Infractions, points, warnings, and bans... all for what?

So, I just got hit with a warning, a strike, and 30 points for:
"Trolling, off-topic rambling, and unnecessary nitpicking on the Pet sub-forum"

I can't even post the thread that got me flagged because it was deleted. And since it's gone, I can't even figure out what was actually wrong with it.
Honestly, calling it "unnecessary nitpicking" is just a weird way to describe using the multiquote tool properly.
You aren't supposed to spam single posts; the rules say multiquote is exactly what you use when you want to reply to several comments or different parts of one long post at once.
There was zero intent to troll, and I have no idea why anyone would take it that way.
As for being "off-topic," I don't get that either. I remember saying it’s not okay to call people "thugs" just because they buy legal fireworks and use them during the permitted times.
I also mentioned that I'm not a fan of firecrackers because they scare me, and honestly, it wouldn't be bad if they were banned entirely until December 31st.
I said I feel bad for the pets who get terrified...
...and that clueless adults—basically all the parents out there—just don't get the issue. They need to educate kids from a young age, introduce them to dogs, and teach them what animals actually like and what they don't.
I also noted that people used to set off way more stuff back in the day, especially around Christmas.
Is any of that really off-topic? Everyone else in the thread is saying the exact same thing. 🤔
It would be fair to just pin my original post here so someone could actually explain where I went wrong.

Then, just four minutes after that first strike, I get a red card, another 100 points, and a one-day ban for this post:
I am trying my absolute hardest to understand what was wrong with this post or which rule I supposedly broke.
It’s just a standard multiquote, totally according to the site rules. link
Where is the trolling or the off-topic stuff? Anything? 🤷
What did I do to deserve 130 points and a ban?
What is the actual reason for all this?
Is it maybe because I clash with one specific user (who also happens to be a moderator)? Does everything I write just annoy her to the point she wants me kicked off the sub-forum?
Or is it just because she's in a bad mood and stressed about her pet, so she's taking it out on me?
link

Lisa Young8 said:@Rachel Jones8, you don't have a pet, so you have no clue what it's like when one goes into shock for hours or literally has a heart attack. So please, just stay away from this topic and stop explaining how people celebrate.

You completely misunderstood my post, but apparently, that didn't stop you from jumping to conclusions based on total assumptions. Please don't comment on this post, because I'm in a really bad mood right now while trying to calm down Luna after some "thugs"—as Tiziana put it—set off fireworks in a fenced-in yard, making the blast ten times louder than it would be on the street. Luna is losing it, and I've had to stop giving her her usual calming aids because of the panic.

I feel terrible that people are struggling with their pets and feeling stressed alongside them, but that truly has nothing to do with me. It’s no reason to delete my posts, hand out strikes, or ban me.
Look, maybe I missed her point, but still... that doesn't justify a reaction like this. If she thinks I didn't get it, she could just explain herself or simply scroll past my post.

Honestly, this whole thing feels totally unfair. I’m asking for the strike and points to be wiped from my record.
If they stay, I need a clear, logical explanation of which rules I actually broke... where, when, and how. Otherwise, I have no clue what I can even say here without catching another strike.
Just so you know, I haven't had a single strike since August 2016, which should probably count for something.
But now, besides these two in the last four minutes, I’ve been hit with three strikes this month by the same moderator. That's 140 points gone.
The last one was 15 days ago for:
"Speculating on users' private info"
I didn't argue then, because usually, those claims make zero sense, but since I haven't shared anyone's private info (nor do I even know it), I tried asking the moderator for an explanation.
Since the reply came via DM, I shouldn't post it, but all I'll say is it made no sense at all. Still, I let it go.
But then this happened... so, I'm curious...

One question:
I got a one-day ban at noon on December 30th, but it says it expires at noon on January 1st.
Why didn't it end at noon on the 31st?

12/30/2018 12:04 01/01/2019 12:04 100 One-day ban

And finally... Happy New Year, everyone!
Wishing you guys health, luck, love, joy... basically everything...
(except for strikes and bans 😁 )

Looking back at your post from December 15, 2018, where you asked the moderator "what kind of handyman are you?"—well, if a moderator answers every question based on what they know, they should be free to post whatever they want without being interrogated about their credentials. After you asked that, the moderator just replied, "Rachel Jones8, you've gotta be kidding me."
Then, the admin goes ahead and wipes both your question and the moderator's reply with this explanation
Look, if those rules applied to everyone equally, it would be fine. But they don't.
I got hit with a warning and a ban for receiving the exact same response from that same moderator.

