Managing a Forum - Advice

I moderate at Agents Online and a couple of smaller ones such as Blogger Talk where I have decided to help out.
I don't feel a need to let my presence known unless it is called for like

here . I like leaving those up after I have deleted them so members know I am not asleep at the wheel.

One thing that annoys me is getting PMs saying "he did this, he did that" when in reality those things are interpersonal issues which do not affect the quality of the forum until they get out of hand. Getting out of hand part is what needs to be prevented.

When members know what you do and don't stand for, they go about their business being productive rather than dwelling on the small stuff. They know things are being taken care of and that they can go about their daily business.

No one wants to read too much about about problems, we all have them and don't want to take on new ones which are bound to be no win situations.

When I had to ban someone at my own real estate forum, I hated it but it needed to be done. I am about to let this person back in good faith believing that the anger towards another member has faded and even should bad blood arise, the member will know that our forum is NOT the place to discuss those issues.

It remains to be seen how it plays out.

However I have seen too many forums go down because of moderators getting big heads and destroying good conversations. If an administrator lets that happen, he is doomed. If your personality is to ride a hard line, then do so. But beware that moderators are not always looking out for the well being of a forum simply because they just don't get it.
Mike