Posted by Kim on July 2, 2022, 2:50pm
It's July 2nd, and on the RP Repository, that means Moderator Appreciation Day!This is a day where we celebrate for all moderators, everywhere. Yes, it's a salute to our extremely hard working site moderators, but I'm certain there are plenty of other moderators in your life, too - moderators of RPR groups. Moderators of Facebook Groups. Moderators of Discords. Moderators of forums. Moderators of LiveJournal groups? Please, take a moment to send a thank you note to the various moderators in your life. They're probably all doing VASTLY more than you know about in order to keep your online experience from being overrun by bots, trolls, and other sea monsters that inhabit the deeps of the internet.
I'm reflecting on one particular incident that happened recently, right here on the RPR. Without going into too many particulars, we removed someone from the community out of concerns that they were not a safe individual. They responded by spending several days harassing as much of the moderation team as they could find, doing everything they could to frighten us, waste our time, prevent us from getting RL work done -- they told us directly that their plan was to make our lives so miserable that it wouldn't be worth it to enforce any rules against them. They promised they would stop if we let them back in to the RPR.
Not one mod flinched. We took turns covering as each of us needed breaks. We weathered the first storm, and the follow-up ones that happened later, when his rage apparently flared up again. Every bit of bullying strengthened the team's resolve to not let someone like this into the RPR ever again.
I'm so thankful to have people like that in our corner. I don't know how the RPR could exist without its mod team.
So today, I want to take time to remember that moderators are people who find time, energy and love to help grow, protect and nurture online communities. They are almost always unpaid volunteers working a frequently thankless job. Sometimes being the one to hold a boundary on behalf of a community can make a moderator into a target for multi-site campaigns of abuse. Even as those coordinated harassments prove that you made the right decision to remove someone from the community, you are still being made into a human shield to protect others. And in most cases, the community members being protected will have no idea at all what they are being protected from - and not letting the community feel those pains is exactly the point.
Being a moderator can be exhausting and distressing work, as to maintain the best of a community they have to confront its worst.
Please join me today in thanking our moderation team, and then go out into your online world and thank every other moderator you can think of too!
Post tags: Moderator Appreciation Day
Comments
Aye, a message to the moderators, You're very epic so... 
Here's some chocolate milk because i'd respect ya.
Here's some chocolate milk because i'd respect ya.
scare
September 15, 2022
6:25pm
thank you
Thank you oh so much for being here to make rules!
Thank you so so so much, mods!!!! ❤️
Thank you to the moderators and Kim! All of your hard work is truly appreciated, and, without it, who knows where RPR would be today? So, thank you!
HAPPY MAD! Thank you to my fellow mods for being so exceptionally awesome! And thank you to the community for your kind words. 
On a personal note, I've always felt RPR is one of the most grateful communities around when it comes to moderators being appreciated and thanked. I have some horror stories to tell from other communities I help moderate, but I genuinely feel RPR is a safe haven even for mods who deal with some super sketchy stuff, as per the example in the post.
Kim always has our backs, and for that I also want to send out a very generous and special thank you to Kim herself!
On a personal note, I've always felt RPR is one of the most grateful communities around when it comes to moderators being appreciated and thanked. I have some horror stories to tell from other communities I help moderate, but I genuinely feel RPR is a safe haven even for mods who deal with some super sketchy stuff, as per the example in the post.
Kim always has our backs, and for that I also want to send out a very generous and special thank you to Kim herself!
thank you moderators for all that you do for the repository. We all deeply appreciate it and hope you know that you all are truly wonderful, fantastic people. 
Many thanks to all of the moderators for everything they do to help keep our community safe and running smoothly.
You are all awesome.
You are all awesome.
【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】
I couldn't be more grateful for the people who willingly give their time to make sites like these safe, fun, and a good experience for the rest of us. Thank you, thank you for all that moderators do. Your hard work does not go unnoticed! RPR is no exception and has become perhaps one of my absolute favorite places to be! There's so much openness and opportunity here and your protection of that keeps RPR a safe haven for creativity! Kudos to you all for being amazing and helping us have this space to play in.
【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】
Thank you all sm ^^ We appreciate everything you do for us on the rpr, thank you for doing all you can for us all
Thank you for all your hard work!!! WE LOVE YOU!
I'm sorry you had to endure the gaslighting and bullying.
Stay vigilant, and I'll bring you coffee and cakes to keep you going through all hours of the day and night!
Thank you for responding promptly to my reports and tolerating my never-ending moral judgements upon those I report.
I still believe that RPR has some of the most wonderful and dedicated mods out there. 
Thanks to all of the moderators and guinea pigs who make this site possible!
Thank you to everyone who works so hard on this website, and provides us with a wonderful community. You do a lot to give us a safe environment for making new friends, and for hanging out with old ones. You deserve the best and I'm sending massive positive vibes your way. Your hard work very is always appreciated
Thank you so much for the appreciation everyone and also Kim! Thank you, fellow teammates, for all that you do, It's nice to mod for such a wonderful community of creative individuals. I'm incredibly thankful for everyone who's been kind to me as I get my footing as a mod, for positive attitudes, and for the chance to see so much cool stuff being made. I'm always happy to be of help when needed.
I look forward to getting back into the swing of things keeping the community safe and comfy, and seeing more fantastic imagination creations from everyone as I go!
I look forward to getting back into the swing of things keeping the community safe and comfy, and seeing more fantastic imagination creations from everyone as I go!
Thank you all for your continous help and kindness !
!
_Skylark_
September 16, 2022
1:58am