Banning users who threaten police reports or similar legal action

slybison8 said:As I mentioned before, I am somewhat concerned about how such threats might affect the discussion itself, specifically regarding whether every argument presented gets an equal opportunity to be heard.

I don't really know if the person making the threat will actually follow through with it or not—and honestly, I guess it doesn't really concern me personally.

Perhaps they will file the report, or perhaps they are just trying to act important and intimidate their interlocutor with the threat of a report to force them to withdraw from the conversation.

From my perspective as a moderator, that particular aspect is what seems problematic.

Regarding compliance with the Law of the United States, I feel that moderators should be the ones ensuring discussions respect American laws, which is why our posting rules state that non-compliant posts should be reported to us. This doesn't rule out the possibility of something being reported outside of the Forum, but I believe that such actions shouldn't necessarily be broadcasted within the discussion.

Otherwise, the issue I am addressing here and what actually occurred with hiddenlynx66's alleged report are not quite the same thing.

hiddenlynx66 shared the content of the post with private individuals who he believes were harmed. I don't have an issue with that, although I suppose it could have been handled in a slightly calmer or more appropriate manner—but then again, it wouldn't be the hiddenlynx66 we know. 🙂

So, he wasn't reporting this to the Police or the Department of Justice, but rather to the people being discussed in the thread. One can only hope that those individuals won't immediately rush to the Police like litigious busybodies, and instead, they might first join the Reddit community to share their side of the story.

Christian Torres3 said:That’s all true, but we're talking about accountability here. Does someone have the right to sue over something said about them on a forum if they claim their rights were violated? Yes. Does someone have the right to report a post on a forum? Of course. And it’s also the moderator's right to step in if they think it's messing up the discussion. Even The Destroyer's buddy has the right to complain if he doesn't like a report and wants action taken, though I'm pretty skeptical that anyone will actually listen to him.

Bottom line: stop throwing around accusations and claims you can't back up.

hiddenlynx66 said:To me:

A paid protest, a paid attachment.

Doesn't sound like this:

It feels like a paid protest based on the attachments.

🙂

Great! The outcasts will be thrilled! 🤣

So, someone needs police protection just for having an opinion, and you think that's perfectly normal—you even say you'd "prefer to see them without police protection." Isn't that just tacitly supporting whatever might happen if the police weren't there?

Why would anyone need to hide from the police when Catholics are all about love and understanding? Who exactly are they hiding from by using the police as a shield? 🙂

So, someone needs police protection just for having an opinion, and you actually think that’s totally fine—you even said you'd "love to see them without police protection." Isn't that basically just endorsing whatever might happen if they didn't have those cops there?

Well, why are they hiding behind the police if Catholics are all about love and understanding? Who exactly are they trying to hide from?

slybison8 said:As I mentioned before, I am somewhat concerned about how such threats might affect the discussion itself, specifically regarding whether every argument presented gets an equal opportunity to be heard.

I don't really know if the person making the threat will actually follow through with it or not—and honestly, I guess it doesn't really concern me personally.

Perhaps they will file the report, or perhaps they are just trying to act important and intimidate their interlocutor with the threat of a report to force them to withdraw from the conversation.

From my perspective as a moderator, that particular aspect is what seems problematic.

Regarding compliance with the Law of the United States, I feel that moderators should be the ones ensuring discussions respect American laws, which is why our posting rules state that non-compliant posts should be reported to us. This doesn't rule out the possibility of something being reported outside of the Forum, but I believe that such actions shouldn't necessarily be broadcasted within the discussion.

