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We can discuss this until the end of time, but it accomplishes nothing.
Here are the facts:
1) Moderators have the power and, therefore, have the most control. Regular members can b*tch and moan all they want, it's not going to change anything.
2) People have varying opinions, tolerances, etc. and will disagree on various issues. People make mistakes, therefore mods will also make mistakes on occasion.
3) Moderators are people, we disagree w/ regular members and even w/ other mods. Members will disagree w/ moderators on how the forum should be run.
4) The moderation staff cares about this forum. Most of us have been here for several years and have contributed an enormous amount of time and effort in an attempt to make this forum a better place.
5) Actions taken by moderators are, for the most part, made in an attempt to make the forum a better place. It may not always turn out that way, but that's life.
To summarize, give us a break. We try our best to do an essentially thankless job on a high-traffic public forum for free while dealing w/ an adminstrator who doesn't even dignify our questions, requests, or concerns w/ an answer half the time. The only reason why any of us are still active moderators is because we still care about the forum. Most of the other mods who left either stopped caring or grew tired of the constant bullshit we have to put up w/. I myself have had to take several breaks over the years because it started to get to me when nothing over the internet really should.