In connection with the moderator elections, we are holding a Q&A thread for the candidates. Questions collected [from an earlier thread](http://meta.ell.stackexchange.com/questions/2562/2015-moderator-election-qa-question-collection) have been compiled into this one, which shall now serve as the space for the candidates to provide their answers. There were some concerns about hosting this with almost no questions, but then additional questions were supplied. Some questions have been split into multiple questions for the purposes here. We have 8 questions in total. As a candidate, your job is simple - post an answer to this question, citing each of the questions and then post your answer to each question given in that same answer. For your convenience, I will include all of the questions in quote format with a break in between each, suitable for you to insert your answers. Just [copy the whole thing after the first set of three dashes](http://meta.serverfault.com/revisions/89dc7c79-552a-44bf-91da-6ee40c8cad8b/view-source). Oh, and please consider putting your name at the top of your post so that readers will know who you are before they finish reading everything you have written. Once all the answers have been compiled, this will serve as a transcript for voters to view the thoughts of their candidates, and will be appropriately linked in the Election page. Good luck to all of the candidates! --- >1. We had an [election last year](http://serverfault.com/election/4) that ended with some [parting and drama.](http://meta.serverfault.com/questions/8071/some-parting-thoughts-and-apologies-for-the-drama) And I can't help but think of [Ryan Ries`](http://meta.serverfault.com/a/8075/218888) comment: "I don't know why anyone would want to be a moderator, now." Let's be honest here, things [went wrong](http://meta.serverfault.com/questions/8054/abrupt-change-in-moderation-staff) after the last election. Communication was a major issue, and there were some divisive opinions on what should or shouldn't have been done. **What do you think went wrong last year, and what would you do differently if put in the same situation?** >2. Last year, [we voted on someone who was running on a platform](http://serverfault.com/election/4#post-645712) of `extreme, desperate measures`, we voted for someone who put up the following campaign slogan: "A vote for me is a vote to put my cruelty and viciousness to work for the site, against the horde of stupidity that threatens it." And while it definitely wasn't a landslide victory, talks of stupidity dealt with through cruelty did garner enough votes to win a second place. **Do you think the extreme rhetoric used last year is still viable today? Would you consider picking up some of the [work that helped win last year](http://meta.serverfault.com/questions/7880/what-bad-tags-in-need-of-burnination-do-we-still-have-hanging-around), and if so will you take a different approach?** >3. Do you agree with the statement "[ServerFault needs professional-quality questions, not just questions from professionals](http://meta.serverfault.com/q/6701/1375)"? What does the word "professional" mean to you, within the context of the phrase, "professional-quality questions"? Do you believe that in addition to professional-quality questions, ServerFault also needs professional-quality answers and comments? What are "professional quality questions" to you? >4. I'm drunk/not reading carefully/don't hang out here much. Why should I vote for you instead of some other person? >5. What problems does Server Fault face that are *unique* to Server Fault? >6. Briefly explain the role of a moderator, and what you plan to do to fill that role. What is awesome about your approach? >7. 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? >8. How would you handle a situation where another mod closed/deleted/etc a question that you feel shouldn't have been?