Complaint regarding moderator "Know Thyself

Do moderators have to follow the same rules against insulting other users, or are they somehow above the law here?

Thanks!

The rules stay the same regardless. If you run into a moderator who’s being disrespectful or throwing insults, just shoot a private message to one of the supermods to report them; you can find their full list over in the pinned thread alongside the official rulebook PDF.

Isn't this an insult?

rustydrifter10, give me a break—be fair here. Look, the guy is a moderator, fine, but if a post saying "you absolute moron" only gets slapped with a 45-point penalty for insulting a user, then we’ve hit rock bottom... it's the death of common sense. Calling someone an "absolute moron" isn't just a minor insult—it's about as low as you can go.

Man, if he picks up one more yellow card, he might actually end up getting banned...

mellowgardener9 said:Isn't that an insult?

It isn't.👍

Which post of yours was that on? If you don't want to bother checking, it was the very first one—and until yesterday, the only one. You jump straight into personal attacks against another user in your opening post without contributing a single useful thought to the discussion (whatever the topic may be). Why resort to such a condescending level of discourse? He actually told you exactly what he thinks in lowercase, and his opening remark was just a clear way of drawing that parallel.👍

For everyone else—perhaps try reading the rest of the thread, especially everything that came before that specific post?🤔

P.S.: And I know the inevitable "defending the mods" comments are coming, but I have zero personal relationship with the moderator in question; this is simply my opinion as a user.👍

P.P.S.: Speaking as a moderator myself, if I were running this board, I would have issued a ban and deleted that post immediately, but apparently, I don't hold any authority over this specific community.🤷

Brian Edwards6 said:For everyone else—maybe take a second to actually read the rest of the thread? Especially everything leading up to that last post.🤔

I don't know about everyone else, but I've read a few pages since that post went up, and Google has been acting incredibly condescending toward the group. That’s just the vibe they bring to the conversation. Look, this specific post is ugly and totally out of context, but the reality remains: they really did say all that stuff, and somehow they still managed to get along with that one idiot... 🤷

My impression couldn't be more different, though as I mentioned before, I don't actually know him personally and we don't have any history together.👍

If you actually bother to read the whole thing, you'll see that Gnosis didn't call anyone an idiotically retarded moron; he was just commenting on how their communication is at that level.
The post where he supposedly insulted someone has already been deleted.

Michelle Phillips54 said:If you actually read the whole thing, you'll see Know Thyself didn't call the user an idiotically retarded idiot. They were just saying their communication was at that level.
The post where the insult happened was deleted anyway.

Was there really no other way to handle it? 🤷

I mean, surely Know Thyself knows how to do better than that... 🤷

Brian Edwards6 said:No.👍

What exactly is your point in this thread? You don't even need to double-check—you’re the very first person to post, and until yesterday, you were the only one. In your single, solitary post, you immediately launch a personal attack on another user without contributing a damn thing to the discussion, regardless of what the topic actually is. Why go for such a condescending low blow? He literally just told you that in lowercase, and his opening remark was nothing more than a direct comparison...👍

For everyone else—maybe try actually reading the rest of this thread, especially the posts leading up to that one?...🤔

P.S.: And I know the mods are going to jump in to defend him, but I’ve never even met the guy. This is just my take as a user...👍

P.P.S.: As a moderator, I’d have handed this guy a ban and deleted his post immediately, but apparently, I’m not on the moderation team for the local subreddit...🤷

So what if it's my first time enrolling?...
So, if I’m not actively working on that PDF, I don't have any right to call someone's attempt at "fixing the Mississippi" a total disaster and a complete misdirection... right?
The moderator has his own little "personal opinion" regarding premarital sex, and the users actually gave him the green light by claiming the Church doesn't view it as a sin. That is completely and utterly false. So, I wrote him a quick reality check about what kind of Catholic he actually is... because clearly, he doesn't know his own faith or Catholic doctrine. He’s just making up his own rules and boundaries for a Catholic life whenever it suits him, which goes against everything the actual teachings stand for...

Of course, it's my fault for even starting this thread. Just go ahead and give me a strike and a ban already...
☕

Brian Edwards6 said:My impression is the exact opposite, but like I said, I don't know him personally and we have no history...👍

If you keep making statements like that, we’re going to end up with the exact opposite impression...
☕

Michelle Phillips54 said:If you actually bother to read the entire post, it’s obvious that Gnosis wasn't calling the user an idiotically retarded moron... they were just pointing out that their communication is at that level...
The post where he was being insulting has been removed.

Give me a break!
Is correcting someone's mistake by politely citing evidence—something I have every right to do—now considered "rude communication"? Apparently, that’s the logic here, matching his own incredibly disrespectful and unhinged outburst...

