Being a volunteer for REMOVED  is a rewarding experience but it doesn't come without responsibilities and difficulties.

The most important thing to know about being a REMOVED  Volunteer is that you may not want to still be one once you learn more about the position. Being a moderator is not a glamorous position and doesn't give you the right to kick or ban anyone you want.

It takes a great deal of hard work, dedication, and most of all patience to be a REMOVED  Volunteer. You'll spend a large proportion of your time answering the same questions over and over again and again, mediating disputes, providing basic tech support to members, and teaching users IRC commands.

The overall amount of time a moderator spends talking to his/her friends in REMOVED  is drastically decreased. To use an analogy, you no-longer get to play in the pool, you are the on who sits on the side watching others have all the fun.

If you're still interested and hope to be a volunteer we have an application process. To be considered for an entry volunteer position applicants must:

   1. Be at least 21 years old (Very rare exceptions may be made depending on community contributions);
   2. Be a VOP (voiced user) in REMOVED ;
   3. Have had a nick registered on REMOVED for at least 6 months;
   4. Be a registered user on the REMOVED Forums for at least 6 months;
   5. Have been active and helpful in REMOVED  and the REMOVED  forum;
   6. Have not been banned from REMOVED , REMOVED , or the REMOVED forums within last 6 months;
   7. Have a registered and active channel on REMOVED with an average of at least ten users;
   8. Have an established website or blog;
   9. Be able to read, write, and speak the English language;
  10. Realize that drinking, explicit language, and talk of illegal activities is strictly prohibited! Maturity and self-policing is implied;
  11. Be of good moral character and have no prior felony criminal convictions or prior convictions for crimes of moral turpitude;
  12. Will not disclose confidential information;
  13. Know that disrespecting users is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated;
  14. Is diplomatic, a team player, problem solver, and can work well in a hierarchical democracy;
  15. Have a willingness to follow direction from supervisors (REMOVED , REMOVED Staff, and other Ops);
  16. Have an open mind that is always welcome to learning more and likes to expand their knowledge;
  17. Have a personal interest in working voluntarily moderating in REMOVED and the REMOVED  forum;
  18. Have enough spare time to volunteer for REMOVED and the REMOVED forum;
  19. Understand that this is a privilege, not a right. Access may be revoked at any time.
  20. To apply start a New Topic and post the following:
          * Use your registered Nick(s) for the topic subject;
          * Write a minimum 500 word essay explaining why you think you'll make a good volunteer in REMOVED and why you want to be one;
          * Include your full legal name and location (City, State or Province, and Country);
          * Include a link to your web site;
          * Include a valid email address and a day and night time phone number that we may reach you at;
          * Please carefully review all the minimum requirements above and address the mandatory minimum requirements by including the following statement: "I meet and agree to all the minimum volunteer requirements and if required will be able to provide more information to show that I meet them. I certify that the statements herein are true, complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge." 

Please note: Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee a Volunteer Position. We also review your past behavior on REMOVED , your past interactions with other REMOVED Volunteers and the REMOVED staff, and the content and quality of writing on your website and in the application essay.

Applicants that are accepted as a volunteer will be required to read some policies and standards and receive some basic instruction. The management constantly evaluates the performance of all the Volunteers and may provide feedback, additional coaching or additional instruction. Volunteers are expected to listen to and apply this feedback, coaching, or instruction to their "job."

All new volunteers are subject to a thirty day probationary period. During and after the probationary period Volunteers maybe released at anytime without explanation or notice.

Submitted applications will not appear in this forum or publicly. Within 30 days of submitting an application you will receive a Private Message on this forum or on REMOVED to either ask for more information or let you know the status of your application. Please do not ask any of the REMOVED staff about the status of your application *unless* you haven't heard anything after 30 days.