Tim Stone asked: Do you feel like a representative percentage of the community participates in your site's meta? Based on that, how strongly do you think feedback presented on meta should factor into your decision making as a moderator?
Emil answered: From what I've seen this last week, no, not at all. Meta is still the only place you can complain about the site, submit feedback and such, and I feel like the ones who go through the "trouble" of giving feedback should be heard. There are a lot of smart and experienced users with valuable feedback that should be heard.
bassplayer7 answered: I feel there is low participation on meta. However, when a question is asked on meta, from what I have seen it does get answered. So while I feel meta has some bearing on a potential moderator, it wouldn't be much at all.
patrix answered: Traffic on meta is very low, but I don't know whether it is higher on other SE sites. I see meta as kind of collection of "moderation and site ethics" which should help to shape moderator's policy, so from that point of view a more active participation would be welcome.
Ian C. answered: Honestly: I don't frequent meta enough myself to make a good judgement call on how well it represents the community. Presumably I should check it more often if I'm elected. ;)
Caleb answered: One role of a moderator is to get people participating in meta. There are never enough people doing it, and it usually comes down to a few good folks slogging away. In the end, I think mods should lead the way in taking issues there and getting people to use their voice, but however many or few it ends up being, that is the voice of the community and should be given heavy weight.
Caleb continued: Even if it's a few outspoken folks, the others aren't being repressed, they just aren't stepping up to the plate to use their rights -- and hence waiving them in a sense.
stuffe answered: AD META isn't necessarily a particularly active place, and this is a measure of the fact that AD itself generally ticks along nicely without major issues greater than those of a single Q or A. However, it's voice is still just as important, because those people that do find themselves taking part are by definition the ones that have a strong viewpoint to make.
stuffe continued: As a moderator you have to represent not just the rules of SE, but the will of the community, and just because most people are happy enough to not come into META and start boat rocking, doesn't mean that those who do are less important because of that.
None of the above answered: I promise to make no decisions if elected. Thus, meta would play no role whatsoever in my non-decision-making.
None of the above continued: or it will play 100% of a role. Or any number inbetween 0 and 100. Yoour call.