be people very well-known in chat.

forum moderators- moderate the forums. Again, selected by the other forum moderators I think, and are people who have been round the forums for a good while, and clearly know the rules and how it works.

There are only a handful of chat and forum mods, and it's a very respected position, and I imagine there's a fair bit of training that needs to be done for new mods. I don't think it's possible to nominate yourself as a moderator, you have to be selected.

The supporters- respond to the supporter emails, giving confidential support and advice, and are also involved with working on live help. Supporters receive training on how to carry out their role, and you can either be nominated to be a supporter, or put yourself forward. Either way, it goes to a vote amongst the supporters as to whether or not you become one.

The Community Team- organises community events, threads and ideas. You can join the community team by private messaging Cam [random.swirls]- check out the announcement threads at the top of boards such as serious or GSA.

I hope this information is essentially accurate and helpful!

[griddlebone]

Chat moderators are members who are well known in chat who are also people who regularly are in chat and who know the rules and how chat tends to work. Chat mods have both been chosen by moderators and sometimes we have posted asking for members to volunteer.

[griddlebone]

Also I dont think the CT are staff are they/we?

[The One Who]

No, the CT aren't staff. At least not in the official sense. They are ordinary members who try to work for the good of RYL as a whole.

[Pi.R^2]

Yeah, sorry, meant to include that CT aren't really staff. I mentioned them because a) they are listed as staff on the top bar of the site [on the 'community' tab] and b) it's the easiest staff-like time to get involved with, and I figured OP asked with the intention of getting involved in staff-things.

[Snow White.]

Great summary Jenna :)

[Bleeding Angel]

Yeah, sorry, meant to include that CT aren't really staff. I mentioned them because a) they are listed as staff on the top bar of the site [on the 'community' tab] and b) it's the easiest staff-like time to get involved with, and I figured OP asked with the intention of getting involved in staff-things.

In that case you forgot the ezine, may not be staff in the staff sense but still do things for the site on a different level.

[griddlebone]

Yeah, sorry, meant to include that CT aren't really staff. I mentioned them because a) they are listed as staff on the top bar of the site [on the 'community' tab] and b) it's the easiest staff-like time to get involved with, and I figured OP asked with the intention of getting involved in staff-things.

Yeah I see where youre coming from. Just thought it was important to point out that the CT doesnt have the same kind of vetting that the mods/supporters/FA have and that as anyone who asks can join its not really a 'staff team' :]

[talaiporia]

Also, there's the FA team.

[Bleeding Angel]

Yeah I see where youre coming from. Just thought it was important to point out that the CT doesnt have the same kind of vetting that the mods/supporters/FA have and that as anyone who asks can join its not really a 'staff team' :]

As far as im aware not anyone who can ask joins, people need to be deemed suitable and contributing in order to join, its not a case of p'ming saying "i want to join" and getting a "oh ok your added".

If you look under staff teams is states:

Webmaster

Forum Moderators

Chat Moderators

Supporters

Community team

First Aid

The Ezine

[Asura]

To be considered for a staff position you have to submit an essay around 800 words in length about why you want to be an RYL staffer, what the position means to you, why you are a good pick for a position, and what brand of toothpaste you use and how it speaks to your personality and overall ability to be a leader.

After the essay has been approved you must pass a 45 minute interview with one of the current staffers. You are given prep questions to think about the day before the interview.

And finally, if you pass the interview, you must complete the RYL Obstacle Course in under five minutes.

If you can do all that you will be selected as an RYL Staff member.

(That's what it would be if I were/ when I am king of RYL)

[griddlebone]

As far as im aware not anyone who can ask joins, people need to be deemed suitable and contributing in order to join, its not a case of p'ming saying "i want to join" and getting a "oh ok your added".


What is the criteria for joining the CT?Because I have only known of people PMing and asking to join, I havent heard of anyone being turned away either.

[griddlebone]

To be considered for a staff position you have to submit an essay around 800 words in length about why you want to be an RYL staffer, what the position means to you, why you are a good pick for a position, and what brand of toothpaste you use and how it speaks to your personality and overall ability to be a leader.

After the essay has been approved you must pass a 45 minute interview with one of the current staffers. You are given prep questions to think about the day before the interview.

And finally, if you pass the interview, you must complete the RYL Obstacle Course in under five minutes.

If you can do all that you will be selected as an RYL Staff member.

(That's what it would be if I were/ when I am king of RYL)


Dont be silly, they dont get prep questions :P x

[Bleeding Angel]

What is the criteria for joining the CT?Because I have only known of people PMing and asking to join, I havent heard of anyone being turned away either.

Maybe in the past, but at the moment people are being reviewed on a critera, i dont really know anymore than that, just umm that.

[random.swirls]

Typically with the ct their is a mass recruitment once a year or so and it's just open for people to pm me.

