Folks there is no reason to be defensive here. I was not criticizing Believer or his decision. If it takes two months to find a decent moderator, then that is a problem in itself. Sorry, but I just do not believe there is that much to it. There are dozens of folks around here who are helpful, respectful, log in daily and would love a shot at it. Some have even openly lobbied for the job. I bet, though I obviously do not know, that Jason gets a bunch of emails from folks asking to be moderators. I did it once about three years ago (this was the first internet forum board I had ever participated in, and thought moderating would be something I would have enjoyed, since that time it became obvious that I was not moderator material). How can it take 2 months to decide on something like this. An unpaid volunteer, so we are told, who comes in and makes sure the rules are followed. Someone who is temperate and fair. Dozens of folks here can do that. If they don't work out, pull the plug on them, simple enough.
You don't need an openly opinionated person like myself, or like most of the folks that would even reply or participate in a thread like this, most of those kind of folks are not moderator material.
As to what moderators who have not posted in years do, or do not do in the "background", I don't know for sure but it is clear they are not moderating the forums very often yourself included, since that burden is falling on two or three folks, including Jason, to handle the entire site. IF you and the others I mentioned are actively moderating the forums then you guys are "shadow" moderating and letting the folks who do it openly take all the "heat" and that is not fair to them. But as stated before, I simply just don't think those I listed are doing little if any moderating at all. As I said more help is needed. None of my business really, but this forum is entitled, "news comments and suggestions".