Posts by rustydrifter10

Technically, the Admins handle the actual removal of partials, but the final call on whether to pull them rests with the moderators—and honestly, that should always be a unanimous decision. Besides, there isn't some set deadline for when a partial needs to be "dealt with."

I basically just threw in my two weeks' notice and walked out the door.

I'll be sure to look into that.

Tell Biden he’s more than welcome to sue us if he thinks he can, if it actually bothers him.

Hey, just wanted to let you know—your ban has been lifted!

Could you please drop the link to that post?

Before the mods even make an official announcement, I took a quick peek at what’s been getting wiped, and honestly, I see the mods cleaning up the Song Day thread by tossing out all that mindless trolling and the constant nitpicking about moderation—and I am 100% behind that decision. You had seven of your posts taken down, which was totally justified because, well, they were just silly trolling and commentary on the staff. So, since those posts are gone, there really isn't much left to debate there. As for everything else, I'm going to wait for the moderators to weigh in, and if necessary, I'll take a closer look at how things are being handled.

Now, looking at the big picture, it’s pretty standard for certain threads to lose steam and eventually get closed out. That doesn't mean they weren't lively and fun back in the day, or that they don't still hold value. If anything, part of their charm is precisely that they belong to the past. But one of the funny things about history is how often it repeats itself; even the coolest threads that seem dead right now might find a way to come back to life someday.

And yeah, when it comes to this forum, the way a thread is launched really matters because the opening post often sets the tone for its entire lifespan. It's much better for a topic to be a little late than to be started off on the wrong foot. Besides, if someone actually wants to write, they’re going to write regardless of whether the thread opens on a Wednesday or a Friday.

So, looks like you've been officially banned. :)

slycyclist342 said:I’ll say it again: the issue isn't the specific mistakes made, but rather the inconsistent standards and the targeted harassment of certain users who don't fit the mold.

This is my first time posting in the greetings thread, but does it usually happen on Reddit where this many people rally around a single moderator with such specific grievances?
It feels a bit excessive to me.

As for the kitchen project, that topic is irrelevant now and can be deleted or locked... I happened to come across a material called LAMINAM... it's similar to ceramic but significantly tougher and higher quality... you can actually cut directly on it, or even use an open flame or flambé on the surface... etc. 😁

So, this is roughly what my summer kitchen will look like... it's not the typical choice for an outdoor setup, and perhaps someone could suggest a more practical alternative for the outdoors, but it is what it is... the material is already purchased. 🙂
The most important thing is that it holds up against humidity and the cold.
And it needs to be easy to wipe down from smoke and grease, since it’s going to be positioned right next to my (now legendary) backyard grill. 🙂

>

Fine, then let it stay locked.

That looks great, by the way. If you haven't already, you should definitely post about this over on the DIY subreddit; I bet a lot of people would find it super interesting. 😉

Good luck with the summer kitchen project! 🙂

slycyclist342 said:No need to apologize. People wait years for stuff like this to get sorted out, so a few more weeks won't hurt.

I agree that starting threads is a responsibility, which is why I read EVERY single thread on the forum and saw that this specific one doesn't exist.
And honestly, the moderator's response claiming it falls under the "canned goods" category is absurd, and that arrogant reply—“There is an open thread. Check the TOPIC LIST; it's impossible to miss, just try looking”—is absolutely bottom-tier behavior.

Okay, so the mod messed up? Moving on.

P.S.
Don't sweat the penalties and points; they really aren't a big deal.

Of course there's no controversy here, and let’s be clear: that question was NEVER even raised, regardless of what the moderator claims.
If you've already posted it, just drop the link to the thread.

So, just another mistake by the mods?

It’s true; FERT was the last one mentioned, and if I recall correctly, it was the only time back in 2019.
I actually managed to track that down myself, so I didn't even end up repeating the question.
The question was actually regarding the overpass—specifically that "dome" structure sitting above the flue where the chimney connects.
Actually, I was just asking about the bottom plate for the wood stove.
That’s where the distinction lies; I wasn't entirely certain if there was an issue with the material itself or something else, considering you're lighting a fire on a stovetop like that from a brand like GE.

