Pete: Maybe you do not understand what a moderator does.
A forum moderator is like someone who chairs a meeting (or thread in this case) making sure that discussions are effective, constructive, and stay on topic.
Effective and constructive are subjective values.
mod·er·a·tor (mŏd'ə-rā'tər) Pronunciation Key
n.
One that moderates, as:
One that
arbitrates or mediates.
One who presides over a meeting, forum, or debate.
ar·bi·trate /ˈɑrbɪˌtreɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ahr-bi-treyt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, -trat·ed, -trat·ing.
–verb (used with object) 1. to decide as arbitrator or arbiter; determine.
2. to submit to arbitration;
settle by arbitration: to arbitrate a dispute. –verb (used without object) 3. to act as arbitrator or arbiter; decide between opposing or contending parties or sides.
4. to submit a matter to arbitration.
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[Origin: 1580–90; < L arbitrātus decided, judged (ptp. of arbitrārī), equiv. to arbit(e)r arbiter + -ātus -ate1]
ar·bi·trar·y /ˈɑrbɪˌtrɛri/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ahr-bi-trer-ee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation adjective, noun, plural -trar·ies.
–adjective 1. subject to individual will or judgment without restriction; contingent solely upon one's discretion: an arbitrary decision.
2. decided by a judge or arbiter rather than by a law or statute.
3.
having unlimited power; uncontrolled or unrestricted by law; despotic; tyrannical: an arbitrary government .
4.
capricious; unreasonable; unsupported: an arbitrary demand for payment .
5. Mathematics. undetermined; not assigned a specific value: an arbitrary constant
I understand the term very well.
