I was the second moderator to resign (if I wasn'tweren't sleeping at the time, I might have been the first). II was the first moderator to request reinstatement.
As a moderator, I have been on the horns of this dilemma for many weeks now. AnyoneAnyone who has followed the saga on Meta will know my posts - I've not been silent about my thoughts and sharing my conflicting ties to SE and to the users who I serve. II am quite frankly amazed and heartened that I've been treated with respect from both sides - I fully expected to be raked over hot coals for wanting to be reinstated.
I've had the honour of moderating various forums for many years,years; I was even a Microsoft MVP for a couple of years (until Microsoft ditched Windows Phone <shakes fist>). Throughout all of that time, the users have been foremost in my priorities - allowing users to get the best out of the community and help the community run as smoothly as possible.
However, moderators are governed by the code of conduct - both in following it themselves and guiding users to work within its framework. WeWe, as moderators, should trust the administration level to create a code of conduct that is sensible, relatable, and enforceable. HoweverHowever, SE managed to botch a relatively simple CoC amendment (intended to plug a hole to allow all users to feel respected). Then they made things worse, then they made things worse again.
I lost confidence in SE - I lost confidence in how they relate to the many volunteer moderators. II, along with many others, felt suddenly ignored and disposable. IfIf one moderator could be sacked for a CoC violation against a CoC that only existed three weeks later, what hope was there for the rest of us?
But all through that, the users kept asking questions, other users kept answering those questions, kept flagging. II was in a position where I was looking at a site without any moderators. TheThe CM team (already out there working 24/7 on other things) couldn't cope with the mountains of comment streams and flags.
Personally speaking, my role on this site is to support the users. TheyThey come first. II can't think of any reason not to put users and the community first.
But I, likelike anyone else, also need to feel supported by SE. ThingsThings are getting better, but there's still a way to come.
I have hope.
References:
Why I came back https://meta.stackexchange.com/a/334449/351483