Banning users who threaten police reports or similar legal action

I’ve been sitting here thinking about how we handle things around here, and I honestly feel like there should be an immediate rule added to the guidelines regarding users who threaten to call the police or file legal reports against other members during a discussion... it just seems like such a heavy-handed way to escalate a debate, and maybe a permanent ban should be on the table for anyone who uses that kind of intimidation tactic instead of just sticking to the argument at hand... it would certainly change the energy of the conversations if people knew they couldn't just weaponize the authorities to shut someone down... anyway, just a thought that's been weighing on my mind lately...

Since there have been quite a few instances lately where people actually ended up facing police reports or even full-blown court rulings just because of things they wrote online, I’ve noticed some users on Reddit starting to weaponize that concept... you know, using it as this sort of unspoken subtext or a veiled threat to shut people down, claiming they're "just joking" while they try to intimidate their conversational partners into silence by threatening them with legal action...

Just one example...

hiddenlynx66 James Patel20 said:I just caught that segment on the protest over on The New York Times, and honestly, what you described doesn't seem to have any connection whatsoever to what was actually happening there... But, I figured I’d do you a little favor, so I went ahead and forwarded your take on the whole thing to the organizers... just in case they decide they want to deal with you in court to prove those claims about the protest being paid for... 🙂

I've been noticing certain trends heading in that direction lately, and I can't help but feel a growing sense of unease... I truly fear it could end up causing permanent damage to this community and, more broadly, to the very concept of free speech that I believe almost all of us here stand for...

This has happened before... I think I was even threatened with a report to the Federal Communications Commission prior to this Law being passed 🙂

Personally, I tend to view incidents like these as a severe form of trolling, so I usually assign them somewhere between 50 and 100 penalty points.

I suppose someone who wants to report an individual has every right to do so without making a public spectacle of it, because by doing so, they are essentially attempting to unfairly force their perspective onto the discussion and undermining the work of the Moderators and Reddit Administrators

In principle, I would likely support any initiative aimed at standardizing how we handle such infractions across the whole of Reddit

slybison8 said:This has happened before... I think I was even threatened with a report to the Federal Communications Commission prior to this Law being passed 🙂

Personally, I tend to view incidents like these as a severe form of trolling, so I usually assign them somewhere between 50 and 100 penalty points.

I suppose someone who wants to report an individual has every right to do so without making a public spectacle of it, because by doing so, they are essentially attempting to unfairly force their perspective onto the discussion and undermining the work of the Moderators and Reddit Administrators

In principle, I would likely support any initiative aimed at standardizing how we handle such infractions across the whole of Reddit

I completely agree

but when it comes to certain people, they really are overdoing it. 🙄

steelwalker68 said:I completely agree

but when it comes to certain people, they really are overdoing it. 🙄

There’s simply no level of "exaggeration" on some random internet forum that would ever justify calling the authorities on someone. Honestly, it gives me the shivers. But hey, that’s just my take.

James Patel20 I honestly feel like we need to get a rule in place immediately that allows for banning anyone who tries to threaten other users with police involvement or similar legal reports during an argument. It’s just not right.

Unfortunately, I don't think that's actually doable. It’s a real shame, though.

James Patel20 said:I’ve been sitting here thinking about how we handle things around here, and I honestly feel like there should be an immediate rule added to the guidelines regarding users who threaten to call the police or file legal reports against other members during a discussion... it just seems like such a heavy-handed way to escalate a debate, and maybe a permanent ban should be on the table for anyone who uses that kind of intimidation tactic instead of just sticking to the argument at hand... it would certainly change the energy of the conversations if people knew they couldn't just weaponize the authorities to shut someone down... anyway, just a thought that's been weighing on my mind lately...

Since there have been quite a few instances lately where people actually ended up facing police reports or even full-blown court rulings just because of things they wrote online, I’ve noticed some users on Reddit starting to weaponize that concept... you know, using it as this sort of unspoken subtext or a veiled threat to shut people down, claiming they're "just joking" while they try to intimidate their conversational partners into silence by threatening them with legal action...

Just one example...

I've been noticing certain trends heading in that direction lately, and I can't help but feel a growing sense of unease... I truly fear it could end up causing permanent damage to this community and, more broadly, to the very concept of free speech that I believe almost all of us here stand for...