Otherwise, the issue I am addressing here and what actually occurred with hiddenlynx66's alleged report are not quite the same thing.

hiddenlynx66 shared the content of the post with private individuals who he believes were harmed. I don't have an issue with that, although I suppose it could have been handled in a slightly calmer or more appropriate manner—but then again, it wouldn't be the hiddenlynx66 we know. 🙂

So, he wasn't reporting this to the Police or the Department of Justice, but rather to the people being discussed in the thread. One can only hope that those individuals won't immediately rush to the Police like litigious busybodies, and instead, they might first join the Reddit community to share their side of the story.

hiddenlynx66 said:It's because it feels like you can't find a single prominent politician who isn't a pathological liar acting solely out of pure selfishness. I'm not saying there aren't dishonest activists out there too, but when someone dedicates their entire life, their money, and their sanity to a cause, I expect them to have at least a shred more integrity than a politician who wouldn't even wish you a good morning unless there was something in it for them.

hiddenlynx66 said:It wasn't my intention to argue endlessly or to weaponize my own actions as an argument. It simply bothered me because I personally know someone being labeled as nothing more than a common mercenary, and that’s all there is to it. People throw around labels too easily, forgetting that everyone involved is a flesh-and-blood human being with a real name and reputation. 🙂

slybison8 said:As I mentioned before, I am somewhat concerned about how such threats might affect the discussion itself, specifically regarding whether every argument presented gets an equal opportunity to be heard.

I don't really know if the person making the threat will actually follow through with it or not—and honestly, I guess it doesn't really concern me personally.

Perhaps they will file the report, or perhaps they are just trying to act important and intimidate their interlocutor with the threat of a report to force them to withdraw from the conversation.

From my perspective as a moderator, that particular aspect is what seems problematic.

Regarding compliance with the Law of the United States, I feel that moderators should be the ones ensuring discussions respect American laws, which is why our posting rules state that non-compliant posts should be reported to us. This doesn't rule out the possibility of something being reported outside of the Forum, but I believe that such actions shouldn't necessarily be broadcasted within the discussion.

Otherwise, the issue I am addressing here and what actually occurred with hiddenlynx66's alleged report are not quite the same thing.

hiddenlynx66 shared the content of the post with private individuals who he believes were harmed. I don't have an issue with that, although I suppose it could have been handled in a slightly calmer or more appropriate manner—but then again, it wouldn't be the hiddenlynx66 we know. 🙂

So, he wasn't reporting this to the Police or the Department of Justice, but rather to the people being discussed in the thread. One can only hope that those individuals won't immediately rush to the Police like litigious busybodies, and instead, they might first join the Reddit community to share their side of the story.

James Patel20 said:I’ve been sitting here thinking about how we handle things around here, and I honestly feel like there should be an immediate rule added to the guidelines regarding users who threaten to call the police or file legal reports against other members during a discussion... it just seems like such a heavy-handed way to escalate a debate, and maybe a permanent ban should be on the table for anyone who uses that kind of intimidation tactic instead of just sticking to the argument at hand... it would certainly change the energy of the conversations if people knew they couldn't just weaponize the authorities to shut someone down... anyway, just a thought that's been weighing on my mind lately...

Since there have been quite a few instances lately where people actually ended up facing police reports or even full-blown court rulings just because of things they wrote online, I’ve noticed some users on Reddit starting to weaponize that concept... you know, using it as this sort of unspoken subtext or a veiled threat to shut people down, claiming they're "just joking" while they try to intimidate their conversational partners into silence by threatening them with legal action...

Just one example...

I've been noticing certain trends heading in that direction lately, and I can't help but feel a growing sense of unease... I truly fear it could end up causing permanent damage to this community and, more broadly, to the very concept of free speech that I believe almost all of us here stand for...

Arthur Flores2 said:And even in court, I'd prove I'm right. The smoking gun would just be that ridiculous post where you accused me...

It’s easy to slander people with actual names and faces when you're hiding behind an anonymous screen. I’d love to see you actually stand by your "opinion" using your real name for once.

That goes both ways, I guess. Including your slander against me, claiming I stated something as a 100% fact when I didn't...

Honestly, before I even consider those people who claim they represent America, I’d want to see them show up without a police escort. If they need the cops to protect them, then the whole thing just smells fishy from the start...

steelskipper5 said:I'm really not sure if that’s actually a great idea.

