It's time to replace the Stinger!

Michael Lee4 said:Forever... just like your first post about new models and my response to it, or that one on the Honda forum where you claimed you were only coming here to stir the pot.

Regarding the show, I only said the guy is a phenomenal actor just like the series itself... idiots are taking it personally.

The thing is, he isn't even acting🙂

Anthony Lopez5 said:We can go in circles all we want, but some facts don't change.

Finally, we actually agree on something... I mentioned a long time ago that we should grab a beer and eventually find common ground.

So, the facts are what they are. My honest hope is that time proves just how wrong you were. And no, I won't rub it in your face—I'm not that kind of guy.

Best,

Honestly—I don't really care who you are in RL, as long as you're yourself here where we all interact and eventually got to know one another. BUT THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE...

Anthony Lopez5 said:Honestly—I don't really care who you are in RL, as long as you're yourself here where we all interact and eventually got to know one another. BUT THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE...

It’s honestly fascinating how some of you still think the issue is my moderation style rather than the actual stuff I have to moderate, even though most people on Reddit see right through it. You think the fact that I *have* to moderate is the problem. You always prioritize nonsense over anything concrete... In my opinion, that’s the only thing that needs to change. If things were different, nobody would even know I exist. Once you guys realize that, then this place will finally be what it's supposed to be.

Sorry, User, 🙂 if I quote you here...

You called for action, and we delivered. But once you actually found yourself in the crosshairs—once people presented solid, well-argued reasons why you shouldn't be a moderator anymore—you pivoted to this vague, passive-aggressive way of talking, masking your sarcasm with a fake sense of being conciliatory.

The worst part is when someone proves you wrong, not just on this issue but in general, and you simply can't bring yourself to apologize or admit a mistake. That, combined with a dozen other traits we've all seen a hundred times before, makes you a prime candidate for removal from the mod team.

And one more thing that’s funny—claiming "some" are against you while "most" are with you. Give me a break.

I've received several PMs from people on this site who aren't even super active on this PF, yet they have enough experience with you and your ego to tell me my assessment was spot on, and they're backing me up. Some even voted against you in this poll, but I guess you already knew that...

coppernomad28 said:Hey everyone on Reddit!

So, this whole debate about whether Mr. Stinger is actually doing a decent job with moderation or if he’s just being way too extra with his power trip has popped up on Reddit a few times now. Seriously, how many times are we going to circle the drain on this one?

First off, just a few quick words about myself. I'm in my 40s, a family man, living in New York City, and highly educated.
So, I’ve only been hanging out on Reddit for a few months now—mostly because I’ve got way too much free time on my hands—but I’ve already been jumping into a few different threads. Honestly? My whole experience on this site has been more than alright. Actually, it's been pretty great.
Of course, just like in real life, you always run into people who totally vibe with you and others who couldn't be more different. Because of that mix, you end up with all these messy discussions that drift between being on-topic and completely off-topic. I’ve noticed the moderation team here on Reddit covers a pretty wide spectrum, too. I get what their role is—they’re there to keep a lid on things and maintain some order, but still jump into the fray and actually participate in the conversations.

My first experience with Stinger—which was honestly both shocking and pretty awkward—happened shortly after I joined this Reddit community. See, the crew here that does the car guessing games is top-tier; everyone’s got a great spirit, plenty of healthy banter, and they're just regular, normal people. Everything was running smoothly, that is, until Stinger showed up, dropped this line, and slammed the thread shut:

Since a few people have turned this thread into their own private little drama fest, I’m assuming there’s really no point in keeping it open anymore. Honestly, I just don't have the energy to waste my free time cleaning up after you guys—dealing with all the trash, the endless whining about who's doing what, and handing out warnings to people who clearly aren't going to learn how to act on a site like Reddit... Next time, it won't be a warning. It'll just be a permanent ban.

This was posted back on May 8th of this year, but unfortunately, the thread is gone now. See, Michael Lee4 has this habit of scrubbing his little verbal outbursts like this whenever he wants—just to make sure there’s no paper trail left behind to serve as an example of his "stellar" moderation skills or his... let's call it "extensive" vocabulary.
I jumped on him immediately, demanding he explain why he was barging in and being such a jerk, but after a few back-and-forth messages, it became pretty obvious to me that I was fighting a losing battle.
So, they finally opened up the thread after scrubbing all those "controversial" posts—which, let's be honest, were always just pictures of cars and some commentary to go along with them.
Please, throw in some of your own stories if you've ever dealt with something like this. I'd love to hear them.

