A Subreddit Series: The Rules are fine. We're fine. Everything is fine. Episode 1 - Sourcing

User: My coke thread got removed, wtf mate? I just wanna know who's got the best blow, is that too much to ask?

Mod: Sorry kid, sourcing ain't allowed around here. We'll get shut down by reddit admins, doncha know?!

User: Oh true my bad dude! I thought it was cool cuz I see other people doing it.

Mod: Yeah, sometimes they slip through but we try to remove as many as we can. Actually, the admins don't think we're strict enough and we're supposed to give automatic 7 day bans to anyone that breaks that rule.

User: Shit dude! I didn't know!

Mod: Don't worry, you're in luck kid. There's a loophole! All you gotta do is answer 5 noob questions and you can get your ban lifted.

User: Hmm, okay. I guess that's fair. And I wouldn't want to get this place shut down. Where can I find these 5 questions?

Mod: Don't worry about it this time. I'm on my cell phone so I can't ban you. But next time make sure you only ask that question on Wednesdays or Sundays!

User: Sweet, thanks. Sorry about all of this!


You have just read a reenactment of a real conversation between a mod and a user - Link


Many of the rules are vague or unequally enforced.

The mods here do a great job in general but that does not mean they do a great job always.

Some do a noticeably better job than others.

This subreddit series serves to spark discussion on some of the rules, content, and people that cause problems here. If you have witnessed a conversation which you would like me to highlight, comment with it or send it to me in a message.

Episode 2 when this post is 6 hours old.


Comments


[22 Points] lopeor:

So there's a rule by reddit admins that say that sourcing is not permitted, but if there is a special thread twice a week dedicated to it, then it's fine?

Can you give me a link to such rule? I'd like to add it to "stupidest rule I've ever seen" list.

Thanks.


[10 Points] MLP_is_my_OPSEC:

That's the thing about Reddit -- it requires community effort. Report sourcing threads and downvote them so they aren't displayed farther up. After 3 reports the thread will automatically be hidden (AFAIK). You can even report threads by messaging the mods, link found in the sidebar.


[7 Points] LongLiveThe_King:

I think it would be interesting to have the community agree on a set of rules, and then have those rules in place for say a week and see how things turn out. Or maybe even invite a few new mods to the team and have them run things for a little bit.


[4 Points] Theeconomist1:

I understand equal enforcement is an issue and apologize for seeming capricious with this particular user - ie, I didn't ban him. Perhaps I should have but I knew there would be no way I would have remembered to go back and ban him 5 hours later from a practical standpoint. The point of the "punishment" is not for punishment's sake but for future observation of the rules. Now if this same user goes back and does the same thing, he'll get a ban for sure (assuming I remember who it is, which I probably won't, but if I do happen to remember, then absolutely).

Given the user's response combined with my situational inability to ban at the time (b/c I'm not going to keep a list of users I run across that I need to go back later and ban), I had 3 options:

I picked what I felt was the appropriate response at the time. I guess the user could consider himself "lucky" that he caught me at a time where I wasn't able to ban him for the 7 day period. The first "option" is lazy and pointless. If there is a problem thread, first and foremost is to take care of the offending thread. Option #2 is useless as well b/c unless the user is educated, how can he learn what hte rules are and he'll continue to make the same mistake over and over. So that leaves option 3 - the practical solution. I guess I equate it to getting vs. not getting a speeding ticket. In a perfect world, everyone who speeds gets a ticket. Plain and simple. But there are times when you get pulled over that the cop gets a more pressing call, you get a verbal warning and off you go. Its life. Is it unfair to the other guy who got pulled over by the same cop 2 hours before but got a ticket? I guess, but its so inconsequential it doesn't really matter all that much in the grand scheme of things. I don't know this user, his username isn't familiar to me, so I wasn't playing "favorites" here.

It is what it is. I did the best I could at the time (which was in the middle of the day in the middle of hte week). Short of keeping a list of offenders on a list and doing the bans later on, I don't see a better or more practical solution. If someone has a better solution or way of handling, then I am opened to suggestions.


[3 Points] hksupport:

I get what you're saying, but I'm inclined to cut the mods a lot of slack. And reddit admins. We're actively posting about obviously illegal activity, and the mods and admins are running the sub/site that allows us to do that, and they are public faces for that activity. They get a lot of heat. It's a difficult and often thankless job and brings them a lot of unwanted attention.

That said, I would also like clarification and an easy to understand set of clearly defined rules.


[3 Points] Throughawayup:

Jesus fucking christ people are whiney bitches. Quit bitching about a fucking slight inconvenience on a forum that (at least most of the people complaining I would assume) you probably don't even visit every day. Who the fuck cares what the rules are. If you want your question answered it's a simple as following the rules. If you're too lazy to read the rules and follow them then fucking kill yourself because you don't belong on this planet.

Furthermore personally attacking mods who have almost definitely been apart of this community for longer than you have and have certainly contributed more based on their position here is ignorant as fuck. Everyone's complaining that there are too many kids on this forum, but the same people who say that are the ones who are acting like kids.

Grow the fuck up and find something worthy of complaining about. The world isn't perfect and neither is this forum and complaining is not gonna change that.


[2 Points] R4ID:

listen up, you people cant have it both ways... the mods are trying there best. i can only imagine how many threads they delete in a 24hr cycle because it breaks a rule, or how many users get a "time out" ban because again, breaking rules. ur highlighting a time where a mod saw someone breaking the rules but was unable to enforce the full punishment, so he let him off with a "warning" of sorts... and ur complaining? were all people, were all a part of this community. Y cant we all just get along, help each other out and get our DNM packs in peace (+ maybe have a laugh or two?)


[1 Points] None:

[removed]


[1 Points] Dont-be_an-Asshole:

I think you're doing a fine job.


[1 Points] None:

[deleted]


[1 Points] holecloud:

i got into it with /u/nxtlevelnugs, he got banned by lobali for his shilling for a week or some shit, but she gave him "the same out she gives all the others", and thats answer 5 noob questions and send it to them, if they feel like it. Not trying to get on the mods, but rules get broke all the fucking time. FACT.


[1 Points] We_Are_Never_Safe:

-comment overwritten-


[1 Points] None:

what the heck is sourcing lol


[-4 Points] BenzoBlotters:

We were surprised when IGDS threatened us with a ban for an honest mistake after months of participating here.

We were nervous when IGDS made a stickied [ModPost] that contradicted itself in several ways and never followed up with clarification.

We were scared when /r/darknetmarkets went private all of a sudden.

We were glad to see IGDS was not included on the modlist after the sub was reclaimed.

We were entertained when we saw that giant "rules" post linked the first time, yesterday, by /u/sharpshooter789 with no mod tag.

We then realized it wasn't a joke. And now this.


[-5 Points] PurpleBeamz:

This place is ran by LE if you haven't already noticed!