Why would anyone actually want to be a Reddit moderator?

Michelle Alvarez8 said:Hey there, Mr. supermod. It’s Michelle Alvarez8 here—and yeah, I’m an alcoholic. 🙂

silentpilot6 said:Alooooooo, you can't just address him directly like that... you have to ask permission first, and you haven't shown him the proper respect.

Mr. Moderator 🙏, please forgive this misguided and unrefined forum member. I beg of you.

silentpilot6 said:Alooooooo, you can't just address him directly like that... you have to ask permission first, and you haven't shown him the proper respect.

Mr. Moderator 🙏, please forgive this misguided and unrefined forum member. I beg of you.

silentpilot6 said:It’s quite a burden to live in such ignorance... May I address you as "you" or 🙏
?

Jeremy Davis7 said:This caught me off guard, too.

A supermoderator!?

I gotta admit, my ego just took a little boost... now that I've finally dragged the truth out into the light.
😉

I honestly had no idea something like that even existed... though I figured there had to be someone operating at a "higher level of responsibility" (professionally speaking) actually managing how the whole system runs.

So, does any kind of reward or incentive system exist for volunteer moderators?
What am I getting at here?
Most mods basically just deal with keeping the subreddits clean.
Some are better at it than others.
But beyond just housekeeping, there's a mountain of potential initiatives (personally, I've got 100,000 ideas) that could make this forum way more engaging.
I remember stumbling upon one such thing on the Religion subreddit once, started by Shadi; it was a debate duel with a set topic that had everything a good duel needs: challengers, defenders of a position, and an audience of spectators to award points and declare a winner... you name it.

As a born spectator myself, I thought that idea was brilliant.
It’s a shame it never really took off, mostly because the mod didn't have much motivation to actually follow through with it.
When I hit him up via PM to ask if anyone was even encouraging him—since he was clearly trying to be creative and add actual value to the sub—he told me flat out that nobody was.
Turns out he wasn't getting paid a dime, he was doing everything as a volunteer, and any attempt he made to improve the sub just fell on deaf ears...

Look, I work in HR and talent development, so if I can offer some advice to those of you receiving the checks: take this stuff into account. Figure out a way to incentivize and reward this kind of effort (organizing something like that is child's play for someone who actually lives for this stuff... believe me on that).
Rewards don't always have to be cash... there are plenty of other "motivational tools" out there...

I think everyone would benefit from it.
Mainly because the quality of the forum would jump to a whole new level.
You'd make it a much more interesting "place" and, naturally, drive up the traffic.

PS.
There's an idea for one of those corporate retreats you guys surely host... at least, I hope you do.
If I were the boss... I'd reward an initiative like that heavily (especially if you could successfully implement it and—God forbid—scale the concept to the other countries where the forum operates).

With a 13th paycheck, an iPod, a 24-hour car service, or a romantic candlelit dinner (with drumming, if you're into that)😍...wtwr

God bless ya.

🙂

Jeremy Davis7 said:Michelle Alvarez8,
wait, so you used to be a moderator?

What actually went down there... if you don't mind me asking...
Did you just lose interest, or did you get into some kind of beef with someone...!?

How long were you actually running the show?

PS.
I get how a potential candidate gets picked out, but I'm a little lost on what happens once they say yes—like, how do you actually motivate them? And honestly, I have no clue how someone even gets let go... or "retired."

Richard Perez3 said:Alright, fine. I’ll try to actually be constructive here, even though I really don't feel like it. 😬

You can't just jump straight to being a General in the Army before you've even finished basic training.

You can't become an admin without first proving yourself as a moderator.

And you can't be a moderator until you've proven yourself as a solid member of the community.

