Right after I joined, over three years ago, the moderators disappeared.  What did they do?

It's very apparent that people have no clue what moderators do here; you people do realize that all mods really get to do is help add stuff to the main site, right? Do you honestly think that we have some sort of magical power to remove comments or people from this site or something? It's truly pathetic that people will complain about authority that doesn't even exist. I guess some people just need something to cry about. UPDATE: Actually, as a mod, the total amount of complaints that I've received about how to be a moderator in PM, outside of petty complaints in general, is a whopping ONE (stating I hate to spoil your fun but you as a moderator should be some what interested in content. My view on that: my personal views don't reflect RIA as a company, nor should they, and RIA has not shown that they have any problems with that. If you've got a problem regarding RIA, if you contact me I'll be more than happy to relay that over to the appropriate person(s); whether or not I agree with your position does not matter. If you've got a problem with my views, well, that's not RIA's problem, and I'll be happy to address it myself.) That's it. Anyway, I stray from the point: most people here aren't anti-moderator; the few that are seem to not understand that mods don't do all that much. I dont feel that any more is expected of me after getting that little tag. That being said, it still annoys the crap out of me when people think were out to get them or something.

They do have some purpose on here. What it is I'll never know, but they do have a purpose... *Please note that this topic states removing some of the moderators...not all of them. Frankly, I don't really see much use behind the position but doubt that anyone on here turns green with envy by seeing others with the moderator box. Then again, you never know...lol...

Not even sure what they're here for. I've only had a bad expirience with one, but I think overall they probably do an okay job, even though I don't know what that job is. Are you guys some kind of online Iluminati or something? ON BUDDY GROUPS: I'd love to see this added to the list of rules. You are no longer allowed to invite others to RIA so we can make sure that you and your buddies don't form a dangerous, online gang? HA! Iniviting friends increases the popularity of the site, and I can't see RIA making any policy that would turn away reviewers.

The first rule of being a moderator is that you don't discuss being a moderator. ... whoops sorry, that's Fight Club.

For me, becoming a moderator especially recently - basically means that I am now subject to more scrutinization than I was before I became one. Some of our approved activities include adding photos, blowing the whistle on severe malcontents, and reporting any other problems we see. Not a whole lot of difference than not being a moderator really and, most days, enough to put you into a coma. As I said, my posts have been censored way more since I became one than prior to which I, of course, rarely see as a plus. This might be partially a reflection of my changing attitudes as well, but who knows. The fact remains that one of the reasons I came here in the first place was to express myself freely and I find this overall idea that I now must project some kind of RIA facade to be somewhat counter productive at times. My question to those who are not doing this though is; if moderators on this site really have as little power as we do and we all admit we do - then why do you give a hang if Lawrence has recruited a few people to help him keep an eye on the place?

they dont really do anything so who cares.

I do think we have the wrong term attached to our jobs - but I suppose its the easiest one to put into a little box next to someone's username! We don't have any authority to block a user or delete a comment, so we don't pose any threat of 'abusing our powers' :)

Somehow I don't think Moderators are abusing their limited powers. They actually provide a valuable service to RateItAll administration by sprucing up main lists and keeping them current. If anything, just change the misunderstood title to something more descriptive like List Innovator.

This would serve exactly what purpose? I confess to having limited knowledge of what moderators do, but I certainly don't see them as a problem.

Being a moderator doesn't entail some sort of superiority over other RIA members. The only thing we can do is edit items on the regular topic lists. We have no authority to remove weblists and such. That power remains with Lawrence.

I haven't been coming here all that long, but so far I haven't noticed any problems that seem to stem from the number of moderators. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Let's do it. Let's remove those who wanna put innocents in that damn Graveyard.