At the moment we are looking for support board regulars so their is a little bit of a process involved but for those who aren't support board regulars their will be a mass recruitment process happening in due course.

The ct aren't staff like the mods supporters etc but their are private boards involved.

[talaiporia]

RYL Obstacle Course
Sounds exciting! :p

The CT Team is a lot bigger than the other teams I think. I know there are only 27 Supporters...

[GlitterTrashDoll]

The CT is the biggest I think! There's alot of members on it.

[PassedExpectations]

quick addition... Supporters do a lot of work around the forums too! just undercover :P

[Freedom Fighter]

Maybe in the past, but at the moment people are being reviewed on a critera, i dont really know anymore than that, just umm that.
I am going to sound old and stuff but back in the day (http://www.recoveryourlife.com/forum/blogs/viewblog.php?userid=11925&entry=33674) when I was a team leader we would have the option of giving the thumbs up or down. If I remember correctly we never said no, but there was always the option.

[The One Who]

The CT is the biggest I think! There's alot of members on it.

Yeah, it's a shame only a small fraction actually contribute though...

[Pi.R^2]

oh dear, I failed! I don't really know about the webmasters, but...

The First Aid Team- whilst anyone can reply to first aid threads, it's the First Aid Team who are specially selected for their knowledge and so will give tip-top answers, and I believe are the only ones who are allowed to mention their medical experience. e.g. I can't mention "I know this because I'm a medical student/first aider", because no one knows if that's true. The first aid team are also PM-able about first aid matters. I believe they are recruited by the head of the team, and tend to be people with medical qualifications.

The E-zine Team- put together articles and collate member input for the e-zine. I believe the ezine was reformed recently, and people could put themselves forward, and volunteers were chosen randomly to be part of the team. Though I may well of made that up...

In other news, the RYL obstacle course sounds like lots of fun :P

[griddlebone]

Webmaster is harley :]

[Animad]

Yep, I was going to say that the FA Team have been forgotten. We're a very small team, though we may increase in numbers v soon. The way how we work is that we go on 2 different things. People can PM us and ask and we also look to see who posts in the FA and we get in touch with people. With us it's partly enthusiasm as well as knowledge and common sense but alongside that we do also have an emphasis on responsibility so that we make sure that members of the team should be able to cope with the more triggering side and if they're going through a bad time they don't post for a while and that does come up when looking at new members; quite a number of things do. It's not just a "we like you and you know your stuff...". We're the smallest team on staff at the moment.

and yep, as others have said, in the grand scheme of things CT isn't really "staff" in the way that they don't have access to the staff forums. They have access to the private CT forums but not the separate one that the staff do.

[effervescence]

and what brand of toothpaste you use and how it speaks to your personality and overall ability to be a leader.

This amuses me because it's practically identical, at least in the level of ridiculousness, to my university essays recently.

Is there a list of qualifications accepted to "qualify" as an FA team member? For example, is nursing accepted but not, say, dentistry?

[squirrelspit]

dentistry should not be accepted as all dentists are sadists.

[talaiporia]

dentistry should not be accepted as all dentists are sadists.
Lol. Actually the only dental student I know is part of a cult.

[Pi.R^2]

I'm enjoying the anti-dentist movement building here... *goes off to seek propaganda to add to campaign*

[Asura]

This amuses me because it's practically identical, at least in the level of ridiculousness, to my university essays recently.


Hey, it's not ridiculous! Toothpaste is an excellent product for psychoanalysis! What brand is it? Do they use 'with whitening' or 'with tartar control'? Is it made for sensitive teeth? There are all questions that can be asked based on the toothpaste someone uses, and the answers speak volumes about the character of the individual. :>

But anywho, yeah, uni essays are often quite bleh. Did you do well on them?

[Stellata]

But, sometimes toothpaste is just toothpaste.

To paraphrase a certain sentence about a pipe.

[talaiporia]

But, sometimes toothpaste is just toothpaste.
I'm not sure why, but this made me smile.

[Asura]

But, sometimes toothpaste is just toothpaste.

To paraphrase a certain sentence about a pipe.

Your subconscious guides you when you choose which toothpaste to buy. Toothpaste is /never/ just toothpaste! Tell me what toothpaste you use and I'll give you a psychosexualdental analysis of your personality. (But only if your mind is ready to accept it!)

[effervescence]

dentistry should not be accepted as all dentists are sadists.
Disclaimer - I am not a dentist!
As someone who has just had their wisdom teeth out I would like to add oral surgeons to the list.


But anywho, yeah, uni essays are often quite bleh. Did you do well on them?
I am anxiously awaiting my results.

Your subconscious guides you when you choose which toothpaste to buy. Toothpaste is /never/ just toothpaste! Tell me what toothpaste you use and I'll give you a psychosexualdental analysis of your personality. (But only if your mind is ready to accept it!)
Whichever is on special. Analyse that! I am a poor student lol.

