It's time to replace the Stinger!

Personally, I think Mr. Stinger has much better things to do with his time: http://reddit.com/r/thread/489167 😁

Samuel Palmer10 said:Don't even start... I'll give you his address and then we can pour some brake fluid right into his Skoda...
Solve it like an American...

Interesting idea, really, but I honestly don't want to sink down to Stinger's level...

Just lock this nonsense down already...
Some of you guys have closed much more reasonable threads right on time, or maybe even earlier.

Jessica Thompson3 said:Personally, I think Mr. Stinger has much better things to do with his time: http://reddit.com/r/thread/489167 😁

Here’s an example of how things shouldn't be done... just report the post instead of dropping links in random topics. Imagine if I hadn't stumbled onto this thread by accident. 😁

Just so you know how many people like that show up every single day—you don't see them because they get deleted. 🤦 Honestly, I’m so bored with my life right now that I actually went through the trouble of setting up an email just to come hang out on Reddit. 😁 The funniest part is how people obsessively post just to keep the thread at the top. 🙏

Samuel Palmer10 said:Just lock this nonsense down already...
Some of you guys have closed much more reasonable threads right on time, or maybe even earlier.

Don't go there... I'll end up looking like I'm defending democracy for them (even though I was the one who suggested they start this). Then later, when they hand out bans for some stupid reason, people will act like I should be treated like a saint because of this.😁

Samuel Palmer10 said:Just lock this nonsense down already...
Some of you guys have closed much more reasonable threads right on time, or maybe even earlier.

Not yet. Let people keep voting for a bit so we can wrap this one up too.

I say let the Stinger just stay exactly what it’s always been—boring. Why? Just because.

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.

Look, man, no hard feelings, but that username definitely suits you. 😁

When you look at the sheer volume of posts, the number of threads started, and the years spent hanging out on the Reddit Auto forum, Michael Lee4 is basically irreplaceable. That specific topic you were writing about is just one example of how things go down here—it’s an endless loop of bickering, trying to outsmart one another, and constant debating. Generally speaking, I can already tell which threads are destined to be locked by default because some people are just waiting for a chance to troll, and in those cases, it's better to nip it in the bud immediately. Granted, there's that theory that everything becomes more tempting once it's forbidden, but I truly see no reason why Michael Lee4 should be removed.

And no, I'm not defending him just because we've never actually met, spoken, or had any kind of contact in real life.

One more thing: Arguing on the internet is like competing on the special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still a retard. 😉

Michael Lee4 said:Just saying, polls aren't happening. I only want written arguments regarding my removal. So, the poll is out; just write them down, it's easy enough to list them...

There won't be any retaliation, so don't even try it.

Of course you're doing your usual thing... try not to label everyone's opinion as "being a jerk."

The arguments are already right there in the post, and people usually use a poll to vote on whether they actually agree or not.

silenteagle28 said:Look, man, no hard feelings, but that username definitely suits you. 😁

When you look at the sheer volume of posts, the number of threads started, and the years spent hanging out on the Reddit Auto forum, Michael Lee4 is basically irreplaceable. That specific topic you were writing about is just one example of how things go down here—it’s an endless loop of bickering, trying to outsmart one another, and constant debating. Generally speaking, I can already tell which threads are destined to be locked by default because some people are just waiting for a chance to troll, and in those cases, it's better to nip it in the bud immediately. Granted, there's that theory that everything becomes more tempting once it's forbidden, but I truly see no reason why Michael Lee4 should be removed.

And no, I'm not defending him just because we've never actually met, spoken, or had any kind of contact in real life.

One more thing: Arguing on the internet is like competing on the special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still a retard. 😉

Not even close! Not even a little bit!

Look, I’m all for democracy. Freedom of speech? Absolutely. I'm fully behind it. As for the handle... honestly, I picked it on purpose. I don't exactly view myself as some big-shot gentleman—just a regular guy, really.

Look, I respect your take, and honestly, I’m not even looking to pick a fight with the moderation team. It’s just that... man, the way Michael Lee4 handles things? It’s something else. That's where I draw the line.👎

By the way, take a look at that thread I started. Honestly? None of what I laid out is actually happening in the real world. Not a single bit of it.

