> Then they take a strong stance with company and are shocked to loose the virtual badges and titles What are you describing here? There is exactly one moderat

> Then they take a strong stance with company and are shocked to loose the virtual badges and titles What are you describing here? There is exactly one moderator who was let go involuntarily, and she did not take any stance against the company whatsoever. I do not get the impression that you have a clear picture of what's going on. > spending their free time working for a company in exchange for some virtual badge Most of the activities you perform as a moderator do not grant badges (even if they would for "normal" users). In fact, said dismissed moderator only noticed her dismissal when she suddenly received badges for her everyday moderation work. > thinking they are responsible for a community and feel ownership There is no ownership over any community. That's just the wrong word. But the moderators are the part of the community that is closest to the company. If the company ignores the moderators, it ignores the community at large.