It is most definitely necessary to "play the game" if you want to get modded. You have to befriend the current mods, do some ass kissing, and then campaign to them for it. This is the usual path to becoming a mod (nowadays anyhow).

Not to seem condescending, but I have seen 7 years worth of mods come and go. Some good, some not so good (not saying that I could do any better). I'm not trying to say that my opinion is any more valid than anyone else's, but some of us members have gone through and seen more happen on MB than the rest of you combined, regardless of our post quality or quantity. No amount of posting can take the place of experience.

And I don't want to come off sounding bitter or jealous that I have never been a mod, because I can honestly say that is not the case. Just stating my opinion, however relavent or irrelevant it may be.

He's a guy!!!

Quotes help you not sound crazy.

Indeed Brennan. (pay attention old chap)

Also, your opening post is impressive, yet fatally flawed.

I've been here since the fall of 2007, which is no 2004, but still I've also seen many mods come and go. The difference between us is I've seen inside the process, since I've become a mod myself. I can definitely say no amount of ass kissing or friend making takes the place of meeting qualifications. A good example of this is Pedestrian, who does excellent work with the mod team. Her mouth has never come near to a single mod ass and she was chosen purely because she'd make a good fit.

Your perspective changes a lot once you're inside and see how everything works.

If that truely was the case I would have been modded years ago.

This place has changed like night and day since I joined. When I was starting out, everyone got to know each other quite well and the mods were more like regular members than forum police. There wasn't a hierarchy (written or unwritten) between members, we were all equals, regardless of title. I realize that the forum has grown by leaps and bounds since then, and I'm sure the load that is placed upon the shoulders of the mods has increased substantially (no offense to Vanilla regarding the size or placement of her preferred loads :O)

It just seems to me that sometimes being a mod tends to bring out the worst in people. How do you think the forum would change if the members didn't know who the mods were? If they had no clue who had the power of the banhammer? I think everyone would tend to treat everyone more equally.

I didn't play any game.

In fact when I was made a mod it came totally out of the blue & I wasn't expecting it. especially as 3 of the current mods at that time hated my guts.

I can recall plenty of people being modded because they held strong opinions & weren't afraid of confrontation, rather than because they were nice people or been here a long time.

In fact I think most of the worst mods we've had here were made mods because people felt 'it was time they were given a go' rather than because they could do the job.

Can anyone else picture Brennan with tea and biscuits as he discusses our lack of civility?

Oojay, I've got some huge loads thank you! :laughing:

I don't think there's a significant imbalance now. I think there are a few cliques that pop up here and there but overall I get the feeling that there's no hierarchy and everyone generally treats each other with respect.

I won't go into it because you are right that you have experience on your side, so you probably know more than I about that.

But one thing I'd like to point out is that mods don't just go around looking to bust people. We're basically regular members who have the power to clean up spam when we see it, and occasionally have to deal with idiots who ruin the forum for every one else. That and brainstorming ideas about improving the forum are the only things that make us different from regular posters. We're not above the rules of the forum either.