# Moderators **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 29, 2003, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators/191611 "2003-07-29T08:29:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nomadic\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/858c86/32.png) [@Nomadic\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nomadic_One)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators/191611/1 "2003-07-29T08:29:18Z")
I was just wondering about this. Isn’t a moderator supposed to be unbiased in issues or are they allowed to express their views. Moderator by definition means: One that moderates, as: One that arbitrates or mediates. One who presides over a meeting, forum, or debate. The officer who presides over a synod or general assembly of the Presbyterian Church. Physics. A substance, such as water or graphite, that is used in a nuclear reactor to decrease the speed of fast neutrons and increase the likelihood of fission. So I am not sure. Any mods want to take a whack at this one? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators/191611/2 "2003-07-29T11:55:03Z")
No. You are baiting us. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators/191611/3 "2003-07-29T11:58:56Z")
Moderators are a lot like umpires in baseball. For the most part, they’re unbiased, objective, fairminded, and honorable. But there are rogue umpires who have poor reputations. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators/191611/4 "2003-07-29T12:06:19Z")
> [@](#): > > _Orig. by Nomadic\_One_ > I was just wondering about this. Isn’t a moderator supposed to be unbiased in issues or are they allowed to express their views. Hmm. I wonder what brought this on, **Nomadic\_One**. Sounds like you’re trying to make some kind of point via a side-door, here. Given recent events unfolding, and speaking just as a mere member of this board, I don’t think this is a wise, or indeed fair, subject to air. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2003, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators/191611/5 "2003-07-29T12:11:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nomadic\_One \* > \*\*I was just wondering about this. Isn’t a moderator supposed to be unbiased in issues or are they allowed to express their views. Moderator by definition means: > > One that moderates, as: > One that arbitrates or mediates. > One who presides over a meeting, forum, or debate. > The officer who presides over a synod or general assembly of the Presbyterian Church. > Physics. A substance, such as water or graphite, that is used in a nuclear reactor to decrease the speed of fast neutrons and increase the likelihood of fission. > > So I am not sure. Any mods want to take a whack at this one? \*\* If you have an example, please provide a link, and if you have a complaint, please take it to the BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators/191611/6 "2003-07-29T12:30:04Z")
We work in dual capacity. When we perform as moderators you will usually see a sign off, or a note that explicitly states that we are posting in our capacity as moderators. Posts that do not carry our official insignia denote posts made as individuals and not as representatives of these boards. Most of us were normal members to begin with, and removing that privilege when we took on moderatorship would exscind the desire to be a moderator. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators/191611/7 "2003-07-29T15:27:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nomadic\_One \* > \*\*I was just wondering about this. Isn’t a moderator supposed to be unbiased in issues or are they allowed to express their views. Moderator by definition means: > > One that moderates, as: > One that arbitrates or mediates. > One who presides over a meeting, forum, or debate. \*\* That’s true, but in the real world, the moderator of a group is often a member of the group, and, as such, has a right to state opinion and to vote. After all, the Vice President or Speaker of the House is suppose to preside and moderate over the procedings of Congress, and I don’t think anyone will claim they need to be unbiased. In fact, they are often very biased. All that’s expected is that moderators be **fair** (as opposed to unbiased) in application of the rules (guidelines, policy, by-laws, etc…) of the organization. And, while human moderators will always make mistakes due to human imperfection and will often be denounced as unfair by those upon whom they censure, it is my opinion that the moderators here are very fair. They are also very biased, but, as I hope I’ve made clear, that is not a valid reproach. ## Peace. Actually, I advocate fair and unbiased moderation as can only be provided by computers, and so, I now introduce you all to **ModBot 3000!** ---
**Author:** ![Nomadic\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/858c86/32.png) [@Nomadic\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nomadic_One)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators/191611/8 "2003-07-30T04:13:25Z")
> [@](#): > > If you have an example, please provide a link, and if you have a complaint, please take it to the BBQ Pit. I dont I think they are doing a good job, I was just wondering. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderators/191611/9 "2003-07-30T12:03:27Z")
The ambiguity at the heart of the matter has always been that we are both posters and moderators. There was some talk early on about using different screen names for the different roles, but that was rejected on the reasonable grounds that it wouldn’t really matter. Some moderators do things like say “Moderator Hat On” or sign themselves “Moderator” when performing moderator functions. Other moderators don’t make that distinction and sometimes (cough, cough) get in trouble for it. \<\< A substance, such as water or graphite, that is used in a nuclear reactor to decrease the speed of fast neutrons and increase the likelihood of fission. \>\> That, of course, sums up our duties fairly well.