See, making a threat like that—regardless of who's doing it—actually gives the other person a moment to pause and rethink things. I mean, reporting something that isn't even against the Law of the USA doesn't achieve anything; I've used that warning myself, and I've seen it used, specifically in cases where there was blatant illegal activity being ignored by mods—whether that's due to ignorance or just plain old stubbornness, but I won't get sidetracked by that.

If the other person is certain they aren't breaking any laws and realize it's just a bluff, they can always just say, "Go ahead, report me." ☕
Continuing the debate along those lines is pretty pointless and, at the very least, totally off-topic.

James Patel20 said:I’ve been sitting here thinking about how we handle things around here, and I honestly feel like there should be an immediate rule added to the guidelines regarding users who threaten to call the police or file legal reports against other members during a discussion... it just seems like such a heavy-handed way to escalate a debate, and maybe a permanent ban should be on the table for anyone who uses that kind of intimidation tactic instead of just sticking to the argument at hand... it would certainly change the energy of the conversations if people knew they couldn't just weaponize the authorities to shut someone down... anyway, just a thought that's been weighing on my mind lately...

Since there have been quite a few instances lately where people actually ended up facing police reports or even full-blown court rulings just because of things they wrote online, I’ve noticed some users on Reddit starting to weaponize that concept... you know, using it as this sort of unspoken subtext or a veiled threat to shut people down, claiming they're "just joking" while they try to intimidate their conversational partners into silence by threatening them with legal action...

Just one example...

I've been noticing certain trends heading in that direction lately, and I can't help but feel a growing sense of unease... I truly fear it could end up causing permanent damage to this community and, more broadly, to the very concept of free speech that I believe almost all of us here stand for...

steelskipper5 said:I'm really not sure if that’s actually a great idea.

See, making a threat like that—regardless of who's doing it—actually gives the other person a moment to pause and rethink things. I mean, reporting something that isn't even against the Law of the USA doesn't achieve anything; I've used that warning myself, and I've seen it used, specifically in cases where there was blatant illegal activity being ignored by mods—whether that's due to ignorance or just plain old stubbornness, but I won't get sidetracked by that.

If the other person is certain they aren't breaking any laws and realize it's just a bluff, they can always just say, "Go ahead, report me." ☕
Continuing the debate along those lines is pretty pointless and, at the very least, totally off-topic.

bluecyclist64 said:And why on earth would you want to see them without police protection? Are you worried some bald neo-fascists might jump them? Is there any other reason behind that desire of yours?

Based on how you described it, it sounds like we're talking about a tiny handful of protesters, right? So why would anyone pay such a small group? If someone wanted to stage a real demonstration, wouldn't they just pay a massive crowd instead?
And who is this supposed benefactor? If it were the usual Illuminati suspects, they would have gathered a crowd ten times that size.

Besides, where did you even get the idea that these protesters were claiming to speak for America? That seems like a bit of a stretch, don't you think?

Maybe so they don't get soaked by some bald neo-fascists?

And where did you even get the idea that the protesters claimed they represent America?

slybison8 said:I don't think there's really any need to grant the other side "time to think"—in fact, maybe that’s precisely what makes this whole situation so unhealthy. Basic respect for an interlocutor usually implies that you assume they have already done their thinking before they ever hit send.

If you truly feel they haven't thought it through, then perhaps it would be better to just tell them that, rather than treating them like a child or someone incompetent who needs to be threatened with legal action. And that's happening despite the presence of a perfectly functional moderation and admin team.

So, by acting in such a patronizing manner, one ends up disrespecting Reddit and potentially misusing the laws and official agencies of the USA.

No matter how you spin it, I don't believe this is acceptable.

Look, if you honestly think he didn't put any thought into this, then just tell him—straight up. Don't go treating him like some little kid or an idiot who needs to be threatened with the Department of Justice or whatever. And honestly? Doing all that while completely ignoring the fact that we have a perfectly functional moderator and admin team right here... that's just unnecessary.

