Someone recently asked the question in Forum Feedback "Why Do You Guys Waste Your Time Being Mods"? It wasn't a malicious question, I don't think. It's a real question to a not-so-obvious answer. It carries on the tradition of great occupational queries everywhere ranging from "Why did you want to diffuse bombs?" and "Don't you gag all the time as a dental assistant?" and "Do you have to be certified for Homicide Cleanup?" and "Can't you find better work than Landfill Diving?"...

I can't tell you everyone's primary reason, really, because contrary to popular belief, my mind-reading skills are limited, despite being the Alpha Sock. What I can tell you is what I observe in my fellow mods.

They have a genuine love for the community, and a desire to facilitate the sharing of all things Star Wars. Though they might be occasionally gruff and grumbly, they actually enjoy fandom in all of its diversity.

I think back to when I was asked to moderate by Pablo, about ...like....57 years ago this last spring I think. That was back before flying cars and the moon exploded. You know. The good times.

Ok I think it was actually more to the tune of 36 months ago. Anyhoo - I think back to my indecision. I knew what it would mean: I would have to forego the Dark Moose free-ranging chaos for the more responsible, more austere, more evil and narrow-minded dogmatic view of the Forum Jedi. It meant effectively going from 5 hooves to 4. It was surely, as surely as I am a typing moose, going to suck.

Or not. Bottom line is, knowing it would suck, I did it anyway, because I wanted to. God help me, I wanted to, and I'd do it ag...ok maybe not. All the same, it was a change, but then again, it was fullfilling in it's own right. It certainly was and is no ride to even remote fame or fortune. It is not privilege, it is not power, it is not promising in any respects. In fact, it's purdy freakin' thankless most of the time, and there are moderators that work harder than me with less thanks and never even point that aspect of the job out.

But you do get to help create and maintain a wonderful universe of online fandom. You get to work with some of the most knowledgeable Star Wars folks you've never met. You get to laugh out loud and sometimes behind the scenes.

I think if you were to ask most mods why they do what they do, they'd say it's because of you. We like all of you. Sure, we'll ban you to the stone age in a heartbeat, but that's just rich and manly frosting on the cake. We still like you. :0)

Ya big lug you.

Now go post and leave us alone.

DM out