How do you become a moderator?

Question

I know I probably won't ever be one, or be one anytime soon! It just came to mind... How in the world do you become a moderator!? Maybe the moderators can help, haha.

Filling out your profile is one recommendation Carter , for we know not who or what you are . - ray76, Apr 5, 2017

Ok, but I don't have a website :( - CarterTF, Apr 5, 2017

Carter, you don't need your own website, Ray means this website ;) - FELIZ77, Apr 5, 2017

Answer 1

Hello Carter,

Welcome to our SpanishDict community forum

You have just asked a question that I believe would be of interest to existing and new members alike!

How do you become a moderator? I know I probably won't ever be one, or be one anytime soon! wink It just came to mind... How in the world do you become a moderator!? Maybe the moderators can help, haha.

Carter, although I cannot speak with complete authority, not being a moderator, I am, nevertheless, a well-esteemed long-serving member of this community and have been active for most of the 7 years now since I first joined, and from my observation and experience, I would say that you don't choose to become one, you are invited to join the team when they (the serving mods) notice and are impressed with the way in which you interact with people, treat people with respect and demonstrate the qualities that they look for in a moderator such as the ability to be fair and well balanced, make valuable contributions to the community and you also need the willingness and ability to make tough (difficult) decisions even though you may be unpopular for doing so! When there have been heated arguments in threads, the mods have had to ask people to show respect to each other, and even close threads where the conflict has made the atmosphere tense!

It is a very demanding job to be a moderator of this or any other good, community forum and not one to be taken lightly! The mods have had to keep putting a lot of work in to keep this forum running smoothly over the years that they have all been moderators!. They are all highly-esteemed, active members who run threads.

Being a moderator is primarily a service to the community, a bit like being an elder in a church, it is a leadership role for which you don't get paid, work very long hours voluntarily and sometimes you have to correct people and in rare cases ban (exclude) them them from this site for unacceptable and inappropriate behaviour! The moderators are accountable to the site administrators.

However most of the time they have to monitor the many threads and posts and close posts they consider need closing. It is more of an administrative role than a teaching role.

I am open to correction from any of the currently serving mods: Ray, Rac or Ian on any of these points that I have mentioned above!

I am sure that that any of the the mods could add lots of other responsibilties to the ones I have mentioned; they know the job much better than the rest of us!

I hope this helps to answer your question

For a more complete answer, please wait for one of the mods to answer!

That was a great job description mate , you only left out one point , "the ability to accept criticism constantly because you cannot please everyone at all times , we have to remember that the main aim is to keep S D running smoothly , happily and res - ray76, Apr 5, 2017

respectfully at all times and to provide as much learning material as is needed by those learning Spanish and English . We hope that we three mods ( The mod squad ") do this without stepping on too many toes . - ray76, Apr 5, 2017

Thank you very much, Ray You certianly don't step on my toes lol - FELIZ77, Apr 5, 2017

Thank you, guys! - CarterTF, Apr 5, 2017

I know Ian and you are moderators, but who is the other one? Is there a main moderator? - CarterTF, Apr 5, 2017

Amber is the other one I think. I think she is like Rey....something. Her profile pic is of a cartoon women with hearts all over it. - k_nelson, May 4, 2017