Maybe I can help you out here, John. FR got huge. Jim and John Robinson were watching out for about (correct me if I'm wrong, Howlin) about 80,000 registered FReepers. Mind you, not all are posting.
JimRob and his wife decided to take a vacation last summer. He could not take a vacation with that many registered FReepers with no one here to help with some of the more obnoxious folks who come into FR from time to time.
This is when the Sidebar and Admin Moderators came into play. They are under JimRob's jurisdiction.
I think overall, they have done a great job. Oh, there are threads I wish hadn't been pulled, but nothing is perfect.
When JimRob got back from his vacation, he and John spent hours and hours redoing the bandwidth and stuff on FR (Someone with more computer literacy, help me out here). The Sidebar and Admin folks were still needed.
I don't know if you've noticed, John, but a certain late evening Admin Moderator even cracks jokes.
They are doing their best in here. And with this crowd of rowdy conservatives, they deserve our utmost thanks.
We all want this place to be wonderful.......but we have to consider how this place might look if somebody who doesn't know us drops by -- what with all the tinfoil threads; somebody has to do it......and Jim and John picked people that they valued to help them with the work -- and NO, I do NOT know who the moderators are........and I am not one!
It was just getting to the point where any time somebody had a thought roll through their mind, they put up a thread......then flame wars broke out when WE tried to police ourselves.......some people just do NOT do well in large groups, know what I mean?
Besides, I'm sure Jim and John have enough to do with running this place, defending themselves, and answering emails from people demanding to know why they can't link a thread to how to make bombs or perform abortions! :-)