I admit I dislike the first idea (moderators may not be participants). I really enjoy Sean's trip reports. His "connection" with Air India offers a very interesting insight into the "other side" of air travel that most passengers never see.

Some of the moderators are also well-versed and knowledgeable in the airlines they help moderate. This allows them to help answer questions and "keep the facts straight", so to speak.

Moderation of FlyerTalk is not a paying job, though it probably easily could be a full-time one. If my only purpose was to troll threads and warn/rebuke/remove posts that violated the ToS, I'd quickly grow very bored and "retire" so I could participate.

As for the second part (specific guidelines), are they not already outlined in the ToS? I know most people probably did not bother to read them (I didn't, but then I have a modicum of common sense and understand that picking fights with other posters and being personally disparging would likely have the FSA - Forum Security Agency - escorting me from the server), but I would like to think the moderators have read them and use them as the guidelines to follow.

Moderators are people too, and they should be as equally welcome to offer constructive, informative, and positive posts as any other member of FT. Should they be held to a "higher standard"? Not really, for all of us should be held to that higher standard and act accordingly.