Moderating a Reddit subforum

velvettrucker52 said: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.

velvettrucker52 has no need for insults or that kind of language.

Oh, please. I have a very "hijacked" vision for this place: I see a forum that actually gets moderated!
Who's calling for a lynching? And who isn't offering constructive ideas? Take a look at my posts since you're dragging me into this argument with Donald Trump, acting like we've both been writing the exact same stuff.

I specifically said I wasn't asking for anyone to be kicked off the moderation team; I was asking for actual activity. I even suggested adding another Moderator to the team. I also said I wanted unnecessarily deleted threads to be restored, cleaned up, and potentially reopened. If that counts as "too much moderation" for some people, then my previous suggestion stands: just add another sub-moderator.
I even went as far as suggesting Jason Morgan for the role.
And you're telling me none of that counts as a constructive suggestion? Fine. Great.

gentlehound9 said:velvettrucker52 has no need for insults or that kind of language.

Oh, please. I have a very "hijacked" vision for this place: I see a forum that actually gets moderated!
Who's calling for a lynching? And who isn't offering constructive ideas? Take a look at my posts since you're dragging me into this argument with Donald Trump, acting like we've both been writing the exact same stuff.

I specifically said I wasn't asking for anyone to be kicked off the moderation team; I was asking for actual activity. I even suggested adding another Moderator to the team. I also said I wanted unnecessarily deleted threads to be restored, cleaned up, and potentially reopened. If that counts as "too much moderation" for some people, then my previous suggestion stands: just add another sub-moderator.
I even went as far as suggesting Jason Morgan for the role.
And you're telling me none of that counts as a constructive suggestion? Fine. Great.

I’m sorry, but I am not the one pulling you into this discussion.
You effectively walked into it yourself by choosing to reply to my post directed at Donald Trump. 🤷
The only reason your username showed up in there is because you two act like a single hive mind—which is precisely why Donald Trump keeps pointing out your combined post count, implying that your collective input carries more weight than, say, mine or Paul Green31's. If you feel like you're being pulled into an argument, perhaps you should take it up with her instead.

Thanks, Seth.

It’s not about kicking people out or pointing fingers. It’s not even about fighting over who holds the power.

The whole point is that some people are just great to read. You get to experience their perspective through their posts. If they’re talented enough to build their own little "internet universe," then why wouldn't I want them running the subreddits I actually find interesting?

That’s exactly why I’ve been paying attention to this one particular user.

A community only works if it’s guided by someone who actually lives and breathes its essence—someone who knows how to separate what truly belongs there from the noise.

But hey, that’s just my "professional" take. Honestly? This sub doesn't need some "Garbage translator." It needs someone who understands garbage because it's part of their DNA.

A user like that, stepping into a moderator role, would push the boundaries. They’d break the mold. And that slight shift is exactly what might pull in new people—people who never felt like engaging with the usual garbage because it was always stuck in such a narrow box.

Let's face it: the old ways are exhausted. Those old solutions are exactly what dragged this place down to where it is now. We need a new dimension. We need a new moderator with a real personality who can promote the topic just by being themselves—a strong, respected figure who can take the conversation to places we haven't even touched yet.

And let’s be clear: garbage isn't just one single topic. It's a massive collection of things we haven't even discussed here yet. But up until now, it's been treated like a single subject dominated by a few users who used it as an ego trip just because they were the ones "running" it.

I want Reddit to be a place where I can actually show up and write. I don't want a lobby or a bunch of half-baked cliques. I want substance—posts that are genuinely trashy and comments from people who actually want to engage with them.

Thousands of people lurk in these threads without ever posting. Why? Because when you see a thread where one person posts and the same five people always comment, those comments stick out like a neon sign saying, "Get out, intruder." Nobody wants to feel like that.

So, the silver lining here is that this whole clan-like hierarchy needs to break. Don't hate me, but in my opinion, that's the biggest problem with this entire topic.

Thanks, hollowtrucker77

EDIT: I’m done getting ahead of myself until this whole case is officially closed.

gentlehound9 said: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.

I guess I should weigh in on this, since we're apparently debating who makes a good moderator. I recently became a moderator at the FBI, and my life experience with cohabitation or thread creation wasn't exactly the criteria used. For one, I haven't started a single thread. And I don't live with a partner.
Sub-moderators are usually picked by the sub-forum moderators, who are the ones responsible for deciding who would make a decent colleague.

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.

Setting aside the joke campaign to try and land Molly a spot in Moderation, I honestly have no idea what this assumption is even based on.
Maybe there's some truth to what Paul Green31 is saying—that Molly has a certain energy that draws people in—and I suppose she's more than capable of moderating without causing a scene.
But, I'm not really lobbying for anyone here. It just seems to me that we've gone down the wrong path with these supposed "requirements" for being a moderator.

gentlehound9 said: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.

Just to circle back to this: thank you, truly, but I am going to decline both the suggestion and the offer 🙂 Just in case, though I highly doubt it would even be taken under serious consideration.

