I’d like to get back to go back to posts #6 and #8, but must start by saying that I am speaking for myself, not for Rover or anybody else. Although I understand TheParser’s reasons, I would prefer not to be addressed as ‘Moderator 5jj’.
One reason is that I feel that I answer questions simply as a person who has some knowledge of English grammar; many other people who respond in these threads also have some knowledge. Some of them are not teachers, some are not native speakers; some are neither, but their posts can be very helpful. Addressing me by my 'rank' appears (to me) to imply that my suggestions may have more value than those of others. In fact, my 'rank' gives my suggestions no value at all. We moderators are as capable of making silly mistakes (and please let's not mention typos) as the most recent member.
A ‘rank’ such as ‘Senior Member’ or ‘VIP Member’ is a bit of fun. It is ‘awarded’ solely on the number of posts we have submitted. The rather poor rhyming couplets and limericks I have posted in other sub-forums count as much as a possibly helpful mini-article on ways of expressing the future. The ‘rank’ of moderator means only that I do a bit of spam-removal and police potentially offensive posts; it says nothing about my abilities as a grammarian or teacher.
A second reason is that such forms of address as ‘Moderator Smith’ and ‘Teacher Jones’ are not natural in British English. The appropriate way to address people is far too complex to examine in detail in one post, or even one thread, but I give some (British) ideas below. Imagine that I am speaking to someone, and I say, “Thank you for your help, X’. X can represent:
Military/Police: Captain ( Grunce), Sergeant (Grunce), Inspector (Grunce), Chief [STRIKE]Grunce[/STRIKE].
Medical: Doctor (Grunce), Sister (Grunce), Matron [STRIKE]Grunce[/STRIKE], Nurse [STRIKE]Grunce[/STRIKE]
‘Leaders’: Mr President, President Grunce, [STRIKE]Mr[/STRIKE] Prime Minister [STRIKE]Grunce[/STRIKE], Minister [STRIKE]Grunce[/STRIKE]
Religion: Father (Grunce)/Father (Adrian), Sister (Mary), Rabbi Grunce
Education: Doctor Grunce, Professor (Grunce), [STRIKE]Lecturer Grunce[/STRIKE], [STRIKE]Teacher Grunce[/STRIKE], [STRIKE]Headteacher Grunce[/STRIKE], [STRIKE]Principal Grunce[/STRIKE], Headmaster (in some British public (= exclusive private) schools.
usingenglish.com: [STRIKE]Newbie[/STRIKE] Funny name-X, [STRIKE]Key Member[/STRIKE] even funniername*7^, [STRIKE]Moderator[/STRIKE] absurdname1.14159