# Mods are the non-coms. What do Admins do all day? Read field reports only? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 5, 2013, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049 "2013-09-05T02:50:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/1 "2013-09-05T02:50:53Z")
See subject. If Mods are non-coms, they’re the Joint Chiefs. They can’t be reading every damn post in SD, right? (One could continue by saying **Ed Zotti** is George Marshall and **Cecil** Roosevelt, The Triune God, Allah, Adonai, the very Buddha Nature and its denial, the Great Spaghetti Monster combined. I’ve left out 99^99% of other analogies. But Ed and Cecil are sui genera, and their inner nature are really outside this OP.) ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/2 "2013-09-05T04:41:19Z")
Admins moderate, too. Ed doesn’t have much to do with the message board, though. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/3 "2013-09-05T05:00:15Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Admins moderate, too. Ed doesn’t have much to do with the message board, though. Sure, he makes everyone else do the grunt work, and he just rolls around naked in all the money you guys earn him, lighting his cigars with 14-dollar bills. Typical fat cat. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/4 "2013-09-05T05:16:58Z")
I think I heard they watch soap operas and eat chocolates all day long. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/5 "2013-09-05T11:39:17Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I think I heard they watch soap operas and eat chocolates all day long. No, that’s the actual Joint Chiefs. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/6 "2013-09-05T11:47:27Z")
Who are the regular members that report posts? Snitches, informers, moles? ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/7 "2013-09-05T11:50:51Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Who are the regular members that report posts? > > Snitches, informers, moles? This is what they look like in my head [![](http://www.highrisesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/the-informant-1.jpg) ](http://www.highrisesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/the-informant-1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/8 "2013-09-05T14:01:43Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I think I heard they watch soap operas and eat chocolates all day long. No, no, that’s not right. The Mods get hookers and blow. The Admins get BETTER hookers and blow. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/9 "2013-09-05T14:05:23Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I think I heard they watch soap operas and eat chocolates all day long. > [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > No, that’s the actual Joint Chiefs. I think the Joint Chiefs actually watch soap operas and eat Taco Bell all day. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/10 "2013-09-05T14:08:50Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I think the Joint Chiefs actually watch soap operas and eat Taco Bell all day. You both have _almost_ got it right-They watch soap operas and eat Choco Tacos all day. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/11 "2013-09-05T14:16:15Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > If Mods are non-coms, they’re the Joint Chiefs. No, it doesn’t work like that. Moderating here is pretty collaborative, and the admins don’t tell the mods what to do. > [@](#): > > They can’t be reading every damn post in SD, right? No. It’s not even remotely possible. Some of the admins have forum moderating responsibilities and some don’t, but nobody has the time to read thousands of posts every day. The admins have some extra capabilities and can handle things like account merges or resetting passwords. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/12 "2013-09-05T14:22:41Z")
They also come into threads and kill the buzz with actual answers. :rolleyes: **returns to hookers and blow** ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/13 "2013-09-05T14:41:59Z")
Then my job here is done. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/14 "2013-09-05T15:00:53Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > They also come into threads and kill the buzz with actual answers. :rolleyes: > > **returns to hookers and blow** > [@Marley23](#): > > Then my job here is done. 😃 A position to aspire to. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/15 "2013-09-05T15:03:10Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > This is what they look like in my head > [http://www.highrisesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/the-informant-1.jpg](http://www.highrisesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/the-informant-1.jpg) That’s fantastic! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/16 "2013-09-05T15:04:40Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Then my job here is done. 😃 Not yet. You haven’t locked everyone out lately. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/17 "2013-09-05T16:24:19Z")
Pleeeze, seriously you guyz, is there sort of some publicly-available jobs description/management structure of SD? I respect SD of course, and am always blabbing about it to other people, and not just because of all the special porn. As I understand it, mods don’t get paid, but have a quasi-professional life that gives them time to earn bread by the sweat of he brow as well as read and actually think about, if ever so briefly but sufficiently, the disjecta of the masses. Or else they’re independently wealthy and have their houris do it for them. Anyway, “eyeballs on threads–brain–decision–intervention or not” is how I see the notional structure of the mass of mods’ lives of quiet desperation. They also have pow-wows, I gather. Like God this week, they inscribe people in the book of life or death, and decide who gets sealed in them. Occasionally in announcements of bannings and what not in ATMB you get a glimpse into the jury room. Potential-banner has no defender, per se. Wonder what goes on there… So really, pretend this is Wiki and thank God it is not: how does one get to be an Administrator? Can that really be an ability and responsibility which when added to a nickel will get you on a subway car? No. I know an Admin can ban every single user with the click of a mouse button. What else do they do, are required, sort of, to do? Besides accept and reject hookers, blow, chocolate, etc. Is it posted somewhere? I want the most transparent SD in history! ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/18 "2013-09-05T16:31:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > …Some of the admins have forum moderating responsibilities and some don’t, …[but they]… have some extra capabilities and can handle things like account merges or resetting passwords. That’s it? That’s _ **it** _? Hmm, “extra capabilities…” ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/19 "2013-09-05T17:41:38Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > … I respect SD of course, and am always blabbing about it to other people, and not just because of all the special porn. > … _ **What** _ ‘special porn’?! :dubious: 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049/20 "2013-09-05T17:57:05Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#): > > A position to aspire to. 😛 Except on Tuesdays. That’s Marley’s day to be the hooker. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-are-the-non-coms-what-do-admins-do-all-day-read-field-reports-only/668049.md?page=2)