I get asked this question a lot. Many people wonder, why would you put so much time and effort into a volunteer role that often opens you up to abuse from online users?

So when it comes to moderator needs, I'd say that two things are important. The first is adequate tools to do our job properly - moderation is hard enough without technical hurdles. The second is the occasional thank you. It means so much when the users recognize how hard we are working and acknowledge our efforts.

Well, moderators are volunteers, so we're not doing it for the money, but a little acknowledgment can go a long way.

The fact is that I love RPAN. I love interacting with the streamers and the commenters. I love that RPAN has given people the ability to open a window into a portion of their lives, celebrate the beauty of the mundane, and forge genuine connections in a time when people feel disconnected. All of these things are incredibly precious to me, and if I... See more