His entire vibe was just... pure exclusion. Arrogant, condescending, and honestly? Just plain insulting. I’m pretty sure most of the people on this forum have already dealt with someone exactly like him. He didn't even try to hide his elitism, though—he laid it out perfectly in his very next sentence: I see you're the new guy. You've only been around for fifteen days and you've already managed to dump three hundred posts worth of absolute nonsense onto the board...
This is just a straight-up confirmation of how narrow-minded they are. Honestly, it’s one of those flaws a moderator shouldn't even have, let alone feel comfortable airing out in public. Look, my personal freedom is about deciding what, where, and when I post on this Reddit, as long as the actual content isn't breaking any rules. Simple as that.

So, anyway, Michael Lee4 is out here breaking all the rules on Reddit. He’s constantly tearing into other users—calling people morons or idiots, and then hitting them with that condescending, patronizing crap like "sweetie" or "honey." On top of that, he’s just spamming emojis instead of actually typing anything useful, and half his posts aren't even about the topic at hand. Total off-topic nonsense.
And honestly? I’ll just admit it—I’m totally inconsistent when it comes to moderating. I basically just wing it based on whatever mood I'm in at the moment. It’s all pretty arbitrary, really. Plus, let's be real, it definitely depends on which user I'm dealing with.
Look, here’s the deal... I definitely don't have the time to go around browsing and reading through every single thread on here. If I notice something that catches my eye, I’ll chime in if I feel like it's worth my breath. Sometimes I'll be chill about it, sometimes I'll go off on people... there isn't really a set rule for how I handle things.
Look, let's get one thing straight here: when it comes to how we react or how things get moderated around here, Mr. Stinger is the only one calling the shots. Period.

Look, here's my bottom line. This forum should be a place to swap ideas, debate tastes, have some fun, and actually engage in civilized arguments—you know, staying within the rules, sure, but still having that sense of freedom to speak your mind without feeling like the moderators are just picking on us or acting like tyrants whenever they feel like it. So, I’m putting it to the community: let's see where everyone stands on this. Let's hear it.

Are we seriously still pushing for Mr. Stinger to be a moderator on this Reddit thread?

Thanks to everyone for sticking with me and actually reading through this. I'm really looking forward to seeing what you guys have to say in the comments.

P.S. I intentionally kept the voting results for the members hidden. You know, just to save anyone from having to deal with any potential backlash or retaliation later on.

Oh, give me a break, man.🙂

You aren't here long enough to be acting like some kind of genius.😁

User, I have to admit one thing to you—you’ve always rubbed me the wrong way—but with all your posts in this thread, I find myself agreeing with you completely, head to toe. 👍

Michael Lee4, Reddit is the very first thing I type into my browser after opening Mozilla, and I read through every single thread in the Automobiles section daily, from the first post to the last, regardless of the subject matter. Based on my post count, one might assume I'm relatively new here, but I was a frequent lurker long before I ever registered. It is quite evident that you look down on new users, an attitude I have personally experienced. Once I realized how things operate around here, I simply gave up on participating actively.
The way you boss people around here is, frankly, ridiculous; I am merely echoing what has been said previously—if your approach to problem-solving were different, everything would be different. Less arrogance, less condescension, less sarcasm, and less eye-rolling 🙄 .
No matter how you slice it, there will always be personal insults, stupid threads, comments, and kids showing up just to mock people... warn them, penalize them, ban them... just change your approach.

Timothy Morgan38 said:

It’s fifty-fifty, really. Some stuff holds water, some doesn't...

First off, you can't compare forum drama to IRL situations, period...
Because with the kind of nonsense happening here, in the real world, someone would have already lost their mind... 👍

But that’s exactly the point... everyone acts like a hero online, but in IRL, they're smaller than a grain of sand... I could probably list half the people in this thread alone... so loud on the forum, but the second they actually have to speak up publicly, they start stuttering...

See, on a forum, thank God there's this buffer where you don't have to respond instantly. You get to sit there and craft the most brutal insult possible without any fear... but in IRL, your first thought is whether you're going to get punched in the face if you say the wrong thing... plus, in the real world, it's pretty easy to tell who's full of it and who's just being played...

You shouldn't compare IRL and the forum in a literal sense, but it would be nice if people on the forum behaved the way they normally should in real life...

Otherwise, why do you think someone who isn't even a registered user can still participate just by reading?
I can't trigger all this garbage when a person is looking for actual answers or advice, yet the old guard just ignores them and keeps rambling about how much gas they use in the winter, even though they've never seen the car in person, let alone owned one... 👍

I know I can be provocative, but NOT TO THE EXTENT OF INSULTING SOMEONE... unless we're talking about a totally mentally unstable person who can't handle the fact that other people exist in the world besides themselves...

