So, you've been asked to be a moderator. What now? Will you receive a badge? A secret decoder ring in the mail? Is there a top secret handshake?

BannedMe.com is all about being banned. But what about those who wield the power to ban others from websites? That's right - the Mods (or moderators if you're more informal and wear tweed and drink overpriced coffee from a shop.)

This honor, this responsibility, this task, this chore isn't bestowed on all citizens of the web. Oh no, this spot is reserved for a special few. If you've avoided being banned and have went the other direction, becoming a valued member of your online community, you may have been asked to be a moderator.

Great! Fantastic! Awesome! Wait ... what does that mean exactly?

Good question. You probably know the idea of a moderator, but maybe not what makes a good moderator. Hopefully you do have a shining example, a moderator mentor if you will, to look up to and learn from. If not, here are some things to remember and think about if you've been asked to be a moderator.

Keep it Balanced

You know the statue that represents justice - the woman holding the scales. You want to be all about that. You want to weigh both sides of any issue that might come up and make a fair and balanced decision. (And I'm not talking about the Fox News type of Fair and Balanced...)

Depending on the forum or website, there may be other moderators that you can discuss taking disciplinary action on a member with. If not, take your time and listen to both sides of the story before making a decision. A good moderator is a wise judge that listens then takes action.

Keep it Fun

Don't be a robot running around the forum warning people and handing out imaginary infractions and demerit cards. You don't want to be like that one hall monitor in high school, do you? (If you *were* that guy, maybe you shouldn't be a moderator online.)

Granted, it's a fine line you have to walk. You want to be friendly, but not be their close friend because that could cause you to be imbalanced in any issues that come up with forum members you have a close relationship with. In this case, it's best  to excuse yourself from the argument in your "official capacity" and try to stay out of it, supporting your friend from a distance.

Keep it Fair

Along with being balanced (see joke above re: Fox News - I'm a firm believer in recycling), as a moderator you'll want to be fair. And not fair in your eyes, but when other people look at your actions, you want them to say, "Yeah, so and so, he's fair. I respect him."

It's not always easy to be fair and impartial (that's a fancy way of saying fair), but as a moderator, it's going to be your job to be fair when deciding whether or not someone should be banned from a website. Don't abuse your power. With great power comes great responsibility.