Oh my God, what kind of country are we living in?
😕

mellowgardener9 said:So what if this is my first time posting?
In other words, if I’m not an active participant in this specific PDF document, I don't have the standing to call someone else's attempt at "correcting a course toward the Mississippi" a total failure or claim they are leading others astray?...

You have the right to an opinion, but you don't have the right to turn the discussion into a personal attack, which is exactly what you're doing (in the deleted portion of this paragraph). If you want to say something personal to him, use private messages. If you want to discuss the topic, stay on the topic. If you think a certain post doesn't belong here, report it or bring it over here. It's really that simple.👍

mellowgardener9 said:... oh sure, it's my fault for starting this thread. Let's just give me a permanent mark on my record and ban me already...

Read that again. Not regarding this thread specifically, but regarding the post you're complaining about—specifically the part where you dragged the conversation down to a personal level.👍

mellowgardener9 said:... if you keep making statements like that, you're going to end up creating the exact opposite impression...

Why would I lie to you? You've already formed your impression, and there isn't anything I can (or want to) do to change it.👍

I’ve read way more than just two pages here.
I have to say, the moderator is... well, I don't want to be rude, but honestly, the guy is just plain disrespectful.
If he’s too good to listen to any more explanations, then he should just leave Reddit; nobody's forcing him to stay.
He thinks he's using logic, but he’s really just shouting his own opinions.
He claims no one can beat his arguments, yet when a female user politely presents a counterpoint, he just condescendingly calls her "sweetie"—which is incredibly patronizing—and goes right back to rambling about his views without any actual substance.
It’s just the same loop over and over.

Regarding the post mellowgardener9 is complaining about: it wasn't a direct insult, but rather something wrapped up nicely enough that he could pretend he didn't mean it 😬. Still, the moderator's entire tone in that thread is incredibly negative and toxic, and the admins really ought to step in and issue a warning. Even if this were just a regular user, let alone a moderator, it wouldn't fly. This is a moderator who actually called a guy an idiot in a single post. Seriously, what kind of communication level is that?

Brian Edwards6 said:You might be right, but you don't have the right to make this personal, which is exactly what you're doing here (in that deleted part of your post). If you want to take a shot at him personally, use private messages. If you want to talk about the topic, stay on the topic. If you think a post doesn't belong here, report it or come over here. It's simple.👍

Read it again. Not for this thread, but for that specific post you're complaining about regarding making things personal...👍

Why lie to ourselves? You've already made up your mind, and there's nothing I can—or want to—do about it.👍

Fine then.
I started this thread to vent. I didn't read the rules thoroughly enough earlier, and even though I sent a complaint to the supermod, I still haven't heard back. Who knows if I ever will.

Regarding that whole "relationships and knowing people" thing, it was supposed to be a joke. Don't take it so seriously.

I wasn't implying anything, but old-timers always say that when people try too hard to "defend" themselves by laying everything out, it usually ends up being the exact opposite, haha.

Whatever, we aren't all the same. Bad joke.

Anyway, if I'm an "idiotically retarded" person, then the gentleman could have just messaged me privately.🤷

Why is this kind of conversation allowed for you guys, whether it's "personal" or not?

What's the point of the thread title if it isn't a personal issue? A moderator should be able to comment based on their own opinion, yet I'm apparently not allowed to give mine to the moderator. I think a little democracy wouldn't hurt this Reddit.🤷

mellowgardener9 said:Look, if I'm such an "idiot," the guy could have just sent me a DM instead of calling me out here. 🤷

Why is this kind of talk allowed here, whether it’s "personal" or not?

I mean, isn't the whole point of the thread a personal issue? A moderator should be able to chime in based on their own perspective, yet I don't seem to have that same right. Honestly, a little more democracy wouldn't hurt this Reddit community. 🤷

Let's take things in order.

I specifically asked Michelle Phillips54 to issue warnings for direct insults, and posts that warranted them have been flagged.

Since the post in question explicitly stated that being "idiotically retarded" wasn't directed at you personally, but was instead describing the quality of the discussion itself, there's no need for an insult warning—let alone a gross misconduct one.

I have no intention of flagging "this was written stupidly" versus "you are stupid." That distinction should be obvious; otherwise, we'd end up sterilizing half of this site.

To wrap this up: posts that needed flags have been flagged, and the reasoning behind why someone was or wasn't penalized has been explained. The only post left unflagged is yours—the one where you tried to correct a factual error just to be difficult. It's purely unconstructive and a total provocation, triggered simply because the moderator didn't get banned for a post you thought deserved it.

Fine, I'll fix this "injustice" now, though we can go back and forth on this all day if you want.

Matthew Anderson said:Let's get things straight.

I was the one asking Michelle Phillips54 for warnings; posts that required them have been flagged.

Since the post in question explicitly stated that the phrase 'idiotically retarded' wasn't directed at you, but was merely describing the level of the debate, there is absolutely no need for an insult warning, let alone a profanity violation.