I don't get it.
Is your issue that someone reported you, or that they actually said what they said out loud on Reddit?

Amanda Hughes37 said:I don't get it.
Is your issue that someone reported you, or that they actually said what they said out loud on Reddit?

It’s the threat of being reported that really gets to me, and honestly, I feel like that’s something that should be handled pretty easily...

Of course, the idea that someone might actually follow through and file a report is unsettling too, 🙂 but there isn't much I can do about that side of things, I suppose.

Though, I think I mentioned this in another thread already, but it seems almost nonsensical to hold a person accountable for what they write under a pseudonym, provided that the handle itself isn't some legally protected identity...

I mean, who is going to guarantee that tomorrow someone won't just hijack my username to cause trouble, essentially posting something illegal or actionable in my name just so they can report me to the police...

But that really opens up a much larger conversation than we have here...

We ought to do what we can, which would be to ban anyone who uses reports as a way to threaten others, because that kind of behavior just kills any real discussion...

People eventually stop sharing their actual thoughts because they start worrying that someone might actually take action against them...

James Patel20 said:It’s the threat of being reported that really gets to me, and honestly, I feel like that’s something that should be handled pretty easily...

Of course, the idea that someone might actually follow through and file a report is unsettling too, 🙂 but there isn't much I can do about that side of things, I suppose.

Though, I think I mentioned this in another thread already, but it seems almost nonsensical to hold a person accountable for what they write under a pseudonym, provided that the handle itself isn't some legally protected identity...

I mean, who is going to guarantee that tomorrow someone won't just hijack my username to cause trouble, essentially posting something illegal or actionable in my name just so they can report me to the police...

But that really opens up a much larger conversation than we have here...

We ought to do what we can, which would be to ban anyone who uses reports as a way to threaten others, because that kind of behavior just kills any real discussion...

People eventually stop sharing their actual thoughts because they start worrying that someone might actually take action against them...

But they really can report you.
You claimed a certain group was paid off without providing any proof.
Even if you did have evidence, a court still has to decide if it's actually valid or sufficient.
As it stands, you defamed them.
If I remember correctly, that wasn't just an opinion—it was a direct assertion that money changed hands.
Regardless of anything else, I wish people would be a bit more careful about what they write and say.

Amanda Hughes37 said:But they really can report you.
You claimed a certain group was paid off without providing any proof.
Even if you did have evidence, a court still has to decide if it's actually valid or sufficient.
As it stands, you defamed them.
If I remember correctly, that wasn't just an opinion—it was a direct assertion that money changed hands.
Regardless of anything else, I wish people would be a bit more careful about what they write and say.

I didn't write "the meeting was paid for," someone else did.

And please, let's not pretend that every single claim made on Reddit is backed up by hard evidence.

A regular user isn't a police officer who needs to present a full case file for every comment.

How can you even imagine theorizing, analyzing, or making educated guesses without all sorts of assumptions... which is, after all, the whole point of being on a forum like this?

I honestly find it hard to believe that some people on Reddit are so eager to spread lies about others, while others are just as ready to defend that kind of behavior... 🤦

I’ve been completely transparent about my own actions, but if I were the one organizing that protest, I’d probably be facing legal action right now. Claiming a rally was paid for isn't some kind of "assessment" or "analysis" of an event—it’s nothing more than pure slander.

The saddest part is seeing actual people with real names being slandered by cowards hiding behind screen names. If you actually have the guts, why not use your real name and then give us your "analysis"? 🙂

hiddenlynx66 said:I honestly find it hard to believe that some people on Reddit are so eager to spread lies about others, while others are just as ready to defend that kind of behavior... 🤦

I’ve been completely transparent about my own actions, but if I were the one organizing that protest, I’d probably be facing legal action right now. Claiming a rally was paid for isn't some kind of "assessment" or "analysis" of an event—it’s nothing more than pure slander.

The saddest part is seeing actual people with real names being slandered by cowards hiding behind screen names. If you actually have the guts, why not use your real name and then give us your "analysis"? 🙂

Well, I was also pretty direct about how I would handle your threats if I were in charge here.

If I actually had Reddit Administrator powers, of course. 🙂

But hey, if it makes you feel any better, you aren't some unique case... you're just one example among many.

James Patel20 said:Well, I was also pretty direct about how I would handle your threats if I were in charge here.

