# Who moderates what? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 2, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932 "2010-08-02T20:52:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/1 "2010-08-02T20:52:15Z")
I’m trying to figure out who’s the moderator for Cafe Society, and it took me looking through the forum’s FAQ thread, and then the other FAQ threads in ATMB, and then looking for a stickied thread in ATMB, until I realized that they were listed allllllllllllllllll the way at the bottom of the page in the Cafe Society contents. If I may suggest, it could be helpful to: 1.) Include a list of each sub-forum’s moderators in the first post of its FAQ thread; or 2.) In said post, tell people where to look to find those moderators; or 3.) Maintain a stickied list of all moderators and what they moderate in ATMB; 4.) Move the list of moderators to the top of the thread list instead of the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/2 "2010-08-02T21:07:15Z")
From the main page, click on ‘Forum Leaders’ at the bottom of the fora listing. It will take you to a list of which moderator moderates which forum. ETA: There is also a listing of the moderators for each forum at the bottom of the thread listings in each forum. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/3 "2010-08-02T21:33:33Z")
The main reason we don’t have the moderator list in multiple places (like FAQ threads) is that it would be redundant data that we’d almost certainly forget to update. Moderators do change assignments as we have more or less time available or as the cushy assignments open up. The automatic lists at the bottom of every index page and the main [Forum Leaders list](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showgroups.php) are maintained automatically by VBulletin and we don’t have to worry about them becoming out-of-date. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/4 "2010-08-02T21:38:21Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:3, topic:548932”] The main reason we don’t have the moderator list in multiple places (like FAQ threads) is that it would be redundant data that we’d almost certainly forget to update. [/QUOTE] Which makes sense–the problem is that it’s not in an obvious place that one would look, if one isn’t familiar with VBulletin. So including something in the FAQ thread(s) that tells you where to look could be very useful. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/5 "2010-08-02T21:57:26Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Which makes sense–the problem is that it’s not in an obvious place that one would look, if one isn’t familiar with VBulletin. So including something in the FAQ thread(s) that tells you where to look could be very useful. It’s already there. In the thread called “FAQ - Technical issues for Posting” in ATMB (currently the top sticky in the forum), the 15th item (“Contacting the staff directly”), which was added by **Twix** about six weeks ago, reads as follows: > [@FAQ - Technical issues for Posting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faq-technical-issues-for-posting/369482/14): > > Most questions can be answered in the FAQs of this forum, or by posting a question here. > > Sometimes, however, you need to communicate directly with an administrator or a moderator — to request a name change, for instance, or to request permission to start a thread that you think might be skirting the rules. > > For name changes and other logistical business, contact an administrator. As of June 2010, the administrators are **CKDexterHaven, Gaudere, Gfactor, Lynn Bodoni**. and **TubaDiva**. > > For a question about posting or other activity in a particular forum, contact the moderators of that forum. These moderators are listed in the bottom right-hand corner of the forum page. > > A full list of administrators and moderators, with their forum assignments, can be found [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showgroups.php). Note the final two paragraphs. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/6 "2010-08-02T22:00:48Z")
There you go, then. I didn’t think to look in the Technical Issues FAQ, because I wasn’t having, well, a \*technical \*issue–just a question about if and where to post a thread. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/7 "2010-08-03T00:58:17Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > There you go, then. I didn’t think to look in the Technical Issues FAQ, because I wasn’t having, well, a \*technical \*issue–just a question about if and where to post a thread. If in doubt, just email any mod and they’ll be glad to help you figure that out. Or, just post it in one that seems reasonable: if the mods disagree, they’ll move it, no bother. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/8 "2010-08-03T01:22:03Z")
Look at the forum leaders page: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showgroups.php](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showgroups.php) You can find a link to that page on the main Straight Dope forum page: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/index.php](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/index.php) If you look towards the bottom of every INDIVIDUAL forum page you will find a list of the moderators for that forum in the blue band. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/9 "2010-08-03T14:29:48Z")
These are all things that \*you have to know how VBulletin works \*to look for, is what I’m saying. Whereas \*anyone \*can (and should) check an FAQ thread for a forum: that’s universal, regardless of platform. So having a line in there that says, “To find out who moderates this forum, check the Forum Leaders list or the bottom of any index page for the specific forum” would, I think, be useful. And **Dex** , it wasn’t just a question of \*where \*to post something, it was whether or not I should post it at all. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/10 "2010-08-03T17:36:25Z")
Anyone who is truly confused could open a thread, could ask a question. Which would be swiftly answered. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/11 "2010-08-03T18:59:08Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > These are all things that \*you have to know how VBulletin works \*to look for, is what I’m saying. Whereas \*anyone \*can (and should) check an FAQ thread for a forum: that’s universal, regardless of platform. I don’t understand what you’re asking for, **Shot From Guns**. As I pointed out yesterday, it’s _already in the FAQs_. Where else do you want it? ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/12 "2010-08-03T19:41:15Z")
It’s in a, single, FAQ, for \*technical \*questions. IMO, who moderates a forum is not a \*technical \*question. But if you guys aren’t constantly swamped with questions as to who moderates what, then I guess it’s a moot point. :shrug: Just a suggestion to make the info easier to find so people don’t have to hunt around for it in places that are only obvious if you’re familiar with this style of board. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/13 "2010-08-04T03:29:05Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > But if you guys aren’t constantly swamped with questions as to who moderates what, then I guess it’s a moot point. First time I can recall it ever being asked. I think most people who are interested look around on the forum pages and find it pretty readily. > [@](#): > > Just a suggestion to make the info easier to find so people don’t have to hunt around for it in places that are only obvious if you’re familiar with this style of board. You’re not familiar with it after six years and 7,000 posts here? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-moderates-what/548932/14 "2010-08-04T14:40:53Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > You’re not familiar with it after six years and 7,000 posts here? 😉 Quiet, you! 😃 (To be fair, most of those six years were inactive. Although then that points out how condensed a period of time the 7k posts were made during…)