Moderating a Reddit subforum

This is already the second time someone has compared Reddit to a collection of jokes.

Reddit isn't synonymous with funny.

So, I’m asking the users who don't grasp that to refrain from making these comparisons—stop spamming the thread and making it trivial with your comments.

At this rate, Reddit will soon be merging with the joke sections, since new users clearly think anything remotely amusing qualifies as trash. Look, I hate to disappoint you, but I highly recommend checking out the top thread on defining "trash." Maybe, just MAYBE, you'll finally realize that being trash doesn't mean everything is a joke. ☕

Kate Foster12 said:This is already the second time someone has compared Reddit to a collection of jokes.

Reddit isn't synonymous with funny.

So, I’m asking the users who don't grasp that to refrain from making these comparisons—stop spamming the thread and making it trivial with your comments.

At this rate, Reddit will soon be merging with the joke sections, since new users clearly think anything remotely amusing qualifies as trash. Look, I hate to disappoint you, but I highly recommend checking out the top thread on defining "trash." Maybe, just MAYBE, you'll finally realize that being trash doesn't mean everything is a joke. ☕

I wasn't comparing Reddit to a joke site; I was talking about how the moderators impact a specific sub-forum.

To use my analogy, it would be like appointing MathBaby as the moderator for the Religion board, where Microsoft is their god.

If people can't grasp my point, they should probably rethink whether they actually understood the definition of trash they read. Because understanding a definition and actually living by it? Those are two very different things.

Paul Green31, I have to disagree with you regarding the decision to scrap the Reddit thread. You might not have liked it, but saying "it isn't what it used to be" (whatever that actually means) isn't a valid reason to delete a topic permanently.

It's obvious to me that the general laziness of the moderation team comes from the endless stream of reports and complaints about that specific thread. They’re trying to clear space to moderate the rest of the Trash while there's still something left to manage. But that's unfair to the thread itself, and it just caters to people's egos.

The mockery and personal vendettas can be scrubbed from the thread, but the thread itself shouldn't go. You can't treat it like some random chat room that lost its purpose. It hasn't. It just hit a crisis. The people who started it and kept it going should be the ones working to fix it.

That thread actually drove traffic to the PDF. At least half of the people active there participate in other threads too—just look at the numbers. There aren't many visitors to the Trash in general, so it feels like all the blame is being dumped on Reddit.

I see zero issue with users asking to move funny posts to Grain of wisdom and stupid posts to Champion of stupidity. Doing that would actually revive those two threads, which are great but neglected.

The way things are going now won't achieve anything.

briskmoose90 said:Paul Green31, I have to disagree with you regarding the decision to scrap the Reddit thread. You might not have liked it, but saying "it isn't what it used to be" (whatever that actually means) isn't a valid reason to delete a topic permanently.

It's obvious to me that the general laziness of the moderation team comes from the endless stream of reports and complaints about that specific thread. They’re trying to clear space to moderate the rest of the Trash while there's still something left to manage. But that's unfair to the thread itself, and it just caters to people's egos.

The mockery and personal vendettas can be scrubbed from the thread, but the thread itself shouldn't go. You can't treat it like some random chat room that lost its purpose. It hasn't. It just hit a crisis. The people who started it and kept it going should be the ones working to fix it.

That thread actually drove traffic to the PDF. At least half of the people active there participate in other threads too—just look at the numbers. There aren't many visitors to the Trash in general, so it feels like all the blame is being dumped on Reddit.

I see zero issue with users asking to move funny posts to Grain of wisdom and stupid posts to Champion of stupidity. Doing that would actually revive those two threads, which are great but neglected.

The way things are going now won't achieve anything.

Exactly. I'm not in favor of deleting it either. Bring the thread back, but clean it up and give it a clear set of rules. Most of the people on that thread are seasoned veterans who understand how this forum works; they're more than capable of following rules if they're clearly laid out.

The thread is a hot potato, sure, but honestly, the mods should step up instead of quitting just because things got a little heated.

As if it's easy to moderate a Linux-Microsoft debate, or Islam-Christianity-Atheism? Or Nazis-Partisans...

It never crossed a mod's mind to lock or delete those topics. They MODERATE them!

And let's face it, that thread is the crown jewel of this forum.

