Someone compliains, however incorrectly, about "abuse of power". And the reply is...
"Perceived abuse of power. The power is ours to use as we see fit."
Isn't that reply exactly the definition of "abuse of power"? "Perception" implies that someone is being fair, but firm. "The power is ours to use as we se fit" implies, "welcome to North Korea/Soviet Union/Nazi Germany, if you even whimper about unfairness you'll face a firing squad, labour camp, or re-education, because I'M THE BOSS."
Just sayin'. If I get banned for this, fine, it'll just prove my point.
I understand where you are coming from. I was actually the brunt of that argument from....wait for it (drumroll please)....none other than Chompy, the owner of this site. When I was a mod here, (way back when), I was told I was being too heavy-handed and that was not the type of moderator that he (Chompy) wanted me to be. But what is more important was my reply (just before I retired as moderator here): I told Chompy that "in order to keep this an orderly forum that everyone could enjoy sometimes a heavy-hand was not only neccesary but preferable".
A lot of things have changed since I stopped being moderator. The attitude of some of the staff has changed. They have become harder and less tolerant, less open to new ideas or ideas that conflict with theirs (well, maybe that part hasn't changed much at all). However, all-in-all, I would have to say it has been a positive change. Moderators are not here to be your friends. They are not here to collect votes on what the members want or do not want. That is not their purpose. You cannot take the definition of the word moderator and make that apply here. They are not "mediators" they are "overseers". Here they are judge, jury and executioners. There is no fair trial by peers, no appealate court, no lawyers, no labor unions, there is just the "Staff". If it was not for them it would be total anarchy here and no one would visit except spammers and spambots. It is their job to interpet, form and reform the rules, and keep order in whatever manner that they believe benefits this forum the most.
We (I'll use that word) have not stake whatsoever in this site. We are members, freeloaders, friends to each other, major or minor contributors, passersby even, but above all GUESTS. The powers that be, however they are perceived (see what I did there?) have no reason at all to sate anyone here. That's just a given. We have the total freedom to be unhappy with any of it at any time and just choose not to come back.
I actually think you are missing his point, which I did not. We do have a 'stake" in this forum and are not just guests (though I believe I may have said something along those lines myself before). "We" are
members. We are, collectively, the forum. The moderators do have a reason to sate the membership as a whole. If there are no members there is no forum so of course the moderators take the members into consideration....as a whole. Individually however, we are merely part of that collective. It is important that this distinction is understood. If a few members don't like something or the way something is done well.....sometimes that is just tough. If enough members do not like the way something is done than there is a very good chance that changes will be made to accomodate them. It is the forum as a whole here that is taken into consideration (or at least that is how it should be). There is only one person who overrules all considerations and that is the board owner himself (chompy). He owns this place and he can do what he damn well pleases with it.
And keep in mind that the moderators here are not going to be perfect. They have the right to be wrong just as much as any of us. They are only human after all and they do this "job" in their spare time because they care about this forum. So sometimes they piss me off and maybe sometimes they will piss you off as well. That is just something we have to get over and move on from.