What am I even supposed to say to someone who drops 1,500 posts of just pictures in three months? 😁

That conversation you took personally was really about how you guys turned car guessing into the main topic, flooding the feed with camping photos, car reviews, and non-stop quoting of images...

Don't try to take my "insult" out of context... just quote the full sentence or sentences where those words actually show up.

As for me "not having time" to moderate the forum... do you honestly think any moderator on this site has the time to read every single thing? That’s why the report button (those little triangles under the avatars) exists—so you users can flag issues when you run into them.

Look, I'm not gonna get into who's right or wrong in all those massive debates you guys have going on... but honestly, it’s rare that every single moderator is actually gonna agree with someone based on pure skill or whatever. You've got people here just talking absolute nonsense, and then there are those who get triggered because they don't like how something is being handled, so they throw a tantrum and everything else goes out the window... you gotta find a balance and make it work for everyone, but let's be real, that's impossible... anyway, I don't care one way or the other, but hey, fine, do your job...
just wanted to point this out while I can😁...there's this one girl on here who's seriously getting on my nerves because she acts like she's some kind of genius, it's so forced, and then you've got people jumping in to tell her how much worse things could be... yeah, that's all I wanted to say😂

I couldn't care less about Stinger, you, or the moderator...
Anyway, shouldn't this be in the complaints section instead of the automobiles category?
And shouldn't you have reached out to the administrators first?

Michael Lee4 said:What am I even supposed to say to someone who drops 1,500 posts of just pictures in three months? 😁

That conversation you took personally was really about how you guys turned car guessing into the main topic, flooding the feed with camping photos, car reviews, and non-stop quoting of images...

Don't try to take my "insult" out of context... just quote the full sentence or sentences where those words actually show up.

As for me "not having time" to moderate the forum... do you honestly think any moderator on this site has the time to read every single thing? That’s why the report button (those little triangles under the avatars) exists—so you users can flag issues when you run into them.

The way I spend my time or what I choose to write here on Reddit has absolutely nothing to do with you. Seriously, who do you think you are, judging someone else based on how they pass the hours, what their hobbies are, or what actually brings them any kind of damn joy?
If I actually stooped to your level, I could just as easily sit here and nitpick how you spend your life copy-pasting links from the web—whether it’s about some new car models or whatever random show is airing on TV this week. Seriously, what do you even bring to this place? What's your actual contribution to the community? How is what you do any different from what I do? And honestly, in those rare moments when you actually bother to type out an original thought, you mostly just end up insulting everyone else on the board.

Look, you just have to accept it once and for all: people don't share your interests, and they sure as hell don't communicate the same way you do. It’s just how it is.

You’ve gotta realize that online, you’re gonna run into all sorts of people: the intellectuals, the uneducated, the geniuses, the idiots, those folks who actually want to share some useful knowledge, and then, finally, there are the ones who just show up to vent their own personal frustrations.
The mods are basically only here to deal with that last group. Honestly, as long as you aren't getting mixed up with the morons, you won't even notice who the moderators are—you won't have a single post flagged, deleted, or a thread locked in your face.

Just keep a good attitude and there's no reason to stress over who holds the moderator title... hang out on the site for what it’s actually for: swapping info, not wasting your breath trying to prove something to some random stranger you don't even know.

Man, I have no idea where this is headed...)))

And you're seriously asking who’s going to actually study the arguments? Who?
Is the judge going to sue the opposition? Is that how it works?

Look, elections are just the majority opinion, no ritual required. Arguments were just studied and decided on by some other regime back in the day.

I knew you’d bring up that thing about the poll, but I didn't expect to run into so many "geniuses" trying to explain what a moderator is. Guess I'm just too naive for my own good.🙂)

Man, just leave the guy alone 🤦

Michael Lee4, how are you even supposed to respond to this crap? 😁

Grace Turner said:Not yet. Let people keep voting for a bit so we can wrap this one up too.

Buddy, you don't even have a vote 😁