Posted by Kim on July 1, 2013, 1:43pm
I'm still struck by how many people tell me that it took them a year or more to get involved in our community after joining the site. They stuck to just using the profile-builders and never dip their toe into the forums, for fear of flames. Trolls. Nit picky grammar-bashing responses that don't add anything to the conversation. Unasked for criticism. Homophobic or racist comments out of the blue.
And why shouldn't they be concerned about those things? The internet is a rough place. The lack of body language and verbal inflection causes friction between perfectly reasonable people over misunderstandings on a daily basis, and the anonymity of being behind a computer screen allows people to say things they would be mortified to say to a "real person."
But you know all this. If you've been on the internet for more than five minutes, you've experienced it.
But here's what you might not know: There are people who specialize in making the internet better. In insisting people be decent to each other. In smoothing over misunderstandings and rescuing friendships that don't need to die over a mis-read sentence.
We call these people moderators, and a good moderator is one of the most selfless, hardest working net-denizen out there. If you are a member of any online community of more than five people and it seems pleasant and as if it has no such problems to you, it is probably because there is at least one moderator in that group that is pouring their hearts into keeping that community on the rails.
I am extremely proud of our forums. They are so friendly, polite and welcoming that there's almost something "un-internet" about it. And this is very much thanks to our stupendous team of moderators: Copper_Dragon, Darth_Angelus, Loki, Sanne and Seraphicstar.
Moderators often work behind the scenes, almost in secret, dealing with the nastiest issues quietly so that they don't violate privacy or poison the atmosphere with feelings of negativity. When this process goes well, the user returns to the community friendly and ready to participate postively again - and it's often the case that no one knows that the moderators had to step in but the handful of people that were directly involved. When this process fails, it can result in the moderator being flamed as the user vents their anger at being asked to obey the rules.
Yes, enforcing community standards can be an utterly thankless job, so much so that it frequently burns out good people.
That's why July 1st is Moderator Appreciation Day. If you love the environment that we have here, please take a moment to tell the moderators that you appreciate their hard work. And if you're part of another community that you love, tell the mods there, too!
As for me, I'm celebrating by sending the mods gifts and notes of thanks, and I'm about to go to the bakery to pick up a Moderator Appreciation Day cake baked by a warrior princess.
No seriously, the baker's name is Xena. Honest to goodness.
Happy Moderator Appreciation day to all -- because with great moderators come great communities!
And by the by, happy Canada day to all our Canadian members as well!
Post tags: Moderator Appreciation Day
Comments
Delayed, but thank you! I appreciate your existence :]
Thanks Mods!
You're doing a splediferous job
You're doing a splediferous job
keep it going Mods! you're doing a great job!
I've had a single run in with the mods, and that was for accidentally putting a swear word in. But I have to say, Sanne was pretty cool about it, and helped me out.
Thanks mods, for policing, and making this place a better place to be. I don't know what it would be without you guys, (Hell), but I know you guys do it on your own, which makes it even more awesome. Keep it up!
Thanks mods, for policing, and making this place a better place to be. I don't know what it would be without you guys, (Hell), but I know you guys do it on your own, which makes it even more awesome. Keep it up!
Thank you moderators for all your awesome work :B Keep on rockin
It did get a little shout out at the bottom, Cass. But I rarely do nation-specific events because we're such an international community.
b-but. it's Canada day.
still, thank you mods.
still, thank you mods.
Keep up the amazing work!
You guys are AMAZING! Thank you for continuing to make this website, easily, the most welcoming community I've ever come across 
Happy mod day to our awesome mods 
You guys are wonderful people, and to those I know, you're great friends. I've never felt so welcome on the internet anywhere else than here. I've never been flamed or trolled or felt more than just awkward at first. But even when I introduced myself, everyone was so nice.
So thanks.
So thanks.
Happy mod appreciation day from England, god save the queen!xD
Kim you absolutely destroyed that cake, now you've got the rest to go! Good luck!
Kim you absolutely destroyed that cake, now you've got the rest to go! Good luck!
Happy Mods day, to all our wonderful Mods! Thank you guys for making sure this place stays up and is always great! 
Horray for awesome Mods! They do such a good job here That way I can frolic and play without worry! And Kim, YOU MAKE ME SMILE!
That way I can frolic and play without worry! And Kim, YOU MAKE ME SMILE!
Thank you moderators of RPR for everything you do
i give the moderators ★★★★★
i give the moderators ★★★★★
What do I think? I think this is a splendid day of celebration! The moderators of this site are much nicer and more attentive than any place I have encountered. I thank you all!
... okay when I posted earlier, I couldn't watch the video because Mom was napping not five feet away from me.
But now I'm in my room, so I can! That is some glorious cake-devouring, Kim! (Also it's chocolate, my favorite kind! :fire-fly-is-over: the cake is a delicious, unobtainable not-lie!)
But now I'm in my room, so I can! That is some glorious cake-devouring, Kim! (Also it's chocolate, my favorite kind! :fire-fly-is-over: the cake is a delicious, unobtainable not-lie!)
Thank you all for being so awesome.
Moderating isn't such a bad job when we have such a wonderful community to work with thanks everyone for being so awesome!
Also I second Darth, I hope you ate the entire cake just like that Kim
thanks everyone for being so awesome!Also I second Darth, I hope you ate the entire cake just like that Kim
The_Undying
July 8, 2013
7:39am
I haven't been on lately but I still appreciate the work the mods do.