# Why were the admins chosen? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 3, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418 "2003-02-03T02:43:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MachineHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@MachineHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MachineHead)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/1 "2003-02-03T02:43:56Z")
I can understand moderators being chosen for being great posters, optimial posters etc. But I was wondering how admins are chosen? And please give me serious answers… It would be a first… ---
**Author:** ![Khadro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Khadro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadro)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/2 "2003-02-03T02:49:18Z")
Because they are better than all of us. We must prostrate ourselves before their might, lest they smite us. [sub] [truth] It’s all a conspiracy, led by the reverse vampires. [/truth] [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/3 "2003-02-03T02:54:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Khadro \* > \*\*Because they are better than all of us. > > We must prostrate ourselves before their might, lest they smite us. > [sub] > [truth] > It’s all a conspiracy, led by the reverse vampires. > [/truth] > [/sub] \*\* What is a “reverse” vampire? I always figured it had to do with the upper circle of “Cecil’s” elite task force of supernatural larger headed cranium troopers. Cecil cultivates his elite unit, injecting them with “brain serium”. This juice makes them smarter and smarter, which leads their craniums to increase. Cecil and his elite crew are biding their time, gaining power, so that they can take over the world (defeating the illuminata in the process) and force us all to buy stock in philadelphia cream cheese (because it’s easy to spread). ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/4 "2003-02-03T03:41:30Z")
Ed Zotti has management responsibilities for the Boards, and he chose the Admins. Whether he consulted Cecil, or threw lots, or some other process, we have not been told. I know that bribery was NOT involved, because I offered a fairly large bribe if he **wouldn’t** choose me. Naw, seriously, it’s mostly seniority. And a spineless inability to say “no” to the boss. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/5 "2003-02-03T11:46:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by C K Dexter Haven \* > \*\*Naw, seriously, it’s mostly seniority. \*\* Nope … can’t be that. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/6 "2003-02-03T15:04:02Z")
has something to do with chocolate… ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/7 "2003-02-03T15:52:58Z")
Me: \<\< Naw, seriously, it’s mostly seniority. \>\> Euty: \<\< Nope … can’t be that. \>\> Perhaps senility? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/8 "2003-02-03T23:06:07Z")
**Gaudere** and **Noodles** , at least, I know were mods (and before that, posters) before they became administrators. In that particular case, extra personpower was needed to bring the boards back to life after the Time of Troubles, they had both done a lot in getting the temporary board running, and they both work in technical fields, so they’re qualified. I can’t honestly picture a time, though, when **TubaDiva** or **C K Dexter Haven** wasn’t an admin. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/9 "2003-02-03T23:38:51Z")
\<\< I can’t honestly picture a time, though, when TubaDiva or C K Dexter Haven wasn’t an admin.\>\> …well, there was such a time, but it was before the French Revolution. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/10 "2003-02-04T00:19:24Z")
"Ed Zotti has management responsibilities for the Boards, and he chose the Admins. Whether he consulted Cecil, " Ahem, that seems to imply there are TWO people, Cecil & Ed. The mystery has been solved, Cecil is not Ed 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/11 "2003-02-04T01:23:48Z")
Or it **could** imply that **Ed** has multiple personalities, and operated in the main **Ed Zotti** _persona_ when choosing Admins., without consulting the secondary **Cecil** _persona_. (Actually, in view of the columns’ and this board’s distinguishing eccentricities, this concept has a _lot_ going for it!! :D) ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/12 "2003-02-04T03:27:49Z")
All of our staffers are most special people, and we are very privileged to have them here working for us. I appreciate them mightily every day. As hard as our mods work (and gods bless 'em, they do so much!), our admins have even more responsibility. I am grateful that they all persevere under the burdens that they bear on our behalf. How did they get to be admins? Well, I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you, and we can’t be having that, now. your humble TubaDiva It’s so messy. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/13 "2003-02-04T13:30:47Z")
Can I nominate someone ELSE you could kill? Then you could tell me? ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/14 "2003-02-05T00:31:51Z")
I always thought that, like Athena, the administrators sprang fully-formed from the forehead of Cecil Adams. ---
**Author:** ![mske](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@mske](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mske)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/15 "2003-02-05T18:20:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chronos \* > \*\ ***Gaudere** and **Noodles** , at least, I know were mods (and before that, posters) before they became administrators… \*\* I’m sorry - **Noodles**? Someone before my time? Nickname of **C K Dexter Haven**? ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/16 "2003-02-05T21:12:38Z")
No, **Noodles** is a nickname someone gave to the admin **Arnold Winkelried**. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/17 "2003-02-05T21:52:21Z")
Actually, “Noodles” is the name Arnold gave himself, beleive it or not. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/18 "2003-02-06T21:03:56Z")
And we’re never going to let him live it down. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/19 "2003-02-06T21:32:50Z")
Someone should change the tag under his name to **Noodles**. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418/20 "2003-02-06T22:31:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MachineHead \* > **I can understand moderators being chosen for being great posters, optimal posters etc.** Yes, yes, quite right. > [@](#): > > **But I was wondering how admins are chosen?** Names picked out of a hat. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-admins-chosen/152418.md?page=2)