There's more crossover between those two circles than you realise I think. The forums are the way they are because Badspot's always had a fairly laid back attitude to moderating the community. The no flaming rule as everyone knows is only enforced in really exceptional and excessive circumstances. Moderator behavior is dictated by how the admin wants things to be run. You need to take it up with Badspot directly not blame the moderators for doing the job they've been tasked with.
I have to take issue with the fact that you don't think I have the ability to be a moderator - I'm without a doubt the most active moderator right now and I do all the moderator things like checking all the reports you guys send every day, banning people for rule infractions and such, cleaning up after forum Self Deletes. I've even got forum pms going to my phone so I can sort out forum Self Deletes in the middle of the night. I don't think you can argue with that level of dedication.
If you're after someone who's going to be all nice to users then you're thinking of a community manager - that's not what I am.
Sorry, I really didn't mean to insinuate that you or the other moderators don't do a a good job.
I have nothing but respect for the job you do, and you in particular do the most, despite the negativity you sometimes get (which is only because you're the most prominent moderator and therefore the easiest target).
I don't think there's anything wrong with the way the forums are moderated currently.
But my opinion, while only being a member on the forums and not seeing the whole picture from every side, is that sometimes another moderator would be helpful.
Even if they only had minor abilities to move topics and keep the place clean enough until other moderators can get to the more serious actions, like banning spammers or rule-breakers.
I don't think moderators have to be nice. Sometimes the best moderators aren't nice or mean, they just work stoically and do the job. But even if they make sure the place is running as smoothly as it should, then it's not really a concern on whether some people find them to be nasty or nice.
And my point on moderators coming from friendships with Badspot was just more related to the idea that Badspot could be missing out on other members who would make useful assets to the forums, not that those he has chosen are in any way incompetent or unsuccessful.
But anyway, those are just my opinions. I don't think the forums or the community are in any dire situation where a change-up to the Boards or Moderators is necessary. I just think that maybe more moderators, obviously trusted and trained, would help ease the load and let the forums run even smoother.
I didn't mean to cause offence with what I said though. I'm really sorry if it came off that way.
