# concerning moderators **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 5, 2000, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-moderators/24629 "2000-07-05T12:22:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![my85car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed8c4c/32.png) [@my85car](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/my85car)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2000, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-moderators/24629/1 "2000-07-05T12:22:37Z")
Out of curiosity, is a moderator position on this board, or any other for that matter, a paid position? If so, what kind of pay do they make? What do you have to do to be one? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2000, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-moderators/24629/2 "2000-07-05T12:29:50Z")
As far as I know, moderators are unpaid. Well, there’s the occasional chocolate and beer, but that’s it. And to become one, you need to apply and be approved when a position opens. Just like a regular job. The criteria are not strictly defined, but I’d say one needs to be stable, fair, rational and somewhat sensitive to human emotions to become a moderator. These criteria worked for all moderators, except UncleBeer. Which is why they send him “on holiday”. Uh-huh 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-moderators/24629/3 "2000-07-06T02:49:19Z")
Mods do this out of the goodness of their heart. They put up with a lot of shit, take care of many things, and often get little more than insults and people whining about less features. In short, respect them and treat them well. The board needs all the good mods it can get. ---
**Author:** ![Baglady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Baglady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baglady)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-moderators/24629/4 "2000-07-06T16:53:06Z")
…and if it’s anything like other online communities, I suspect there’s a fair amount of activity and discussion behind the scenes among the moderators to ensure that everything appears seemless and clean out front. The moderators can’t be thanked enough for the work they do. It’s mostly thankless, and they get berated by folks they somehow piss off. At least that’s my experience from being a newsgroup moderator and @chanop in IRC rooms. HUGS to ALL you moderators for the great work you do!!! [don’t forget to email me for your Wally button!] ---
**Author:** ![T\_G\_I\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@T\_G\_I\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_G_I_F)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-moderators/24629/5 "2000-07-07T00:38:20Z")
Two that came up for me: **[Want to be a moderator?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=2018)** See Ed’s offer. **[How DOES one become a moderator?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=19720)** See Lynn Bodoni’s answer Or search on name Zotti to find the likes of this. **[Cecil needs an intern](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=27153)** See Ed’s offer. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-moderators/24629/6 "2000-07-07T01:45:43Z")
Don’t kid yourself; it’s all a front. They’re raking in millions. Through their many puppets, including the Tri-Literal Commision, these message board barons are secretly controlling large parts of corporate America and dictating religious docterine. ---
**Author:** ![The-Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@The-Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The-Maxx)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-moderators/24629/7 "2000-07-07T02:10:51Z")
I knew it would turn out to be something like that!