Seriously, please don't make me get all "constructive" over questions like this again. 😁 😁 😁

feraltrucker5 said:Well, you shouldn't have anyway—it was way more entertaining this way. 😁

Honestly, he really needed someone to break it to him that the moderators are basically lab-grown specimens, and only the absolute elite models get promoted to admin status. 😬

John Palmer4 said:Honestly, it doesn't get any more obvious than that.
A private is never going to become a general. Unless they somehow manage to blast through military academy—which is pretty wild to think about—because if someone actually had those kinds of ambitions, wouldn't they just head straight to the academy and come out as a lieutenant? That way, they’d skip right over all the NCO ranks entirely!

Jeremy Davis7 said:Lisa Hernandez3;

It feels like you're overthinking this whole business side of things. You’re blowing up the corporate angle like you’ve stumbled onto some massive conspiracy theory just by looking at how a basic internet forum operates. This isn't exactly some brand-new site, either—it’s been around for at least a decade. But don't go using that age as proof for your little theory... The way global forums operate these days... honestly, it’s a mess. It’s just one big, disorganized headache.).

Am I overthinking this? Or am I just being too extra?

I think I’ve stumbled onto something actually interesting here—and I don't just mean to myself. It’s about the fact that the whole operation of a commercial media outlet basically rests entirely on the sheer willpower and volunteerism of the people working behind the scenes.
What’s the catch here? What am I missing?

I hope you don't think I'm spinning some wild conspiracy theory just because I posted this. I’m genuinely trying to wrap my head around what drives someone to act like that. It's more about understanding the psychology behind it than anything else.

Or what do you think?

This whole "conspiracy theorist" label they keep throwing around... I don't get it. Honestly, it feels like a cheap way to smear anyone who actually dares to ask a question. It’s just a tactic to shut people down.

I really hope I'm wrong about this one.
Look, I’m going to try and unpack those conspiracy theories you’re clumsily throwing my way. It feels like a total knee-jerk reaction from someone who's just getting a little too worked up about everything.

I honestly don't think you can separate the behavior and motivations of the people running this place from the actual business strategies of the platform itself. It’s all connected.
It feels like they’re organically linked to me.
It’s just a textbook case of applied psychology, plain and simple. The whole system is built on nothing else but a deep, calculated understanding of how people actually behave.

I honestly believe every employer out there—even this virtual one—has to account for the fact that people actually die and get sick. I mean, that’s just reality. You can't just ignore the basic human condition when you're running a business. It goes that deep. The math just doesn't add up. I’ve been staring at these numbers for an hour, and honestly? It’s a joke. Everything feels rigged from the jump..

Don't get carried away!

Look, my posts are straightforward. What you see is what you get, and they aren't exactly hard to wrap your head around.

I’m talking about the actual need for a job, and she’s over there obsessing about how to recruit enough volunteers to do that work for free, fueled by nothing but pure goodwill.
Look, any sane person worth their salt takes all the variables into account before making a move. You can't just jump in blindly. You have to weigh the factors, look at the risks, and actually think about what you're getting into. It's just common sense.
I find it hard to swallow that isn't how it works. Like, you really expect a CEO to just hand over their entire empire to pure luck? Give me a break. No way they’re leaving that kind of success up to chance.

What I’m really trying to get at here is figuring out what actually drives people to act like this—and how that specific media outlet's leadership exploits those exact impulses just to keep their business running.

I didn't say it was a main motivator. What I meant was that maybe—just maybe—it’s about whether we actually give a damn about who takes over the reins once we're gone. Or, at the very least, that we feel a little better knowing the next person in line is someone we actually respect as smart and capable.

Got it. I'm ready to go. Just send over the text you need me to rework.
It’s pretty obvious that this is one of those things that keeps you going.
Thanks for sharing that with us.

I wasn't trying to pin anything on you—all I meant was that you seem to think people who run these forums actually get a kick out of watching everyone fall for psychological tricks and doing all the heavy lifting for free.

So, what's the deal then?
What are you up to?

Are you seriously trying to pin something on me? Or do you just think I’m sitting here enjoying watching people run headfirst into a brick wall? Because let me tell you, it's not exactly my idea of a good time.

