A troubling pattern has been appearing in some gaming communities: moderators are being selected not based on skill, experience, or trustworthiness—but simply because they’re active or visible. While this might seem like a convenient way to fill roles quickly, it often backfires in spectacular fashion.
When moderation tools are handed to random users without any form of vetting or training, it doesn’t take long before chaos sets in. These users often lack the necessary knowledge to manage communities fairly. Instead, they create personal side rules, silence valid criticism, and turn feedback into personal attacks. What’s worse—some don’t even know how to properly use the tools they’re given. For instance, it’s not uncommon to see someone promoted to mod who doesn’t even understand how to correctly ban a user from Discord.
But the damage doesn’t stop there.
In many cases, moderators are on a path to becoming administrators or even official community managers—roles that come with far greater responsibility. These individuals represent the voice and tone of the developer or publisher they serve. Giving such power to someone without leadership skills or communication experience is not only risky—it’s reckless.
This kind of mismanagement leads to toxic environments where favoritism thrives, experienced players are pushed out, and trust in the development team erodes. Communities that could have grown into strong, supportive spaces become fragmented and combative instead.
Players are not just numbers on a screen. They’re the heart of a game’s long-term success. Assigning leadership roles should never be about who types the most in chat—it should be about who understands what it takes to lead, support, and grow a healthy, welcoming environment.
And while we won’t name names, let’s just say that some publishers really need to stop trying to “build” their community by handing power to the nearest teenager.