That same moderator spent an entire year questioning me—asking where I got my info, how I knew it, or where it was written. I tried my absolute best to explain things clearly and provided endless proof, but it didn't matter. He just wouldn't get it, or he'd decide my evidence didn't count. It’s pretty clear now. His constant doubt regarding my knowledge eventually led to me getting a permanent ban from the housing PDF thread, which honestly isn't fair.
Meanwhile, other users get a pass all the time for constantly bringing up stuff like hot girls, waitresses, food, booze, and everything else that has zero to do with the actual topic. They get away with it.
The way that moderator responded when he punished me says everything you need to know about how unfair his process is.
Honestly, your signature could probably be added to this post to make the whole situation crystal clear.
Unfortunately, we're still stuck in a one-sided system where we have to tailor our posts to fit the whims and knowledge of the people who hold the power to control and punish us.
It's a mistake to think of our posts as some kind of buried treasure for others to find later. People expect an answer right now; a post isn't some archive, it's just an exchange of opinions and experiences from whoever is writing.
Good luck with your future posts.

Frank Lee said:Looking back at that post from December 15th, 2018... honestly, what was the deal with asking the moderator, Handyman, "what kind of expert are you even?" If he's answering everyone who knows their stuff, he’s got every right to post whatever he wants. You can't exactly grill him on his credentials, right? After that question went up, Handyman just shot back with, "you've gotta be kidding me."
Then the admin just wipes out your question and that handyman's comment, along with his little explanation. I can't believe people actually fall for that stuff. Is anyone really that gullible?
That might work for some people, but let's be real—it doesn't apply to everyone. Does it really?

Exactly. I’ve never heard of a rule like that on Reddit before, let alone actually seen it written down.
It exists. This is it.

So, what exactly is off-limits on Reddit?

Doxing other users' private info? Seriously?

But that's got nothing to do with my cardboard box. I didn't leak any data or anything.

If someone writes:

I'm telling you, rinsing isn't even necessary. Why bother?

Since we're talking about a claim that basically challenges what a professional handyman told me, isn't it totally fair to ask if there's actually any real substance behind it? I mean, does this person even have any expertise? It’s not like the Reddit rules say you can't ask.
It’s just a question, nothing more.
You can answer if you want, or just leave it. Up to you.
He could've just said "yes," "no," or even "who cares?" He could've just ignored the question entirely and the whole thing would've died right there. Why make it a whole thing?
Rachel Jones8 said, "You've gotta be kidding me."
I honestly didn't get what he was getting at, and since he thought I was just joking around, I decided to answer his question and explain myself. And what did I get for that? A red card.

Same moderator giving me the exact same reason for my warning and ban. Seriously?
I don't know about you guys, but I really think we need to talk more about this. Isn't it obvious?
This same handyman has been questioning where I get my info and how I know what I know for a whole year now. I’ve tried being as patient as possible, laying out all the proof, but nothing sticks. He just refuses to listen and keeps insisting my sources don't count. Honestly? His constant doubt about what I actually know ended up getting me permanently banned from that housing PDF group. Not exactly fair, is it?
The Reddit crowd helped out too—you know, those guys who constantly derail everything by talking about nothing but hot girls, waitresses, food, and booze instead of actually sticking to the topic. It’s totally allowed, though.
The way that moderator handled my ban says everything you need to know about how unfair they really are.
If you added your signature to this thread, everything would finally make sense.
Unfortunately, we’re still stuck in an echo chamber where the rules are basically whatever the people in charge decide they want them to be.

It’s pretty rough.
I keep getting warnings from the moderators because apparently quoting a whole post is against the rules. (I tried pointing out how pointless that rule is, but I didn't get anywhere)
Yet the same moderator quotes entire posts whenever they feel like it.
Just look at this example:
link 1
Link 2
Sometimes the mods merge several long posts into one because you have to use multiquote, but other times you get a strike or a ban just for using multiquote.
Sometimes everything you say is considered "off-topic," even if you're saying the exact same thing everyone else is.
Other times, they twist your words, attack you, and judge you—and if you try to explain yourself, they just delete everything.
Take this post for instance.
Even though I never said anything about supporting people setting off fireworks wildly or throwing them near people or pets, they're attacking me like that's my stance.
I was actually responding to post by Tiziana regarding "distant sounds."
And all I got for it was this comment.

