Complaint against moderator Zodiac regarding jokes.

Paul Anderson7 Active MemberOP

97 messages
joined Jun 2010

#1 · Jun 7, 2011

This moderator has been running a bit of a reign of terror against a few users who spoke up when he brought his girlfriend in to moderate, which just turned into a total mess. Apparently, they aren't together anymore, so she’s gone now. I won't even get into the crude stuff he used to say about their relationship and how that somehow gave her the right to mess with us.

Since then, I've been getting slapped with warnings over the most trivial things. I’ve never once received a warning or a ban on any other subreddit, except from this specific guy, which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about him. If you want to check with anyone on the Sports or Cars subreddits—where I spend most of my time—or even the Tourism one, you'll see I've never been a problem; it's only in the Jokes section that I have issues with this moderator.

Since he issues the warnings and then deletes the posts I'm being flagged for, preventing me from posting links, I'll just upload a screenshot so you can see exactly why I lost 30 points:

Of course, there are plenty of posts that haven't been sanctioned that are way worse than mine. I even reported one as spam just to see if it would trigger a warning, but naturally, nothing happened because it wasn't me or one of the usual crowd from the Jokes section:

http://www.reddit.com/showpost.php?p=3...&postcount=745

I really hope someone actually does something about this, because there are plenty of users out there who would be much better suited for moderation duties without making everyone else miserable.

Besides, what’s the point of having a moderator on a subreddit if they never actually participate in any of the discussions?

silentsailor5 Member

46 messages
joined Mar 2009

#2 · Jun 7, 2011

You reported that post, and I did mention I would take action against it; I simply wasn't home at the time to handle it. Please understand, this isn't some conspiracy against you personally—the rules clearly state that moralizing on these topics is prohibited. Everyone participating in that specific discussion received warnings for violating the sub-forum's regulations, and that is the extent of it. You have the rules at your disposal; I suggest you read them and apply them accordingly...

And please, leave my private life with Countess ☕ out of this.

Paul Anderson7 Active MemberOP

97 messages
joined Jun 2010

#3 · Jun 7, 2011

That whole situation you had with Countess started because of the two of you, and honestly, you both share the blame for how things went down and for the way certain users act on Reddit—behavior that wasn't exactly honest, which I know you realize even if you won't admit it. On top of that, you've handed me warnings for no reason before, and then you slapped me with a three-day ban just for posting that I was glad she isn't a moderator anymore and that while you aren't my favorite either, things feel slightly better this way. If a post like that warrants a three-day ban, then I really don't understand why thirty percent of the users here haven't been banned outright by now.

And one more thing. If you actually acted like a proper moderator—someone who reacts appropriately and hands out warnings to actual regulars in a timely manner, meaning someone who actually reads the PDFs they moderate regularly—instead of just posting nothing but red text with moderator notices, we wouldn't have situations where two or three regulars end up bickering with random trolls who swoop in to lecture everyone. Just look at the threads involving Jack or this current one about race, and you might even want to take a look at that old one about Tony.
If I report a post to you and then have to wait three days for you to do anything about it, it’s only natural that I’ll step in and respond to that post myself, because I have no intention of sitting there being insulted while the moderator does nothing.
Please, just do your job properly; if you aren't interested in doing it, then hand the reins over to someone who actually wants to and who consistently reads and posts in that thread.

:kurčevitakava:

silentsailor5 Member

46 messages
joined Mar 2009

#4 · Jun 7, 2011

Paul Anderson7 said:That whole situation involving you and the Countess started with the two of you; you both share the responsibility for how things unfolded and for the way certain users behaved toward the community. It wasn't honest behavior, and deep down, you know that even if you refuse to admit it. On top of that, you've handed me warnings for no reason several times, and you even gave me a three-day ban just because I posted that I was glad she isn't a moderator anymore—noting that while you aren't my favorite either, things feel slightly better this way. If a comment like that warrants a three-day suspension, then I fail to see why thirty percent of the users here haven't been banned yet.

And there is one more thing. If you were actually acting as a proper moderator, you would react appropriately and issue warnings to actual community members in a timely manner. That means regularly reading the PDF you are supposed to be moderating. If you occasionally contributed something other than those red moderator messages, we wouldn't have situations where two or three regular members end up arguing with random outsiders who swoop in to lecture everyone. The evidence is right there in the threads involving Jack and this current one about race, and you might want to take a look at that old one regarding Tony as well.
When I report a post to you and am forced to wait three days for any action to be taken, it is only natural that I will step in and respond to the post myself in the meantime. I simply refuse to sit by while someone insults me because the moderator isn't reacting.
Please, just do your job properly. If you aren't interested in doing it, then hand the responsibility over to someone who actually wants to and who consistently reads and posts in that thread.

:stubborn:

You didn't report that post; you sent it to me via PM this morning. You earned the warning, and you received it. Feel free to think whatever you like; I have said my piece. Go ahead and keep arguing with the admins.

Paul Anderson7 Active MemberOP

97 messages
joined Jun 2010

#5 · Jun 7, 2011

I went ahead and filed a report.

Rachel Foster44 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Jun 2011

#6 · Jun 7, 2011

Paul Anderson7 said:I've filed a report.

