Well, I already 
mentioned that all-around respect would be the 
most ideal, but I think the central problem 
that this thread is trying to resolve involves 
those very few individuals who sometimes cross 
the line (either because they don't know or 
because they forget) anyway.

That is why a 'Ground Rules' FAQ has been 
suggested; it's something plain, neutral, but 
clear-cut that outlines what most people hope to 
expect from everyone who posts on this forum.

When some folks have mentioned that the FAQ 
wouldn't be enough (because there are those 
who'll just as easily ignore it before posting 
something), that's when I made a suggestion 
about moderators.

So the number one thing now is to draw a clear 
understanding between the kind of moderator I 
was proposing about and what you're 
misperceiving a moderator supposedly is.

As I tried to make it as painfully clear as 
possible, an ideal moderator in this case would 
hardly need to get involved at all.  They would 
only intervene when there is a thread which (1) 
crosses the line from debate to a flame war; or 
(2) raises a topic not appropriate for the board.

For the most part, the moderator would simply be 
referring to the 'Ground Rules' FAQ, a straight-
forward document (a Constitution, so to speak) 
that was already set down (or approved) by the 
forum owner (Yann).

If the only problem is that people don't know 
proper forum etiquette because they're not 
reading the 'Ground Rules', the moderator only 
needs to steer them to the appropriate section 
of the FAQ (which is something generally 
recognized and accepted by everyone here).  It's 
actually pretty neutral and low-key, but it 
should still be effective.

You might think that a moderator is supposed to 
be some sort of forum dictator who butts into 
various threads, interjects with some arbitary 
comments, and censors other people according 
their personal whims.  Maybe that's your 
experience with other boards, I don't think that 
has ever been any major case with Nick and his forum, Drac and her forum, or Heather 
and the JACML.  And I don't see it happening 
at all if a few moderators were in place for 
this forum.

Gosh, I am almost certain that anyone who ends 
up as a moderator would not want to do much more 
than what they're already doing as a forum 
member.  And in my view, they shouldn't and they 
don't need to.

You might think having a moderator means having 
some kind of content dictator; but I truly tend 
to think that having a moderator really just 
means having a friendly neighborhood peace-
keeper (that everyone can defer to when 
necessary) around.  And I honestly believe that 
any moderator for this forum would feel the same 
as I do.