Look, we’re talking about two entirely separate issues here. Even if someone decides to ask a question that was already covered back in 2019 on a thread spanning 250 pages, I don't think we can all agree that it's some catastrophic blunder just because it might have helped someone out. It isn't. 😁

So, an overreaction and yet another blunder by the mods?
It has begun. 🙂

Let me be perfectly clear: I have thoroughly reviewed every single post and scanned every thread, and I can state with absolute certainty that I haven't duplicated a single question or topic.
That’s one for one. I'm about as precise as a moderator when it comes to making mistakes. 🙂

If we both happen to be wrong, then we’re both wrong.

I suppose I’d say this is a perfect four-for-four performance from our moderator.

p.s.
I wasn't even aware this subreddit existed for grievances. Had I known, I would have posted my questions here instead—though I don't see any harm in asking them in the chat, provided that's actually what the chat is intended for. At least, that was my assumption.

Actually, I wasn't criticizing the moderators; I was talking about myself. He actually cited the moderator's decisions against me. I was just in a debate with another guy on Reddit, trying to explain my reasoning behind the question.
Look, I have nothing against the moderator, and I intend to follow the rules. 🙂

It’s true—if he went ahead and left that post up, then my own post should have stayed too. Otherwise, he really ought to have just deleted both.
Look, he didn't actually do that because he’s clearly just looking out for his buddy, as you can see from the other comments on this thread. This brings us right back to the issue of double standards, which is exactly why I opened this discussion in the first place.

So, you went ahead and overruled his decision here as well? 5/5

And here we go again with the double standards—where one guy is seen as a total pushover while someone else is considered perfectly fine for doing the exact same thing.

Look, I’m not trying to be a troll here, but people genuinely seem to believe that it’s the voltage being killed, when in reality, it’s the amperage. I remember one of my old professors used to say that all the time, even though it's technically incorrect... but hey, if you want to split the difference and call it a toss-up, go ahead.
We won't give him credit for that.

Once the argument started spiraling out of control, I chose not to involve myself any further, which should make it clear that I'm not some troll.
To be honest, I thought that comment might actually de-escalate things a bit... but this whole argument just spiraled out of control for no reason.
I didn't even mention that card in my post, nor did I lodge a complaint about it... just leave it be 🙂

Just a little side note here: moderators are allowed to have a bit of autonomy. Being a mod is partly an expression of one's own personality because we aren't robots, and we don't all perceive the exact same text in the same way. Even we don't view our own posts the same today as we did yesterday! While I'll admit there are times when a moderator's moves aren't the clearest—and personally, I might have handled things differently—I try my best to weigh whether a decision actually caused harm, or if stepping in would just undermine a moderator's individual discretion. I try really hard not to overstep.

I mentioned earlier that I restored certain things because of the context; that doesn't necessarily mean deleting them was a mistake, it’s just that they didn't look problematic to me on their own, so I figured they could stay. Looking at one of the sets of deleted posts, the moderator himself was actually participating, which leads me to believe that deleting everything wasn't his first instinct. He probably let things play out initially to see where the conversation was heading before deciding it had drifted too far off-topic. The only real difference here is that as an outsider looking in, I feel those posts could have found a home in a different subforum, like one dedicated to the AFL-CIO, whereas he feels they don't belong anywhere. It's possible those posts lack real value or consist of repetitive content, but seeing how much activity and genuine interest there was—with actual replies and meaningful discussion—it doesn't look that way to me.

I really don't want to start tallying up who made what mistake, because moderation isn't a math equation. Of course, it matters if someone is constantly slipping up or if the errors are genuinely damaging, but mistakes themselves shouldn't be a reason to panic or jump to drastic measures. We all mess up sometimes.

Anyway, I'm curious to hear what you think should happen with your thread about the outdoor kitchen, especially since you've probably already received plenty of responses by now.

slycyclist342 said:Just a quick little introduction to start things off.
As you can see from my history on Reddit, I've been an active user since 2007 with over 7,500 posts under my belt. This happens to be my very first contribution to this specific sub-forum.

