I do admit that it was probably a step too far on my part, but all we're trying to do is make the users happy. I felt that Kowen was making enough users unhappy that it was worth the trade. I can't get it perfect every time

meh, it's a borderline call. Just popping in and saying "10 year plan" was probably meant to annoy people, which is trolling. But it's one of those stealth trolling moderations where to call it trolling you have to assume the person's intentions which aren't always what you think they are.

Guess what I'd say is that while I probably wouldn't have moderated it at all, just would have deleted the reports, but I do think Kowen said it to annoy so I don't think it's a terrible call either way.

You don't have to make users happy, you have to enforce the rules.

Guess what? Trolling, including stealth trolling, is against the rules. This was an extreme circumstance, but it at least proves that repeated aggressive behaviour in the forums is not acceptable. 

I know that, but your first response doesn't have anything to do with your second one. You don't have to talk to me in an aggressive/cynical way, you are the one that didn't explain yourself in a proper way.

So you agree that Kowen should have had action taken against him for stealth trolling?

Thank God I'm not a mod, so I'm not the one who has to agree or not. I'm just saying that "but all we're trying to do is make the users happy. I felt that Kowen was making enough users unhappy that it was worth the trade." is a very dangerous behavior, as that's the way a populist politician behaves.

I think what radish meant to say is that the purpose of moderation is to help the community as a whole, but moderation itself is about enforcing the rules.

Kowenicki broke the rules, in radish's opinion, and in my opinion as well. I don't think many people realise how difficult it is to make a moderation decision. I can personally vouch for the fact that radishhead is not another maxwell, which is an accusation being thrown around a lot.

Good point, so let's look at it another way.  If you're trying to decide on something as ill defined as stealth trolling it's partly based on what you believe the intentions of the poster were.  If I think the post was done to annoy people it helps if I have a couple reports from annoyed people.  You then have to make the judgement call of if their annoyance is warranted, but it certainly helps with moderating something illusive like stealth trolling.

Philisophically, I'd agree with your post though.  I think the the forum rules are designed to keep everyone happy, and the moderators can only work within those rules as they are stated.  Anything beyond that has to be decided by the community head: Axumblade.  

Thank you. We have been saying this for a while.