# Mods. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 25, 2002, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793 "2002-12-25T00:18:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SmileyDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SmileyDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmileyDeath)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/1 "2002-12-25T00:18:47Z")
I have a question: When did you choose the mods for all the forums? Will therever be new mods? ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/2 "2002-12-25T00:53:35Z")
There are plenty of threads on this topic to be found here in ATMB. Search is your friend. But since I’m here anyway. In the beginning there were **TubaDiva** and **Lynn Bodoni**. Then there were others. Then came more. You can apply to be a moderator, but usually you have to be asked. There are mods than used to be regular posters, and vice versa. I don’t think I know how the mods got assigned to specific forums. That’s just the way it is. Some questions are better left unasked. There may be new mods if we ever need 'em. Neither you or I will be one. Does that cover the basics, for the most part? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/3 "2002-12-25T01:22:52Z")
I kinda’ like the idea of **White Lightning** being a mod. A whole new meaning to the term “Lightning Strikes.” Weak, I know, but it’s the best I can do right now. Happy Holidays 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/4 "2002-12-25T05:07:45Z")
::Knows the Mods will be here soon:: ::Shamelessly, and without hesitation, kisses Mod butt, by leaving several boxes of chocolates, the kind with the maps inside the tops of the boxes:: ---
**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:** [December 25, 2002, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/5 "2002-12-25T15:30:00Z")
I got almost nothin’ to add to what White Lightning said. If you are interested in applying to be a moderator, you should (a) have a reasonable track record of being a good, calm, responsible, and mostly polite poster; and (b) send an email to TUBADIVA asking for an application. The application process involves providing us with employment history, college transcripts, SAT scores or equivalent, three personal references (who are usually returned), credit card information, blood samples, hair and fingernail samples (that’s how we maintain control), proof of age, and chocolates for Lynn. A small (nonrefundable) deposit is helpful but not required. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/6 "2002-12-25T23:45:31Z")
“(a) have a reasonable track record of being a good, calm, responsible, and mostly polite poster” Oh, I don’t qualify then 🙂 "employment history, college transcripts, SAT scores or equivalent, three personal references (who are usually returned), credit card information, blood samples, hair and fingernail samples (that’s how we maintain control), proof of age, and chocolates for Lynn. " That part is easier to do then part (a) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/7 "2002-12-26T00:00:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by C K Dexter Haven \* > **you should (a) have a reasonable track record of being a good, calm, responsible, and mostly polite poster.** Fucking A, bubba. ---
**Author:** ![Nickrz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nickrz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nickrz)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/8 "2002-12-27T23:05:42Z")
I might add - you have to be insane. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/9 "2002-12-27T23:34:02Z")
Ah, an old mod chimes in. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/10 "2002-12-30T05:28:35Z")
> [@](#): > > I might add - you have to be insane. Great! I can apply. > [@](#): > > you should (a) have a reasonable track record of being a good, calm, responsible, and mostly polite poster. damn! ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/11 "2002-12-30T19:27:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nickrz \* > \*\*I might add - you have to be insane. \*\* And that strikes to the heart of it. While the rest of us while away our free time reading threads and posting where we think we can contribute, those loons have to spend a significant fraction of their free time actually _moderating_ this ongoing train wreck. Between them, they have to read _every_ post in _every_ thread, enforcing forum rules, smacking down trolls, holding endless discussions on the varied topics of “what do we do with this poster/topic/trend of the week…” Crazy. Fundamentally insane. Don’t get me started on the Administrators. Separate breed entirely, they are. They have to do all the “Mod” stuff, as well as the “Admin” stuff. A higher breed of irretrievable whacko, they are. Ought to be committed, the lot of them. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/12 "2002-12-30T21:54:45Z")
What makes you believe we aren’t? We _could_ all be doing this from the same asylum. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/13 "2002-12-30T22:05:44Z")
From personal, off-board contact with several of them, I think I can affirm that the Mods. _are_ committed. In one way or another! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/14 "2002-12-31T00:36:13Z")
“Ought to be committed, the lot of them.” On another board where I modded, there was a mod who spent 14 hours a day on the board & his family wasn’t too crazy about that so he gave up. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/15 "2002-12-31T01:40:55Z")
Ye Gads. Yes, 14 hours a day is a tad much. I’d say my moderating time is about 1.5 hours per day, on average. Then again, there are days where I don’t get a chance to see the boards at all. _“You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave”_ ---
**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:** [December 31, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/16 "2002-12-31T03:23:57Z")
Coldy, you been sluffing off again? ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/17 "2003-01-01T15:16:33Z")
**DOCK HIS PAY!!!** Wait. Oh yeah. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/18 "2003-01-02T00:02:56Z")
I mod in another board, I have to add that to be a Mod you have to have skin thicker than a rhino´s. There´s no end to the bullshit that you have to put up with. The pay is lousy but the working hours are great. And yes, you MUST be insane. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/19 "2003-01-02T01:01:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > On another board where I modded, there was a mod who spent 14 hours a day on the board & his family wasn’t too crazy about that so he gave up. On his family, or being a mod? ---
**Author:** ![Aceospades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Aceospades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aceospades)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793/20 "2003-01-02T05:54:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*Ye Gads. Yes, 14 hours a day is a tad much. I’d say my moderating time is about 1.5 hours per day, on average. Then again, there are days where I don’t get a chance to see the boards at all. > > _“You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave”_ \*\* 1.5 hours a day. i could do that! hay, where do i sign up for this gig. is spelling good and good grammer required? oh, wait. you have to be smart, don’t you. oh well, maybe a nother year or two at lerking [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods/144793.md?page=2)