I’ve been hanging around this DIY subreddit for about ten days now, mostly because I'm weighing my options for building a backyard BBQ pit and wanted to pick up some expert advice.
In just ten days of posting over there, I’ve racked up more warnings, penalty points, and deleted posts than I did in the fourteen years prior to that. 🙏
I just checked my stats—fourteen years on this platform and over 7,500 posts later, I've managed to rack up exactly one 25-point warning.

I believe that, in and of itself, suggests that something here is fundamentally broken.

A brief chronology (I realize it’s lengthy, though I have condensed it significantly).

I'll start by asking about a specific construction method: instead of using full brick and concrete—which is how 99% of builders here in the States do it—what if we used aerated concrete blocks and metal sheeting?

One particular user is being quite aggressive toward our dear moderator, claiming that this won't look like anything at all... blah, blah, blah.
I'm trying to explain to him that I'll be using those materials since it's going on the balcony or patio, and they're much lighter.

The moderator should step in here, because running a grill in your backyard is a completely different story than keeping one on a balcony. 🙏
Some posts are being deleted, while others are being moved over to the "tin roast" thread.

Fair enough.

I’m going to keep asking which specific brand makes a decent spit, and if anyone drops a blatant advertisement in the comments, it should be deleted immediately.
The moderator is deleting my posts and handing out penalty points just because I’m trying to run an advertisement.

Fair enough if that's the rule, but honestly, there are a ton of product links from all sorts of different companies here.
It doesn't matter; let's move on. I'm not going to react, nor am I going to get angry.

I was just wondering what I should use to build a bar for my outdoor kitchen next to the BBQ pit—I’ve already kind of mapped out a design in my head where the bar extends right off the side of the grill station.

I’ve gone through the list of topics three times now, and I still can't find anything remotely similar to this in any of the other threads.
I’m starting a thread about outdoor kitchens, but I keep getting hit with deletions and penalty points because apparently, I "didn't read the list of approved topics."

I asked a question in the chat thread about outdoor kitchens, only to be told that such topics belong in the section for bakers and bread ovens. 🤣

So, apparently, the BBQ setup planned for the backyard needs its own separate thread from the terrace grill, yet I'm getting flagged because I didn't realize the outdoor kitchen belongs in the same category as the wood-fired oven—I guess they're considered the same thing now. 🤣

Alright, let's keep this moving.
I’m asking the question: why is nobody building concrete stoves using the Fert design when everyone else just pours standard concrete? I'll outline a few reasons why the Fert method actually holds some serious advantages.

The moderator keeps deleting replies and claiming that questions are mere provocations or just plain stupid.

And also. That's a lie. How was that question previously addressed?

No response provided.I've read all 250 pages cover to cover, and there isn't a single mention of using fertilizer on the slab anywhere. No one has raised the question, nor has anyone suggested such an idea. Since this is new material to me, I’m genuinely asking: is there some kind of flaw in this specific method of construction?
Just to clear the air: I’ll likely go ahead with that roasting method. Everyone I ask says it sounds like a solid plan, even if none of them have actually seen it done before.

To make matters worse, the moderator sent me a private message claiming they issued the penalty because I "failed to include an introduction." 🤣
What kind of divine introduction is that for such a mundane question?
After my private message, they tell me they "don't need to provide any explanations."

Let's keep moving.
Since there were some deleted responses in the pottery thread earlier, I’m asking him here in the chat to clarify the difference between laminated wool—which he mentioned before his posts kept getting pulled—and mineral wool.
It’s pointless to bring up where his deleted replies went; there’s no sense in me jumping back into a conversation that was already wiped out.

It appears that this question remains unresolved, much like how all the previous responses have been deleted without any explanation provided. 🤣
So, apparently, discussing different types of wool is strictly forbidden in the chat thread. 🙏
(I actually received a response in the chat regarding this from two other members in the meantime, so hvala to them.)