I am dead certain that Stinger is the perfect example of what you're talking about.
When you actually take a sober, realistic look at things, how could a guy like him even survive five minutes in the real world without getting his teeth kicked in?

If I were closer by, it would be pretty entertaining to see that guy walk into a local bar just to see if he actually has the balls to try and run the moderation crew face-to-face.

Actually, I bet there are plenty of forum users who are secretly itching to show up at a pub and have a one-on-one chat with Singer. Hey Stinger, if you're such a big shot in RL, do you actually have the guts to show your face at a dive bar?

Michael Lee4 said:It’s honestly fascinating how some of you still think the issue is my moderation style rather than the actual stuff I have to moderate, even though most people on Reddit see right through it. You think the fact that I *have* to moderate is the problem. You always prioritize nonsense over anything concrete... In my opinion, that’s the only thing that needs to change. If things were different, nobody would even know I exist. Once you guys realize that, then this place will finally be what it's supposed to be.

Man, after five pages, you still don't get it. We aren't even disputing the fact that there's stuff here that needs moderating! Can you ever just stop for a second, take a breath, and objectively look at where our frustration is actually coming from?
To actually wrap your head around that, you’d have to set aside that massive ego of yours and look at the arguments objectively. Personally, I couldn't care less about the concept of being a "moderator" as long as I'm not constantly having to police the very community I'm supposed to be looking after. It's like watching someone drunk stumbling around, clinging to these quasi-rules like they're the Ten Commandments, while simultaneously just doing whatever the hell they feel like in the moment.....
What we actually expect from a moderator is that they don't act like they're God Almighty. Ideally, you shouldn't even notice them. They should be fair, and they shouldn't be threatening or bullying users in almost every single interaction they have with the community.
Look at that User thread; everyone was typing away with total disbelief, thinking, "I'm posting here and Michael Lee4 hasn't even finished cleaning up yet!" Just let people type. You can't prove things to everyone; you could draw it out a hundred times, and the thread will eventually die on its own. It's like sitting in a bar every single night, just spewing words and waiting around, wondering: "Is the cop gonna show up and slap me over the head yet?"
Go ask the other moderators how they manage to find some kind of equilibrium on their subreddits without getting into daily shouting matches with the users. Authority is earned, man. You can't just force it down people's throats.
Once you finally grasp that, then maybe you'll actually be a good moderator.

And regarding your dinner and your girlfriend, I highly doubt that's the first or last time something like that has happened in your life, because well, you are who you are. There's a lot of psychopathology going on here.

slywolf65 said:Oh, give me a break, man.🙂

You aren't here long enough to be acting like some kind of genius.😁

Where on earth did you even find that quote of mine?

Look, any sane person realizes that the number of posts someone drops on Reddit isn't some kind of direct measurement for how much brainpower or actual intelligence they’re packing. It just isn't.

Michael Lee4 said:The people who wanted to chat got what they wanted. But the people coming in to ask actual questions were constantly being mocked by certain chatters just for asking things they should have known. It started happening all the time. That’s exactly why I stepped up for the mod role and did what I did. And look at it—most of those chatters haven't even bothered to show up here anymore, or they barely visit. Does that tell you anything?

No matter how arrogant or authoritative you think I'm being, I've already said my piece on this topic...

Michael Lee4 said:The people who wanted to chat got what they wanted. But the people coming in to ask actual questions were constantly being mocked by certain chatters just for asking things they should have known. It started happening all the time. That’s exactly why I stepped up for the mod role and did what I did. And look at it—most of those chatters haven't even bothered to show up here anymore, or they barely visit. Does that tell you anything?

No matter how arrogant or authoritative you think I'm being, I've already said my piece on this topic...

Well, then please, for the love of God, point me to the specific post where you said all that, because my failing eyes must have missed it.

The more I read your stuff, the more you remind me of some local politician dodging direct, uncomfortable questions.

Morning. I’ve locked this thread, but if the car situation changes, I'll move it over to the right PDF. Now, back to Automobiles 😁.

First of all, greetings to everyone.

So, I'm 27 years old. Even though my registration date makes me look like a relatively new face around here on Reddit, I've actually been lurking and following this place for several years now.
I also happened to moderate a forum back in the day. Specifically, I served as a supermoderator for a community of about 15,000 members.
While I am certainly aware of the specific hurdles that moderators, supermoderators, and admins face in their roles, I am equally mindful of the issues encountered by the "average" users on Reddit.