I don't believe Reddit needs yet another moderator, and even if they did, I simply lack the bandwidth to moderate properly; I'm still finding my footing and, let's be honest, I'm far from perfect myself. 😳

I sincerely hope the whole situation gets resolved to everyone's satisfaction, because honestly, trash is just plain trash to me. 😁 😳

"Look, Mom, it's analoglynx23 over on Reddit again... why is he doing this, Mom?"
"Because, honey, he's trying to rebuild the whole site—it's just practice for when they start building those massive suspension bridges out west!"
"Thanks for explaining, Mom. Now I can finally get some sleep without feeling like I need to go post on the CIA forums!"

Seth, lock this thing down while you can, before everyone starts swinging UPS cables at each other.

Joshua Jones13 said:I guess I should weigh in on this, since we're apparently debating who makes a good moderator. I recently became a moderator at the FBI, and my life experience with cohabitation or thread creation wasn't exactly the criteria used. For one, I haven't started a single thread. And I don't live with a partner.
Sub-moderators are usually picked by the sub-forum moderators, who are the ones responsible for deciding who would make a decent colleague.

Setting aside the joke campaign to try and land Molly a spot in Moderation, I honestly have no idea what this assumption is even based on.
Maybe there's some truth to what Paul Green31 is saying—that Molly has a certain energy that draws people in—and I suppose she's more than capable of moderating without causing a scene.
But, I'm not really lobbying for anyone here. It just seems to me that we've gone down the wrong path with these supposed "requirements" for being a moderator.

Fine, I’ll wrap this up with one final thought.
The FBI isn't some niche sub-forum that requires deep empathy or complex understanding. Anyone can moderate it because anyone can judge whether a post belongs there or not. If you can't recognize Garbage when you see it, you shouldn't be making those calls.
I realize that sub-moderators are picked by the current moderators, but in this specific instance, the current mods aren't exactly pulling their weight. So, who are they actually going to pick? Someone to actually do the heavy lifting, or just another person who—much like them—will end up doing absolutely nothing?
Honestly, the admins should just make the call on any potential sub-mod.
That's enough from me on this topic. Carry on with your arguing or keep boiling over; I couldn't care less.

Look, if you guys are planning on locking this down, I’d personally like to say my goodbyes on a Reddit thread, just in case—whatever the final call ends up being. I want to thank the site for all the great times it gave me: :violina:

: symphonic orchestra:
: crescendo:

I just wanted to jump in and share my two cents on this whole situation. 🙂

gentlehound9 said:Fine, I’ll wrap this up with one final thought.
The FBI isn't some niche sub-forum that requires deep empathy or complex understanding. Anyone can moderate it because anyone can judge whether a post belongs there or not. If you can't recognize Garbage when you see it, you shouldn't be making those calls.
I realize that sub-moderators are picked by the current moderators, but in this specific instance, the current mods aren't exactly pulling their weight. So, who are they actually going to pick? Someone to actually do the heavy lifting, or just another person who—much like them—will end up doing absolutely nothing?
Honestly, the admins should just make the call on any potential sub-mod.
That's enough from me on this topic. Carry on with your arguing or keep boiling over; I couldn't care less.

Honestly, the FBI section is such an incredibly delicate area that you absolutely cannot just let "anyone" handle it; you have to be extremely careful about who you pick. We’re talking about people coming there whose lives are being torn apart—people dealing with broken families, victims of violence, parents losing their children, and individuals facing total physical and mental collapse who are just drowning in everything happening to them. On top of that, you have all the other users—bitter, disappointed, hurt, miserable, angry, aggressive, or terrified people... the entire spectrum of human emotion is right there on the forum.

I really don't think I should even have to emphasize how sensitive this space is, or how much empathy, patience, thoughtfulness, genuine willpower, and love for the FBI section 😍 it takes to actually tackle the role and give it your absolute all when moderating.

I'm sorry, but that comment doesn't just miss the mark—it’s so disconnected from reality that I genuinely wonder if you even realize what you just wrote. 😕

Being a Moderator is about so much more than just moving threads around, locking posts, deleting things, issuing warnings, banning people, or typing out posts in your favorite color—at least not on my 😳 subreddit.

For every single sub, including Reddit, we choose moderators who are the most suitable fit for that specific community at that specific moment in time.

I know the Moderators suggest co-moderators, but in this case, the current Mods aren't really performing their duties well, so what kind of co-moderators would they even pick?

Simplicity and Kowalski aren't bad moderators; it's just that both of them are going through massive life changes right now and haven't quite found their rhythm balancing those with moderation duties yet. At least, that's my personal take. I don't think they're unfit for the job just because temporary life events keep them away from the screen most of the time; they're just still trying to juggle their new responsibilities with their old ones.

If they realize (or have already realized) that they need help, they will ask for it (or already have). Otherwise, Paul Green31 hit the nail on the head regarding what Reddit needs.

It's probably best if the Admins make the final call on any potential co-moderator.

New moderators are chosen by the Admins based on suggestions from the existing Moderators of that specific sub, but the final decision always rests with Anderson.