*** Warning *** I have only had 4 hours sleep and I'm not proof reading this, so expect some bits to be a bit dis-jointed 
Ok sorry about that guys, but due to the time difference (I'm 9 hours forward) - I had to go to bed and didn't want everything kicking off when I was sleeping so couldn't reply.
I only got a few hours sleep though, so my brain is still a little hazy
Let's start with the basics:
Moderators are employed for 2 reasons: 1 they know about their section, so should be recognised as "the person to go to" for any specific help (ie, you have a problem that has yielded no results on the forum - pressure them to help you
) and secondly to deal with unruly posts / members.
This second one however is not as clear cut as that (and generally is now more of a mix).
A post is reported, the report will go to a special backstage forum (as well as being posted by email to the forum moderator) - if it is something that is pretty obvious what needs to be done (like maybe, someone has threatened someone else) - then the moderator can immediately take it offline.
If it is a subjective complaint, then a group discussion is called for - during which time, the thread may or may not be locked by the forum admin. When there is a clear agreement, action is taken.
Now, assuming no one was about to vote on the subject, the thread would be moved backstage until a vote / decision could be made. Posts
do come back from backstage, a lot of the time you won't notice - they are pulled, cleaned up and returned.
There is no point however cleaning a post and putting it back when it will blatantly kick off again - thus it will stay banned.
Now let me see, where was I .... ah yes, so all major decisions are voted on by everyone backstage - so no one can have a power trip
Posts can also never be permanently deleted (even if someone wanted to) - so they can always be returned if need be.
User banning is a lot more serious, and is discussed in great lenght backstage first. A user will be contacted about their conduct first and given the option to change their ways. Actually a lot of the time, they will get a few warnings. If they don't / won't change though and are causing trouble then yes, they will be banned.
However, we have yet to have a case where a user is banned where no one (non moderators) have reported it - so yes, you do have a voice.
Which brings me onto reported posts.
Some of you are complaining that someone can say something about you, but when you retaliate they report the post and it is pulled. Now, this to me is logical?? If you have not reported the post, we can assume you have no problem with the content, so it would stay - if someone else does, then it has to be looked at.
Moderators cannot also read every single bit of every post - if something offends you, report it, then as explained above it is very easy to action. (and will go through the whole voting process). If something really bad is still there, it will mean no one has spotted it (not that the member is part of our gang
) - so
report it!
It is sometimes hard to tell if members are joking about with each other (as they know each other) - or are serious - hence the reason sometimes seemingly offensive posts are left (until complaint) - at the same time, sometimes a post will look offensive (when it isnt) but will be pulled - it is hard to judge......
All this talk of freedom of speech - if this were true, I could go to parliament square and preach about bombing the london eye - that's freedom of speech? Of course you have the right to speak out, however please be reasonable - if you are offending other people / insulting others - then we have to take their feelings into consideration....
Ok, now the moderator level.
Despite what is thought, a super moderator does
not have a higher authority than a normal moderator. Super Moderator means they are able to move / delete posts in any forum, however if the forum is not their moderated forum, they must leave ample time for the actual mod to do it.
We had a lot of problems with troublesome users causing havok in forums where the moderator wasn't online - so a solution was needed ... this was in the form of the super mods. Don't think they can just ban you at will, it doesn't work like this - the same vote has to be passed as with the deleted posts.
Ok, so if the vote isn't working and someone needs to make a final decision (and this is like so rare, I can't think of a time...), this will usually go to Pete. Why Pete you say, well due to my timezoning, all the important decisions will usually need to be made whilst i am asleep..... I just run the technical side of things / any forum wide decisions (not user based).
Like has been said, yes this is my site - however I trust my moderators enough to be able to make any important decisions without me - surely this shows their trustworthyness?
If you have a problem with a moderator though, yes, ultimately you would come to me (and don't worry - I won't pass your details on....)
Well I've now completely forgotten what I've written above, lol.... but I shall continue (eyes starting to droop ... speech slurring... lol)
So thats the mod level pan out and what they do... we've done the voting thing, whats left .... hmmm....
As this clickiness thing - no, nobody has any special treatment over anyone else (believe me, some moderators feel very differently about some people than others - however a good ruling is always preferred over a bad one) - so don't worry if you feel a moderator has a grudge against you, it won't affect anything.... (except at meets when they might beat you up, but hey
)
I think thats the admin side of the forum sorted now, feel free to ask any other questions... which just brings me to the original complaint
"you seem to think this is a democracy" - or words to that effect.
I must admit, when i read this is made me laugh, as I knew this was spoken slightly tongue in cheek - however I know a lot of you didn't see this... I'll also admit the follow up comments weren't what I expected... however, Steve will return later, so before I say anything, I'll let him have his say...
So, let's see - yes all of you guys are very important to me and the forum and we do try our best to make sure everyone is happy - however with so many people this isn't always going to happen.
Any important decisions are voted on thus making sure there is fairness and no victimisation against anyway.
A moderators decision
can be overridden by myself, however there has yet to be a need for this.
We don't like fighting on here (it not only makes the place less friendly, but looks bad for new members) - and if a thread is starting to get ugly, it will be pulled ... and no usually it won't come back (as the fight would just flair up again).
I had another reason too, erm..... ah yes, knowing why a user has been banned. This is (I believe) something that should just be kept between the moderators and that person - there is no need for the public to know, but suffice to say it will have been for a good reason.
And finally, if you have a problem with a moderator - PM me and I will look into it for you (but expect a reply at some very strange time of night
)
Phew - I hope that covered everything.....
Any questions - feel free to post below.