I am also one of those people who earned a red card from Michael Lee4.
I managed to earn myself a three-day ban just by sharing my thoughts in a thread about the new VW Polo—that so-called "little beast." Since the whole discussion was framed as an open exchange of opinions and personal experiences with the Polo, I figured it was only fair to contribute mine. Instead, my posts were deleted the very next day, and I was handed a direct red card without any explanation or justification. Meanwhile, the thread remains cluttered with a mountain of posts that have absolutely nothing to do with the actual subject matter, yet they haven't been deleted, sanctioned, or even given a warning. Given the sheer level of off-topic nonsense being posted there, I thought it would be appropriate to share my own commentary—specifically, my rather unpleasant experience with a previous Polo model. It isn't the latest version, certainly, but it is still an experience worth noting.
No, like I already said, my posts were deleted.
It’s true, my tone wasn't exactly polite. However, unlike many others—and unlike Michael Lee4 himself—I have never once referred to ANYONE (whether a person or a user) as "trash," an "idiot," a "moron," or a "cretin."

No, this isn't about my specific thread. This is about how Michael Lee4 operates. He caught my eye long before I even signed up here, and that was specifically because I used to be a super moderator on several massive forums myself.

Quite simply, the way Michael Lee4 treats other members, the specific vocabulary he chooses to employ, and his overall conduct are entirely unacceptable to one of the moderators. He has been informed of this, and he has received numerous warnings regarding his behavior. Yet, he hasn't given it any thought, much less made any attempt to rectify his actions.
He spends his time messing around with others and belittling them, using that tired line that if you have to say something ten times, you’re basically an idiot. Meanwhile, people keep presenting him with the same arguments over and over—that his methods aren't fair, ethical, or even remotely normal. It simply isn't right. Yet, he consistently dodges any direct answer to those points, behaving exactly like a politician dodging uncomfortable questions and inconvenient truths.

It is simply unacceptable for a moderator to ban a member or issue a warning based on their own personal vendettas.
Take this scenario, for instance: Person A gets banned simply because they constantly insult and mock others. Meanwhile, Person B—the very individual who handed out that ban—regularly insults and belittles members themselves.
I find myself wondering, isn't that just pure hypocrisy?
Is that fair?
A moderator should, by all accounts, serve as an example through their conduct and work.
Personally, I have NEVER acted as a super moderator by immediately kicking someone out or insulting them on sight. If I saw someone posting absolute garbage in a DM or on a thread, my approach would be to simply warn them that's not how we operate here. If they repeated the behavior, they’d receive a warning. If it happened again, they’d get a two-day "cooling off" period accompanied by an explanation. If the behavior persisted after that, they’d face a ten-day ban. And if they still couldn't get it together? Then despite all my efforts, there's no saving them—it would be a permanent ban.
Communication was established with that user, and several attempts were made to point out his mistakes.
He didn't even bother checking his post count. He just looked at it, thought, "Yeah, this guy barely posts, not worth my time," and hit the ban button immediately.

It’s true, Reddit has an enormous user base, which is exactly why they need such a massive team of moderators, especially since the Automobiles subforum is just as vast.
That simply isn't acceptable, nor should it ever serve as an excuse for that particular way of thinking or working.

If you and your colleague Grace Turner are the only ones left holding down the fort—since half the moderators have either vanished or are clearly MIA—and you can't keep up with everything on your own, then I fail to see where the issue lies. What exactly is stopping you from teaming up with the administrators to request backup? Why not just ask for some new colleagues to step in and help lighten the load?
The claim that there aren't people capable of being moderators is a lie. Furthermore, why limit the role to someone who must have several thousand posts?

I’ve written all sorts of things here myself, and I’ve rightfully received comments on some of my own posts. I don't run from anything; I recognize my mistakes. What I cannot grasp, however, is this tendency to categorize users based solely on post counts and perceived likability.
It isn't rare to see Michael Lee4 wander into off-topic threads or resort to insults, so I am uncertain whether he has even been warned by his fellow moderators, let alone sanctioned. His vocabulary and habit of insulting others are always conveniently brushed off as just "his unique writing style."
I will intentionally provide a radical and seemingly absurd example to make the point clear: Why punish criminals? Is that not simply their unique way of life?
They aren't necessarily bad people; they just happen to disagree with someone's opinion or desires, so they get taken out. And then what?

