Allow ex-moderators to opt-in to having a mark on their profile indicating they were a moderator

Question

As most of us know, Kev is retiring from being a moderator.

Kev has done an outstanding job in moderating Stack Overflow, and while he won't be a moderator anymore, it doesn't feel right that this isn't reflected in some way.

Expanding on that, Kev is by far not the only one who has contributed immensely as a moderator to the Stack Exchange websites, but is no longer a moderator.

That said, Gordon had the great idea that former moderators should have something to reflect that, a hollow diamond next to their name, like so:

Kev ◊

So the formal feature request is, for former moderators that left moderating in good standing with Stack Exchange (it wasn't revoked for mod abuse or something of that nature), allow them to opt-in to having a mark (perhaps the diamond outline, perhaps something else) that will be attached to their username as a token of appreciation for the work that they've done in making Stack Exchange a better place.

This is simply embellishment on the username. It will confer no abilities in any way; the only privileges that they will have are the ones that they have due to reputation.

Answer 1

I support this idea 100%. The only thing I'll add is that, for all those claiming that this will create endless confusion among our helplessly moronic user base,

a) So what? Stupid people are always among us; we shouldn't base policy on them.

b) Ok fine, how about something like this:

Answer 2

Another symbol next to names would be confusing; it's meant as a way for folks to recognize those acting in an official capacity after all, not as a status symbol.

But we do have these stinkin' status symbols...

There's even one for Pro Tempore mods:

Mods who help guide a site through graduation and then get elected afterwards can even earn both. Mods who get kicked out in less than a year can't (unless they make it through graduation first, but... meh).

Answer 3

I wish to at least see that someone was a mod at the time they cast of close vote etc. Otherwise it is hard to understand what when on. (Even a comment by a mod is different to a comment by someone that later become a mod.)

So being mod at the time of an action should be a property of the action, as well as the person.

Answer 4

I would be all for a (platinum?) badge or similar, making it documentation of services performed for the purpose of including it in references on a CV or such. Or just for someone having a closer look.

But making it an icon next to the name opens up the can-of-worms of "oh, this person was a moderator, so I will trust their question/answer more than I would from anyone else". Or just make people interpret a question/answer in a more positive light than otherwise, where actually each question or answer should be judged on its own merit.