I have zero intention of flagging "this was written stupidly" versus "you are stupid"—the distinction should be obvious.

To wrap this up: all posts that required warnings have been flagged, and I've explained the reasoning behind every decision. The only post still pending is yours regarding the correction of a false statement, which is nothing more than unconstructive provocation triggered by the fact that the moderator didn't issue a warning for a post you felt deserved one.

I'll fix this "injustice" now, and we can move on...

I never called his input stupid, nor did I attack him personally.
I just corrected a factual error.

As a believer, he is spreading falsehoods; as a believer, I simply have to step in when someone spreads lies and misinformation in the name of the Church.

He wrote "idiotically retarded" directly; he didn't write "your stance is idiotic and retarded."
If you can't see the difference, then I don't even know how to respond to your reaction.

Sometimes, during situations like this, I feel like requesting a permanent ban... there are just too many creatures here who only occasionally act like human beings.

mellowgardener9 said:He didn't say "your take is idiotic and retarded." He straight-up wrote "idiotically retarded."
If you can't see the difference there, I honestly don't know how else to respond to your reaction.

Look, if it wasn't for the fine print—which is pretty obvious in the post—this guy would've been handed a failing grade just like when he was told "You're an idiot" during enrollment. No deep philosophy needed, just a straight dismissal.

Matthew Anderson said:If it weren't for the obvious fine print in the post, he would have been handed a warning just like his registration entry, 'You're an idiot.', without all this philosophy and overthinking.

On what grounds did he decide that I am "insulting" him with that post?

Look, if I claim someone's level of spirituality or their relationship with God—based on my own interpretation—is wrong, and say they are lying by putting that stance under the umbrella of the Church, is that really the level of conversation that justifies you stepping in as a moderator?

The man is simply insinuating stupidity.

I did not write an insult to him anywhere, I repeat, I merely offered a comment regarding the inaccuracy of his entry.

If you consider this kind of conversation normal—where one person interprets someone else's decency and calls it "idiotically retarded"—then I’d have a lot of questions for you people acting as moderators.

But fine, the warning is issued, whatever.
Thanks for nothing!

I will definitely be looking for a permanent ban. This makes no sense to me; this isn't a place where a normal conversation can happen... most people here give the impression they aren't even normal!

mellowgardener9 said:If you guys actually think this kind of conversation is okay—where someone's decency is up for debate and they get called an "idiot" or "retarded"—then honestly, I’d have some serious questions about how you all handle moderation here.

Look, I’m not planning on handing out bans just because a post is labeled as "stupid," nor am I coming for the mods or you personally.

Instead of using "stupid," feel free to swap in whatever word fits better, provided we keep the overall context and the body of work on the topic in mind.

Michelle Phillips54 said:If you actually read the whole thread, you'd see Know Thyself wasn't calling a user an idiot; he was just commenting on the level of communication being used here.

Communication?
So, you claim you have "absolutely no qualms when you don't ban a 'friend's' post even though it clearly violates the rules,"
I respond by saying "so much for your quality as a moderator,",
and you reply with -> "idiot's retarded"... adding that this is "roughly the level we're communicating at now"...

Using the phrase "idiot's retarded" can't be directed at a third party; it doesn't apply to anyone else. It points to exactly one person—the current interlocutor.

Plus:
I am well aware of the standards you are supposed to uphold as a moderator. I can judge your performance based on that. If you refuse to sanction posts from your friends that violate the "moderator handbook"—then I am perfectly justified in saying: "so much for your quality as a moderator."

A Catholic can certainly have sex before marriage. But a GOOD Catholic doesn't (because it goes against Jahve's rules, Jesus' rules, and the rules of the Church). Even Catholics don't just call themselves "Catholics"; even at funerals, a priest will make a point to say, "he was a GOOD Catholic."

"So much for what kind of Catholic he is."
The example above is a perfectly legitimate statement about someone who claims to be Catholic but won't even chip in for charity...
You think otherwise?
You think that statement is idiotic?
By your logic, if someone refused to help, they could just casually tell him, "idiot's retarded," without issue?

bliss said:The post containing the insult was banned.

The insults in the banned post were identical to the ones in the post you consider "educational" (likely due to the context):

Know Thyself said:idiot's retarded 🤣

Know Thyself said:You're an idiot 👍

Are you trying to suggest that "um, well, there was some fine print involved"?
Please. If there is logic present, it should be evident without pointing fingers. If there is no logic, no amount of "explanation" changes that.
Is there any actual logic or justification for calling an interlocutor a brainless idiot in the following scenario?

Know Thyself said:

mellowgardener9 said:

Know Thyself said:I am a practicing Catholic and I have absolutely zero issues with premarital sex. 🤷

So much for your Catholic credentials. ☕

You absolute idiot. 🤣