Look, when someone starts acting that patronizing, they aren't just talking to you—they’re basically trying to hijack Reddit. It’s sketchy, honestly. You start seeing people like this potentially weaponizing the Law of the USA and official government agencies just to win an argument. It's messed up.

Saying "how to turn to turn" just isn't acceptable. It makes zero sense—I mean, seriously?

briskpuma23 said:Threatening to call the cops or some other part of the government on another user is just cowardly. It kills the conversation. Besides, dragging outside elements into a discussion isn't how we do things here on this forum.

What I do think is fair is flagging blatant hate speech or threats of violence to the moderators and admins. You should demand they take action. But pushing that point until you get a permanent ban? That's a different story entirely.

steelskipper5 said:Look, threats of violence and hate speech are literal crimes. You shouldn't even be bothering moderators with them; you should go straight to the police. Regardless of whatever "forum etiquette" exists, the Law of the USA mandates that you report a crime when you know one's been committed. As far as I'm concerned, American laws trump forum rules and traditions every single time.

steelskipper5 said:If you actually bother to look at how things work in the real world—I mean, really look—it’s pretty obvious that things rarely play out that way. I guess common sense isn't that common anymore.

Look, if you honestly think he didn't put any thought into this, then just tell him—straight up. Don't go treating him like some little kid or an idiot who needs to be threatened with the Department of Justice or whatever. And honestly? Doing all that while completely ignoring the fact that we have a perfectly functional moderator and admin team right here... that's just unnecessary.

Sometimes it happens—and I mean really happens—where the mod and admin team just decides to act completely ridiculous. I’ve seen it go down more than a few times now.

Look, when someone starts acting that patronizing, they aren't just talking to you—they’re basically trying to hijack Reddit. It’s sketchy, honestly. You start seeing people like this potentially weaponizing the Law of the USA and official government agencies just to win an argument. It's messed up.

Saying "how to turn to turn" just isn't acceptable. It makes zero sense—I mean, seriously?

At the end of the day—and I really mean this—the most uncalled-for part of all this is the constant patronizing of everyone else in the conversation.
Underestimating Reddit... please. Give me a break. 🤣 The forum doesn't report any illegal activity. Either they just delete the stuff in their better moods—if you can even call them that—or, in the worst cases, they just completely ignore it.

So, how exactly can the laws and federal agencies here in the US be abused like that? I mean, I'm sure you’ve got some logical explanation for this—it can't just be some massive, incomprehensible cloud of nonsense, right?
Look, even if someone actually managed to pull that off—which, let's be honest, is a huge if—they’d be answering to the law for it. Plain and simple. They'll face the consequences under the Law of the USA.

briskpuma23 said:Threatening to call the cops or some other part of the government on another user is just cowardly. It kills the conversation. Besides, dragging outside elements into a discussion isn't how we do things here on this forum.

What I do think is fair is flagging blatant hate speech or threats of violence to the moderators and admins. You should demand they take action. But pushing that point until you get a permanent ban? That's a different story entirely.

slybison8 said:In my view, any threat to file a report (which isn't actually filed), or making baseless allegations against someone, constitutes an abuse of the Law of the USA and its repressive systems.

Regrettably, the government might even encourage this by allowing anonymous tips and acting upon them, though that is perhaps a separate issue altogether...

The legal repercussions seem rather trivial. However, the damage caused by bullying someone or subjecting them to an investigation based on malicious or fabricated claims is truly irreversible.

But perhaps all of that is secondary. What matters most is what briskpuma23 wrote, which I feel perfectly articulates my own sentiment:

I suspect that a person who publicly threatens to report someone (or openly brags about doing so) is really saying much more about their own character than they are about anyone else.

I would suggest not doing that.

Unfortunately, the government even encourages this by allowing anonymous tips and acting on them, but that's a whole different conversation...

The legal consequences are a joke. The fallout from someone being harassed or subjected to an investigation based on malicious or fake reports is irreparable.

Someone who publicly threatens to report others (or brags about doing it) is saying way more about themselves than anyone else.

Don't do that.