I would also report this particular moderator, silentsailor5, regarding his jokes. He keeps hitting me with negative points even when I send him messages that are perfectly polite and courteous. I'm honestly at a loss—can someone please advise me on how or to whom I should reach out so he can be properly disciplined? Furthermore, I tried pointing out an entire irrelevant thread to him, which he completely ignored... thanks.

mellowraven22 Active Member

105 messages
joined Jan 2007

#7 · Jun 8, 2011

Rachel Foster44 said:I’d also report that specific moderator, silentsailor5, because of his jokes. He keeps hitting me with negative points even when I send him what is honestly a super polite and nice message. I don't even know how he does it. Can someone please help me out here? Who do I talk to so he actually gets held accountable? Also, I tried pointing out an entire off-topic thread to him, but he just completely ignored it... thanks

There's really no point in complaining about the strikes you got from silentsailor5. You earned them.

Rachel Foster44 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Jun 2011

#8 · Jun 8, 2011

mellowraven22 said:There is no point in complaining about the cards you received from silentsailor5; you earned them.

Who am I supposed to report an inappropriate topic to? Why is everyone ignoring my question? Is there some sort of cover-up happening here? Locking the thread isn't enough; these kinds of topics should be deleted and banned entirely in the future. And does a moderator actually have the right to issue negative points for sending messages that were perfectly polite and civil?

hollowtrucker77 Regular

681 messages
joined Nov 2007

#9 · Jun 8, 2011

You already filed the report, and the mods have looked at it—they didn't flag the topic as inappropriate.
The only thing actually inappropriate here is how much you're hysterical about this whole thing.

Rachel Foster44 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Jun 2011

#10 · Jun 8, 2011

hollowtrucker77 said:You already reported it. The moderators reviewed the thread and didn't deem it inappropriate.
The only thing actually inappropriate here is your hysterical reaction to the topic.

The topic is beyond inappropriate. It doesn't just touch on racism; it actively celebrates it. Mocking other races is unacceptable behavior that shouldn't be tolerated. This site is open to everyone, and while everyone has a right to their opinion, we shouldn't allow the views of a tiny, insignificant group to be broadcast to the public. This is hate speech and plain old racism. I'm not sure which part is more "inappropriate."

Paul Anderson7 Active MemberOP

97 messages
joined Jun 2010

#11 · Jun 8, 2011

mellowraven22 said:There’s really no point in complaining about those cards you got from silentsailor5, because honestly, you earned every single one of them.

hollowtrucker77 said:You already reported it, and the thread's been reviewed—it wasn't flagged as inappropriate.
The only thing that's really out of line here is how much you're overreacting to the whole situation.

Since you two moderators—or whatever it is you actually call yourselves—have decided to pop up in this thread, I figured I’d take the opportunity to ask for your take on something.

Da li ovaj post:
I honestly don't know why I even bother checking these threads anymore, but here we are. It feels like everyone on Reddit has suddenly become an expert on everything overnight, and frankly, it’s a little exhausting to keep up with all the noise. I was reading through some of the comments earlier, and it’s pretty clear that most people are just shouting into the void without actually listening to a word anyone else says. It’s one of those days where you realize how much energy is wasted on pointless arguments, and I find myself wondering if there's any point in contributing at all when the conversation is this circular. Maybe I should just take a step back and let the experts handle it, though we all know what that usually looks like.

On this thread:
I was scrolling through Reddit earlier and stumbled upon this thread where people were debating whether the government should step in to regulate how much we pay for basic utilities. It’s one of those topics that seems simple on the surface, but once you start peeling back the layers, it gets incredibly messy. One user, Paul Anderson7, argued that without some kind of oversight, utility companies will just hike prices whenever they feel like it, which feels pretty reasonable if you ask me. Then you have Rachel Foster44, who took the opposite side, claiming that any government intervention would just kill competition and ultimately lead to even higher costs for everyone in the long run. It’s a classic debate, really—stability versus freedom—and honestly, I'm not sure there's a perfect answer that doesn't leave someone feeling cheated. It reminded me of those old debates about healthcare reform we used to have. You try to find a middle ground, but it feels like both sides are just digging their heels in. I don't have a strong opinion either way, but watching everyone go at it made me realize how much we all take for granted until the monthly bills start looking a little too intimidating.

Does this deserve a three-day ban?

Just being honest here—would you actually ban someone who isn't known for any nonsense, provocations, or anything else that usually warrants a ban, just because of this one specific post?

ambermason16 Active Member

213 messages
joined Apr 2009

#12 · Jun 8, 2011

Paul Anderson7 said:This moderator of yours has been running a total reign of terror against a handful of users who dared to speak up when he brought his girlfriend in to moderate. It was a complete circus. Apparently, they broke up since then—if they were even actually together—so she’s gone now. I won't even get into the disgusting details of him bragging about how he treats her, implying that because he can boss her around, he can boss us around too.

Honestly, I should report myself for missing all of this... 🤣 😁

(And yes, I am absolutely certain that's exactly how it went down and nothing else. 😁)

Rachel Foster44 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Jun 2011

#13 · Jun 8, 2011

Well, certain things become quite clear immediately—some people just have a desperate need to indulge themselves, don't they? Nice.

