this post was submitted on 25 May 2024

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[meta] "." is not a rule (lemmy.cafe)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Screenshot shows three comments being removed from [email protected] (this community) by one of 196’s mods with the reason for removal being “.” (literally just a period).

I looked into this and discovered that the comments were just some fairly polite, if snarky, comments in response to the mod themselves. I could not identify a reason for comment removal per the site or community rules, so if there was one, “.” doesn’t cut it.

This is a callout post y’all. Do better. Start putting actual moderation reasons into the modlog for the benefit of you and other mods, otherwise what is the point of a transparent and federated platform?

As of now, it looks like the mod involved is just using their mod powers in a self-serving fashion. I am not making that accusation now, but that’s how it looks.

Please and thank you. Mods here do an excellent job keeping 196 on Lemmy a bearable place to be, and I know you are already struggling to staff the positions, but please also hold one another accountable when it comes to misuse of power. Thanks :)

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[–] [email protected] 128 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Thank you for that call out, we will discuss this with the other mods and make sure that removing and banning reasons are used transparently

In the meantime I would love to remind y'all that we are moderating this forum in our free time as volunteers, it takes time and capacity. Sometimes it works better sometimes it doesn't

Feel free to write in the mod-application post if you feel like becoming a mod here would help.

Best wishes and a good night from Germany Funky-rodent

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Meh. Y'all get more than enough applications every time. I don't think it's fair to complain about having a position of power over everyone else that you could ditch in a heartbeat if you wanted to. I don't think users owe moderators patience. Rule following, yes. Patience, no.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Ya, I guess I could get a power-rush easier in my life :D Sifting through reports and reading mean stuff just doesn't tickle that spot for me.

I am a social worker in real life and think of modding more as a service than, power-governing. I like the fediverse and most of the time I enjoy beeing part of a garbage crew here

But I agree we don't owe eachother shit here. But I also think beeing friendly, understanding and nice is helpful:)

Have a good day

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago

I've moderated a large online community before. It was easy as pie. I'm nonbinary and neurodivergent, so the things people yell at me to my face are twice as bad as anything I ever saw as a mod. And I got to sift through tons of drama and experience a feeling of empowerment at being able to actually fix things instead of just stewing in resentment when I see someone being treated horribly. It was like browsing the internet on easy mode. I went from being Louis Lane, who has to try really hard to solve any given injustice she sees and it's still not a sure thing, to being Superman, who can just punch it.

The only difficult part of the job was dealing with the drama aversion of superior mods in the hierarchy, who couldn't stand the idea of visible conflict existing and wanted me to handle everything without any nuance so that they wouldn't have to read discussions between myself and rule breaking users.

I'd totally join your mod team and help you out, as long as you don't have any drama averse mods.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Bruh what are you talking about. The "We need mods" post is still pinned in the community, first thing everyone sees when they browse the community itself.

This is not just power, it's also a demanding service, done out of responsibility and goodwill, and that is proven by this accountability-seeking post itself we're in.

We're a long, long way from being Reddit, as of yet.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago

Thank you :) Ya I see it more as service than power play I agree

Have good day

[–] [email protected] 337 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (38 children)

Alright, I'll try to do better. I will say that while this doesn't defend my actions, I've been under a high amount of stress in the last 2 weeks. If people want, I will resign as mod without question.

EDIT: Restored the posts with "Restored due to community feedback/me being a dick."

EDIT 2: I am going to do some shopping and chores, if the community wants me gone, I will remove myself when I am back, or have the mod team boot me.

[–] [email protected] 169 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Gonna throw my hat into the ring here and say this kind of self-reflection and improvement is exactly how communities of any kind improve.

People have problems, stress and issues. This shit happens. The ability to say "I fucked up", then fix the fuckup and prevent similar fuckups happening in future is how we as a global society improve and become better people.

In short: everyone should attempt to be better, that's all anyone can ask.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago

Completely agree. I understand that as of now, Queue has stepped down as a mod, but I hope that at such a time in the future where their mental health is better that they will return. The ability to say, 'You're right. I'm too stressed to properly do this right now. Here's what I'll do instead' is incredibly appreciated.

That's the kind of person I WANT as a mod, provided that they actually take the time to de-stress, reflect and come back as a better person.

[–] [email protected] 53 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I think that your willingness to self-examine, admit fault, and attempt to make amends speaks well of your character and suitability as a mod (if you desire to continue and it is healthy for you to do so). You come across as genuine and willing to try to listen and self-correct.

We all have bad days/weeks/months/years. It's unfortunately just part of being human. And we all do things that we may not think are necessarily right when reflecting on them, often because of emotional state, etc. That's ok. Yeah, it may cause some hurt or upset, and damage that we do may not always be repairable but, that's just life as a social being. As long as you try to do better, there's nothing more anyone can legitimately ask of you. Personal growth and emotional health isn't linear - don't beat yourself up if you hit a rut. You're human; screwing up is one of our species' greatest talents.

Please take care of yourself and see what you can do to address stressors in your life, where possible. Your well-being is more important and any moderation queue. If taking some time away is needed but you wish to continue, please coordinate with the other mods to get it.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Bit of a waste to have someone learn how to mod properly then have them leave, no?

[–] [email protected] 20 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Been a mod before, but I'm at least taking a leave for a bit to just reduce mental load. If I do stay, this is something to keep in mind.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 months ago

Take care of yourself. I hope things chill out a bit for you.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago (2 children)

If anyone says Lemmy is like reddit I'm just gonna link this thread in response lol.

Much prefer discourse and sledging than getting insta banned by some random mod or admin

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

be warned, they may link lemmy.ml

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

eh it’s important to note that this is 196, not just default lemmy. 196 has always tended toward being more chill and respectful to its users.

i have done some minor callouts of mods outside blahaj zone in the past, and the end results were much less constructive, much more reddit-core, if you will, than this.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

as a former reddit user I'm taken aback by the mod responses to this callout post. lemmy mods here, not very reddit-mod-like.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

honestly i am pleasantly surprised too. 196 culture has always trended towards being decent and i am glad this didn’t get me a lot of pushback, because of course im just looking for what’s best for the community :) and obviously this wasn’t the worst of abuses compared to other communities but better to nip it in the bud than wait till there’s dealbreaking abuse going on

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Queue has stepped down from the mod team of their own volition. we are looking for new mods to fill in for them

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

i wouldn't recommend myself.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

fair

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago

It's so nice, so nice that lemmy has a mod log. Something reddit doesn't.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

Maybe show the comments removed so we can see the real reason they were removed champ

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

The mods remove comments for a lot of reasons that aren't in line with the rules, or require some serious mental gymnastics to equate to the cited rules.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 months ago

Reminder that we have our email [email protected]

Important tool for those who have been banned and feel it undeserved, etc. While it's awesome that we have a small active community to double check the mod log and post any oddities right now, this may not always be the case. Hierarchies are wack and knowing the tools to hold people accountable is always a good thing. I do occasionally go back and check on our sent folder to see if anyone is being treated unfairly (which to be clear I haven't seen anything on the email side).

Thanks for the post ✌️

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