So you play bingo online? Of course you do! Do you also chat in the chat rooms? Some do and some don't, but there's a lot of fun to be had there. But who oversees the chat? Who polices and moderates the goings on? The chat room moderator of course. Often known by other names, such as the chat room host, administrator, operator or facilitator, he or she has an important job.

When you think about it, all they are doing is making sure everybody is happy, having fun, exchanging information and swapping stories. And to make sure that happens the moderators apply rules and recommendations. And those rules and recommendations are only the ones you would expect in any social environment, on-line or otherwise. Just the same things you may subconsciously expect when you're at a restaurant or pub, or at a party. It's about good manners and standard etiquette. In a phrase it's mutual, respectful and sensitive communication.

While you may find some differences between online Bingo sites, here are the standard ones you are likely to find:

•    No Uppercase words or words in red ink (that equals shouting, or scolding and there's no need to shout or scold!)
•    No unpleasant icons with an overtly sexual or otherwise offensive connotation.
•    No offensive chat room name.
•    No pretending to be someone else.
•    No disrespecting others, or saying things that could cause offence- such as criticising or ridiculing someone for their age, gender, sexuality, mental/intellectual capacity, physical appearance, race, creed, religion or beliefs.
•    No "spamming" or using the site to sell your own site, services or products.

There's one that I found out about recently. It's where owners, shareholders or employees/employers of a rival online Bingo site sign up at a site pretending to be genuine new players, and then try to lure players away to their own site. Now I agree that everyone has a choice and of course you can move around online Bingo sites- but it's not fair when people enter chat rooms and start making up fictitious and malicious accusations about the site, such as "they don't pay out your winnings" or "they give your details to other non-Bingo sites!"

So that's just a little insight into why online Bingo sites have moderators for the chat rooms. It's for your safety and protection, a kind of benevolent Big Brother (or Sister). So don't be afraid of them, and don't be afraid to draw anything that you don't like to their attention. And if perchance you do get a mild rebuke (as I have once or twice) then before starting to reach for the uppercase key- count to ten, take a deep breath, and think about what you said/typed. They are only doing their job!