Largely agree here robb. I noticed this thread recently which for about a week was not on topic at all, and I sadly think the moderator did indeed fail in his job.

We have exchanged polite emails on that, which Randy was copied into (not my choice) so these comments of mine here simply echo those concerns raised:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum.../003985-2.html

It went on and on for 2 pages and 63 posts that we could see. The Moderator deleted in its entirely any post he did not 'like' and made that clear more than once, so it may have really been 5 pages long.

I do not agree with posts being totally deleted. Unless of a totally obscene or really abusive nature etc. I saw one post making a very valid point that was deleted entirely in this thread. I still have a copy of that post as I retained it, anticipating its fate.

I think for transparency sake in any Forum the TEXT being objected to should be deleted, and the comment: "deleted by moderator because of ....." added in that place. It shows the original poster and time then.

Surely that might be one of the "consistency" things to be set by Talkboard as mentioned above by chexfan. To do otherwise is rather poor moderation IMO.

The thread referenced above was to me a clear example of where an Moderator should recuse himself publicly on thread due to a friendship with the thread starter.

Had that NOT been the case, the thread starter would surely have had his comments deleted by the other Moderators, as at least eight Flyertalkers called for it on the thread.