Whether you are a global moderator or the moderator of just one section, most of your abilities are the same.  The global moderator only differs in that he or she can moderate the entire forum, which allows threads to be moved between sections.



Moderator powers:

Lock Thread

Move Thread (global mod only, unless there are multiple sections in your area)

Sticky Thread

Delete Thread (not possible in Retardo Land)



Modify Post (not possible in Retardo Land)

Delete Post

Split Post (in three flavors: Only split this post, Split topic after and including this post, and Select posts to split)



The lock and sticky commands operate as a simple toggle.



The global moderator is capable of editing Retardo Land posts by temporarily moving them to a different section, but I don't recommend that unless circumstances are extreme (doxing, zippocat, etc.).



Things you should know about splitting threads:

Posts split from a sticky or locked thread will also be sticky or locked.  Adjust as needed after the move.

There is a character limit for thread titles.  This limit is not properly enforced by the software when splitting a thread, and it will automatically add Re: to the front of a split even if the title is too long to allow it.  If you do not rename it a shorter title first, the split posts will be lost and you will have to contact the administrator (Pescado) to retrieve them.

When you select posts to split, you can go back to every page of the thread to choose.  They are numbered in reverse order, which is irritating but simple enough to figure out.  However, when choosing another page, the software will often break the title if it contains any quotation marks or apostrophes, replacing the mark and everything following with a series of slashes: /////////  Therefore, if you are splitting multiple posts from multiple pages of a thread, you should either create the new title without quotes or contractions, or change the title after the split.



When to moderate:

Obviously stupid things should go to Retardo Land, or split them from useful threads and then lock them if you don't have the power to move them out of your section.  Topical or important posts, like the monthly lot-building challenge, should be stickied.  Remember to unsticky them when they are no longer relevant.  Try not to delete anything without good reason; things deleted can never be recovered.  Deleting is most useful when cleaning away "Thanks, This is Great" posts and accumulated requests in the WCIF threads (both should be done on a regular basis).



Global moderation hotspots: You'll want to pay special attention to the "Pudding Factory" and "Facts & Strategery" subforums, as those two sections get a lot of posts that would be more appropriate elsewhere.  Further, the Sims Store updates on the first of every month, and thus the Sims Store thread gets a lot of download links that need to be split off to the downloads thread.  Expect knightguy to contact you on a regular basis with updated links for the first post of the downloads thread, which you will need to edit in yourself.



Administrator powers (Pescado only):

add or remove Senator status

add or remove Retardolander status

change and lock avatar or user name

add, change, or remove custom title (although the global moderator can choose his or her own custom title)

create new forum sections

etc.  (I'm sure there are lots of things he does that the rest of us never see)



Souping:

If you have been a moderator for a while and you are getting sick of the job, there are several ways to quit.  Some are better than others.



If you are BlueSoup, you throw a giant hissy fit, delete huge sections of the forum during your temper tantrum, and then create a "goodbye forever" thread.  Things won't be the same when you come back a week later, and people will still remember what a completely worthless, irresponsible douchebag you are years later.  Don't be a BlueSoup.  BlueSoups SUCK.



The TwoJeffs method is to get pissed off and quietly leave when one of your friends at MATY gets butthurt.  There should be ample opportunities for this at MATY, if you befriend at least one F.



Venusy's soupage is unquestionably effective: die.  I imagine that it is rather inconvenient, though.  He has successfully been dead for around a year and a half as of this writing, which is quite an accomplishment considering that Internet Detectives still occasionally look for any male on the net posting as "Venusy".



Syberspunks have computer problems, start posting far less often, and eventually just disappear.  So far, this has worked very well for Syberspunk; he is missed, but he will probably be welcomed back if he should return.



BastDawns are boring: send Pescado a PM with your 2 weeks notice, then stop signing in when the date arrives.  BastDawn has failed us!  You must not!



Lord Darcys and Rhaydens have not yet souped (although Lord Darcy rarely adds to her section these days), but this text can always be updated by another mo