Question: Is this forum essentially his private playground, which would explain why he acts this way?

Having served as a moderator back on my old US message boards, it never would have crossed my mind to behave toward people this manner.
To be clear, I certainly wouldn't dream of calling users "primadonnas" or "narcissists," as he does, nor would I tell someone their questions are stupid or lie to them by claiming a question has already been asked just to justify deleting it.

Moving on—why did things blow up just now?
I asked a perfectly standard question: "What’s the best way to cut a solid brick? Should I use an angle grinder, or is there something better?"

And people provided perfectly reasonable answers. Some suggested the angle grinder (and it was helpful that they specified WHICH GRINDING DISC to use), noting that if I have a large quantity, I should probably get a wet saw. It was also a very useful tip to suggest soaking the brick in water before cutting.
(Perhaps there were even more responses I missed, which is why I decided to repeat the question in the chat thread.)

Then, the moderator comes along, DELETES THE QUESTION AND ALL THE RESPONSES, and hands me a strike for "trolling."🙏

Look, I haven't literally held a solid brick in my hands before; I've always worked with other materials. My basic reasoning for asking was simply to see if there's some fundamental or obvious method I'm unaware of (and I didn't see anyone else ask it either).

And this legend goes ahead and wipes everything out and issues a strike. 🙏
It is blatantly obvious that he wouldn't bother deleting it if I hadn't posted it, or if it had been posted by any of the other members currently on his "blacklist" (and yes, I see there are quite a few).

So, gentlemen, I am asking you to please take action.

If it means anything to you, I am not the only one dealing with this "issue," as I mentioned earlier.

A few others have reached out to offer support. While it isn't the main point, it serves as further evidence that you should look into what's happening on this forum.

hvala

p.s.
While it's not central to my post, I should mention that I spent about a week reading through those 250 pages specifically so I wouldn't look unprofessional or ask questions that had already been answered five times, thereby avoiding annoying anyone. I know that personally, that kind of thing would drive me crazy.
One should put in the effort to read up on a subject if they want to know something.
Instead, I was seemingly bluffed by this individual, who claimed the question had "already been answered."

Hey there.
First off, I am so sorry for the wait! I really didn't have enough time to sit down and properly review your appeal earlier—this isn't exactly the kind of thing I can just breeze through in a couple of minutes.

I’m writing this before I’ve had a chance to consult with the moderator, so there’s a possibility I might have misinterpreted a few things. With that in mind, please bear with me and forgive me in advance if I end up changing or rescinding any of my decisions.

Alright, let’s go through this point by point—not necessarily in order, and definitely not by importance:
1) Outdoor Kitchen, the topic you started, which was deleted and resulted in you getting a 5-point penalty for poor thread creation.
Starting a new thread is actually quite a big responsibility, and it’s super important that they’re done right. So many threads get opened poorly—they don't spark conversation, they lack enough info, it's unclear what they're about, and so on. That’s why we have these penalties. Now, your specific thread wasn't "top tier" quality and it certainly won't be making it into the Reddit Hall of Fame anytime soon—mostly because of the intro—but it's very clear what you're interested in. You commented on your idea, asked a question, it wasn't just a one-liner, and it was well-written and coherent. Because of that, I honestly think the penalty was overkill, so I've rescinded it. The points have already expired, but hopefully, this provides some closure.

If the quality of the intro was the only reason for deleting it, then it shouldn't have been taken down at all. I’ve restored it, though I assume you’ve probably already received answers by now, so I’m leaving it locked until we decide how we want to handle it moving forward.

For some reason, the penalty marker is still showing up on the post even though it shouldn't be there after being rescinded, but if you check your profile and click the marker, you can see that I did remove it. It might just be a temporary bug, so maybe the marker will disappear from the post itself after a little while.

