# Term limits for mods? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 24, 2003, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527 "2003-07-24T02:24:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/1 "2003-07-24T02:24:11Z")
WARNING! NOTHING PERSONAL IS INTENDED BY THIS IDEA! It’s just a thought I had. We all get a little burnt out now and then and even the best mod can find that he or she reacts testily to the eight thousandth thread they have to move. Face it, we aren’t the easiest bunch to ride herd on and they are scarcely appreciated for the job they do FOR FREE. So, maybe the administration might want to have term limits for them? There are plenty of people who would like to take on the job if they knew it was only temporary. Some of them might even be competent and if they aren’t, well, if the first month or two was a probation period their term could end early with minimal fuss. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/2 "2003-07-24T02:49:42Z")
FWIW, **dropzone** , it was my experience modding on a different board for three years that people tend to decide when is the best time to move on, from personal needs, stress, or whatever. And there’s nothing “permanent” about any volunteer job, including modding the SDMB – you’re free to resign at any time. ---
**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 24, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/3 "2003-07-24T12:24:54Z")
We’ve also had mods take a period of time off, sometimes quite short (as when **Lynn** recently had a medical leave) or longer (such as real life interfering temporarily.) ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/4 "2003-07-25T07:26:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by C K Dexter Haven \* > …such as real life interfering temporarily. Surely with today’s technology there’s way to avoid these nuisance ‘real life’ intrusions? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/5 "2003-07-26T01:06:29Z")
Boy, this topic could be read as a Great Debate also. (but I’m not trying to start such a thing). Bad Idea, IMHO. For the same reason that I oppose term limits on elected representatives–you get rid of the baby with the bath water. Why put an articficial limit on a good Mod who enjoys her/his job, and is good at it? Just to get rid of someone who isn’t as good? The admin of a Msg. Board can fire a Mod at their whim. What else would you need? ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/6 "2003-07-27T10:10:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by \*\*C K Dexter Haven \*\* > … recently had a medical leave) or longer (such as real life … just curious, moderators have to take MC? what is it like being a mod? are there working hours or minimum hours logged in or something? as to the OP, they can quit anytime, so no use for term limits. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/7 "2003-07-27T18:06:45Z")
I don’t know what MC is, so I can’t answer that part of it. There aren’t any set hours, unfortunately. I say “unfortunately”, because what they have to do instead is “enough to get the job done”. Which is never less than about two hours a day, from my experience, and that’s only if the posters and the hamsters are both behaving unusually well. And, of course, the problem days seem to come exactly when you have the least time to deal with them. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/8 "2003-07-27T18:27:07Z")
thanks **Chronos** , i meant taking medical leave. on reading the post again i think i’d misunderstood that they had to apply leave or something for time off. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/9 "2003-07-28T12:29:01Z")
Moderating and administrating is both more and less a “job.” It’s often as difficult and time-consuming as what we do to earn our daily bread, but mostly with the only compensation the glow that comes from knowing you have done A Good Thing. It’s a damn expensive coffee mug. It takes a very special person to give of themselves, their time and etc. to keep this place going on. We are incredibly fortunate that these people choose to gift us with their work on our behalf. They’re great and we’re grateful. your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/10 "2003-07-28T15:42:25Z")
Not only term limits, but how about a residency, age, oath of fealty, and DNA screening requirements? ## Peace. “Have you now, or ever been a member of the Marilyn Vos Savant Fan Club?” “Are you familiar with a Mr. Poundstone? Answer the question!” ---
**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 29, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/11 "2003-07-29T00:37:17Z")
DNA screaming requirements? ---
**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, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/12 "2003-07-29T00:56:14Z")
Or full disclosure regarding incarcerations at mental institutions . . . ---
**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, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/13 "2003-07-29T17:00:12Z")
We have that already, Dan. Incarceration at such an institute is a non-negotiable prerequisite. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/14 "2003-07-30T08:13:49Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by UncleBeer_ > > \*\*We have that already, Dan. Incarceration at such an institute is a non-negotiable prerequisite. \*\* Oooh! Where do I apply then? 😃 What with this free time and all. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-for-mods/190527/15 "2003-08-05T06:15:05Z")
So, from what I gather, being born in one doesn’t count for extra?