Here is what a certain moderator, the chief of the moderators even, has performed in one of the games, which I have once even recommended here:
He has simply put for a vote, who to ban for 10 days from the game's forums and message walls.
And he proclaimed this decision of his as a mere joke, aka gag.
So, he just let the whole player-community decide, who they want to be banned for that period.
Normally, the most "votes" were given to least popular community members in general.
Then, after the voting was over, he indeed banned the 3 "winner" users for 10 days, without them committing any bannable offense, or breaking, violating any of the game-rules.
If you ask me, this is definitely not how online moderators are meant to function, such a behavior is totally unworthy of them.
They should find, and determine themselves, who broke the rules, and who to sanction for it.
Letting the whole community decide this instead of them, it's not only purposely neglecting their own duty, but also an official permission for online "lynching" less popular members, without any valid proof/evidence of any bannable offense committed by them.
And claiming this as a mere joke, a gag to have a good laugh about, that is something even less worthy of an online moderator.
(especially when he knows, how vitally important online communication is for a community member, who he predicts for the one of the "winners" of this "gag-contest" of his.
Now, because of this "joke", that player won't be able to communicate on that website, (which was the favorite of his by now), without committing any offense to deserve his punishment.
Even jokes/gags are supposed to have their sensible moral limits, and this certain moderator has crossed those by far!
Now, I am curious to hear, how you guys think about this matter, please, do share your oppinions about it here!