Leadership What makes someone a bad community owner?

[Cpvr]

A community manager can make or break an online community. The best ones create an engaging, welcoming space where members feel valued.

But the worst? They drive people away, stir up drama, and leave the community in shambles.

So, what separates a bad community manager from a good one?

1. They Play Favorites

A bad community manager has an inner circle of members who can do no wrong, while others get ignored or even unfairly punished. This creates resentment and fractures the community.

2. They’re Either Too Strict or Too Lenient
Over-moderation kills discussions, makes members afraid to speak up, and turns the community into a ghost town.
- Under-moderation allows toxicity to thrive, making the space unbearable for genuine members.

A great community manager knows how to strike a balance between keeping order and allowing organic discussions.

3. They’re Unavailable or Unresponsive

A community manager who disappears for days, ignores feedback, or doesn’t address issues is setting the community up for failure. People want to feel heard—silence makes them feel like they don’t matter.

4. They Can’t Handle Criticism

Bad community managers see any feedback as a personal attack. Instead of improving, they argue, delete posts, or ban members who question decisions.

A good community manager takes feedback constructively and adapts.

5. They Make It About Themselves

A community should be about the members, not the person running it. A bad manager loves being in the spotlight, inserting themselves into every conversation, and making every decision based on personal preference rather than what’s best for the group.



A strong community manager listens, engages, and fosters a welcoming environment. A bad one? They create a space where people feel ignored, frustrated, or unwelcome.

What’s the worst experience you’ve had with a community manager?

 

[Ravenfreak]

Thankfully I've never experienced this on any community that I've joined. I feel that it was more common to come across a bad community manager in the past when forums were more popular. I have seen other forums suffer from lack of staff being available however. As soon as the admins stopped logging in to take care of the forum, other people tried to reach out elsewhere to get them to come back but it fell on deaf ears.

 

[Matthew]

I think you hit the nail on the head with qualities of a less than stellar community manager. I think the most impactful scenario is lack of admin presence. Leadership comes from the top and leaders must align forum goals to their practices. If leadership isn’t present, those beneath will not be aligned and will phase themselves out 9/10 times.

 

[Nomad]

I agree with all of these points and I would like to add few more:
Sending too many emails, or promotional messages. I do not like it when the owner sends too many emails and messages.
Being demanding about posting. I do not like the owners who ask to contribute too much. I do not like to be forced.
Asking to sign in every day. I do not like owners who ask users to sign in every day and post every day.

 

[Bawse]

Neglecting the community, because they don't have time for it. I've seen new forum owners expect over night success when it doesn't happen that way.

 

[Cory]

I knew someone on a forum that stirred up so much drama that she ticked off so many people. Even one person PhotoShopped a nude photo of her because she ticked them off that badly. People argued with her and were belittled by her because she was an administrator. She had a knack for power and control. I never met such a terrible administrator. Suffice it to say, if you start drama, you better expect that drama to get pushed straight back into your face from the member base.