She said her piece and moved on.

People love celebrating things in all sorts of ways, but that doesn't mean everyone else should have to suffer through it. No, I don't want to deal with someone tossing firecrackers into a basement; it's not funny when the blast makes my heart skip a beat every single time. There are babies, small kids, elderly people, and pets involved here. It's just not right to celebrate like that. If these things are going to happen, they should be done in designated areas under supervision where they won't bother anyone, including animals.

Did I ever actually say it was okay to throw fireworks into someone's basement or apartment complex?
All I said was that we can't call people criminals just because they bought legal fireworks and are using them during the permitted times and in a legal manner.
In this post, Didin shared
link
which says:

But let's emphasize that even then, their use is strictly prohibited in enclosed spaces or in areas where large crowds gather. So, if you are being terrorized by pyrotechnics, feel free to call the police in those specific instances.

So, it clearly states... don't throw them near people. Okay, it doesn't mention pets, but I'm assuming any decent person who tries to follow the law and isn't just trying to scare everyone around them understands that.

Then what else would you call them?
They're tossing fireworks out of windows, into basements, and into hallways so they echo like bombs. They think it's hilarious to toss one near a pet just to watch it freak out. What would you call people like that? They aren't exactly criminals; they're just obnoxious degenerates. Honestly, those same fireworks should be shoved into some opening for those parents who buy this stuff for their kids.

Did I ever say it was okay to toss firecrackers into a basement right next to your pets and just laugh about it?
Nah, I'm not.
I wrote:

If someone’s out there dodging accountability and messing with everyone around them—purposefully scaring people and pets? Yeah, I'm with the description on that one.

(Posting this from memory since the original thread was deleted.)
He even mentioned that I'm scared of fireworks too, and honestly, they are dangerous. He talked about how a warehouse caught fire at a buddy's place, said buying them is just throwing money down the drain, and that I feel bad for the animals. Plus, instead of just scaring people, he thinks we should be educating kids and everyone else... you know how it goes.
I ended up deleting that just so it wouldn't look like I was basically echoing everyone else.
Aside from the fact that they're all just lowlife thugs and degenerates who need to be taught a lesson with some heavy-duty firecrackers everywhere?
The law is pretty straightforward here: shooting is allowed from the 27th through the 31st. But obviously, there are rules. You can't just go anywhere, and you definitely aren't aiming at animals or people... right?
Look, once you say that people following the law aren't criminals, the vultures on Reddit start circling. It’s like they can’t even process what was written. They act like nobody should ever fire a shot, anywhere, ever, just because it might bother their pets. I get that it's annoying... but expecting miracles isn't realistic. Especially when they choose aggression over actual explanations, education, or real solutions.

Frank Lee said:Don't go treating our posts like some buried treasure that someone else might strike gold with later. We're looking for answers right now. At the end of the day, it’s just one person's experience or knowledge—it's just an exchange of ideas. Right?
Good luck with the writing!

Thanks.
Just to say it again...

Frank Lee said:If you just added your signature to this post, everything would finally make sense. Wouldn't it?
Unfortunately, we're still stuck in an echo chamber. It feels like we have to tailor everything we write just to fit the mindset of the people in charge of policing and punishing us.

That’s a tough one...
I didn't even get a single word of approval from the mods, yet here we are. These posts just stay up on Reddit, one after another—accusatory, insulting, and totally about me instead of the actual topic. And the worst part? None of it is even true.

Didin said:Just because something happens doesn't mean you have to go overboard celebrating it the way Rachel Jones8 wants to. Is it really worth all that hype? 🙂

Yeah, exactly. It’s pretty much just 🙂

When a thread on the pet sub is titled Holidays, Fireworks, and Dogs, it really only means one thing—people are talking about the stress dogs go through because of all the fireworks during the holidays and sharing tips on how owners can help them through it.

