1. How would you deal with a user who produced a steady stream of valuable answers, but tends to generate a large number of arguments/flags from comments?

While valuable participation is always welcome, we should prioritise a safe environment for everyone. Clever answers never compensate for harmful behaviour. Suspending the comment privilege may be impractical or too severe, so I would first reach out to them and discuss community guidelines and interaction with other users together. I would also remove inappropriate comments, although I'd prefer they did so on their initiative.

2. How would you handle a situation where another mod closed/deleted/etc. a question that you feel shouldn’t have been?

I would contact them privately and discuss our reasons. If mine is a new viewpoint on the issue, we can undertake a different action; otherwise, I will improve my sense of judgement. Either way, everyone is happy.

3. This is the "inverse" of question 2 - How would you handle a situation where another mod did not close/delete/etc a question that you feel should have been, and they answered it too?

I would contact them out of pure curiosity rather than a will to discuss our opinions. I'd ask how can we improve that question since closing isn't the best option. An open question is better than a closed one, as it continues to be a discussion ground for other users.

4. Some too-young-to-use-the-site users come and ask questions here. Some very new developers come and ask questions here. Those too-young users are not allowed to use the site and should be reported (with their account deleted by the CMs), and very new developers ask off-topic questions that need to be closed. They're often desperate and need help. How do you feel about having those folks' dreams blocked because of the actions you need to take?

I'd feel sorry for them since they may be in a time of need. We all have been there. But as a moderator, I must make sure the overall quality of the website content is not compromised. Should accounts be deleted and questions be closed, be it. But, be sure we'd always give appropriate feedback to those users so that they can improve and become valuable members, rather than just quietly applying mod actions.

5. In your opinion, what do moderators do?

Well, they... moderate, of course. They show newcomers around the website, keep questions clean and on topic, moderate chat rooms, and deal with tricky conflicts between users. They make sure everyone has to deal with their gamedev issues only. And, they are users too, answering questions and commenting and having fun in chats and on Meta!

6. A diamond will be attached to everything you say and have said in the past, including questions, answers and comments. Everything you will do will be seen under a different light. How do you feel about that?

I generally take my time before posting so that I can best deliver my message and be friendly at the same time; as a mod, I would do the same. All in all, I'd be just a regular user (plus, some other responsibilities) who posts questions and answers. I may be right, I may be wrong, and I'm ok with that.

7. In what way do you feel that being a moderator will make you more effective as opposed to simply reaching 10k or 20k rep?

As a moderator, I could have access to more tools to help the community. More importantly, I can easily get in touch with other moderators and discuss with them how to improve and what to do next for the community.

1. How would you deal with a user who produced a steady stream of valuable answers, but tends to generate a large number of arguments/flags from comments?

I would handle each flag on a case-by-case basis. If the comment follows the ToS, I would take no action. It is not a moderator's right to censor the community. If the comment violated the ToS, I would remove the comment, and issue a warning.

2. How would you handle a situation where another mod closed/deleted/etc. a question that you feel shouldn’t have been?

I would discuss the closure with the moderator in chat so we could get on the same page. Then we can take appropriate action together once we determine what that is.

3. This is the "inverse" of question 2 - How would you handle a situation where another mod did not close/delete/etc a question that you feel should have been, and they answered it too?

Same answer as above. There is not a catch-all. These should be handled on case-by-case bases.

4. Some too-young-to-use-the-site users come and ask questions here. Some very new developers come and ask questions here. Those too-young users are not allowed to use the site and should be reported (with their account deleted by the CMs), and very new developers ask off-topic questions that need to be closed. They're often desperate and need help. How do you feel about having those folks' dreams blocked because of the actions you need to take?

I feel fine. There is a reason for it. I am not crushing their dreams. This is a bit dramatic 😋 If it is really their dream, then they will be just fine.

5. In your opinion, what do moderators do?

Moderators are responsible for maintaining and raising the quality of the site.

6. A diamond will be attached to everything you say and have said in the past, including questions, answers and comments. Everything you will do will be seen under a different light. How do you feel about that?

Excellent. I like it 😈

7. In what way do you feel that being a moderator will make you more effective as opposed to simply reaching 10k or 20k rep?

They are two different things. Apples and Oranges. While both have privileges to help the community, a moderator is obligated to help the community.

1. How would you deal with a user who produced a steady stream of valuable answers, but tends to generate a large number of arguments/flags from comments?

I don't know if mods have this power, but the best way to deal with it would be to remove their commenting privileges. Absent this power, I would try to engage them in a private discussion about how their behavior is damaging to the site. This discussion would include an acknowledgement of the value of their answering contributions.

2. How would you handle a situation where another mod closed/deleted/etc. a question that you feel shouldn’t have been?

I would discuss the question in question (hahaha) with the mod privately to see what their reasoning is, explain mine, then determine if it's best left closed or not.

3. This is the "inverse" of question 2 - How would you handle a situation where another mod did not close/delete/etc a question that you feel should have been, and they answered it too?

Similar approach to Question 2: I would approach the mod privately and discuss it with them. Learn their reasoning, explain mine, then determine if anything futher needs to be done.

4. Some too-young-to-use-the-site users come and ask questions here. Some very new developers come and ask questions here. Those too-young users are not allowed to use the site and should be reported (with their account deleted by the CMs), and very new developers ask off-topic questions that need to be closed. They're often desperate and need help. How do you feel about having those folks' dreams blocked because of the actions you need to take?

As a mod, my first concern is for the quality of the site. Stack has spent considerable time tuning the site methodology to help people, since that is good for business. Lots of good help means lots of return visitors.

As for these young and new-to-development users, there are other places for them to get help with their issues. Many isses people have when they are brand new aren't suited to Stack's Q&A methodology as they're not even sure how to ask their questions.

5. In your opinion, what do moderators do?

1. Keep the site functioning smoothly from a usage standpoint

2. Resolve conflicts between users

3. Guide the philosophies that underpin each Stack site as they all have different cultures

4. Help with chatroom moderation

6. A diamond will be attached to everything you say and have said in the past, including questions, answers and comments. Everything you will do will be seen under a different light. How do you feel about that?

I'm confident that there is little I have said either in chat or on the Q&A site that would be questionable with a diamond by it. If such things appear that would need to be removed, I don't have a problem with that. As a publicly visible developer on a game with 4 million monthly active users, I'm accustomed to my public comments being intensely scrutinized.

7. In what way do you feel that being a moderator will make you more effective as opposed to simply reaching 10k or 20k rep?

Having easy access to private discussion with other mods will make it easier to participate in making decisions that affect our users.