Not so much friends as even overly familiar...it clouds your judgement and adds a layer to the decision making process that shouldn't be there.
If you watch the metamorphisis of a mod, you'll notice the newer ones still post quite frequently. This makes sense because their posting and interaction on the forums is what would have initially brought them to our attention, and obviously its something they enjoy and participate in regularly. They are still very connected to their circle or forum specialties and its how they have always used the forum.
Then an incident will occur that features an intervention in a thread in which they have participated...comments will be deleted for being off topic or whatever the case might be and they begin to fret that they weren't the ones doing the moderation...which is correct since we normally don't mod threads we're involved in as posters. A few more of these and a few more months of the behind the scenes view that a moderator gets and their posting becomes less and less frequent...they begin to pick and choose their threads/topics more carefully and with an eye towards the potential storm inherent in each one before it runs its course.
And so on and so on until they reach the Decision Point. At that time some step down. Others become less involved with mod functions and eventually may be asked to step aside so someone who wants to be more "full time" can assume the position. Still others accept and embrace the new guidelines that have by now become obvious for succeeding as a mod.
This isn't to say that every mods experience parallels this path exactly, but as with the five stages of death and dying its a basic outline that all of us follow.
Isn't a matter of risk...its a matter of being consistent and effective. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...quite communistic but a phrase that rings true on a forum with a population this large.
I don't make videos...I don't post pics...I contribute behind the scenes in my own way and will continue to do so until it becomes too stifling. Once in awhile I pop out for a week or so ( as now) but that will fade. I am on here about 360 days a year, probably a few hours a day average. Most days I do not post unless performing a mod function.
Mods shouldn't have friends on the forum they moderate. I'd be leery of ones that did if I was a member. Not to say they *cannot* be impartial but its certainly more difficult, and it's difficult enough to set aside your biases as it is for most people.
Q
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Word.
If you went to karaoke with me, you'd hear me sing this, albeit a little more siren-like--and I'd even Goose ya for it!! LOL
hi