To reiterate, we are discussing a method of operation that is unbecoming of a moderator. It is substandard, and it should not be permitted.
I follow many subreddits, and nowhere else has there been such an uproar regarding a moderator's performance—or lack thereof—as there has been with Michael Lee4. One might ask why. The answer certainly isn't because Michael Lee4 is an excellent moderator.

Furthermore, this shouldn't be viewed strictly as criticism. Why not view this through the lens of improving cooperation between mods, administrators, and users? Ultimately, a forum is a place where people come for advice, an exchange of ideas, relaxation, information, and shared experiences. Why ruin that with inadequate management and the persistent failure to sanction certain individuals' poor behavior?
No matter how irritated Michael Lee4 may occasionally feel toward the mistakes made by new users or certain members, that can never be an excuse to resort to insults, belittlement, or similar tactics.
Change your communication style slightly. From your words, one often senses arrogance, condescension, and a sense of talking down to people, which is hardly a way to communicate normally.

Nobody wants to tear the forum down, nobody is starting revolutions, and nobody is raising any kind of rebellion.
All that is requested is to acknowledge the oversights and the frequent hypocrisy of those who penalize others for the very same things they allow themselves to do. That is not the way.
If you don't have the temperament for this job, if you don't want to do it, if you can't find the time, or if you simply don't feel like dealing with new members—who will always exist—then quite simply, do not take the job.

Understand and accept that there will always be new members. Not everyone reads the forum rules upon registration; they don't know everything allowed or disallowed right out of the gate. If they make a mistake, warn them and set an example. Must you immediately go for the throat, practice tyranny, and kick them out?
In a vast number of these cases, I am certain a good portion of the members had good intentions and were not "trolls," yet they were simply never given the chance to prove it.
Everyone makes mistakes. One should be big enough and fair enough to admit their own errors, reflect on their actions, and attempt to change them. Above all, one should stand by their words. Many people here do not.

A perfect, flawless moderator who pleases everyone, stays polite to everybody, treats everyone with white gloves, and makes sure never to tell someone to "get lost"... yeah, that’s a total pipe dream.

The reality is, Michael Lee4 doesn't treat everyone the same—you know, there's a difference between the guys with xx posts and the ones with xxxx.. posts—but he isn't even trying to hide it. And honestly, sometimes he just straight-up ignores certain people, which isn't exactly his finest hour.

Plus, when he gets into an argument with those types, he goes off-topic and then joins them in tearing each other down. In my opinion, that's his biggest flaw, but I think I mentioned that somewhere else lately.

And as for him calling someone a moron or telling them to shut up... look, I'd rather deal with a mod writing about cabbage, carrots, and rabbits. Why is everyone so sensitive about insults online? Like, seriously, does it actually hurt your soul when some mod on some random internet forum calls you an idiot? Give me a break.

Regarding deleted posts and warnings, it's the same story as the insults. I've been warned a few times over stupid stuff, maybe two or three times I posted a picture... and I've had 15, 20, or even 30 posts wiped without any explanation... so what? Am I supposed to cry about it, whine, and throw a fit? Look, it's just a damn forum. If I took every little thing said on a forum to heart, I wouldn't be able to function.

But hey, I get that he clearly clashed with certain people, and that's a different story. As for who's right, I don't care and I'm not wasting energy on it. If his moderating sucks, he'll fall sooner or later. I'm just curious where all these people making a huge scene would end up if they were in charge of moderating. They'd snap and start gossiping themselves eventually! Before you start a revolt, just think about how many times threads started fighting over "French trash" or "garbage golf"... how many times similar topics were opened, how many times people got into massive fights across different threads, or how many dozens/hundreds of times Gary Lewis5 posted pictures of an Astra 😬... you have to keep all that under control, and it's not easy. That's why you need to have some understanding and tolerate mistakes or slips from the mods. They're human beings too, after all.

As for moving the BMW vs. Mercedes vs... threads around and the hunting of certain users—which, if you ask me or User—are the two worst things that happened to this sub, I remember that, and I know Michael Lee4 had nothing to do with it. Also, from reading the PM chats with that user, I know Michael Lee4 actually saved him xy times.

To wrap it up, my final verdict is positive because I haven't actually had problems with the guy, nor does he cut off discussions too much (because, let's face it, I troll and joke around a lot, and my posts only get deleted when I really go off the rails).
The fact that there's so much drama surrounding him... I'd just say: big engines kick up a lot of dust.

rowdybear12 said:A perfect, flawless moderator who pleases everyone, stays polite to everybody, treats everyone with white gloves, and makes sure never to tell someone to "get lost"... yeah, that’s a total pipe dream.