[The One Who]

Disclaimer - I am not a dentist!
As someone who has just had their wisdom teeth out I would like to add oral surgeons to the list.

I quite like dentists... I don't understand what possesses them (and hygienists!) to become a dentist, but I've only ever seen one awful one.

Whichever is on special. Analyse that! I am a poor student lol.

You value your wallet (and beer money?) over the health of your teeth? Although I seem to know a bit too much about the different toothpastes for someone who doesn't work in dentistry! Everyone needs a hobby...

[effervescence]

I don't drink alcohol. Or smoke.
And I brush my teeth, I just refuse to spend $8 on toothpaste that claims to do this and that where I can get a perfectly fine one for $3. And yes I value my wallet seeing as all my money goes on food, petrol etc and I have to stretch it just for that, I don't have the luxury of spending more than I need to on fancy branding.

I think dentists are motivated by the obscene amount of money they charge.

[The One Who]

Seriously, different toothpastes do different things. Go for one with a high fluoride count (>1200) and it should be okay though. It's the same with toothbrushes, it's better investing in a more expensive one because the bristles won't damage your teeth, unlike the cheaper ones. Like I say, I know a bit too much about this!

My dentist never charges me, even when he probably should. I pay for the hygienist (about a tenner a time) because my saliva is rubbish and I can't brush my teeth four times a day. But private dentists aren't that expensive, at least not here.

[effervescence]

They cost a ****ing fortune here. As in, from hundreds to easily a couple of thousand dollars.

[The One Who]

Insurance? Payment plans? Things like that?

On a lighter note, my mother fell asleep in the dentist chair once and started to snore. She was mortified.

[effervescence]

I don't think dentistry is covered by insurance. Things like GP visits aren't either. I think some oral surgery might be. I don't have health insurance so I don't know the details.

[effervescence]

And, for example, if you don't pay in full at the time of visit to my GP they charge you even more. Grr.

[effervescence]

ANYWAY I feel like this thread has completely derailed and it's my fault so apologies and I shall stop now!

[~invisible~girl~]

I am going to sound old and stuff but back in the day (http://www.recoveryourlife.com/forum/blogs/viewblog.php?userid=11925&entry=33674) when I was a team leader we would have the option of giving the thumbs up or down. If I remember correctly we never said no, but there was always the option.

You're not old enough to sound old. I was thinking more or less the same thing, though a bit stronger (it wasn't just the option to block people, we actually had to approve each person who wanted to join the CT, and we absolutely did have discussions about it -- it wasn't just automatic, although we did tend overall to err on the side of accepting people), but for one thing, I'm way older than you are, for another, I let the CT long before you did, and finally, when I was a CT team leader, you were kind of a 'baby' of the team -- I distinctly remember having at least one conversation about possible issues with giving you more responsibility give how young you were (we decided you were mature enough to handle it, but point is, you were basically still a kid at the time, and now here you are claiming to be old!)...

[Bellatrix]

You value your wallet (and beer money?) over the health of your teeth?

All toothpastes in the EU have to have a minimum fluoride content which is deemed suitable and effective in dental hygiene. One can keep ones teeth clean and healthy using 19p toothpaste. You get more 'things' with more expensive ones - most of the claims made by companies are...interesting.

It's like the silly people who spend £4 on painkillers they think will work better than the 16p ones. There is a legal requirement for medications to have a set amount of an active ingredient, no matter how much you pay you're getting the same thing.

[griddlebone]

I think this thread needs to stay on track please.x

[The One Who]

All toothpastes in the EU have to have a minimum fluoride content which is deemed suitable and effective in dental hygiene. One can keep ones teeth clean and healthy using 19p toothpaste. You get more 'things' with more expensive ones - most of the claims made by companies are...interesting.

It's like the silly people who spend £4 on painkillers they think will work better than the 16p ones. There is a legal requirement for medications to have a set amount of an active ingredient, no matter how much you pay you're getting the same thing.

Yes, but the more that is in it, the better it will be for your teeth. At least in general, it's not always the case! Generally, anything with a fluoride content of 1200ppm or over will be decent, but if you can get one with 1400ppm even better.

The 'original' Sensodyne (it's pink and in a pink tube) has NO fluoride in it at all, so that's not true that all toothpastes have to have a minimum. It is, however, one of the better 'sensitive' toothpastes because I think its active ingredient (strontium chloride) blocks the holes and keeps them blocked, unlike other 'sensitive' toothpastes which only work whilst you use them. It's not really recommended for long-term use though, and most dentists will encourage you to use another toothpaste (at a different time of day) with a high fluoride content along with it.

And since Liv has posted, I will now stop.

[random.swirls]

~You can find details of the staff teams here - http://www.recoveryourlife.com/index.php?categoryid=189

[Asura]

I think this thread needs to stay on track please.x

This thread is about toothpaste!