If I actually had Reddit Administrator powers, of course. 🙂

But hey, if it makes you feel any better, you aren't some unique case... you're just one example among many.

It seems you fail to grasp that I wasn't actually threatening anyone. 🙂
I merely stated WHAT I HAD DONE! 🙂
And don't worry, next time I won't be so polite about it. You and your crowd can go right back to your "analysis." 😂

James Patel20 said:It’s the threat of being reported that really gets to me, and honestly, I feel like that’s something that should be handled pretty easily...

Of course, the idea that someone might actually follow through and file a report is unsettling too, 🙂 but there isn't much I can do about that side of things, I suppose.

Though, I think I mentioned this in another thread already, but it seems almost nonsensical to hold a person accountable for what they write under a pseudonym, provided that the handle itself isn't some legally protected identity...

I mean, who is going to guarantee that tomorrow someone won't just hijack my username to cause trouble, essentially posting something illegal or actionable in my name just so they can report me to the police...

But that really opens up a much larger conversation than we have here...

We ought to do what we can, which would be to ban anyone who uses reports as a way to threaten others, because that kind of behavior just kills any real discussion...

People eventually stop sharing their actual thoughts because they start worrying that someone might actually take action against them...

this actually happened to me in real life and ended up in court!

so I'm backing slybison8, whom I have a weird amount of respect for

and this whole thing with the FCC is total BS too, because the agency would have to prove it was ME—not my mom, dad, brother, dog, or grandma—who typed the message, which is basically impossible.

You all are quite amusing. It's as if someone has to threaten you with a ban before you can manage to do it... 😁

hiddenlynx66 said:It seems you fail to grasp that I wasn't actually threatening anyone. 🙂
I merely stated WHAT I HAD DONE! 🙂
And don't worry, next time I won't be so polite about it. You and your crowd can go right back to your "analysis." 😂

And I can see that you’re feeling pretty proud of that...

I suppose I really am just a fool...

I'm out here looking for a ban, though honestly, you deserve a medal for being so incredibly honest and brave...

Don't you worry, I'll make sure to do it without any hesitation next time... so you and your little group can just keep right on with all that "analysis" of yours... 😂

Imagine if you actually went out of your way to run someone over with your car, and then, instead of trying to hide it or making some excuse, you just looked them right in the eye and admitted that you did it on purpose...

And you honestly call that an apology...

I think I should probably order two more rounds for my colleague... just to be safe...

One for the sake of humanity, and one for the sake of culture...

slybison8 said:This has happened before... I think I was even threatened with a report to the Federal Communications Commission prior to this Law being passed 🙂

Personally, I tend to view incidents like these as a severe form of trolling, so I usually assign them somewhere between 50 and 100 penalty points.

I suppose someone who wants to report an individual has every right to do so without making a public spectacle of it, because by doing so, they are essentially attempting to unfairly force their perspective onto the discussion and undermining the work of the Moderators and Reddit Administrators

In principle, I would likely support any initiative aimed at standardizing how we handle such infractions across the whole of Reddit

The rules are set up so a Moderator can always use their own judgment to sanction whatever they deem necessary, but I don't see why anyone needs to hide their intent to report someone, especially since we're all warned to follow American law.

And if James Patel20 is worried that someone might hack his account and leave him vulnerable to legal trouble, I'd honestly suggest he spends some time in one of the IT subreddits to learn how to secure himself properly.

James Patel20 said:And I can see that you’re feeling pretty proud of that...

I suppose I really am just a fool...

I'm out here looking for a ban, though honestly, you deserve a medal for being so incredibly honest and brave...

Don't you worry, I'll make sure to do it without any hesitation next time... so you and your little group can just keep right on with all that "analysis" of yours... 😂

Imagine if you actually went out of your way to run someone over with your car, and then, instead of trying to hide it or making some excuse, you just looked them right in the eye and admitted that you did it on purpose...

And you honestly call that an apology...

I think I should probably order two more rounds for my colleague... just to be safe...

One for the sake of humanity, and one for the sake of culture...