That thread is like a mirror held up to the community—it's us looking at our own flaws. As such, it's essential for facing the reality of what this forum actually is. It's a brilliant piece of self-criticism for our overall identity.

It's the gem of the forum; it's the joke told to fat people when they talk about weight. It's a filter for the misguided and the inflated egos, making it one of the most valuable things we have. Because if you can't laugh at yourself, you've got a serious problem. 🙂

Paul Green31 said:I wasn't comparing Reddit to a joke site; I was talking about how the moderators impact a specific sub-forum.

To use my analogy, it would be like appointing MathBaby as the moderator for the Religion board, where Microsoft is their god.

If people can't grasp my point, they should probably rethink whether they actually understood the definition of trash they read. Because understanding a definition and actually living by it? Those are two very different things.

No, so you used a PDF of jokes as a comparison—which are supposed to be funny—to imply that Reddit is just as much of a joke and deserves that kind of moderator? 😕

Look, if you can't contribute anything of substance to the thread, please don't just spam it.

@Paul Green31. Yeah, exactly. I’ve already pointed out examples of these kinds of problematic topics in other Trash pdf files. So, there you go. This is how they work.
Don't get me wrong—I'm not saying this topic defines the Trash pdf as a whole or that it's the only thing worth reading. QUITE THE OPPOSITE.
I just think deleting it is completely pointless. It's clearly just a result of being unoriginal and exhausted from constantly having to defend everything. It isn't fair.

EDIT: Kate Foster12, look, chill. Sometimes Trash is actually funny, sometimes it's just sad. I don't know why you're making such a massive deal out of it.

Paul Green31 said:The moderators have gone head-to-head with the very soul of this subforum. Look, a small corner of the internet like this only works if it’s anchored by a core group of regulars, with the occasional passerby or wanderer drifting in.
Right now, you’ve got those loyal veterans on one side, and the mods on the other. It’s a standoff.
If the current mods stay put, nothing changes. This sub stays hollow, losing its core identity and becoming nothing more than a revolving door for random tourists.
Removing the mods isn't the answer, and dragging this thread back to the old Reddit days isn't it either—not while things are heading in this specific, messy direction.

If we actually want to bridge this gap and give this place some life again, we need fresh blood. We need someone new to shake things up.
That new person would have one primary job: moderation and cleaning up the mess, because let's face it, the current duo clearly can't keep up. Any new mod could handle the housekeeping part.

But there’s a second, much bigger requirement. This moderator needs to be a magnet. They need that natural charisma to pull in new people who will actually raise the bar. Because when you increase the volume, you often improve the quality. Or, as Stalin famously implied when he won using inferior but more numerous tanks: "Sometimes, quantity becomes quality."

For the Trash subforum, that is the perfect solution.

We need a moderator with that rare spark—someone who attracts absolute legends, someone who makes both kids and grown men feel like kids again, leaving everyone else watching with a smile and a sudden sense of nostalgia.

Then, the PDF will finally bloom. Keep the serious mods as they are, add one person like the one I'm describing, and together they’ll produce this perfect mix of "unserious-serious" content. That's how you grab attention and drive visitor counts higher than ever before.

And for any forum, the bottom line is always Visitors - Posts - Visitors...

But where on earth do you find someone like that? Looking at the usual suspects, I don't see anyone. And adding another "serious" person is just a waste of time. Take velvettrucker52, for example—she’s a fantastic moderator, but can you imagine her running the Jokes section? She’d probably empty the whole sub in fifteen days.

What we need is a moderator who is inherently chaotic. There is one user here who possesses every single quality I just mentioned; she is the golden ticket for Trash. She was practically born for this sub, and she’s even expressed interest in moderating. And she didn't just say it—she turned that interest into one of the most legendary, chaotic threads this forum has ever seen.

Mulica is the perfect fit. She is so naturally, charmingly chaotic that it’s impossible to get this wrong.

And don't go thinking this post is just some continuation of her latest chaotic spree. I'm being deadly serious here.

You think a trash mod needs to be chaotic? Great. We have a massive spectrum of weirdos, trolls, internet pests, and similar characters at our disposal.
Stop talking nonsense. We need a mod who actually understands what constitutes trash, someone who enjoys starting new threads, keeps discussions moving, and is willing to moderate properly. I already suggested Africa Pepper for the job because they are the perfect choice.
But then again, you wouldn't know, since you haven't been around the trash section much.