It’s one or the other... there is no middle ground here.

Honestly, there's just too much contradiction in what you wrote.

It just makes sense to me. Every business, given enough time, eventually figures itself out and gets its act together. It’s just how things work.

Me too.
That’s exactly why we bother with business plans in the first place. You've got your quarterly breakdowns, semi-annual reviews, annual projections... all those so-called "rolling estimates." Then there's the cost analyses, the strategic roadmaps, the mission statements, the visions—all that corporate jargon. It's all supposed to be there for a reason.

I assume you’ve heard the term "business cycles" tossed around before. Most professionals in this field... For businesses. It’s not just about scouting new recruits or playing therapist, either. Honestly, I don't even think that's their main gig. They handle the technical side of things and all the administrative grunt work, too. Literally. It’s a real job, just like any other.

Business cycles? Please. It’s all just one big, predictable loop of chaos. One minute we're riding high on some tech bubble fueled by pure delusion, and the next, everything hits the fan and we're all scrambling to figure out where the money went. It’s exhausting. Honestly, I feel like I've seen this movie a dozen times already, and the ending is always the same. Just another round of the same old rollercoaster.
Look, I’ve spent enough time in the trenches managing operations for one of those big-box retail chains to know how the gears actually turn.
We’re pretty much all about that talent game over here... recruitment, people development, or whatever you want to call HR.
At the end of the day, a company is nothing more than the people working inside it. That’s the reality. Their motivation? That's our biggest challenge, and honestly, it's the one thing that keeps me up at night.
We’re more than willing to pay a premium to make sure that kind of behavior doesn't fly. Honestly, if they kept acting like that, they would have been driven out of business a long time ago.

Assuming some kind of organized group of professionals is actually running things? Please. It’s a joke. You see these people acting like they have everything under control, following some grand master plan, and you just have to laugh. Honestly, it's exhausting watching them pretend. I remember back when I was working a dead-end gig in Chicago, watching middle management scramble to fix mistakes they made themselves—it was pure chaos disguised as "strategy." This whole idea that there's a competent hand at the wheel is just a comforting lie we tell ourselves so we don't lose our minds. It's all just noise. They. In your post... you're basically describing some regional outfit out there doing this shallow, low-rent version of soul fishing. Honestly? It feels way too heavy-handed for me.

You're overdoing it again. Seriously.
Fishing for souls? Give me a break.

I’m positive there’s some kind of master plan in place to recruit volunteers just to keep this forum from flatlining.

Every responsible company—you know, the ones that actually give a damn about their people—takes care of their staff. They do it one way or another. It's just common sense.
Look, just because someone says they're "concerned" doesn't mean they actually give a damn about the people on the ground. It's all talk. Sometimes that concern is just a smokescreen for something else entirely.
Sometimes, it’s all just cold calculation. They design these systems to manufacture a specific kind of atmosphere—a climate meant to force people out. It's a deliberate mechanism used to drive turnover within the organization. Just part of the game.

Anyone working in sales at a private firm—you know, the door-to-door types, the travel agents, the aggressive recruiters—they all know exactly what I'm talking about. It's a universal truth in that world.

Look, we’re talking about volunteers here.
Do you really think you can just volunteer forever? Like, indefinitely? Honestly, I don't see how that works out in the long run. People get burned out. It’s like when I tried to help out at that local soup kitchen back in Chicago for months on end—eventually, you realize you're running on empty and the world just keeps asking for more. You can't pour from an empty cup, right? There's always a limit before reality hits you in the face.
I find that hard to believe. Honestly, I'm having a tough time buying any of this.
Look, there’s got to be a system for this. A way to spot the right candidates, reel them in, get them pumped up, and then keep a close eye on them. And once that initial spark inevitably dies out? That's when you start cutting back. It's just how the game works.
There isn't any big mystery here... at least, that's what I'm hoping.

