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Last night, when I was thinking of issues to run on, I had a few things spring to mind. So, here they are.
- Moderator Soft Power: As a moderator, I will rely mostly on the soft powers associated with the position, rather than the banhammer. In other words, I'll use the modhat and more mundane methods of keeping discussions on track. If you think this sounds like a slightly more powerful version of what sysops do anyways, you are exactly right. After all, is that not all moderators are? Regular users with a few more powers entrusted to keep discussions on track?
- Techs: If elected, I would formally propose handing over the power to make techs to the Board. If I remember correctly, techs are supposed to be chosen by the Board anyway. And it makes sense, given that the RMF is in charge of our upkeep, so really they should be in charge of techs anyway.
In essence, my plan for moderation will emphasize the symbolic function of the office (to keep things on-topic and at least moderately organized) rather than the powers (banhammer, pagelocks). If elected, my tenure of moderation will be characterized by minimal bans and maximum diplomacy.
Addendum: I also intend to stick to RationalWiki:Community_standards as a guide for moderation. We have these rules for a reason, and moderators need to enforce them.
Thank you, and best of luck to the competition.