So many owners know firsthand that dogs (and honestly, plenty of other creatures too) get totally traumatized. They deal with health issues, and some even die from heart failure during those big firework shows. But since you don’t have a dog and haven't expressed any interest in getting one (if I recall your earlier comment correctly), your reply feels pretty trollish and lacking empathy when you write:

Rachel Jones8 said:Anything can hurt animals, kids, or anyone else.
People can cause harm using perfectly legal things. Someone could make you disabled through no fault of your own. Or you could do it to yourself, by accident. Or on purpose.

Then you pivot back to my sarcastic comment about someone on a TV news segment talking about fireworks and animals. Even though it was clearly meant as a joke, you’re treating it like the most serious statement ever made, lecturing me on what kids are capable of versus what dogs are. I can accept that maybe catching sarcasm isn't your strongest suit, or that you tend to drift off-topic—subtly or not—but the reason I asked you to just skip over my posts is this part right here:

Rachel Jones8 said:I know this time of year is tough for some, but at the end of the day, fireworks and celebrations are always going to be around. People want to celebrate, so they find ways to blow things up and have fun.
For everyone else who doesn't like it, they just have to deal with it... we all have things we don't like, but we can't expect the whole world to revolve around us.

And just so you know, the Mayor of Rome actually banned fireworks and pyrotechnics to protect people and animals. It’s honestly pretty heartless to ignore someone else's suffering—pets and their owners included—just because it's "party time." Plus, your post is turning into an ad hominem attack (bringing up my status on the Housing sub), which is why I asked you to just leave my comments alone. Especially since I’m dealing with major issues with my own dog, who takes hours to recover after a firework show, putting her health at risk.

If you still feel the need to debate whether fireworks are justified, there are plenty of other threads—like the one for Social Sciences or the general World Around Me sub—depending on which angle you want to take. If you want to talk about fireworks specifically in Washington, D.C., there's a thread for that. There's the whole of Reddit to choose from, but no, you decided that the Pet sub was the perfect place to defend fireworks.

By the way, you got a warning and a ban for the exact same thing on this same topic back in 2014:

Lisa Young83 said:Here’s the PDF on pets. This thread is specifically about how holiday fireworks affect our dogs. A little off-topic banter is fine—actually, I love a good joke—but let's keep it grounded. 😁 Last night, an entire side conversation between Rachel Jones8 and TweetyBirdy got wiped out. Just so everyone’s on the same page, when we delete stuff, consider it a formal moderator warning.

The old Romans used to say: Repetition is the mother of wisdom.

Reddit says: Repetition is the mother of getting banned.

If you want to chat about things outside the scope of this PDF, feel free to head over to the chat or maybe jump into the "World Around Me" section, since the whole point of this specific thread is the impact of holiday fireworks.

Your first Infraction was a profile warning because you were drifting way off-topic and just chatting instead of discussing the subject. Honestly, after seeing another massive wall of text complaining about things that don't belong here—especially after you steered the conversation toward whether marijuana oil helps calm dogs during New Year's Eve fireworks 🤦—I gave you a one-day ban. I actually ended it after an hour just as a heads-up, basically saying, "Hey, watch your step if you keep this up." If that question is super important to you, you should check out the Alternatives PDF instead.

I also noticed you've been doing the same thing over on the Renting threads—talking about landlords and tenants in the Housing PDF, even though you aren't renting or leasing anything, nor do you plan to. It’s not even that you're being helpful or sharing great info or asking deep questions. Instead, Rachel Jones8 just breaks records for how long her posts are; she keeps people entertained, sure, but not through actual wit, and overall, it’s just a lot of circular talking. If you just want to gossip or shoot the breeze, we have a couple of threads on Reddit meant exactly for that, where you can talk all you want without any trouble. But on these topical PDFs, there are minimum standards to keep the discussion useful, and you'll need to follow them if you want to keep posting here.

That covers everything you asked.