The reality is, Michael Lee4 doesn't treat everyone the same—you know, there's a difference between the guys with xx posts and the ones with xxxx.. posts—but he isn't even trying to hide it. And honestly, sometimes he just straight-up ignores certain people, which isn't exactly his finest hour.

Plus, when he gets into an argument with those types, he goes off-topic and then joins them in tearing each other down. In my opinion, that's his biggest flaw, but I think I mentioned that somewhere else lately.

And as for him calling someone a moron or telling them to shut up... look, I'd rather deal with a mod writing about cabbage, carrots, and rabbits. Why is everyone so sensitive about insults online? Like, seriously, does it actually hurt your soul when some mod on some random internet forum calls you an idiot? Give me a break.

Regarding deleted posts and warnings, it's the same story as the insults. I've been warned a few times over stupid stuff, maybe two or three times I posted a picture... and I've had 15, 20, or even 30 posts wiped without any explanation... so what? Am I supposed to cry about it, whine, and throw a fit? Look, it's just a damn forum. If I took every little thing said on a forum to heart, I wouldn't be able to function.

But hey, I get that he clearly clashed with certain people, and that's a different story. As for who's right, I don't care and I'm not wasting energy on it. If his moderating sucks, he'll fall sooner or later. I'm just curious where all these people making a huge scene would end up if they were in charge of moderating. They'd snap and start gossiping themselves eventually! Before you start a revolt, just think about how many times threads started fighting over "French trash" or "garbage golf"... how many times similar topics were opened, how many times people got into massive fights across different threads, or how many dozens/hundreds of times Gary Lewis5 posted pictures of an Astra 😬... you have to keep all that under control, and it's not easy. That's why you need to have some understanding and tolerate mistakes or slips from the mods. They're human beings too, after all.

As for moving the BMW vs. Mercedes vs... threads around and the hunting of certain users—which, if you ask me or User—are the two worst things that happened to this sub, I remember that, and I know Michael Lee4 had nothing to do with it. Also, from reading the PM chats with that user, I know Michael Lee4 actually saved him xy times.

To wrap it up, my final verdict is positive because I haven't actually had problems with the guy, nor does he cut off discussions too much (because, let's face it, I troll and joke around a lot, and my posts only get deleted when I really go off the rails).
The fact that there's so much drama surrounding him... I'd just say: big engines kick up a lot of dust.

Sorry, I just can't help myself without adding: flies always swarm around garbage...☕

Summary:

The poll results are what they are, and look, I’ve got enough integrity to just own that.
Thanks to all the members who took the time to comment and vote.
It looks like Stinger really is the kind of mod this forum deserves, and those users who can't stand him will just have to deal with it (there's some stuff I don't accept IRL, no matter what). Bottom line: my opinion on Stinger hasn't changed, and whether he actually learned anything from this whole ordeal remains to be seen.

Cheers, everyone! 👍

So, does that mean you're finally going to stop blessing us with your presence??

rowdybear12 said:A perfect, flawless moderator who pleases everyone, stays polite to everybody, treats everyone with white gloves, and makes sure never to tell someone to "get lost"... yeah, that’s a total pipe dream.

The reality is, Michael Lee4 doesn't treat everyone the same—you know, there's a difference between the guys with xx posts and the ones with xxxx.. posts—but he isn't even trying to hide it. And honestly, sometimes he just straight-up ignores certain people, which isn't exactly his finest hour.

Plus, when he gets into an argument with those types, he goes off-topic and then joins them in tearing each other down. In my opinion, that's his biggest flaw, but I think I mentioned that somewhere else lately.

And as for him calling someone a moron or telling them to shut up... look, I'd rather deal with a mod writing about cabbage, carrots, and rabbits. Why is everyone so sensitive about insults online? Like, seriously, does it actually hurt your soul when some mod on some random internet forum calls you an idiot? Give me a break.

Regarding deleted posts and warnings, it's the same story as the insults. I've been warned a few times over stupid stuff, maybe two or three times I posted a picture... and I've had 15, 20, or even 30 posts wiped without any explanation... so what? Am I supposed to cry about it, whine, and throw a fit? Look, it's just a damn forum. If I took every little thing said on a forum to heart, I wouldn't be able to function.

But hey, I get that he clearly clashed with certain people, and that's a different story. As for who's right, I don't care and I'm not wasting energy on it. If his moderating sucks, he'll fall sooner or later. I'm just curious where all these people making a huge scene would end up if they were in charge of moderating. They'd snap and start gossiping themselves eventually! Before you start a revolt, just think about how many times threads started fighting over "French trash" or "garbage golf"... how many times similar topics were opened, how many times people got into massive fights across different threads, or how many dozens/hundreds of times Gary Lewis5 posted pictures of an Astra 😬... you have to keep all that under control, and it's not easy. That's why you need to have some understanding and tolerate mistakes or slips from the mods. They're human beings too, after all.

