5

When I click on the "moderators" link:

https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/users?tab=moderators

exactly four moderators are listed: Jamiec, Larian LeQuella, Mad Scientist, and Oddthinking

But another link

https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/users/96/sklivvz

indicates that Sklivvz is a moderator too.

Are there any other users whose profiles indicate they are moderators, but are left off the "moderators" link list?

Are all the alleged moderators (including Sklivvz) equally and really moderators?

Why is Sklivvz left off the list?

  • 1
    It's a conspiracy man! :) – JasonR Apr 21 '16 at 12:41
7

Because I was elected as a moderator, but then hired by Stack Exchange as a developer. Developers, employees and community managers do not normally appear in that list even if they have mod powers.

Generally speaking, I act as a mod only on skeptics since I moderated the site since the beginning and I know how the community works. I don't really moderate anywhere else, although I do have mod powers everywhere.

I do not use any developer-level powers as a moderation tool.

Other employees have moderated the site in the past (in a limited fashion): codinghorror, spolsky, rcartaino, shog9...

  • But, you are still an elected mod, representing this community? Like, you didn't step down from your elected role when you took your SE job, right? – user30557 Apr 6 '16 at 15:26
  • I never officially retired as a mod, it's just how the software works. When I started being a developer we ran another election to bring more hands on board. See the announcement here. There is no sensible way in which I can be an active user and not a moderator, since our sites are made to be moderated by the users... – Sklivvz Apr 6 '16 at 15:38
  • When I say moderator, translate to "moderator indicated by a diamond with extra privileges normally bestowed by election" then. You're still one of those, right? – user30557 Apr 6 '16 at 16:12
  • And this page distinguishes between moderators and users. "Moderators also have some special abilities", "Moderators can place users in timed suspension, and delete users if necessary", etc. So, based on the way StackExchange uses the word "moderator", it's totally possible to be an active user and not a moderator in the sense of the word that that page uses it. – user30557 Apr 6 '16 at 16:21
  • @Dawn: That's kind of true, but consider "Vote to Close", which normally takes 5 high-rep users to complete. Mods and devs only get super-votes, that instantly close. There is no way to do a normal user vote. That said, Sklivvz has used mod/employee powers when, for example, dealing with users who have been abusive to others. – Oddthinking♦ Apr 6 '16 at 17:05
  • @Dawn To be clear, 99% of any mod work is answering flags and voting, which in large part is high-rep-mod work. However as Oddthinking pointed out, our votes are heavy and we can't waive that privilege -- the reason being more trusted via election. – Sklivvz Apr 7 '16 at 0:44
  • @Sklivvz So I don't get it... are you still an elected moderator (moderator in the sense described at this page with special privileges of suspension, deletion, full profile info, etc) representing this community? I thought you were. – user30557 Apr 7 '16 at 3:16
  • I am an elected moderator and an employee. Employees do not appear in that list. – Sklivvz Apr 7 '16 at 3:57
  • @Dawn: I believe employees automatically get all of the extra privileges associated with specific site moderators. Does that resolve the confusion? – purposeful porpoise Apr 26 '16 at 16:10
  • @sumelic My confusion was whether Sklivvz is still representing this community, or whether Sklivvz is representing StackExchange, or somehow both. If both, it would be good to know how he balances the two. – user30557 Apr 26 '16 at 17:01
  • @Dawn can you be more specific? What concerns you exactly? – Sklivvz Apr 26 '16 at 20:37
  • @Sklivvz I don't have any concerns. I just don't know whether you are still representing this community, or whether you are representing StackExchange, or somehow both. – user30557 Apr 26 '16 at 20:42
  • 1
    @dawn what do you mean by "represent"? I'm a dev and a mod: they are very separate activities. In other words: when I develop the site I work as a dev; when I use the site, I am a mod. – Sklivvz Apr 26 '16 at 22:14
  • @Sklivvz Say a person is an employee, never elected by a community, but gets a diamond beside their name. My understanding would be that their moderation actions wouldn't be on behalf of a particular community's will, but rather that of StackExchange's. However, for diamond mods that are elected by a community and are not employees, their actions would be on behalf of that community that elected them, and they'd be responsible to that community. Is that understanding correct? If so, it is that sense of "represent" that I'm talking about. – user30557 Apr 26 '16 at 22:20
  • @Sklivvz So, you are still modding on this site's behalf rather than as an employee when you use your diamond mod privileges here? – user30557 Apr 26 '16 at 22:21
1

A couple of years after this question was posted, the list changed again.

  • Sklivvz is back on the list, but is marked as being "appointed 2/17/2017" (although he was one of the original mods pro tem and was reelected via a formal election in 2012). February 2nd, 2017 is the same day that it was announced on Meta SE that he would no longer be an employee.
  • Larian LeQuella doesn't appear to be a moderator anymore. He's not in the list and doesn't have a diamond.
  • 1
    Larian is on hiatus – Sklivvz Sep 20 '18 at 21:22
  • @Sklivvz Thanks for the info. Is this going to be announced in its own meta post? I was kinda frustrated I had to stumble upon this info instead of it being announced. – Laurel Sep 20 '18 at 21:28
  • I don't know, I don't think these things are usually announced. Also, I know very little beyond that "he was a little busy". – Sklivvz Sep 21 '18 at 12:57

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