Badges and privileges are site-specific, available only to high reputation participants and automatically awarded. In other words, once certain reputation point thresholds are crossed, the appropriate badge (privilege) is automatically given out.
But is this the best way to handle this? What about giving moderators the discretion to decide whether or not these things are awarded?
As a moderator...
Hell no
It would be actual work for something that can be automated, allows me to show clear bias and is entirely pointless.
This is how I see it playing out.
30 seconds after someone hits a privilege level I get pinged. Or someone goes "WHY HAVE I NOT GOT MY $BADGE YET!" (which sometimes still happens when its automatic).
Privileges on SE are about achievement not patronage. This essentially turns mods from democratically elected friendly sheepdogs, into feudal lords, doling out titles for... whatever.
You'd also have (once again) people begging and demanding, say edit rights, like they try to do for (entirely automatic bans).
This adds complexity, politics (eww) and drama, to a system that actually works really well as is.
Speaking as a moderator on one of the smaller SE sites... No!
The existing system is fair as it awards privileges the same way for everyone without bias or favour. I can see no good coming from being able to dole out privilege on a grace and favour basis. It will just result in rancour and discontent on the site.
To look at it another way, moderators can (temporarily) remove privileges if abused by imposing suspensions.
As a regular user everywhere... No!
If I hit some reputation threshold, I expect those shiny things to be delivered to me automatically and without having to bother anyone.
Nyet!