Paul Anderson7 Active MemberOP

97 messages
joined Jun 2010

#14 · Jun 8, 2011

ambermason16 said:I’d probably report myself for missing out on all of this... 🤣 😁

(though I am absolutely certain that's exactly how it went down.. 😁)

Look, whether you believe it or not, I'm sure some of the top-tier moderators remember when the ten of us absolutely flooded them with PMs in a single day because things were going sideways. Some users—myself included—actually stopped posting there for a few months because the mods were overstepping, letting their egos get too big, and trying to force new rules on everyone.

I know people here tend to dismiss Reddit as just a playground for kids, but there are plenty of us there who aren't kids at all; we just enjoy reading and sharing a good Joke.

Just one question for you: Do you honestly think it's fair for some PDF to moderate a forum when they don't even post there or bother to read it regularly?

ambermason16 Active Member

213 messages
joined Apr 2009

#15 · Jun 8, 2011

Paul Anderson7 said:I have one question for you too: Do you honestly think it’s fair that certain subreddits are moderated by users who don't even post there or read them regularly?

Look, setting aside all the nonsense in the rest of your posts, I’m going to give you a straight answer on this specific point:

Yes. I believe it is fair. Especially when an urgent need for a moderator pops up in one section of the site, and a moderator from another subreddit is willing to step in. And especially when we're talking about subreddits—don't get me wrong—like Jokes, where you seriously don't need a PhD to manage things.

People often mistake moderation by regular users as some kind of ego trip or a chance for someone to play dictator without having a clue what they're doing. But that’s just not the reality. Moderating is a serious job. It requires practice, learning, dedication, time, thick skin, and a deep understanding of Reddit rules. An existing moderator will find it easy to jump in and apply their experience to a new subreddit, whereas a random user who just started will struggle. That doesn't mean users aren't being upgraded to moderators every single day, though.

The point is: nobody knows everything about everything. Not even you know everything about the subreddit you feel most at home in. But someone who has already served as a moderator understands the mechanics of moderation, how to handle site-wide trolls, precedents, exceptions, and those little nuances that work in your favor. Never against you. 🙂

Rachel Foster44 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Jun 2011

#16 · Jun 8, 2011

I am still waiting for an answer on this: does a moderator actually have the authority to issue points if I send them a direct inquiry? To be clear, my message was polite—not intrusive or offensive in any way—so why am I being met with a warning in return? Any insight would be appreciated.

Paul Anderson7 Active MemberOP

97 messages
joined Jun 2010

#17 · Jun 8, 2011

ambermason16 said:...

Even if we run into situations where certain posts aren't being moderated for days on end, and those of us who actually hang out there regularly just can't take it anymore—so we fire back at these trolls on their own level, only to end up getting banned ourselves—what then?
I’m not saying someone who barely ever logs in shouldn't moderate the PDF, but if you're going to hold the title, you really need to pull your weight. If you're a moderator, show up once or twice a day and actually catch up on the new threads; honestly, there isn't even that much to read in the Jokes section.

And please, stop with the "but this is the Jokes section" or "that's just how jokes work" excuses. The PDF is a community just like any other, and it deserves to be treated with the same respect. Reddit is a pretty well-established platform, so we shouldn't let something as basic as the Jokes thread fall into total neglect.

silentsailor5 Member

46 messages
joined Mar 2009

#18 · Jun 8, 2011

Barbie, let me clarify something here... I have served as a moderator for four years now, and during that entire tenure, I have been consistently managing the Jokes section. In fact, that sub-forum is my primary area of responsibility. I believe I possess the necessary experience to moderate effectively, having witnessed just about everything imaginable. User demographics have shifted over the years, and since you represent the most recent wave, there is a significant amount of history you aren't aware of—yet you have the audacity to suggest I am failing at my duties.

It seems that whenever I don't issue a warning, people complain, and when I do, they complain again. It feels less like legitimate criticism and more like a coordinated attempt to stage a coup so I can be replaced by one of your own favorites (and we all know exactly who that is). My presence hasn't been constant lately simply because I am the sole moderator handling the PDFs, and I am currently balancing several real-life obligations.

But please, go ahead and tell me more; I need to prepare for the possibility of a brand-new moderator taking over the Jokes section. ☕

hollowtrucker77 Regular

681 messages
joined Nov 2007

#19 · Jun 8, 2011

Rachel Foster44 said:I'm still waiting on someone to give me a straight answer here, because I really don't get it—does a moderator actually have the authority to slap points on your account just because you sent them a DM? I'm talking about a simple inquiry, mind you, nothing remotely aggressive or offensive, just a question, yet somehow I end up getting hit with a warning instead of an answer... anyone know what's up? thanks

Look, you don't even have any points to lose, so I honestly have no idea what you're even talking about

Anthony Barrett37 Active Member

68 messages
joined Mar 2011

#20 · Jun 8, 2011

Can I ask one thing since we're talking about PDFs? Any jokes?
Why is the Chat topic locked? 😕

Complaint against moderator Zodiac regarding jokes.

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