2) This post—I’ve restored this along with several other posts beneath it, and I’ve also removed the penalty from this one. Honestly, I really don't see what was so wrong with the question. I totally get that sometimes questions get repeated way too often and people should really take a moment to search the archives first, but since people were answering, there was clearly value in it. Mind you, I don't know the first thing about cutting bricks, so maybe there's some trolling going on there, but we'll see. 🤷 At first glance, it doesn't look malicious to me; I don't see any prior warnings for this kind of thing, and it didn't cause any chaos in the thread, so I've concluded that the penalty was likely too harsh.

3) This warning seems unnecessary to me. That certain fertilizer, whatever it was that you were asking about last time, was mentioned in that thread back in 2019. Like I said before: sure, you should check the community guidelines, but there's no sense in going that far back. A lot has changed since 2019, especially in construction, and there are probably new tips or even new materials available now. Just for the sake of context for that discussion, I’ve also restored this deleted post of yours.

4) This post in the chat wasn't deleted, but I did remove your response to the moderator's explanation. Even though the chat isn't the place to debate moderation (that's what this guide is for, even if the admin doesn't always show up as often as she should).🕺 ), I actually restored your comment just so we’d have the full context for this explanation, though I might end up deleting this whole thread later on (I didn't bring back those few posts that were totally off-topic, but you can clearly see how things feel incomplete without them). The main reason I brought it back is because I really want to emphasize that, just like you, I feel like outdoor kitchens and bread ovens are distinct enough topics that they deserve their own separate threads. It’s possible neither one is quite massive enough to justify a standalone topic, but if that's the case, then we should probably just rename the current thread so everyone knows exactly what it covers and what kind of discussions to expect.

On Reddit, we try our best to avoid those giant "catch-all" threads because, honestly, they become such a mess to navigate after a while and it gets hard to find anything useful. That doesn't mean every single tiny detail needs its own dedicated topic, though. In my eyes, these could easily be two different conversations, but hey, maybe I'm looking at it wrong.

5) Regarding this post, I only restored it because there was a post right above it that stayed up. If that one wasn't deleted, then this one shouldn't have been either, especially since you're just correcting an inaccurate quote from another user. If the incorrect info stays, then logically the correct info should stay too! Now, the warning sticker stays because of the commentary directed at the moderation team. I can't really blame you for not sitting around waiting weeks for an answer right here. 🙂

6) As for this post, I brought it back because I'm having second thoughts about it. I read it as just a casual comment on the discussion above, and I honestly don't see any malice in it. Even if you were "feeding the troll"—which is why you got the warning—I don't see why the troll above you didn't get one too. Plus, you didn't even get flagged until three days later, and while we *can* issue warnings retroactively, I usually suggest saving that for much more serious offenses. The whole point of a warning is to shut down an argument. If the fighting hadn't stopped even three days later, I get why the moderator chose your post to flag, but otherwise, it felt a bit unnecessary.

7) I also restored this one along with the next 17 posts, including one from a moderator, which had all been wiped for being off-topic. From what I can see, you guys are communicating perfectly normally and politely. If that specific conversation didn't fit the theme, it could have just been moved to a more appropriate section instead of being nuked. 🤷

8) And one last thing: I haven't restored the post where you were warned for advertising. Look, maybe you weren't technically advertising—you didn't explicitly say "buy this tool from me"—but you could have just posted a photo by itself rather than including a direct link to the sales listing.

Bottom line: it's entirely possible I misread some things and shouldn't have stepped in. Sometimes something looks perfectly fine until you step back and look at the bigger picture and the context. But looking at everything you've posted in this sub over the last two months, I truly don't see any intention to break the rules or stir the pot. I don't see you dragging down the quality or the flow of any discussions. Because of that, I just don't see the justification for this many warnings and deletions. Sure, some posts deserved to be removed, maybe even a few I brought back (just for context so we can actually talk about them, since you might not remember them), but my impression is that the moderation has been a little too heavy-handed. I'd really recommend more flexibility—using tools like splitting threads, moving posts, or just giving friendly pointers instead.