So there was this high school girl...
She was hanging out with her classmates, just wandering through town and grabbing coffee after school. At one point, the group slows down, and she ends up walking a little ahead of everyone else. She’s walking right on the edge of the curb—one foot on the sidewalk, the other down by the street. You can probably picture how weird that looks, walking at two different levels like that.
And then... out of nowhere, this woman flies at her. She lashes out, starts screaming hysterically, waving her arms around and yelling at the top of her lungs. She’s berating the girl, asking who raised her to act like that, telling her she should be ashamed, questioning how she could be so disrespectful...
The girl just freezes. She’s stunned, shaking from the fear... totally in shock.
Then the woman just walks off.
The girl looks over at her friends who are standing right there next to her—it all happened so fast—looking red-faced and miserable, just staring at them for answers. Her friends step in and explain what happened.
Further ahead, on that same sidewalk, an elderly man with a disability had been walking—someone who was visibly limping. Because she was walking on the edge of the curb, it looked like she was "limping" too, making fun of the man ahead of her. To anyone watching, it seemed like she was mocking him.
But that wasn't it at all. She didn't even notice the man. She was just walking near the edge. There is no way she would ever mock someone with special needs.
To this day, that woman remembers the girl and thinks about what a terrible person she was.
And the girl often thinks about that woman and everything that went down... she isn't even sure if she actually got hit, though she thinks she did, but she forgot because it didn't matter. The girl knows that woman still believes she's that kind of person. But she isn't. She wishes things were different.
She often wonders if she should have run after her, tried to explain, told her she wasn't being disrespectful...
Would it have helped? Would she have even listened?
Probably not.

Miroslav Antić said:People find it hardest to see what is invisible. For things like that, you need
tremendous wisdom in your eyes.

Lisa Young83 said:Most pet owners already know the deal—dogs (and honestly, plenty of other animals too) can take a serious hit from all those fireworks. Between the sudden shocks and the stress, it can actually wreck their health, and some even end up having heart attacks during the Fourth of July celebrations. But not you. You said it yourself before—you don't have a pet, and you aren't planning on getting one anytime soon. Why change a good thing? That's exactly why your comment feels that way. That’s just straight-up trolling. Where's the empathy?

Of course I know that.
I hadn't really thought about it before, but the topic caught my eye, and I just stumbled onto it right here on Reddit in the pet section.

Let's see my troll quote.
He’s written in. this one? I can't even begin to process this. Is anyone else seeing this?
That’s a straight answer to the post.

Gorgo said:I honestly blame the government for letting people buy fireworks in the first place. Why even allow it? Which ones could actually cause trouble? For the kids and the pets.
They can file all the appeals they want, but people are still going to get hurt. It’s just absurd. Like, why ban smoking but let other stuff slide? You know, someone could actually end up disabled because of this. And that’s the weakest one yet.

I’m not even trolling here... I just said what I said. There are a million different ways people, kids, or even pets can get hurt. Isn't that just how it works?
Cars, bikes, walking to school... what's the move?
The government can't just ban everything they deem dangerous. Right now, firecrackers aren't illegal, and that's just the reality of things.
Look, I’m not saying we shouldn't fight to get these banned. That's exactly what I said in my other post before it got nuked.

Then you go and circle back to that sarcastic comment I made about that TV pundit talking about fireworks and pets. Even if you think they might have been joking, you’re treating it like some heavy-duty lecture, breaking down exactly what kids can handle versus what dogs can deal with. Look, I can accept that catching irony isn't really your thing, or that you tend to veer off on tangents—subtle or otherwise—but the reason I told you to just skip my posts is this part:

I know that's the spot.
Since the post got nuked, all I can say is I have no clue what kind of off-topic drama we're even talking about.
Honestly, I don't get why you're so worked up. I didn't say anything that wasn't true. Fireworks are perfectly legal starting on the 27th, so if people find them annoying, they just need to figure out how to deal with it.
Asking people on Reddit to shut up is pretty pointless, right? Everyone’s got a right to their opinion.
So you're telling me I can't post or comment just because you're in a bad mood? Makes zero sense, right?

Just so you know, the Mayor of Rome banned fireworks and pyrotechnics to keep people and pets safe. Isn't it pretty cold to ignore someone else's suffering just to throw a party?

The reality here in the States is that they aren't banned.
Where did you get the idea that I'm ignoring anyone's pain?
Maybe from that (deleted) post where I said I felt bad for your dog and everyone else struggling?
Or maybe because of this post that got me a red card?

Since everything I wrote about fireworks and my views on them was wiped out, (and I don't have anything good to say about them), I'll just repeat my response to Didin's post:

That doesn't mean we should "celebrate" in the way Rachel Jones8 is advocating for.

No, I'm not advocating for celebrating like that.