It looks to me like you're fighting to ensure all the slander and lies on Reddit are protected by the rules, allowing everyone to hide behind their handles while they tear down people who actually use their real names.
I honestly wonder what it would feel like if your own name were dragged through the mud with all these accusations. I highly doubt you would hold the same opinion then. 🙂

hiddenlynx66 said:I honestly find it hard to believe that some people on Reddit are so eager to spread lies about others, while others are just as ready to defend that kind of behavior... 🤦

I’ve been completely transparent about my own actions, but if I were the one organizing that protest, I’d probably be facing legal action right now. Claiming a rally was paid for isn't some kind of "assessment" or "analysis" of an event—it’s nothing more than pure slander.

The saddest part is seeing actual people with real names being slandered by cowards hiding behind screen names. If you actually have the guts, why not use your real name and then give us your "analysis"? 🙂

It really is an analysis. It's an opinion based on an impression. And honestly, your accusation that I slandered them by making that claim is actually your own slander against me, which I could pretty much sue you for!!!

Let's look at the post in question...

http://www.reddit.com/showpost.php?p=4...postcount=2661

As you can see, I start my post with the sentence "I can't help but feel like what I saw was a paid segment"...

Everything I'm saying is still framed as my own opinion...

So, according to you, I'm not even allowed to express how a protest looks to me just because I don't have hard evidence?

That is such absolute nonsense, probably born out of frustration because your side—the one claiming to act for the greater good—can't even manage a basic gathering in downtown Washington, D.C., without police oversight!!!

.

Arthur Flores2 said:It really is an analysis. It's an opinion based on an impression. And honestly, your accusation that I slandered them by making that claim is actually your own slander against me, which I could pretty much sue you for!!!

Let's look at the post in question...

http://www.reddit.com/showpost.php?p=4...postcount=2661

As you can see, I start my post with the sentence "I can't help but feel like what I saw was a paid segment"...

Everything I'm saying is still framed as my own opinion...

So, according to you, I'm not even allowed to express how a protest looks to me just because I don't have hard evidence?

That is such absolute nonsense, probably born out of frustration because your side—the one claiming to act for the greater good—can't even manage a basic gathering in downtown Washington, D.C., without police oversight!!!

.

Yeah, it starts out like that, and then it ends up exactly like this:

Police everywhere around Times Square. Paid protests. Paid coverage. Total scam. A protest with zero protesters? It’s just five or six organizers standing there by themselves. Then you've got this reporter claiming, "If it hadn't started snowing, we would've filled up Times Square"... meanwhile, it's barely even snowing. Give me a break.

So, do you actually have proof that the segment was paid for? Or are you just assuming?

Christian Torres3 said:The rules are set up so a Moderator can always use their own judgment to sanction whatever they deem necessary, but I don't see why anyone needs to hide their intent to report someone, especially since we're all warned to follow American law.

And if James Patel20 is worried that someone might hack his account and leave him vulnerable to legal trouble, I'd honestly suggest he spends some time in one of the IT subreddits to learn how to secure himself properly.

Laws are such a flexible category, aren't they... especially lately...

The simple fact that legal mechanisms exist for prosecution, yet there aren't really any legal mechanisms for protection, speaks volumes about the kind of society we find ourselves living in today...

If our colleague James Patel20 is worried that someone might hack his account and expose him to potential liability, then I’ll offer some well-meaning advice: maybe take a stroll through one of the IT subreddits where he could learn a bit more about how all this works...

I was speaking in general terms, not just regarding this specific subreddit, and believe me when I say I have quite enough technical knowledge to know exactly what I'm talking about... and actually, someone has already stepped forward here who experienced the very issue I mentioned as a possibility...

As I said, it's a massive, sprawling topic, so we really ought to focus on what is actually within our control, which is banning users who resort to threats of reporting others...

A community doesn't need self-appointed moderators, and it certainly doesn't need people acting like the police...

hiddenlynx66 said:I honestly find it hard to believe that some people on Reddit are so eager to spread lies about others, while others are just as ready to defend that kind of behavior... 🤦

I’ve been completely transparent about my own actions, but if I were the one organizing that protest, I’d probably be facing legal action right now. Claiming a rally was paid for isn't some kind of "assessment" or "analysis" of an event—it’s nothing more than pure slander.

The saddest part is seeing actual people with real names being slandered by cowards hiding behind screen names. If you actually have the guts, why not use your real name and then give us your "analysis"? 🙂

There are always people with enough backbone, I guess, though why they don't show up here more often is a whole different story...

So, what did your buddies say when you sent them that link that "slanders" them?
Was there enough evidence there to actually file a lawsuit?