I’m pleased to announce that ParallelLines has agreed to help moderate Great Debates and Politics & Elections. He’s still getting used to the chain mail and accidentally banned Kazakhstan during mod practice but we’re confident he’ll get into the swing of things soon. Please give him a warm welcome and refrain from antisocial behavior for at least his first couple days.
Whoo hoo. I like that. Congrats.
How much to “accidentally” ban Idaho?
Just askin’.
Wait, what? There was an opening for a new mod? Was everyone invited to apply?
Don’t get me wrong, I think @ParallelLines is a fine choice. But I am curious about the transparency, or lack there of, in the mod appointment process.
I don’t think it has ever been an open process where a position is announced, and a bunch of people then run for the job. Behind the scenes, they are looking for the best person to help out in certain situations, so they look at a person’s even temperedness, their ability to separate their politics from their posting, their availability to be there consistently etc., or at least that is the way it was back in my day, and it seemed to work for the most part.
Which is fine, but transparency about the process - even if the process itself isn’t transparent - seems like a value to strive for.
There might be a FAQ section in the bowels of this message board regarding “how moderators are selected” or “if you want to be a moderator, here is the application process” or something similar. Or maybe there isn’t. I confess that I don’t know, and it’s on me to be properly acquainted with the available information.
@CairoCarol , you may recall the moderator Frank, from years ago. I had the good fortune to meet him in person once, when he was coming through western Canada, and I asked him how he became a Mod. The answer was simple: he thought he might like to be a Mod, so he got in touch with Tuba, who sent him a note outlining the qualifications, what they were looking for in a Mod, and asking how Frank met all the requirements.
So Frank responded, and he must have supplied the desired responses, because he did become a Mod.
But it was just like that—Frank took the initiative. I’m sure that if no new Mods were needed, Tuba would have said so, but I guess at least one was, and Frank, who had reached out, remember, fit the parameters.
And welcome to @ParallelLines ! Hope you find the job as rewarding as Frank did!
Thanks, @Spoons.
TBH, I’m not opposed to almost any means of choosing mods. I modded a much different, but also highly contentious, board for about 10 years, and the process there was anything but democratic: basically, the existing group of mods decided they needed another person, discussed among themselves who might be a good choice, privately reached out to that person for a conversation, and if both sides were happy, voila - a new mod was born. The squabbling masses had nothing to do with who was chosen.
But everyone knew that was how the process worked, and they were content to accept it. I think (?) maybe it is similar here. Just curious to confirm it, that’s all.
Welcome and congrats!
Just those two forums, right? It’s still OK to get my dick out in FQ, right?
Oh, yeah, and congrats to @ParallelLines and all that jive.
There was a call for mod volunteers a while back, I think, so maybe they just kept those names on file?
Congrats and welcome, ParallelLines!
Couldn’t you have banned Russia instead? It was, like, right next door!
It’s darn hard to aim that banhammer accurately wearing the neutronium underoos and the jackboots for the first time. He at least hit the same continent he was aiming at. Good bet his aim will improve with practice.
Congrats (and condolences) to @ParallelLines!! I’m sure you’ll be a fine addition to the crew. As I used to say to newbie Union volunteers: “Thanks for sticking your head in the blender.” Seriously, thank you.
@CairoCarol: Looking at PL’s avatar, and that of @Aspenglow I’m thinking maybe one of the selection criteria for new Mods for our brave new and extra unpleasant age is a fierce enough avatar.
If you’re politicking for the job, you might consider updating yours. 
To your question about selection process, here’s one data point:
At one time a few years ago an existing Mod PMed me out of the blue allegedly on behalf of Ed to see if I’d be interested. My late wife was just picking up speed in her final slide down to the end, so I declined for lack of reliable free time & mindspace to do a good enough job for the board. They have not raised the subject with me again. Make of that what you will.
Condolences to @ParallelLines, and since I mostly post in P&E, I just want to say, you’re my favorite moderator of all time!
Now his evil is law!
Gotta get back
back to the past
. . .
I can’t believe I missed yet another conclave!
Congrats and anticipatory thanks to @ParallelLines . IMHO, you have the right temperament for a moderator which will stand you in good stead and put you in good company.
If there’s anyone who can keep us on the straight and narrow…
Welcome, ParallelLines, and thank you for helping!
If ParallelLines has any perspective — ANY perspective at all, he will converge into a single point at the horizon.
And here I thought you all were training BannyMcBanface to be the new mod.
Congrats to PL on his new position. 