As an admin, how anonymous can you remain?

Members on any given forum need to know your qualifications for running it, so they'll respect the forum and trust what they learn from it. They also need to feel a personal connection to you in order to become loyal members; for that, you probably have to disclose personal details like name and location. How much do you feel you need to disclose in order to have that bond with your members? Can you properly run a forum without any members knowing you?

 

I never felt the need to share that information in order to "bond". Everybody seems fine without it.

I don't particularly like giving all sorts of information out, so I remain on the quiet side when it comes to that.

 

I have actually never felt that way about a forum. In fact, most forums I go to, I never give the admins a thought at all. Maybe you are talking more towards a particular forum niche? I know I've never posted anything regarding my qualifications on my site and no one has ever asked me about my qualifications either.

 

I built my reputation on other forums, and carried that over to Umpire-Empire. I try to share my personal experiences both good and bad so that members do not get the feeling I think I am super human and all knowing or egotistical. I think it helps them share their experiences where they might have kicked a call or done the wrong thing.

I think one of the strong points of my forum is that my members feel a bond with each other.

 

I don't remain anonymous at all.

For exception of my name ;D

 

Its not that I run a website, or that I am the "leader" - I am the servant to my community. I post some stuff about myself, and most of my members have seen my videos, or my articles. I think there is a level of respect there. Unlike a lot of admins, my members have usually seen my videos, seen my face, heard my voice, so its a little different for my community.

I think that my members and I have a more "intimate" relationship then most forum owners and their members. Its not every often that a forum owner will post a video of them and their kids on a camping trip, or a fishing trip with the family,,,,

 

My first name an what country I am from is what I give out. Then it can happend that I give out other information to but probobly not if nobody asks.

 

I think it is best to remain a little private as the more someone knows about you in some situations, the more they can use against you. I am 21 and have a son, a lot of teens knowing that, if theyre having a tantrum will start name calling so my private life is kept private, not that I am ashamed of course, in no way am I, I just prefer for them to have nothing to say when trying to insult me, they know my name and that I am from the UK and that my girlfriend is another administrator, some of them know my age but that is about it. They dont really need to know their admins inside out to enjoy the forum, they should be there to get to know the members more so I reckon when it is a general forum etc

 

You should share what you're comfortable with sharing - it's as simple as that.

 

I choose not to share much of anything except my first name. Nobody needs to really know my location because, well, there are some sick / twisted people out there that will stock you.

 

I just act like any other member. Don't feel the need to be private about much.

 

Never had to share any of that; I have chosen to share first name and to a limited extend, last. I've made my instant messenger handle known to all and my skype number to a few.