Hi, Tom -
In general, we moderate as a group, and the editorial actions of individual moderators are not identified. We find it helps reduce the manipulation of playing one moderator against another. Moderator comments are highlighted when they are added - you'll see that they are in a different color from the text of the message where they appear. In general, we tend to limit our comments. If you have a question about an editorial action, I'm the person to contact, since I am the Official Public Contact Person.
Also, please be advised that we generally do not allow discussions of editorial actions in the Forum, because there's a lot we moderators can't discuss publicly. If you have a question, ask privately. It's much easier for us to give an honest answer that way. I often hear complaints that Mudcat editorial actions are arbitrary and inconsistent and unfair. I suppose it's true that every human decision has elements that are arbitrary and inconsistent and unfair - that's life.
Maybe people will understand our editorial policy better if they understand that our philosophy of moderation is functional and responsive, not disciplinary. We do not allow personal attacks - but we do not review all messages and evaluate them for content. We're most likely to delete a personal attack if the person who is the object of the attack complains directly to me in a personal message or e-mail, and gives specific information about the particular message in question. Most of the complaints I get are more vague and general, and there's not much we can do about them. In general, we try to leave things alone here. When things get contentious, we tend to tighten up on moderation. When things are peaceful, we lighten up. I suppose that could be considered inconsistent from some perspectives - but from a functional perspective, our moderation is very consistent. When things get hot, we try to cool them down - that is our guiding policy of moderation, and all other considerations are secondary to that. Despite what some people may say, I see very little unfairness in our moderation. Very few messages are deleted simply because a moderator disagrees with the ideas stated, and I have seen very little favoritism in the practices of our moderators. They all know our policy: that moderation is to be done only for one purpose - to keep the peace.

-Joe Offer-
joe@mudcat.org