Can someone explain the Moderator system to me?

On the index page which lists all the available forums on the SDMB, there is a section which says “Moderated by:” and then the names of the moderators on that forum.

I have noticed, however, that Coldfire likes wielding his axe in all forums, and on a consistent basis too.

Is he the owner of the SDMB?

And why is his name listed on MPSIMS is he is?

Also, what power to the moderators hold? And how do they differ from the Administrators?

They share duties–Coldy’s “officially” a MPSIMS mod, but if he catches something that needs fixing in another forum before the other mods do, he’ll fix it. They’re just reading the boards like you and me, y’know.

Mods can lock/move threads and edit posts (usually to remove offensive links or fix coding mistakes). Admins can do all that and more (banning posters, etc).

Interesting fact: all of 'em are volunteers. The only payment they get from the Chicago Reader is a Straight Dope coffee mug.

Well, that and pissing off dippymonger, even if he posts through an IP mask.

Every two months a contest is held where individuals send valuable gifts to ME (cash is fine, but creativity is often rewarded). The individual who is most generous is granted the nigh-inconceivable power, glory, and universal respect that goes with the cushy and highly compensated designation as moderator. *(If I told you the true power mods wield over you by virtue of your becoming an SDMB member, you would remain cowering under your blakets, never leaving your house. As if that could save you!){/i]

In case you missed the relevant information in your new member initiation package, a new competition is being held at this moment. You may forward your bid to me along with the usual initiation fee and first year’s dues. Your first born is due within 24 hours of birth.

The newest mod, (that being coldfire, must complete a 2 month hazing ritual, where he has to do the other mods’ laundry (a little less starch in my shorts next time!), provide kinky sexual favors, pretend to be (get this) a god-amster-damn European, and, (as you noted) stick his nose into peoples’ business across all of the forums.
Of course mods do have to remain current with their dues, and coldy has fallen considerably behind. (Naughty coldy. You’ve been a bad boy and will have to be punished!) Moreover, I am greatly distressed to learn he has been wielding his axe consistently, because his irrational favoritism contributed greatly to his becoming a mod in the first place (that and that little thing you do with the olives …)

Don’t even ask about administrators. I’ve reviewed your bank and earnings records, and, well, if you need to ask …

Ahem, but one thing they never do is correct formatting errors by idiots!

Dinsdale, I will preview, I will preview, I will preview.

I believe this thread belongs in ‘About This Message Board’, but since its here…

Are moderators assigned threads to review (since there are at least 2 moderators per board), do they just try to review them all, or just the suspicious ones?

Moderators are assigned to a forum. It is their duty to read that forum and take care of all problems there. That means they have to read all the threads.

However, they can go poking about anywhere else on the board they wish. Being members first and foremost, they can enjoy all the joys of the board for themselves. But being moderators, even if they aren’t within their own “jurisdiction”, they can fix problems. Same way the rest of us members can answer questions about policies and such even though we aren’t official. I’m answering this About This Message Board question (cough wrong forum cough)as if I know, and as if my answer can be trusted. But I’m just a lowly member. :wink: That’s why care is taken in selecting mods.

**Coldfire **is the bad boy mod. He’s just an embarassment to the others, but they are stuck with him.

I’ll listen to no bad talk about our beloved ClogMod! Why, of all the European Investment Banking Mods we have, he is the most beloved. That’s why he got a Poofy! (see below)

Olives?

Um, by below I mean this thread and the sig it contains.

That’s right, they’re stuck with him. In the whole history of the universe no one has ever been asked to change their behavior, nor have they been fired for not doing so. Thus, it would be poor precedent to start with Coldfire.

That’s right, TubaDiva and Little Ed live in fear of Coldfire, wondering what heinous bit of mischief Coldy will come up with to embarrass them next.

Oh, the tragedy. If only they could, you know, have some authority over who is a moderator and who is not.

:rolleyes:

Yep, that’s why us good girls are so attracted to him.

Diane (who thinks all the mods are pretty bad ;)).

Oh, one thing to note: sometimes the moderators are not acting as moderators but just posting like a regular person. However, their profile still lists them as moderators. Thus they can one minute be posting the authoritative reference to remind a new poster to start a column in Cecil’s Columns with a link to the column, and then follow that with some flippant remark about the person’s syntax. Usually if mixing the two, mods will try to make a distinction, either by the colorful [moderator hat]tags [/moderator hat off], or by pulling an Arnold, and posting two separate replies back to back.

So just because the post calls him a moderator don’t think he’s necessarily only a moderator, and thus required to remain neutral.

Wait…I thought Coldfire wanted to be the bitter mod. . .

General questions to any mod:

How much time do you spend at the SDMB daily? And have you considered the patch? :smiley:

Holy Moses. The things that happen while a man is enjoying his dinner and some time off the boards.

It’s good to see that my esteemed colleagues have already taken care of out “visitors”.

If I couldn’t scan IP addresses, I’d think a lot of people hate me by now. The thing is, the actual number of people appears to be surprisingly low :wink:

Unless y’all wanna vent some more, of course. C’mon, don’t hold back :smiley:

Well, if we can let a thread like this one exist for as long as it has, apparently not enough time!
Move along, nothing to see here. Move along.