2014 Moderator Election

I'd like to continue the work I've been doing to support the site and community. This is the first site I've moderated, and it has been a learning experience. If you'll keep me around, I'll keep at it.

Why me?
I've been around since the Area 51 proposal and have seen the site grow and take shape. I'm proud of what we've built here and have enjoyed helping out. Most (or all) of my participation lately has been focused on moderation and meta. You've seen my work and you can know what to expect from me.

Why not?
Most (or all) of my participation lately has been moderation and meta. I haven't asked or answered questions recently, and have been largely quiet in chat. This type of participation is important for moderators, and I've been a bit lacking.

The Workplace is already helping people. We already have a question with 100,000 views that pops up at the top of google for even the most generic of search terms. We have a varied group of subject matter experts, and a strong community of people who want to improve the quality of our resource by contributing content, and by helping to categorize and moderate the content we already have.

I hope that any moderator will:

1. Allow content contributors to focus on contributing good content
2. Support the community in moderating content while we build up enough users with the necessary reputation
3. Make our site guidelines clearer by improving the resources new and existing users have (through the help center and FAQ on meta)

I believe I would be able to do those things. I have the most meta questions of any user, I am active in chat, and am in an advantageous time zone (UTC+9). I am active on Meta.SO as well, and actively look to improving the system at the source for the benefit of our corner of it.

While this site has graduated, I don't feel like my work is quite finished yet. So, in the spirit of honest disclosure, here is what to consider when placing your votes:

Pros:

• Over three years experience as a Stack Exchange moderator. I understand that every site is different and that things change, sometimes necessitating a change in strategy.
• Demonstrates objectivity and fairness and believes in A Theory of Moderation.
• Active commenter, which is important to communicate and teach site norms.
• Relatively active in both Meta Workplace SE and Meta Stack Overflow (the network meta for all SE).

Cons:

• Sometimes a fresh perspective is a good thing; the other candidates running are equally as qualified as I but would energetically approach this site's new challenges with a fresh perspective.
• I have a great career at an awesome company. Thus, I'm not active during US business hours and tend to be more active on evenings and weekends. I may also take on a freelance opportunity. If you're looking for someone to be around during that time, you should strongly consider one of the other great candidates.

I'm willing to serve.

Pros:

• I'm active on meta, as a reviewer, and on main (mainly answers and comments). I've been here almost two years. I know our norms.

• I'm an elected mod on Mi Yodeya (2012) and a pro-tem mod on Writers (2013). I'm fluent with the mod tools and SE practices.

• I'm active elsewhere on the network; I can bring best practices and lessons learned from other sites.

• I've been in the (lowercase-w) workplace for rather a while. Domain experience helps.

Cons:

• Electing me removes one regular 10k+ user. Mod votes are binding so I'll have to be more sparing. I want to see 10k+ users doing all they can to help moderate; not everything requires superpowers.

• I'm a moderator on two other sites and I'm active elsewhere on the network. The Workplace won't have my undivided attention. I expect to spend about the same amount of time here as I do now; I believe that's enough to do the job (and more), but the cost of doing more moderation is contributing less content. I also don't expect to spend a ton of time in our busy chat room.

If elected I'll do the best job I can. I'm just as happy to be a high-powered regular user. Either way I think we win.

I would love to become a moderator for The Workplace.

Why me

• I care about my work environment a lot and find this site to be a great place to share this passion - I never believed in 9 to 5.
• I love the community here and how we make this topic work as an SE.
• I've been busy helping others and improving quality since pretty early on, looking for potential in all posts.
• Even without moderator privileges, I've spent a lot of time, doing what I can to make this place great and now I'd like to take some of the burden off the current mods shoulders and help carry it for as long as you see fit.

Why you wouldn't want me

• I'm opinionated. I'm happy to take every point of view in a discussion, but that won't mean I'll change my opinion.
• I'm a programmer. I've heard some concern, that this SE might be too much IT-focussed, so you might think somebody with a different background is better.
• I'm German. Given the timezone other nominees are in, you might look for a better distribution so someone is around when questions on toilet hygiene make hot list.

Raw Data

• Signed up 158 days ago - visited 149 days since
• Top in 3 review queues
• Top 5 in 2 more review queues