https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToReddit/comments/15emldp/rules_rules_ya_gotta_have_em/
created by MadDocOttoCtrl on 31/07/2023 at 17:36 UTC
9 upvotes, 6 top-level comments (showing 6)
As my first official Mod Action, I'm happy to make this announcement.
One of the things that you will frequently see NToR recommend to new Redditors is to follow Reddit’s TOS and **check the rules**[1] of any community that you choose to participate in. Reddit is a massively sprawling platform with communities dedicated to practically any topic or purpose that you can imagine. Each of these has a separate culture, its own traditions, slang, and inside jokes. They each have their own set of rules.
Instead of clubs, it might help to think of each subreddit as a separate country. Some are well run, some are super strict, some are kind of chaotic. If they are even moderately well run, they will enforce their own rules. Chaos follows when you don’t prohibit problematic things that interrupt the intended functioning of your group.
We have revamped our rules and now every post must begin with “G’day, guv’nor…”
No, wait…
They shot down my suggestion along with the “Comments must be in rhyme” and “All Llama Monday” ideas. Maybe next time…
We’ve tried to simplify and condense the stating of our rules to make them a faster read. We haven’t removed any guidelines, there is still no profanity nor ranting allowed around here. We’re also linking to a more in-depth explanation of those rules to help reduce any confusion.
We took into account the feedback from those of you who participated in our survey, thank you! Every single one of the mod team has had input into the restating of our rules, but the lion’s share of the heavy lifting has been done by u/SolariaHues[2], *Moderator Extraordinaire!* Thanks to you, SH, note that your cape with a big M on it is in the mail.
2: https://www.reddit.com/u/SolariaHues/
Every community’s rules are there to help create a specific environment to keep things safe, sane and functional. If you don’t like that environment and those rules, there are places that you’ll feel more comfortable participating, please seek them out. Reddit has hundreds of thousands of communities, plus there are other online platforms, and if you don’t like rules in general try 4chan. Whoops, even they have rules. Try their /b channel, their rules are pretty minimal, but yes - they still have rules.
Here[3] is an excellent Techdirt article explaining why moderation (which is community leaders enforcing rules) is not only necessary but supportive of free speech.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this, being open to ask for help, and your willingness to help other Redditors in their journey. While feedback on the operation of a sub is usually something to be done via mod mail, we invite your feedback on the updated rules in the comments on this post.
Comment by Use-username at 31/07/2023 at 21:31 UTC
5 upvotes, 3 direct replies
The rules look good! I have an observation though. For a few of the rules, it looks like you've combined two (or sometimes three) rules into one. For example, "be kind" is not the same thing as "no NSFW" but they have both been combined into one rule. NSFW content is not necessarily unkind, and unkind comments are not necessarily NSFW, so it may seem a bit confusing to newbies that those two concepts were combined into one rule. This isn't a criticism, it's just an observation. There's nothing "wrong" with it being done that way, but it just may be a bit confusing to some.
Comment by Tactical-Kitten-117 at 31/07/2023 at 17:55 UTC
4 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I think the only real feedback I have for the rules, is rule 6 about misleading information. How exactly would you enforce that? Since I gather that it mostly applies to people who are intentionally misleading others, yes? I'm not entirely sure how you'd be able to tell if it was intentional, unless you've seen the user previously say something that shows that they understand it's false or misleading information (i.e if I said this sub has a karma requirement, when you would know that I know that it wouldn't, being for new users)
The only case of misleading that I can imagine you could be sure about, is people pretending to be mods here, if that's ever happened before. Chances are, they know full well if they are or aren't a moderator, as would any mods here.
I guess that should be included in the rules as well, especially for other users to make it clear if they speak of being a moderator, that they refer to their mod experience being elsewhere on Reddit, not here (unless applicable), so for example, "I have modded a subreddit about kittens being tactical, for years..." would be more clearly non-affiliated with this sub than "I have modded for years"
But otherwise, how would you be able to tell if someone's actually misleading another user deliberately? They could say something that's far from the truth, but they may just genuinely believe it themselves. After all, Reddit is confusing enough that this sub exists, so some well intended answer could just be very, very uninformed.
Comment by Friendly-Cucumber-38 at 31/07/2023 at 20:11 UTC
4 upvotes, 3 direct replies
A suggestion, try to apply the rules fairly across all members. Maybe difficult in practice but rules are there for a reason.
Comment by formerqwest at 31/07/2023 at 19:53 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
thanks for the link to techdirt, been awhile since i visited.
while i see you're a mod here on *certain* other subs, you're not listed here, why is that?
Comment by [deleted] at 31/07/2023 at 22:23 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
As someone new to redit. I can’t even comment. Is that a new thing or has always been. You can do anything without comment karma which is Fine. Why can’t I comment when new. J don’t care about posting I read the rules. Nothing says you can’t comment.
I have no idea as a new user how to use Site if I can’t comment or anything
Comment by oddninja1997 at 01/08/2023 at 02:52 UTC
-1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
if you don’t like rules in general try 4chan. Whoops, even they have rules. Try their /b channel, their rules are pretty minimal, but yes - they still have rules.
I've got no problems with rules. My issue is when rules are arbitrarily enforced just because they exist, and not for the good of the organisation at large with any consideration on whether bans actually help or harm the process. Reddits inconsistent enforcement of rules actually creates more problems for communities like this, instead of having a functional and fair ban appeal system they create trolls and spammers who have a vendetta at being ostracised.