This is kind of an entry just to point people to when they ask me... what I'm getting asked increasingly as the days go by. Which is either, "How do I become a moderator?" or, "How did you become a moderator?"
First... I'd like to say that anything I say here is more guesswork than fact. The admins did not tell me 'we look for this criteria when choosing moderators', nor did they sit down and say, "we chose you because....". Everything here is, therefore, my own personal observations and conclusions, so.... take it as you will.
"How did you become a moderator?"
Since, in answering this, I'd like to be thorough and cover all bases... I'll start by mentioning that prior to joining Gaia back in May of 2004, I had done something similar to moderating in another community for about two years.
I think this affected how I acted on Gaia.
When I first joined, I wasn't really interested in becoming an integral part of Gaia's community. In fact, I was rather glad that no one really knew me. ^^; I lurked around wherever I felt like and posted when I had something to say.
Then... I ran into some difficulties because although I'd been ready stickies in the forums I'd posted in, I didn't know enough about how the site worked. So, I started frequently lurking in the Q&F forum. (It was Questions and Feedback back then) It was a way for me to learn more about the site. I posted rarely... and mostly lurked, soaking up info.
Not too long after I started lurking in Q&F, I ended up hanging out some in this thread: H2 I still really like that thread. I know why it was closed, but I think it's still a good read. =3
Hanging out in that thread gave me a sense of wanting to earn my keep, so to speak... do my part to help out. So, I started trying to remember more details so that I could not only soak up information in Q&F, but answer questions too.
Eventually I branched out and went around the WTG forum a bit also, lurking and replying to some of the new users' threads with helpful answers and tips. The most common things asked were about how to earn gold. I was pretty confident that I knew how it worked... but then some other users were saying something different.
Not being one to be content with simply believing what I'd been told, or trusting too much in my own memory, I set out to test how gold earning actually worked to make sure I was handing out correct information. I tested post gold, poll gold, and lurk gold extensively until I was satisfied that, getting the same results each time, I knew approximately how it all worked.
Then.... in July 2004, after a new database system was installed, a gold glitch appeared. No no.. this wasn't a glitch where you -earned- gold. This was a glitch that kept you from earning gold. Posting and polling gold, to be exact.
Since I had just been testing gold gain, and keeping a very close eye on my gold as a result, I noticed the glitch immediately. When, after a couple of weeks or so, the glitch was still around and seemed to be staying put.... I noted that threads created in the Q&F forum about it were mainly, "Fix this!" or, "What is this? Is there a way around it?"
It occurred to me that.... since we are technically alpha testers, perhaps instead of just sitting around waiting for site staff to fix this, we could do something about trying to help identify the cause of it. Since I had a good grasp on how gold earning was supposed to work... I set up a gold glitch thread in the Q&F to get other users to join me in trying to work out the cause of the glitch. My 'infamous' gold glitch thread. The only thread I ever created that went over 100 pages.
(the thread)I was really happy when that was fixed. http://www.ktarian.com/g/happy.gif
While I was running that thread... I didn't answer a whole lot of other things in Q&F. The gold glitch kinda consumed me... @.@; Once it was over though, I got back into my more regular habits of lurking around Q&F and answering stuff if I knew the answers.
Meanwhile, more mods were added to the site. A friend I'd made from seeing them around Q&F got modded. It was kinda cool. =3 I was happy for them and quite content.
At some point... various people started saying to me that I should be a moderator.
I remember the first time it was suggested to me... my reaction was kind of like... *silence...* "Er.... but...." 
It became a common thing though. @.@; I repeatedly ended up telling various people that I wasn't really terribly interested in becoming a moderator but I had a weakness for wanting to help out, so I honestly wasn't sure what I'd say if invited. I was rather content just to help as I could in Q&F by answering things accurately and hopefully setting a good example for other forum regulars.Honestly, I miss that sometimes. A day like today, when there is a huge issue to deal with and Q&A goes nuts, I always go and try to do what I can. Most of the time nowadays, I can't do a lot of that since my time is generally devoted to Hack and Scam cases mainly, which is all behind the scenes. I still enjoy what I do, and I'm glad to help where I'm needed.... but I do miss Q&A sometimes. ^^
In any case... so round' about the end of december/beginning of January, I actually did get a moderator invite. I was surprised... for various reasons I won't get into here... but no one else was. One person even told me it was silly to be surprised because I acted like the quintessential moderator or something already. ^^;;; I think it must've been my previous experience that made me come across that way. @.@;
I deliberated for a while over whether or not I'd say yes... but eventually I did. haven't ever regretted it. Why did they choose me? I honestly don't know. I figure it's got something to do with the events detailed above though. ^-~ Each moderator has their own story... and some are nothing like my own. ^^
"How do I become a moderator?"
The absolutely most truthful answer I can give you is: I don't know.
Speculating or guessing though... I'd say that I think probably there is at least one thing you need to have. You need to care about the forums. Not... to the point that you go overboard with it and cry if you lose your items... but care about the community and the discussions taking place and understand why there are guidelines for things.
Other than that... looking at myself and all the other various mods.. well, our stories are all somewhat different. There's no magical path or formula to follow to become a moderator. My advice though... would be... be yourself, enjoy the site, care about the site, be genuine, and have a good attitude.
If you do all those things, I don't guarantee you'll become a moderator... but you'll at the very least be a pretty pleasant member of the Gaia community.
Like people notice Sevi or something. 
some of what you said I've been doing, but it looks like i still need a lot of work. 
but I probly wouldnt be that good 
Yeah... My friends tell me I should mod too. Lolz, this reminds me of when I was a mod in another forum. People kept on asking me how I became a mod. I said basically the same that you've stated 
in my sig for 
(Kepp in touch bud) 
I remember when you first became a dedicated moderator, Sephygal made that thread with the list of all the new mods. When I first saw the list, I wasn't suprised at all you were modded, just like I wasn't suprised when you became an Omni. I remember the other name that stuck out was terradi's, you two were the ones I was expecting to see on the list. ^_^; There were a couple of others, but you two were the main ones.
You're not missing much in the Q&A nowadays. Most of the questions have gotten simple and can be answered easily. I think it's ever since the Q&F broke into the Q&A.... you could usually discuss more in the feedback threads there. I used to enjoy answering questions, then reading the occasional feedback and leaving a comment or two (especially the, "Gaia becoming Neopets" threads). Now it's like the SF has it's own reputation for having nothing but repeat threads, and the Q&A is seen as a hangout for mod-wannabes. @_@;;; Very different from the Q&F.
I might be seeing you at Fanime, I decided to go afterall. I'm staying all 3 days it's open, mainly to see the Gaia boothes and see the panel. Goodluck.
Edit: Love the new art.