So...
The way I see it, the hosts are supposed to act as a sample of the forum population - to debate amongst themselves what's wrong and what isn't, who went too far, etc... A senate, one put in place by the moderators.
In the past, if I posted something which offended CraigB*, every forum member (including the new hosts) would be free to join the thread, to voice their concern, to tell me whether I went too far or whether CraigB is being a drama queen and overreacting as always, and even report me to the moderators and get the thread locked.
In the future, while this will still be possible, the cool kids club (nothing against most of them personally) will also have their own sub-forum to chat amongst themselves and with the moderators. What will be the outcome of this? I don't know - maybe they'll have the worst arguments ever and discussions that derail into oblivion.
What I do know, is that whenever one of them participates in a tread, I won't be able to avoid thinking that they're here on duty, as double agent for better or for worst - that if I get into an argument with one of them, it's likely to be brought up to the senate during their next meeting.
I also know that while some of them are very transparent and honest (as far as I can tell), others are more likely to act as backstabbers.
Before, all they had was the option to hit the report button,
just like every one of us. Now they sit on the senate. How much power does that give them? Perhaps not much, perhaps practically nothing.
But if that's the case, what's the point of making them hosts instead of just having polls for the entire forums, especially if you insist on taking on having people from every horizon to represent the diverse opinions?
This community is a very unique one - I've said it before and I'll say it again. Technically, I probably shouldn't be hanging around here as I don't use Sonar anymore (though I still use the Cakewalk instruments available on my platform).
Not only is it unique, but it goes way back - many of us have been regular here going way back to the forum's beginning, 11 years ago, and some of us know each other from the old Cakewalk NG days which preceded this forum.
Which is why going in and handpicking a couple of cool kids isn't going to please every one. I for one know that it'll kill the spontaneity of my exchanges with them. I'm evaluating whether or not I should address them as Sir, or Your Excellence...
*I pick CraigB because he's the exact opposite of a drama queen and one of the most easy to get along with fellows around here...