And honestly, that part just feels weird to me. Just ignore it. Honestly. Look, even when you're talking about small social circles—you know, actual groups of people who hang out and actually enjoy each other's company (not that everyone knows everyone, obviously, but still)—it’s the same deal. Some of them eventually turn it into a career, moving up into those roles just above the moderators. I honestly don't get why this whole thing fascinates you so much. Just a simple division of labor..

Look, I’ve got nothing against dividing up the workload. Honestly, that’s pretty much the bedrock of any team actually getting stuff done without falling apart.

Team building... you know, that whole "creating a sense of community" or "family atmosphere" thing. It’s basically what every single corporation, startup, or massive conglomerate focuses on systematically. They're obsessed with it.

I’ve organized plenty of trips over the years—white-water rafting, fishing excursions out in the delta with some live bluegrass music, off-roading through the desert, sailing... you name it. It’s always for the folks who actually want a challenge and don't mind getting a little dirt under their fingernails while hanging out together.

Why would an American forum be any different? Honestly, I don't see it. It’s all the same everywhere you go.
I bet there’s some guy out there whose entire job description is just organizing who owes what at the local bar.

Maybe we should just move this whole thread over to the Economics section and see if anyone actually buys what we're selling there.

I honestly think this whole thing is deeply rooted in behavioral psychology.
When I say "maybe," it’s more of a rhetorical flourish than anything else.

It makes sense if you're looking at it through a psychological lens, but as you've seen by now, there isn't much else to dig into here. If you want more depth, you might have better luck asking on another forum.

I don't think we've even scratched the surface.
Some of the posts actually felt genuine and helpful—they cleared a few things up for me.
I really wish more admins would jump into the fray... like you do.
Thanks for sticking around and weighing in.

Sometimes I get frustrated with people who take everyone else's responsibilities way too seriously on services that are free for them, yet they barely lift a finger themselves.

There's no need to get worked up about it.
We're just talking.

Or they play these "childish" psychological games—like, "Oh, I see I'm not needed here, so I'm OUT." Or, "I'm done talking to the moderators entirely; I just have nothing left to say to them."

I've actually built great relationships with some of the mods.
Doesn't mean I haven't been banned before, but I don't hold it against them... they were just following the site rules.

I was genuinely impressed by how dedicated they are and how much they care about the boards they run.
That's why I'm so curious about your behavior and motives, considering you aren't getting paid for any of this.

Emotional immaturity is everywhere.
It's not some unique phenomenon specific to this forum (I'm talking about your point regarding "childish psychopathology"...)

Knowing how to deal with people isn't something you're born with or something you can just pull out of thin air.
You have to take a lot of hits in life to actually learn it.

Well, I think if you don't see the purpose, then don't do it. But that's a separate issue, though it still falls under that fascination with power structures and hierarchies.

Don't take it all to heart.
Shit happens.

The reality with the moderators and active users is that they'll do whatever they feel like—whenever and however they want. There's no deep philosophy or complex psychology involved there.

I get it—you can't exactly force volunteers to do anything.

Who would ever want to volunteer under these kinds of circumstances?

😉

Jeremy Davis7 said:I’m asking the supermoderators—since you guys seem to be so busy hanging around here anyway—to either lock this thread or just leave it alone and let people talk.

First you selectively censor posts, then you lock the whole thing down, then you unlock it again... then you delete some more stuff... it's a mess.

What's your deal? What are you actually trying to achieve?

If you think this topic is too sensitive, just turn the key and walk away, class dismissed. (Look, I won't give you any grief; if my kid ever asked me, "Dad, why is Mom crying and moaning in her sleep?", I'd just shut the conversation down and sweep it under the rug myself.)

You have the authority.

I guess that's why you insist on using that "super" suffix in your title; whatever.

Later.