Kate Foster12 said:No, so you used a PDF of jokes as a comparison—which are supposed to be funny—to imply that Reddit is just as much of a joke and deserves that kind of moderator? 😕

Look, if you can't contribute anything of substance to the thread, please don't just spam it.

Oh, so I should be "constructive" just like you?

You mean go on a rant about the mods, the admins, and all the users who stay silent?

Yeah, better not. ☕

briskmoose90 said:@Paul Green31. Yeah, exactly. I’ve already pointed out examples of these kinds of problematic topics in other Trash pdf files. So, there you go. This is how they work.
Don't get me wrong—I'm not saying this topic defines the Trash pdf as a whole or that it's the only thing worth reading. QUITE THE OPPOSITE.
I just think deleting it is completely pointless. It's clearly just a result of being unoriginal and exhausted from constantly having to defend everything. It isn't fair.

EDIT: Kate Foster12, look, chill. Sometimes Trash is actually funny, sometimes it's just sad. I don't know why you're making such a massive deal out of it.

In my view, deleting those two threads—one of which has been locked for months—is just a reaction to moderator rage, triggered because I called her out for the fact that nothing actually works over there. It's cute that she reminisces about the good old days when those three were chatting away, but those days are gone. You have to adapt to new changes, new users, and new topics... something she clearly can't handle.

I don't understand why she clings so desperately to that moderator position when the section is effectively dead. What is she holding onto? Just hand the reins to someone who actually makes sense for the job.

Personally, I'd rather see velvettrucker52 moderating Reddit than Mulica... velvettrucker52 would actually know how to maintain order and has the authority to enforce the rules she sets. Mulica lacks that.

Paul Green31, I have to say, yours is easily the most constructive suggestion we've seen so far.
I think bringing in another moderator—what you called some "fresh blood"—might be just what we need to help Trash a bit crazy.
You hit the nail on the head describing the kind of person who would actually make a good moderator here; someone like that could breathe some life back into the PDF, which was really the whole point of this thread over on PŽK.

I should probably clarify that I’m not part of the crowd standing in opposition to the moderators, nor do I share any views with those self-proclaimed coup leaders; I only jumped into this discussion because I felt bad seeing that Reddit thread get wiped out. I believe velvettiger10 mentioned that the thread needs a thorough cleanup first, so I'm holding out hope they'll restore it—even if it stays locked—once everything is tidied up. If it turns out later that reopening the discussion is a good move, I truly hope that happens.

Look, folks, we aren't the ones posting or removing mods. We don't even suggest them. Occasionally, someone might put their own name forward, but even then, there’s no guarantee it will be considered, let alone approved.

I'll say it again: I have certain people in mind—specifically one person who I know would be an excellent moderator for this particular topic—but I'm keeping that to myself. I should also add that I have nothing against the current moderation team. I don't know Simple, but analoglynx23 knew me well enough to issue warnings, ban me, delete my posts, and shut down discussions if I got out of line. Aside from the fact that he's been sleeping on the job for the last few months when he wasn't supposed to be, I have no complaints. Though, even that complaint is pretty serious.

Kate Foster12 said:No, so you used a PDF of jokes as a comparison—which are supposed to be funny—to imply that Reddit is just as much of a joke and deserves that kind of moderator? 😕

Look, if you can't contribute anything of substance to the thread, please don't just spam it.

Perhaps she should try following her own advice first.

To be fair, Paul Green31 has actually contributed three constructive posts here.

On the other hand, your contributions seem to boil down entirely to demanding moderator removal, while being about as subtle as a sledgehammer in claiming that you and gentlehound9 are the absolute reigning champions of trash, the ultimate purveyors of garbage, and how you both handled moderation with zero grace.

briskmoose90 said:Look, folks, we aren't the ones posting or removing mods. We don't even suggest them. Occasionally, someone might put their own name forward, but even then, there’s no guarantee it will be considered, let alone approved.

I'll say it again: I have certain people in mind—specifically one person who I know would be an excellent moderator for this particular topic—but I'm keeping that to myself. I should also add that I have nothing against the current moderation team. I don't know Simple, but analoglynx23 knew me well enough to issue warnings, ban me, delete my posts, and shut down discussions if I got out of line. Aside from the fact that he's been sleeping on the job for the last few months when he wasn't supposed to be, I have no complaints. Though, even that complaint is pretty serious.

