Posted by Kim on July 2, 2015, 10:07am
The power that the internet has to create communities cannot be overstated. But we all know that it also has downsides -- body language is lost and it's much easier to accidentally insult someone or pick a fight than in real life. Anonymity lets some people feel free to be feckless or outright cruel. Different cultural assumptions cause unexpected clashes. It's almost inevitable that we all have an occasional screw up or bad day that impacts other people, out there somewhere in the world. And it is so easy for these problems to become the norm, turning a previously friendly community into a never ending flame war.If you are a part of an online community, group or game with more than three members and it isn't a toxic pit of drama and name calling (or mostly isn't), it's probably that way because there are moderators in that community working their butts off to keep the atmosphere positive, welcoming and productive.
When doing their job well, most moderators are completely invisible to members who aren't directly involved in an issue, so they often get little credit for the good that they do.When they are visible to a member, it's usually because they are asking someone to make a minor correction to something they said to bring it back in line with a guideline or even just to prevent it from being potentially misread as rude. Unfortunately, no one likes to be corrected. However minor the request, it usually inspires high emotion in the recipient.
It sucks to be told you did something wrong. Even when you actually did. Even when it was extremely minor. Even when the moderator in question isn't angry or judgmental or particularly emotionally invested at all because it's a minor correction they make about a dozen times a week and view as a tiny mistake that's no big deal.
All this adds up to moderating being a difficult job where the main thanks you get is being treated like an unreasonable, totalitarian monster, who should be taunted and defied instead of spoken to. When the mods do get a pleasant response and a thank you for the job they're doing, it's like a little nugget of gold.
But this shouldn't be the way that moderators are treated. Without excellent moderators, the entire internet would be on fire all of the time. It would be a wasteland where no one could venture. We need moderators, those brave souls who protect our psyches with their own.
That's why we set aside one day every year to remember to thank the moderators in the communities that we love. If you know a moderator here or elsewhere that seems to be keeping a community from going off the rails, let them know that you've noticed their hard work, and that you appreciate it.
For my part, I want to extend a personal big thanks to the RPR mod team: Ben, Copper_Dragon, Darth_Angelus, Loki and SeraphicStar.
And thanks to our previous moderators: Dylan, Sanne and Sherlock.
Post tags: Moderator Appreciation Day
Comments
Thank you so much for your hard work.
I remember back when I was a Gamesage for AeriaGames MMO Eden Eternal,
and it was basically being a Moderator. It was tough.
While yes, you got some thank yous, on the other hand,
a lot of people were very rough/rude as no one likes being corrected.
So I completely respect the hard-working mods here.
Keep up the amazing work and thank you!!
I remember back when I was a Gamesage for AeriaGames MMO Eden Eternal,
and it was basically being a Moderator. It was tough.
While yes, you got some thank yous, on the other hand,
a lot of people were very rough/rude as no one likes being corrected.
So I completely respect the hard-working mods here.
Keep up the amazing work and thank you!!
OMG! i completely missed this! So...THANK YOU ALL MODERATORS!
Thankyou everyone! 
I've heard horror stories from moderators of other sites and communities but you guys are so awesome that we don't have any.
Thankyou for being such a great community, you make being a moderator here one of the best experiences I've had in recent years
I've heard horror stories from moderators of other sites and communities but you guys are so awesome that we don't have any.
Thankyou for being such a great community, you make being a moderator here one of the best experiences I've had in recent years
Aw, thanks for all the sweet comments everyone! 
Oop!
I'm a little late to the party because work has been swamping me this week, but I'm sure I can speak for all us mods when I say thank you very much for the heaping appreciations and wishes, folks! *HUGS FOR ALL!*
I'm a little late to the party because work has been swamping me this week, but I'm sure I can speak for all us mods when I say thank you very much for the heaping appreciations and wishes, folks!
*HUGS FOR ALL!*
Loren
July 3, 2015
1:18pm
Moderators: 
Thanks for all your wonderful wishes today, everyone!
Sundrop
July 2, 2015
10:13pm
Better moderatorsoon then any other website.
Thank You!
Just wanna say all you moderators are amazing! While I realize a lot of the work you do may not be seen by most of us, you have created a wonderful environment here on RPR that speaks well of your abilities. While I may not be on as often as I'd like, I still hold a soft spot in my heart for RPR and look forward to returning when life is far less complicated.
Keep up the awesome work, Kim and Mods! You all are amazing, incredible, and talented individuals!
While I may not be on as often as I'd like, I still hold a soft spot in my heart for RPR and look forward to returning when life is far less complicated.Keep up the awesome work, Kim and Mods! You all are amazing, incredible, and talented individuals!
Thank you, my darlings
Keep being awesome!!!
Seriously, thank you for all that you guys do!
~Thanks Mods for being super amazering!~
Thank you, moderators, for making RPR an awesome place!
Tate
July 2, 2015
12:41pm
I do believe this is one of the first sites I've ever been on with a personable mod team and owner, and is well run. I definitely see a tendency to lack favouritism, which certainly helps keep things running well.
Basically, I like this site, and thank you for keeping it a safe-feeling environment, being inclusive to communities often left out on less well run sites.
Basically, I like this site, and thank you for keeping it a safe-feeling environment, being inclusive to communities often left out on less well run sites.
Exaala
July 2, 2015
12:32pm
A big thank you to all the moderators who keep the site we love in order
Einnasti
July 11, 2015
12:49am