For once I'm gonna speak my mind without cencoring myself and sparing people's feelings. If you like tactless, this is exactly what you're gonna get now.
When there isn't a fight to break up, there's often a complaint about somebody or some statement uttered somewhere. Why wasn't his post edited? Why am I being treated unfairly? Why hasn't he been warned? If someone doesn't do something, I'm outta here.
Whatever happens, more often than not, I have a fault in it. Babysitting people who can't get along with others and backing people's egos gets old quickly when you've been doing this as long as I have. There is this mechanism that kicks in after people have been around for some time, they expect humility from others while they practically demand respect. When that isn't offered, they either go head for a fistfight or they back off and say "I will never post here again".
This is a community and if you want a smooth ride, you have to know how to coexist with people you don't like, that's how it works everywhere. We will not filter the jerks for you, you have to deal with that yourself. We do encourage people who feel offended to get in touch with a moderator, but we will not be on the spot everytime, it's not physically possible. On top of that, we are understaffed. I'd like to have this place work so well that a year long absence on my part would hardly be noticed but it doesn't. Moderating is a special function, there are few people who both have the enthusiasm and the human qualities that we think are applicable. Thus we will not see to everything, things will be missed.
Another thing is that we're all human, every call I make is subjective, for anyone who expects completely just treatment, you won't find it here. I like to think that in the long run it evens out but I expect that leeway from the members.
In fact here's a brainstorm idea. If you want to discuss general forum policies, I'd be happy to outline my points if you want to get an idea of why things are being done a certain way.