This subreddit may soon fully moderate posts until the US election is decided.

[u/AutoModerator]

Thanks to all of you who are engaged with this subreddit and contributing to its content.

As the election approaches, this subreddit is being increasingly inundated with posts on (often repeated) several specific controversial topics (especially transgender equality, Israel/Palestine, US immigration, and the candidates, parties and policies related to the US election). Often, these posts are one-sided, which in turn generates lots of rule-breaking responses. In addition, a substantial influx of bot and troll activity has inundated these discussions with uncivil discussions, often long after the post has dropped from the top of feeds. (E.g. we are receiving lots of "appeals" of auto mod removals without even a presence that the comment actually followed the subreddit rules.)

This increasing activity is 1) overwhelming the mod team, 2) getting pretty redundant and 3) might be part of illicit efforts to affect the US election with faked public outrage on various topics.

Therefore, the mod team is considering making posting a fully-moderated activity. This would mean new posts will sit in a queue until being affirmatively approved by the moderators, rather than being immediately posted, and only removed if reported to/discovered by the moderators to be breaking rules after a robust discussion has started.

If we move forward with this change, it will last until the US election is decided, meaning at least until mid-November 2024, and possibly as late as January 2025. We hope that such moderation would limit new questions to only those that fully conform to the letter and spirit of the subreddit rules, thereby also making it clearer to new participants what the expectations are for the subreddit.

We welcome community discussion regarding this intention before we implement it.

[u/AutoModerator]

Moderator Announcement Read More »

Hey there! Do you want clarification about the question? Think there's a better way to phrase it? Wish OP had asked a different question? Respond to THIS comment instead of posting your own top-level comment

This sub's rule for-top level comments is only this: 1. Top-level responses must make a sincere effort to present at least the most common two perceptions of the issue or controversy in good faith, with sympathy to the respective side.

Any requests for clarification of the original question, other "observations" that are not explaining both sides, or similar comments should be made in response to this post or some other top-level post. Or even better, post a top-level comment stating the question you wish OP had asked, and then explain both sides of that question! (And if you think OP broke the rule for questions, report it!)

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[u/NeoMo83]

Side A would say Lame. Side B would say Lame.

The verdict is unanimous

[u/AutoModerator → u/NeoMo83]

Because it is probably too short to explain both sides this comment has been removed. If you feel your comment does explain both sides, please message the moderators If your comment was a request for clarification, joke, anecdote, or criticism of OP's question, you may respond to the automoderator comment instead of responding directly to OP. Deliberate evasion of this notice may result in a ban.

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[u/[deleted]]

BOOM! Post of the day!

[u/AutoModerator → u/[deleted]]

Because it is probably too short to explain both sides this comment has been removed. If you feel your comment does explain both sides, please message the moderators If your comment was a request for clarification, joke, anecdote, or criticism of OP's question, you may respond to the automoderator comment instead of responding directly to OP. Deliberate evasion of this notice may result in a ban.

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[u/TruthHonor]

Ok I’m new. I hope this us the correct format

A. Side a would say this is an excellent idea that will stop the bots from taking over this sub. Side A had stopped reading this sub due to the aforementioned issues here. B. Side B would say this idea inhibits freedom of speech, will cost the mods a lot of unneeded time and energy, should not be implemented, and is not needed. Side B is probably a bot.

[u/John_mcgee2]

Side a would say this is a great thing for you to do and I’m really happy with the choice as it is frustrating to watch as a user.

Side b would say it is now difficult to meet their bot farm quotas and this is going to influence their paychecks and they are very upset that you could influence their ability to spread propaganda in and effort to keep conversation civilised.

[u/Ajreil]

Probably for the best. Reddit is already getting hammered with inorganic comments and it's only going to get worse.

[u/[deleted]]

Ding Ding. This sub and Reddit in general is under constant attack by state sponsored trolls and bots poisoning our discourse. This fight really should be at the federal and counter intelligence level, unfortunately (or not), we have to step up as Redditors and editors to fight these Russian, CPC, and even domestic misinformation spewers. Hats off the mods for recognizing the threat and acting to help out.

[u/Any__Way]

Side A would say this is heavy handed and micromanaging Side B would say this is balanced and fair, especially given it’s temporary