AdminPD writes:
Aside from Percy, those you listed tend to remind those they are in discussion with. I don't notice them posting just to remind someone of the rules.
Gee, I agree with you that members, including moderators while in regular member garb, should only be noting
Forum Guidelines violations, not performing all but the equivalent of a citizen's arrest. Hopefully I haven't hoisted myself too high up my own petard!
Not replying to you now but to everyone, just writing some thoughts that have occurred to me as I've watched this discussion, it feels to me that a good moderator has to have some of the qualities of a good doormat, because strict moderation seems to discourage discussion and encourage a sense that moderation is biased. This happens even when there's no clear moderator bias in evidence, as shown by the countless times that moderators have been charged with bias by both sides at the same time.
So it probably works best when moderators are slow to act and quick to forgive. As others have noted, moderation is an odd kind of task that often feels thankless for long periods of time because the positive effects can't be measured, since we can't know what other outcomes might have come about had moderation taken a different approach.
But then comes that rare moment when a thread once bogged down in discord and dissension suddenly starts humming along while all sing your praises, and then it's all worthwhile!
--Percy