As for moving the BMW vs. Mercedes vs... threads around and the hunting of certain users—which, if you ask me or User—are the two worst things that happened to this sub, I remember that, and I know Michael Lee4 had nothing to do with it. Also, from reading the PM chats with that user, I know Michael Lee4 actually saved him xy times.

To wrap it up, my final verdict is positive because I haven't actually had problems with the guy, nor does he cut off discussions too much (because, let's face it, I troll and joke around a lot, and my posts only get deleted when I really go off the rails).
The fact that there's so much drama surrounding him... I'd just say: big engines kick up a lot of dust.

I absolutely agree.

But look, if he’s claiming they're short-staffed—that they can't keep up, that they occasionally lack the motivation, or simply don't see everything—then why not just appoint another one, two, or even three members as moderators? It would provide much-needed backup. Ideally, someone with actual moderation experience who is genuinely willing to step up and help out.

Beyond that, there’s one thing: someone who actually deserves a reality check needs to tell certain people to stop talking nonsense—or just ban them outright. Going after everyone with a sledgehammer is ridiculous, especially when dealing with a new member who clearly doesn't have a clue about anything yet. 🙄 Regardless of whether they share the same opinion...
Look, I’ll admit, I wouldn't mind if it happened once or twice, but when it becomes a constant occurrence? That's starting to feel like a bit much.
And people will simply react. They'll either dive straight into an argument, start throwing intentional provocations, walk away entirely, or attempt to take some kind of action on the matter—pointing out mistakes along the way.
But honestly, regardless of what anyone does at the time, there's just no accountability...
It’s absurd to suggest an apology can be excused simply because someone has an "eccentric communication style."
By that logic, politicians could claim they have an "eccentric way of thinking" to justify robbing us blind...

In my view, that isn't a "style"...

Furthermore, you can prevent conflicts and bad behavior without resorting to insults or offering others backhanded "compliments." You don't lose any authority or firmness by telling someone not to do this or that, then issuing a two-day ban, followed by a longer suspension or even a permanent one if they persist. In short, you don't sacrifice your authority or discipline by omitting the part where you call someone a moron, an idiot, or a complete jerk...

mellowhound said:I absolutely agree.

But look, if he’s claiming they're short-staffed—that they can't keep up, that they occasionally lack the motivation, or simply don't see everything—then why not just appoint another one, two, or even three members as moderators? It would provide much-needed backup. Ideally, someone with actual moderation experience who is genuinely willing to step up and help out.

Beyond that, there’s one thing: someone who actually deserves a reality check needs to tell certain people to stop talking nonsense—or just ban them outright. Going after everyone with a sledgehammer is ridiculous, especially when dealing with a new member who clearly doesn't have a clue about anything yet. 🙄 Regardless of whether they share the same opinion...
Look, I’ll admit, I wouldn't mind if it happened once or twice, but when it becomes a constant occurrence? That's starting to feel like a bit much.
And people will simply react. They'll either dive straight into an argument, start throwing intentional provocations, walk away entirely, or attempt to take some kind of action on the matter—pointing out mistakes along the way.
But honestly, regardless of what anyone does at the time, there's just no accountability...
It’s absurd to suggest an apology can be excused simply because someone has an "eccentric communication style."
By that logic, politicians could claim they have an "eccentric way of thinking" to justify robbing us blind...

In my view, that isn't a "style"...

Furthermore, you can prevent conflicts and bad behavior without resorting to insults or offering others backhanded "compliments." You don't lose any authority or firmness by telling someone not to do this or that, then issuing a two-day ban, followed by a longer suspension or even a permanent one if they persist. In short, you don't sacrifice your authority or discipline by omitting the part where you call someone a moron, an idiot, or a complete jerk...

I'm with this guy.

Edit: gonna add one thing—I didn't vote because I wasn't feeling it.🤷

hollowtrucker77 said:So, does that mean you're finally going to stop blessing us with your presence??

Should he?

It probably won't happen, neither from him nor anyone else...

But having our own opinion about Stinger as a moderator is a different matter entirely—one that has simply been voiced publicly here now...

We will have to wait and see if he continues to be as arrogant and abrasive as he portrays himself to be, or if he might perhaps temper his rather unpleasant rhetoric...