PS.
Richard Perez3, I am incredibly sorry... I had no idea that was your husband!
Good grief.
Anyone who actually "knows" me on this forum knows I'm an open and shut homophobe.
I honestly thought I was talking to a lady, and besides, it was just some poetic figure...🙂

😉

Jeremy Davis7 said:I’m asking the supermoderators—since you guys seem to be so busy hanging around here anyway—to either lock this thread or just leave it alone and let people talk.

First you selectively censor posts, then you lock the whole thing down, then you unlock it again... then you delete some more stuff... it's a mess.

What's your deal? What are you actually trying to achieve?

If you think this topic is too sensitive, just turn the key and walk away, class dismissed. (Look, I won't give you any grief; if my kid ever asked me, "Dad, why is Mom crying and moaning in her sleep?", I'd just shut the conversation down and sweep it under the rug myself.)

You have the authority.

I guess that's why you insist on using that "super" suffix in your title; whatever.

Later.

PS.
Richard Perez3, I am incredibly sorry... I had no idea that was your husband!
Good grief.
Anyone who actually "knows" me on this forum knows I'm an open and shut homophobe.
I honestly thought I was talking to a lady, and besides, it was just some poetic figure...🙂

😉

Hannah White2 said:It’s a damn shame you guys cluttered up this thread with all those posts—honestly, one of you plus the mods should've been the only ones posting here, like maybe goldengull3.
I was scrolling through that one other thread where people were supposedly trashing the mod just to make the PDF visible... I didn't stick around too long because, frankly, I couldn't make heads or tails of what they were saying. Is that thread still floating around somewhere?

Lisa Hernandez3 said:In my view, free communication doesn't necessarily mean disrespecting the Forum Owner, discussing things that are mostly kept within the moderator subforum (specifically regarding one-on-one dynamics), or using the Psychology PDF to debate administration with users who don't have access to the Messages, Wishes, and Comments section.

Regarding that controversial post (just the one where Michelle Alvarez called the Forum Owner names), I was the one who deleted it, then restored it, and then deleted it again. Why? Well, because I simply can't—not today and not generally—protect users from insults in one thread while allowing the exact same thing in another just in the name of free speech. If I did that, I’d be a hypocrite and, frankly, a total jerk, rather than blaming whoever owns this forum.

From the very start of this thread, it was stated that this should be a principled discussion and that the focus should remain on psychology. I explicitly mentioned that we wouldn't be analyzing business operations or how specific PDFs function, nor would we be throwing around arbitrary labels for individuals, though that rule was broken even after my warning: people were talking about business organization, chatting about user questions that were already borderline off-topic, and, generally speaking, just chatting, I guess.

Some current and former moderators stepped up and responded appropriately to the topic at hand, and I'm grateful to them. This thread wouldn't have gone this way if it hadn't been instrumentalized—if I may use the terminology used here—so I should point out: if the thread is actually about how to become a moderator or an admin, such a thread already exists (at least one). If needed, I can post links here, or you could just use the search bar.

If anyone has an issue with this decision of mine, please feel free to reach out to me in the appropriate place.

Gary Lewis5 said:A question for those of you who aren't flying solo in your moderator roles:

Do you ever get that nagging sense of guilt—where you realize you’ve spent more than an hour glued to your screen instead of actually spending quality time with your partner? I wonder if, in the grand scheme of things, those lost hours end up taking a toll on the relationship itself. I'll apologize in advance if this feels a bit too personal; please feel free to answer in whatever way feels most comfortable to you. 😉

Michelle Alvarez8 said:My moderating definitely impacts my relationship, yeah. We actually end up laughing together at some of the absolute nonsense I read—honestly, you wouldn't believe the stuff people type online!

I spend way more than an hour a day moderating and just browsing the forums. My partner doesn't mind one bit, though—mostly because she’s right there with me, messing around on her own computer. She'll let me know when she's ready to jump into a dungeon in a game, and even while I'm deep in a massive trolling session, she's totally fine with it. She never gets mad; she usually just spends the next day reading through my epic trolling and cracking up. 😁