What motivates forum moderators?

**Will.Spencer** · 02-23-2009, 12:00 PM

I don't have a shortage of people volunteering to be forum moderators, but I do seem to have a bit of trouble understanding what motivates these people.

My existing forum moderators are motivated too -- but I don't really understand why they are motivated.

Why do you think that forum moderators do what they do, for free?

**Moelman** · 02-23-2009, 06:14 PM

They just care about the community and like to help. I have been a volunteer moderator at a very large forum for several years now and I have put hundreds of hours into running websites and organizing things on the forum and I do it because I like the people I work with and love posting there.

**Chris Suyeda** · 02-25-2009, 06:08 PM

I'm going to be honest, there have been times in the past (2004?) that I only wanted to become a part of the staff community for the prestige. Not that I really had any significant power over the community, but because the user title under my name said "moderator" and not "user."

Now I'm not saying that is always the case because like Moelman, I am a moderator/administrator to several communities for the purpose of preserving it's healthy state.

**MrKielington** · 02-25-2009, 08:37 PM

Yeah, some people like to leave their "digital footprint" if they can. Some people create entire aliases or persona's that they carry with them everywhere they go. Being a high level official in a successful forum (especially if the topic is something they are passionate about)only boasts their level of importance to themselves...

arthurwill · 04-03-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

Why do you think that forum moderators do what they do, for free?

I think it's a combination of these elements - they enjoy what they are doing, the people they work with (other admins), the people they met in the community (other members) and the prestige.

I remember seeing a quotation in one of our admin's profile page - Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.

**MrKielington** · 04-08-2009, 03:50 PM

Getting sponsors to donate things to your moderators for reviews and promotional purposes doesn't hurt either. We've got plenty of sponsors for our other sites that LOVE to give their product to our mods to test. In turn, the mods write reviews (pretty much always positive) and then our members see these reviews and try it for themselves.

**MHAndy** · 06-14-2009, 09:44 PM

If they care about the forums and think it's worth their effort and time they will put in the work. Or they become fed up of all the annoying people and decide to take things into their own hands.

**Moelman** · 06-20-2009, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrKielington

Getting sponsors to donate things to your moderators for reviews and promotional purposes doesn't hurt either. We've got plenty of sponsors for our other sites that LOVE to give their product to our mods to test. In turn, the mods write reviews (pretty much always positive) and then our members see these reviews and try it for themselves.

This is similar on a forum I'm at, we sometimes get review copies for games for the mods and they'll review it and it's a great piece of unique content and they get a free game.

**Brandon Sheley** · 06-22-2009, 07:56 AM

I think with good leadership, you'll get good moderators.
I help moderate on a few forums, and I genuinely do it because I like the sites and want to help out anyway possible short of reaching into my wallet and giving cash.

**Host Pro** · 06-23-2009, 05:17 PM

Some do it because they enjoy the forum and want to help out while others maybe do it for power.

02-23-2009, 12:00 PM	#1
Will.Spencer Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 256	What motivates forum moderators? I don't have a shortage of people volunteering to be forum moderators, but I do seem to have a bit of trouble understanding what motivates these people. My existing forum moderators are motivated too -- but I don't really understand why they are motivated. Why do you think that forum moderators do what they do, for free? __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-23-2009, 06:14 PM	#2
Moelman The Webmaster Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,328	They just care about the community and like to help. I have been a volunteer moderator at a very large forum for several years now and I have put hundreds of hours into running websites and organizing things on the forum and I do it because I like the people I work with and love posting there. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - The Largest LucasArts Gaming Community on the Internet To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - tell me your comments! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Your #1 place to discuss all things World of Warcraft.

02-25-2009, 08:37 PM	#4
MrKielington Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orlando Posts: 639	Yeah, some people like to leave their "digital footprint" if they can. Some people create entire aliases or persona's that they carry with them everywhere they go. Being a high level official in a successful forum (especially if the topic is something they are passionate about)only boasts their level of importance to themselves... __________________ It's not my fault...

04-08-2009, 03:50 PM	#6
MrKielington Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orlando Posts: 639	Getting sponsors to donate things to your moderators for reviews and promotional purposes doesn't hurt either. We've got plenty of sponsors for our other sites that LOVE to give their product to our mods to test. In turn, the mods write reviews (pretty much always positive) and then our members see these reviews and try it for themselves. __________________ It's not my fault...

06-22-2009, 07:56 AM	#9
Brandon Sheley Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 1,739	I think with good leadership, you'll get good moderators. I help moderate on a few forums, and I genuinely do it because I like the sites and want to help out anyway possible short of reaching into my wallet and giving cash. __________________ How to be To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & Comparing To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. . Check out my blog , it's a DOFOLLOW blog, go comment! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Are you on Twitter? To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-25-2009, 06:08 PM	#3
Chris Suyeda Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California, USA Posts: 105	I'm going to be honest, there have been times in the past (2004?) that I only wanted to become a part of the staff community for the prestige. Not that I really had any significant power over the community, but because the user title under my name said "moderator" and not "user." Now I'm not saying that is always the case because like Moelman, I am a moderator/administrator to several communities for the purpose of preserving it's healthy state.

06-14-2009, 09:44 PM	#7
MHAndy Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 59	If they care about the forums and think it's worth their effort and time they will put in the work. Or they become fed up of all the annoying people and decide to take things into their own hands.

06-23-2009, 05:17 PM	#10
Host Pro Groupie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 31	Some do it because they enjoy the forum and want to help out while others maybe do it for power.

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