Stream Etiquette Pt 4: Requesting Mod Privileges

A channel mod seems like a cool title to have right? You go on someone's page and see users with green names.

So, how do you become a mod?

Well, not by asking to be one when you've barely visited the streamer's chat before, if at all.

This is something I've seen happen (my channel included) to where I felt it should be addressed here.

Being a mod isn't just a cool title and a color shade that might inspire you to go outside and scream “HUUULK SMASH!”.

Seriously Bruce, slow down before you go and slam your fists into your neighbor's station wagon (actually, let's just not do that at all. No need for a lawsuit, broken hands, and the neighborhood questioning your sanity).

Poor jokes aside, being a mod is a sign of trust between a streamer and a viewer that earned said trust as well as a responsibility.

While a couple of friends I knew IRL were made into mods on my channel? The rest are actually viewers/fellow streamers that I met during my time streaming.

As a mod, you help maintain order in their chat as you deliver appropriate punishment to rulebreakers, use bot commands when asked, and overall make sure things in the chat are in order so the streamer can focus more on their game as well as connecting with the viewers.

I give mod status based on someone showing they could be worth giving that status by their time in my chat, how they treat others, and simply how close I consider myself to them.

It also is about trusting them to not let personal issues they have with other streamers/viewers lead to an abuse of their power, thus calling things down the middle and being a fair mod.

If anything, of all my mods, only one of them was made one after he had asked and that was due to him earning my trust overtime. The rest were made mod's without them knowing it was going to happen and without me expecting them to be around 24/7. They know that I can handle myself just fine if a toxic viewer comes in just as I know that any of them will easily step in if I need them and they're available.

So why should a streamer give you mod status just because you asked? For all said streamer may know? You would use the mod status for trolling as you timeout and ban viewers undeserving of it as well as spam commands and undertake other actions which would cause nothing but problems for the chat, so why should they trust such power to you?

Answer: They shouldn't.

And if you get angry when they don't elevate you to mod status? It only backs up their case for said denial.

Especially if you only want to be modded because others are, with you having no actual knowledge on what being a mod means other than a title and that Hulk hue to your name, compared to also smashing those who break rules and being a strong ally to the streamer as you keep the channel safe from threats.

Ok enough of the Hulk metaphors.

Its in the same context of if you want people to follow and support you in that you do your best to network and be active in the community. If you want to be a particular streamer's mod with full intent to help them maintain their chat? Stay active, establish a bond with them, and if they don't have any mod's around at the time or (if they are still very new to streaming) mods period? Help em' out, but within a boundary.

If you see others practicing poor stream etiquette in chat? Remind them that such actions are frowned upon. Show a streamer that you care about their channel.

And if they say not to police the channel? Accept it and don't push it. If they are a new channel? They'll learn the importance of someone of authority on the channel even if they felt like they didn't need them.

If a streamer does however have mods? Again, let them do their job.

This doesn't mean to not point out something that may have broke the streamers rules to a mod if you think they missed it. They'll possibly appreciate you wanting to help the chat stay in order and may even see your potential ala being eagle eyed enough to catch something they missed, but again, if they say to let them handle it? Let them.

In all? Don't expect nor request to be a mod. Nothing is wrong with helping as long as a streamer doesn't frown on you doing it and appreciates it, but as long as your name isn't green? You are by no means the law on the stream.

Just be a viewer who simply respects the rules of the chat and is a regular. Not being a mod isn't the end of the world but if a streamer DOES possibly see you as trustworthy to be a mod? Feel honored because it is a deep title as a sign of trust, but is also a responsibility you have to undertake in a fair and legitimate manner.

Just make sure you wash your stretchy purple pants in between the smash sessions ok?

Ok, no more Hulk metaphors for real this time >_<