Also, you're getting personal now by bringing up my red card from the Housing thread, so I asked you to just skip over my posts. Especially since I'm dealing with some serious issues with my pet, who can't settle down for hours after a firework show, which really puts their health at risk.

Am I attacking you in that deleted post because of the red card? I wouldn't say so.
🤔 Seriously?
Let's see then.

Admins, please pull up the disputed deleted post so we can actually see what happened.

If you still want to argue whether using fireworks is justified, you could look at a sociology journal or a science publication depending on your angle. If you want to talk about how fireworks are used in Washington, D.C., you have plenty of resources. You have all of Reddit at your disposal, but instead, you decided to use the Pets thread to justify fireworks.

No, I didn't decide to justify fireworks; I just read the thread because I was interested.
I only jumped in because the people using them started calling others criminals or idiots, and even suggesting people shove fireworks into drains... or into the mouths of those setting them off.
And since fireworks aren't illegal, if someone uses them the right way, they don't deserve that kind of labeling.
To minimize accidents, we need to educate people—especially little kids—from a young age on how to behave and respect animals.
In my opinion, my thoughts aren't off-topic, and there's no reason I shouldn't post here.
It has nothing to do with me not having a pet, or you having issues.

You got a warning and a strike for the exact same thing back in 2014:

The vibe on this sub was just like it is now.
Stripped post
Same old story. What’s the issue, though? Which rule did I actually break? None.

Your first strike was for off-topic chatter. Since you followed that up with a massive wall of text complaining about things that had nothing to do with the thread—even after you steered it toward whether marijuana oil might calm dogs down during New Year's Eve fireworks 🤦 I gave you a one-day ban, which I lifted after an hour just to serve as a warning. If you keep this up, you know what happens next. If this question is so vital to you, check out the Alternative subreddit.

A ban for asking a stupid question? 🙄
My notice said it was a (one-day) ban from 12:30 PM on 12/31 until 12:00 PM on 01/01.
I don't care about that Alternative subreddit. Not right now.
But, regarding the oil, I can say this here.
A friend had a really sick pet and did everything possible to save them and extend their life. When he ran out of options, he got some oil that helped ease those final moments. He hoped they'd get better, but sadly, they didn't.
Later, he tried a tiny bit of that oil himself... and said he slept like a baby (he usually sleeps terribly).
It made me think maybe it could help.

Regarding calming pets, it's probably a dumb question, but still... would marijuana oil (for the sick ones) help?

So I got banned because the thought was "dumb."
And just three posts below mine, people are talking about some kind of oil...

I know people use it and say it helps, generally with anxiety too, not just for thunder and fireworks, but I don't know.

...and they provide a link to a shop where you can buy it.

I see you've started acting the same way on the Renting Threads—landlords, tenants, apartments... on the Housing subreddit, even though you aren't renting or leasing anything, nor do you intend to.

What does that have to do with anything? Do you need receipts or proof of a lease just to talk there? Isn't the forum open to everyone?
And how do you know I don't intend to? Does my intention even matter? Am I allowed to post or not?

You could at least try being constructive, sharing some actual facts, or asking a question that gets people thinking.

Someone else asked the question, and others answered it. I just pointed out how one response contradicted itself. Everyone’s got an opinion on this. It's a discussion.
Are we not allowed to have an opinion? Or point out when someone isn't making sense?

But no, Rachel Jones8 is busy breaking records with her post length, entertaining everyone without actually being funny, and basically just fueling pointless arguments. If you just want to gossip and chat... there are plenty of threads on Reddit where you can do that without getting flagged. Those specific subreddits have basic standards for keeping things on track, and you'll need to follow them if you want to keep posting there.

So everyone else talking right now is following the rules, but I'm the only one who isn't?
I honestly have no clue what's going on here—what "standards" are we even talking about?
All I know is I don't even know what I'm allowed to say in your subreddits anymore. It feels like every time I touch my keyboard, I'm somehow breaking a rule, off-topic, or trolling...

I'm sorry you see things the way you do and feel this way about it.

Rachel Jones8, honestly, reading your posts is such an exhausting marathon, so I’m asking you please to just be brief and get to the point from now on. If your thoughts can't fit into one standard post, I’d honestly rather you didn't post anything at all instead of just layering page after page of text. As far as the complaints go, the moderator already gave you an answer, I don't have anything else to add, and the supermod can chime in if they feel it's actually necessary.