This is good news.
Let us see now how the forum completely fails to change in the slightest as a result.
On a general level, the presence of mods would seem to be valuable only beyond a certain number of contributors and newcomers. These numbers both appear to be currently low, and everyone’s familiarity with everyone else seems to be enough to know what to expect, and to know how to deal with everyone else. Moderation from anyone in the vast majority of matters would appear to be unnecessary, except perhaps in the passive control of unwelcome newcomers - who appear to be few. I might be wrong on how much of a nuisance newcomers continue to be, as I have no involvement in dealing with them, but I know I’m not wrong with regard to regulars. Interference at that level highlights more than ever the difference between a busy body and someone who seeks only to maintain the forum at a simple minimal level.
It might be sad to admit the gradual decline of a forum over many years, but from previous conversation I know Carleas is under no delusions about how things have changed over the years. Most of the moderators haven’t been seen in a long time as it is, and the fact that any at all remain so long after any call to duty seems more like a flaw in their character to need to hold onto some semblence of authority - especially since most of their posts seem to be either being the only contributer to a 5 year old thread that was started to be nice to her, or failing to honestly acknowledge her failures in being effectual at moderating in others. Having an account apparently older than anyone else here, perhaps it’s coincidence that I’ve never seen philosophical content from this person, but I have absolutely no idea why they were appointed in the first place in any possible respect - though as ever I’m always looking for evidence to prove my observations and summations wrong. It’s just been hard to remotely respect someone who lacks every expected trait from a philosophy moderator whatsoever.
Just my opinion, obviously, but if not the internet - where else better to express it?
Only_Humean and Carleas have been easy to respect. Flannel Jesus seemed more like a joker to me from what I remember, and Dan comes across simple and straight forward - well intentioned at least, I’m on the fence. Uccisore seemed hard at the time but I’d accept him if he were still here even though I seem to remember we disagreed on plenty. Faust was easy to accept, though I don’t remember him being an actual moderator.
I neither expect my honesty, nor my “charged” attitude to merit me such a position myself, and I don’t want to make “work” out of that which I gain pleasure, despite the fact that I’d be good at it. So judge the taste of this response however you will, I have no ulterior motive here. If I hurt any feelings, I’ve judged it to be for the best.