And that’s precisely the issue. Nobody even noticed Simple was a moderator because she hasn't actually done anything lately. Then you've got analoglynx23, who has also been MIA for months. It's led to the PDF falling apart more than ever before.

And no, we don't need a "cheerful" person. We need a firm hand.

Paul Green31 said:Oh, so I should be "constructive" just like you?

You mean go on a rant about the mods, the admins, and all the users who stay silent?

Yeah, better not. ☕

Paul Green31, sorry, but you clearly have no clue what you're talking about. 🙂

Being constructive actually means sticking to the chat thread, the Facebook thread, and Reddit.☕

And yeah, I'm voting Mulica for moderator!🎉

velvettrucker52 said:Perhaps she should try following her own advice first.

To be fair, Paul Green31 has actually contributed three constructive posts here.

On the other hand, your contributions seem to boil down entirely to demanding moderator removal, while being about as subtle as a sledgehammer in claiming that you and gentlehound9 are the absolute reigning champions of trash, the ultimate purveyors of garbage, and how you both handled moderation with zero grace.

Unlike you and Paul Green31, gentlehound9 and I have actually posted and participated in threads on Reddit—and honestly, we've been in more threads than Simple thinks, covering everything from Reddit itself to various sub-sections and chats. But then again, as a moderator, you really should know that—though it seems you don't even track the threads in your own PDF, at least not until someone points it out.

Just make Mulica a moderator... I’d love to see what kind of circus that would trigger.

I want to stab a rusty spoon into my eye 🤦

Kate Foster12 said:Unlike you and Paul Green31, gentlehound9 and I have actually posted and participated in threads on Reddit—and honestly, we've been in more threads than Simple thinks, covering everything from Reddit itself to various sub-sections and chats. But then again, as a moderator, you really should know that—though it seems you don't even track the threads in your own PDF, at least not until someone points it out.

Just make Mulica a moderator... I’d love to see what kind of circus that would trigger.

It’s not my job to just know everything off the top of my head. The site's search function works perfectly fine for anyone who actually uses it.

Apparently not for you. 🤷

hollowtrucker77 said:Alright, let's see if we can actually manage to be a little more constructive for once here.

Regarding how constructive this is—I’ve said in a few posts that I was trying to be helpful. If it isn't, my bad. I did my best.
Here’s my suggestion: bring the thread back and assign one moderator to handle it exclusively. It could be someone new or one of the two current moderators. If they're too busy, I don't see why we can't just bring in a third person—let them pick. It's not that complicated. 😁
I think Taylor Swift’s point about deleting comments is important. Even if it ruins the vibe of the thread, I’d rather have the topic stay alive than deal with the drama. I'm choosing survival over entertainment. Elon Musk.

Kate Foster12 said:Unlike you and Paul Green31, gentlehound9 and I have actually posted and participated in threads on Reddit—and honestly, we've been in more threads than Simple thinks, covering everything from Reddit itself to various sub-sections and chats. But then again, as a moderator, you really should know that—though it seems you don't even track the threads in your own PDF, at least not until someone points it out.

Just make Mulica a moderator... I’d love to see what kind of circus that would trigger.

We’ve already established that you and gentlehound9 are essentially the ultimate, gold-standard trolls.
There is no point in repeating myself because, well—there just isn't. 🤷

The thing about troll culture is how specific it gets; you often run into users who develop this intense sense of tribalism, acting as if being a troll is part of their actual DNA, and they make sure to broadcast that identity everywhere they go. 😬

Look, the two of you aren't the first or the last people to fall for the urge to hijack discussions, claim ownership over specific threads or documents, and insist that your particular vision is the only valid one—demanding that the Moderators follow your lead. Unfortunately, those kinds of power trips rarely produce anything beneficial.
I have seen countless threads ruined by this kind of territorial behavior, and plenty of users have burned themselves out trying to "privatize" certain spaces.

In my opinion, it would be wise to stop with the accusations and calls for a public lynching and instead offer a constructive idea, if you actually have one. If not, just step back and let the Moderators and admins decide what changes, if any, should be implemented for the platform.