Emoji-only threads

I have two questions here.

If a user drops two posts in a row, and the second one is just a single smiley face 😂, what should a moderator do according to the rules?

And if someone quotes a long post only to reply with: "Yeah, yeah, yeah!"—how should a moderator handle that?

Nancy Johnson17 said:I’ve got two questions for you.

If a user drops two posts back-to-back, and that second one is nothing but a single smiley face 😂, what’s the move according to the rules? What should a moderator actually do about it?

And if someone decides to quote a massive, thoughtful post from someone else and then just types "Yeah, yeah, yeah!" underneath it, how should a moderator handle that kind of thing?

Honestly, it really depends on which subforum you're hanging out in and what the specific thread is about. 🙂 It’s like how different departments at a huge corporation like Amazon have their own internal vibes—some places are super strict and follow the handbook to the letter, while others are way more laid back and let things slide. In some spots, they might just scrub the post entirely, or maybe you even get a formal warning on your record, whereas in other corners of the site, it might just stay right where it is.

Plus, there's a massive difference between someone being disruptive in a serious discussion about the economy versus just messing around in a casual "water cooler" chat thread.

feraltrucker5 said:It really depends on which subforum you’re in and what the specific thread is about. 🙂 Some sections have much tighter rules, while others are more laid back. Depending on where you post, they might pull the thread—or you might even catch a warning—but in other spots, it'll just stay up.

The context matters too—it's different if you're in a serious debate versus an off-topic lounge.

Regarding those specific subforums and topics, I suspect the post stays as long as the moderator finds it acceptable. 🙂 I probably should have just tested it myself instead of asking, though I'm not particularly keen on risking a strike.😁

Personally, I’m already handing out a 10-point penalty for Offtopic/Spam whenever I see a post that consists of nothing but a single smiley face—usually just 😂 or 🤦.

Look, smileys are meant to give some flavor or emotion to what you're actually writing, not to serve as a standalone post.

I clear posts like this from my own subforums. I also use warnings to let repeat offenders know that off-topic spam isn't allowed here.

Over at the LJES forums, any posts that are just a single smiley face get flagged as Offtopic or Spam...

Daniel Ward87

In the teen section, that kind of thing is generally overlooked within the lounge or chat threads. However, on other topics, it gets deleted—though we don't issue penalties unless someone starts spamming nothing but emojis.

Why is everyone so obsessed with trying to generalize everything?😁 We’re talking 100+ different forums and 100+ different mods here—who actually expects a cookie-cutter response? It’s just not happening.😁

Look, I’ve been lurking and posting on these online boards and various corners of the web for way too damn long. I can sniff out from a mile away when someone is just trolling or acting like a complete idiot for the hell of it, versus when they actually have a point. Personally, I don't go around deleting stuff left and right unless someone is being straight-up obnoxious or just won't stop repeating the same nonsense over and over. Then, yeah, it’s gone.

And honestly, just ask a specific question. Post a link to what's actually bothering you. This vague, "reading between the lines" crap isn't going to help you, and it sure as hell isn't helping us.😁

boldhound8 said:Why is there such a constant push to generalize everything?😁 We have hundreds of different forums, each with its own set of moderators—who honestly expects a single, uniform response? It’s just not how it works.😁

I’ve spent more than enough time lurking around various corners of the American web—you know, the usual forums and message boards—so I can usually tell when someone is just trolling for attention versus when they actually have a point. Generally, I don't play cop unless things get truly excessive or repetitive; then, I just clear the clutter and move on...

And honestly, just ask a direct question—post a link to what's bothering you or whatever. This vague back-and-forth isn't going to help anyone, least of all you.😁

Well, thanks for the answer—I'll draw my own conclusions. I was really just trying to understand the ground rules here. I'm not looking to start a fight. 🙂

Regarding serious discussions within the "religion" subforum, our initial approach is to issue a yellow card with the note "Emoji spamming". We will also send a private message requesting that they refrain from doing so, followed by monitoring their activity over the next few days. If the same user continues to flood posts with emojis, we first issue a 10-point red card for the reason "Emoji spamming". Should this behavior become persistent, we then move to a 100-point penalty and a 3-day suspension under the reason "Frequent emoji spamming". If a member ignores our requests and continues to disrupt the order of the board, these measures are applied accordingly. However, most people tend to stop once they realize it isn't acceptable.

jadetrucker43 said:Emojis are meant to add emotion to your words, not function as a standalone post.

That signature is quite profound.👍

Which is exactly why you'd get a penalty in our league for such nonsense. ☕

edge79 said:🙄

🤣