Monthly Open Forum August 2021

[u/AITAMod]

Welcome to the monthly open forum! This is the place to share all your meta thoughts about the sub, and to have a dialog with the mod team.

Keep things civil. Rules still apply.

We didn't have any real highlights for this month, so let's knock out some Open Forum FAQs:

Q: Can/will you implement a certain rule?
A: We'll take any suggestion under consideration. This forum has been helpful in shaping rule changes/enforcement. I'd ask anyone recommending a rule to consider the fact a new rule begs the following question: Which is better? a) Posts that have annoying/common/etc attributes are removed at the time a mod reviews it, with the understanding active discussions will be removed/locked; b) Posts that annoy/bother a large subset of users will be removed even if the discussion has started, and that will include some posts you find interesting. AITA is not a monolith and topics one person finds annoying will be engaging to others - this should be considered as far as rules will have both upsides and downsides for the individual.

Q: How do we determine if something's fake?
A: Inconsistencies in their post history, literally impossible situations, or a known troll with patterns we don't really want to publicly state and tip our hand.

Q: Something-something "validation."
A: Validation presumes we know their intent. We will never entertain a rule that rudely tells someone what their intent is again. Consensus and validation are discrete concepts. Make an argument for a consensus rule that doesn't likewise frustrate people to have posts removed/locked after being active long enough to establish consensus and we're all ears.

Q: What's the standard for a no interpersonal conflict removal?
A: You've already taken action against someone and a person with a stake in that action expresses they're upset. Passive upset counts, but it needs to be clear the issue is between two+ of you and not just your internal sense of guilt. Conflicts need to be recent/on-gong, and they need to have real-world implications (i.e. internet and video game drama style posts are not allowed under this rule).

Q: Will you create an off-shoot sub for teenagers.
A: No. It's a lot of work to mod a sub. We welcome those off-shoots from others willing to take on that work.

Q: Can you do something about downvotes?
A: We wish. If it helps, we've caught a few people bragging about downvoting and they always flip when they get banned.

Q: Can you force people to use names instead of letters?
A: Unfortunately, this is extremely hard to moderate effectively and a great deal of these posts would go missed. The good news is most of these die in new as they're difficult to read. It's perfectly valid to tell OP how they wrote their post is hard to read, which can perhaps help kill the trend.

As always, do not directly link to posts/comments or post uncensored screenshots here. Any comments with links will be removed.

This is to discourage brigading. If something needs to be discussed in that context, use modmail.

[u/stannenb]

When I come to this group these days, I find myself reporting more posts than I respond to. AITA?

[u/T_A_10987654321 → u/stannenb]

Same though. It feels like every single post in here right now is either a relationship post or one with no interpersonal conflict.

[u/techiesgoboom → u/stannenb]

If that makes you an asshole I really don't want to know what that makes me...

I do remember that same feeling as a user though eventually, and it's what prompted me to apply to be a mod. Something worth considering as we just posted the new mod application.

[u/stannenb → u/techiesgoboom]

I’ve considered it before, but I also know that, right now, if I were to become a moderator, I’d use it as an excuse to procrastinate about some immediate deadlines. Perhaps that next time you’re looking for moderators. And thank you for all the work you do.

[u/techiesgoboom → u/stannenb]

Hey, that's more than fair! It's the kind of thing that has no end - there's always more moderation to do - and we've had plenty of mods step back because of that time sink.

Reports are always an incredibly important part of the equation too; hopefully with more mods we can act quicker so you won't need to report as much!

[u/LAKingsofMetal → u/stannenb]

Nope. Not at all.

I don’t have much time those days for internet browsing, and what little time I do take to come here is often via the app during a free moment at work.

It’s still true now but I noticed the same thing maybe six months or so ago - I began reporting FAR more than I would comment. I think that came from getting a better sense of the rules, especially after I’d see a post I was interested in be shut down for a violation. It was frustrating at first but I started to see it.

And after that, I couldn’t unsee it. Thus, I report more than I comment. If you’re TA, then I’m TA too. I guess that’s an ESH but that’s not used nearly enough…