There is nothing wrong with enforcing rules if someone is actually in the wrong, but there are certain ways to conduct oneself... ways that are cultured and civilized...

I am curious how you would feel right now if, instead of asking "should he?", the response up there was: "Hey moron, who do you think you are, acting like you can just walk away?"🤷

Perhaps when he is moderating and misses one of your posts, you’ll point out that you have 11,000 points and have been here for years, but why should anyone else be blamed just because they decided to join the conversation recently? Personally, I spend time on other forums almost every day; sometimes I just read through a mountain of content without replying, or I don't even bother logging in...

No one here is attacking Stinger for any particular reason other than his sheer rudeness and lack of manners... by all means, let him issue sanctions, but he shouldn't engage in the very same behavior he punishes others for...

People intentionally mock him and push him to his absolute limit, only to laugh about it afterward... and he shouldn't spin fairy tales for children claiming he wasn't involved in certain situations, especially when he knows deep down that he isn't being truthful about some things... I scroll through endless foolish posts myself and find myself laughing at people's stupidity every single day... yet I restrain myself and choose not to respond... and that applies not just here, but on other subreddits and various other forums as well...

I also agree that if he is meant to be the sole moderator, then perhaps we should appoint someone else who actually wants to do the job—and I know there are people willing to do so... it might make things easier for both Stinger and the community...
There are users here who have served as moderators on various other platforms, and perhaps they could step in here from time to time...

mellowhound said:I absolutely agree.

But look, if he’s claiming they're short-staffed—that they can't keep up, that they occasionally lack the motivation, or simply don't see everything—then why not just appoint another one, two, or even three members as moderators? It would provide much-needed backup. Ideally, someone with actual moderation experience who is genuinely willing to step up and help out.

Beyond that, there’s one thing: someone who actually deserves a reality check needs to tell certain people to stop talking nonsense—or just ban them outright. Going after everyone with a sledgehammer is ridiculous, especially when dealing with a new member who clearly doesn't have a clue about anything yet. 🙄 Regardless of whether they share the same opinion...
Look, I’ll admit, I wouldn't mind if it happened once or twice, but when it becomes a constant occurrence? That's starting to feel like a bit much.
And people will simply react. They'll either dive straight into an argument, start throwing intentional provocations, walk away entirely, or attempt to take some kind of action on the matter—pointing out mistakes along the way.
But honestly, regardless of what anyone does at the time, there's just no accountability...
It’s absurd to suggest an apology can be excused simply because someone has an "eccentric communication style."
By that logic, politicians could claim they have an "eccentric way of thinking" to justify robbing us blind...

In my view, that isn't a "style"...

Furthermore, you can prevent conflicts and bad behavior without resorting to insults or offering others backhanded "compliments." You don't lose any authority or firmness by telling someone not to do this or that, then issuing a two-day ban, followed by a longer suspension or even a permanent one if they persist. In short, you don't sacrifice your authority or discipline by omitting the part where you call someone a moron, an idiot, or a complete jerk...

I'm checking in one last time because I am officially fed up with this crap.

Like I told you via PM (since you asked), but I'll say it here too.

If YOU guys didn't act stupid, nobody would even notice I was moderating.

And yeah, I'm no saint. I don't treat everyone exactly the same; sometimes it's accidental, sometimes I know exactly who I'm dealing with. Like I said in my PM, look at your own bans and look at what you actually wrote in the posts that got you flagged. Pure trolling. And you did it right after I warned everyone several times to stop. So what do I get? You, continuing to do it? Do I need to file a formal petition with you? Is it my vocabulary that's the problem? Again, I'm no saint, but sweep your own porch first.

Regarding what coppernomad28 mentioned about IRL life. Whether I'm the same person in person is totally irrelevant. Everything starts with how you behave here. If you act inappropriately in real life, you're going to get a reaction based on who you're dealing with. Basically, if you poke the bear, you're going to get bitten... Real life is pretty harsh about that, which is why most people vent their frustrations behind a keyboard and a screen.

You're telling me not to come to some random parrot site? Bad comparison. Go somewhere where you don't know anyone, do things you shouldn't, nag the person telling you to stop, and see what happens.

eod from my side. I've said everything I had to say in my last two posts... As far as moderators go, two extra are definitely overkill. Let the admins decide if we need those two who actually work or the two who don't. The only thing I can change is my approach—instead of trying to communicate with users about what not to do, I could just hit them over the head with it. I have a feeling you all wouldn't like that any better...

Decide if you want a serious forum or a playground for chat and nonsense... If it's the latter, I'm out.