Using Reddit should be an enjoyable experience. Users should feel like they can post casually without feeling like they have to read through hundreds of posts and entire threads just to ask a simple question that fits the sub perfectly. If they do make a mistake, the moderator should be able to fix it with a light touch—that's what the tools are for! Deletions, warnings, and bans are useful, but we need to be careful and use them sparingly. Besides, answers change over time; what was true yesterday might not be true today. Even if the old stuff stays, new answers and new people can spark fresh debates where everyone learns something new. Or, you know, just has a good time.

First off, I want to offer a sincere apology to the moderator if I totally misread the situation or if I failed to grasp the full context behind why certain decisions were made.

I've gone ahead and issued a warning for this specific post. If you see this kind of behavior popping up again, or if it turns into a pattern of constant harassment, please make sure to flag it and shoot me a DM so I can step in.

nimblemoose72 said:I find it pretty funny how this thread about Zoran Oštrić was shut down almost instantly, yet
you didn't even ask rustydrifter10 to back up their claims, did you?

Here is the actual proof:

I can't post the private messages I received regarding the rules here, so I'll have to leave those out.

The guy basically sees ghosts if anyone dares mention Corona when talking about
aeromedicine, and then he just goes on a total ban spree, effectively killing any real discussion.

On top of that, he actually thinks it's "cute" to hold a virtual wake using forum usernames...
how weird is that?

But hey, if you think Oštrić is some kind of hero, then honestly, that says everything I need to know about you.😁

If you ask me, the moderator explained their reasoning and why they issued the ban perfectly clearly.

There’s really no need to keep complaining in multiple threads when a moderator has already weighed in on the situation. I’m totally with you on this one—that post was definitely out of line and offensive.

The ban is only for one day because they were just trolling.

Jeremy Johnson18 said:So, what's everyone's take on permanent bans?

Not great, honestly—everything's already been snapped up for the holidays. Now we’re just stuck waiting around for the new Spring/Summer collection to drop.

Man, has it really been that long already?! 😲 Time just flies when you're lounging around, eating way too much, and basically baking cookies every other day. 😬
I'm kidding, obviously—life has just been absolutely swallowing me whole, and honestly, that wasn't part of the deal! But look, I’ve got it on my radar and I'll check it out as soon as I possibly can. My bad. I know this is a serious complaint, but things have been pure madness lately; between work chaos and everything going on personally, even this forum hasn't taken a vacation this year. I swear, I actually miss those old servers we used to have. 😳

slycyclist342 said:We’ve hit a bit of a stalemate here, but I suppose someone in charge will eventually take notice of this thread.

I got shut down when I asked why we don't just pour the slab instead of using precast pieces.

It might sound trivial or even basic, but I am actually quite proud of the concept.🙂

In fact, every contractor I consulted about this gave me a thoughtful nod, agreeing that it was a genuinely clever approach.

(To put it simply: it would be faster, easier, and cheaper. While the load capacity might be lower, it remains more than adequate for a backyard grill.)

Why isn't anyone doing it? That is exactly what I posed to this forum.
I wasn't sure if there was some legitimate technical barrier preventing it, or if people just don't do it simply because "that's not how it's done."

It turns out to be the latter. Traditionally, everyone just hauls in slabs and pours concrete around them, yet nobody seems to have considered this alternative.

Since I was a complete novice in this area, I was merely looking at things from a different angle and noticed a glaring inconsistency.

And rather than receiving any recognition for my creativity—given that this idea would significantly simplify life for future DIYers building outdoor kitchens based on these forums—some guy had the nerve to claim my question was nothing more than a provocation.🤣 🤣

I caught wind of this thread, but honestly, I just don't have the bandwidth right now to dive deep into all the posts and figure out exactly where everything went sideways. If it isn't super urgent, would you mind bearing with me for a bit? I'll try my best to sit down and get through it all properly before the end of the year. 😁

briskheron42 said:Admin, could you please do me a favor and clear out those posts on the last page for the hundredth time? The ones about whether freelancing actually pays the bills or is just nonsense

...and the one where I'm asking about crowdfunding. Also the one right under that. Thanks much

Just shoot me a DM with the links to those specific posts and let me know exactly why they need to be taken down. I'll take a look.

The ban's been lifted.