1. In your opinion, what do moderators do?

95% of the work of a StackExchange moderator entails cleanup of various bits of newly created site content, such as removal of spam posts, conversion of comments into permanent content where applicable, removal of non-applicable content (where someone posts a question about their cat to dba.se), with the odd bit of user-account housekeeping such as providing guidance to a user on how to merge their accounts, or how they might best get the information they are looking for. Once in a while, a moderator is required to remind site users about the Stack Exchange acceptable use policies or the Code of Conduct, and to enforce certain policies, such as "be nice", including perhaps escalation to a staff member if things get completely out of hand.

2. A diamond will be attached to everything you say and have said in the past, including questions, answers and comments. Everything you will do will be seen under a different light. How do you feel about that?

As a long time member of the dba.se site, I have spent a really large amount of time creating quality questions, providing long-lasting quality answers where I can, and generally performing what I see to be helpful caretaking actions on the site, including making nearly 2,000 quality edits to posts. I believe all my posts, including chat, have been respectful of others, and have been seen as providing value. So, in short, I believe my past questions, answers and comments are already reflective of what would be required of a site moderator.

3. In what way do you feel that being a moderator will make you more effective as opposed to simply reaching 10k or 20k rep?

Since I'm already at the highest level of privilege afforded a non-moderator user, there aren't a lot of things I can't do on the site. However, I am consistently running into things like per-day vote-caps, limits on delete-votes, things like that. As a moderator, I feel I would be better able to provide cleanup required, because some of those limits aren't applicable to moderators, and perhaps I might be able to alleviate some of the load from the other moderators, Paul and Cole. Both moderators have done an incredible, wide-ranging, and fair job of moderation, and I am consistenly in awe of the dedication they have brought to the site.

4. How would you deal with a user who produced a steady stream of valuable answers, but tends to generate a large number of arguments/flags from comments?

In my experience, it's best to be firm but nice with people who are obviously spending a significant portion of their valuable unpaid time contributing to the site. Sometimes, people just need to be informed that their behavior is unacceptable or shown how others see it. In extremely rare circumstances, individuals may need a cooling off period via a short suspension from the site. While that is not an action I would take without consulting the other moderators, it's also not something I would be afraid to do in those rare dire circumstances that may require it. The single most important aspect that I've found helpful about Stack Exchange is that in my experience it's been a welcoming, caring place to exchange ideas and knowledge. As a moderator, I would work towards maintaining and extending that experience to others, and would protect those who may need it from those who might wish to be harmful.

5. How would you handle a situation where another mod closed/deleted/etc a question that you feel shouldn't have been?

As with any other experience, the only way forward to resolution is through open and honest communication. It's not necessary to have everyone agree with me (as much as that would be nice), it's really only required that two out of the three moderators can agree on controversial actions. As the junior moderator, I would look to the existing mods to provide an example, and can honestly say there has been very vew things I've disagreed with them about in the past. So, to be frank, I don't see this a problem that would crop up often.

6. In your opinion, what is the biggest problem/challenge Database Administrators is currently facing? How would you propose to solve it?

We're currently seeing stagnant traffic levels. As mod, I would work to promote dba.se as a place to find excellent answers to database-related questions. I would work towards ensuring new database products have coverage, and aren't mocked or ridiculed by the existing userbase, who perhaps might want to disparage certain technologies that don't align with their ideals.

7. Would you be proud to tell people in other places that you're a moderator here? Ex: on your linkedin profile, or at conferences?

Being a moderator of a Stack Exchange site carries with it a certain cachet amongst peers of that community. I would be very proud to be elected moderator, and would be never shy away from being open about it. However, I wouldn't use my mod status as a badge to gain undue prominence. Being a moderator is not about helping me, it's about helping the community.

8. What is your favorite StackExchange experience or question/answer? What gave you the best engagement/entertainment? What specifically about this made it so memorable?

Since I've been involved in StackExchange for over 8 years there have been quite a few interesting posts where I've learnt a lot. However, for me, chat has been the perpetual draw - interacting in a personable, respectful manner with other members of the site remains an ongoing source of enjoyment.

9. What are some of the things Stack Exchange (and DBA.se in particular) has done well to promote diversity among askers, answerers, and moderators? What are areas they/we have done poorly? For example, many women feel they must obscure their female identify (through pseudonyms, avatars, etc) to be welcome on the site. Similar could be said for other minorities and underrepresented groups. As a moderator, how will you contribute to promoting a more welcoming environment that allows individuals to feel that their whole person is a part of the Stack Exchange community?

This question has personal meaning for me. I've personally been very aware of the issues StackOverflow has had with bigotry and hatred towards women. It sickens me that some find gender more important than knowledge and experience. The way women are treated by a small segment of the SE user population certainly worries me personally. The Meta.se events over the past 8 or 9 months have been concerning since it seemed that while StackOverflow (the company) is trying to ensure the StackExchange network remains an open, welcoming, friendly environment for all kinds of human beings, the level of vitriol seen from certain segments of the user population continues to be sickening. As a moderator of the DBA.se site, I would work towards ensuring everyone feels welcome, regardless of their gender, race, sexuality, or any other characteristic they may have. I believe harassment of any kind must not be tolerated, but should be handled with fairness, while showing grace and dignity towards those being harassed. Anyone engaging in ongoing harassment, either against a single individual, or a group of individuals, should be given a warning, and a chance to change their behavior, and if they don't they should be suspended or banned from the site in accordance with the Code of Conduct.