# All things in moderation **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 3, 2000, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-things-in-moderation/28031 "2000-08-03T19:51:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-things-in-moderation/28031/1 "2000-08-03T19:51:13Z")
I’ve spent quite a bit of time in an unmoderated forum, and can’t help but contrast it to this forum, which is moderated, to some degree, but still seems pretty hands-off. I’ve noticed, and been pleased by, the lack of spam and gratitous stupidity, and the way that moderators can move threads to more appropriate forums. Moderators often provide links to columns, previous threads, etc., but in the absence of moderators I’m sure posters could take on that duty–though having someone dedicated to that task assures that it’s done promptly. At unmoderated boards, I’ve often been irritated when posters snap, “Who made _you_ the police?” whenever someone tries to encourage polite behavior, so I confess that I also kind of like the idea there _are_ police. As a newbie, I wonder what the SDMB regulars think. Obviously you don’t have huge problems with the moderators, or you would have voted with your feet a while ago, or been booted off the boards. Have you ever felt that you’ve been stopped from communicating something important due to the interference of the moderators? Have you generally been pleased when disruptive posters were banned? Or are you too afraid of the moderators’ wrath to comment? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-things-in-moderation/28031/2 "2000-08-03T21:08:36Z")
All the mods on this board are former/current posters, so everyone already knew them before they hit the big time. 😉 Also, it’s not a paid position, so it’s more like a labor of love for them. AND, they’re the most wonderful people in the world, bar none! (How was that?) ---
**Author:** ![ren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@ren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ren)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-things-in-moderation/28031/3 "2000-08-03T21:31:05Z")
You might also notice that this board is pretty good at policing itself, even with the moderators. There seems to be a pretty tangible community feeling here (a lot of boards I scan seem to be more like the bulletin boards at gorcery stores, with lots of random posts and no real sense of group). For better or worse (and I feel for better) there are invisible lines of conduct that, when crossed, can make this place really inhospitable for the offender, even before a mod steps in. I’ve never felt like moderators interfere. I rather feel like there’s a partnership between the mods and the members, and we all cooperate to make this place what we want it. I certainly never feel afraid to speak my mind. There’s plenty of evidence in the archives to show that the mods have a history of being extremely open-minded and approachable, sometimes to a fault. I feel like if an issue about something I did ever arose, I could engage in dialog with the mods about it rather than just get booted with no explanation. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-things-in-moderation/28031/4 "2000-08-03T22:28:38Z")
Just for the record, this would be a great place for all of you guys to place your gratuitous suck-ups. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-things-in-moderation/28031/5 "2000-08-03T23:04:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by voguevixen \* > \*\*AND, they’re the most wonderful people in the world, bar none! (How was that?) \*\* Dammit, UncleBeer…what the \*$#^#)@ do you call that!!! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-things-in-moderation/28031/6 "2000-08-03T23:58:01Z")
You folk make it so simple to moderate. 🙂 You seem to care about each other for the most part, and you care about the appearance of your posts. I could go through and correct what spelling and grammatical errors there might be, but nine times out of ten y’all beat me to the punch. Thank you. -slythe ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2000, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-things-in-moderation/28031/7 "2000-08-04T05:11:52Z")
I suck lollipops and the last bit of soda out of can with a straw, but never will I suck up to any authority!! Ha ha!! That being said, the mods do generally a good job, but we posters help too. ---
**Author:** ![annalamerino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@annalamerino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annalamerino)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2000, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-things-in-moderation/28031/8 "2000-08-04T05:52:04Z")
I gotta say **slythe** has made **IMHO** into a fine-running machine. He’s tried to set standards, and been flexible when people debated them, about what goes in here and what gets shipped to the more serious forums (or the ~shudder~ Pit). ---
**Author:** ![VaHermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ed655f/32.png) [@VaHermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VaHermit)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2000, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-things-in-moderation/28031/9 "2000-08-04T08:22:18Z")
I think overall they’re a pretty great bunch. I especially like the fact that some of them can be bribed with chocolate or completely throw away every shread of dignity for a dollar. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2000, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-things-in-moderation/28031/10 "2000-08-04T12:49:46Z")
How insulting! ☹ It would take more than a mere Hershey bar or a greenback to influence our opinions. We pride ourselves on our high standards here, and anything less than Godiva chocolate would be sneered at. If you’re gonna offer a bribe, try to give us what we’re worth, o.k.? 🙂 🙂 🙂