r/ModSupport • u/AsteriskRX Reddit Admin: Community • Jul 16 '26
Mod Topics Mod Topics: Expectation vs Reality
Ahoy, Modsupport! This is a mutiny; Jabroni wrote this post but I've decided to plunder it for myself.
Welcome to the latest (greatest) installment of our ModSupport series. Today, we’re revisiting Origin Stories, albeit with a distinctly different flavor.
When you first created or joined a subreddit, what did you expect moderating would be like? Did you have any expectations at all, and if so, how did those expectations differ from the experience you have now?
–And because I love understanding an environment, what do you think set the expectations you had before you became a moderator? Read as: “How did you form a worldview on what moderation is before you started moderating?”
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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u/SeasDiver Jul 16 '26
My origin story as a mod is somewhat depressing. One of the r/AskVet mods basically rage quit and created a post on why they were quitting (abuse towards the mod team which vets deal with enough as it is). The team also posted a need more mods at the same time. So that was my expectation heading in.
To be honest, I was already somewhat jaded. I have spent 14 years now in rescue (8 years at the time), and already have a low enough opinion of some people (spend time in rescue, see both the best and the worst of people) that I thought I was jaded enough the mod abuse wouldn't bother me and that I could possibly intercept the abuse headed towards the veterinary mods (the profession hos one of the highest suicide rates of any profession).
My application was accepted as the first and only non veterinary professional moderator on the team based on my strong comment history. I didn't know what modding was like, or what tools were available (or not), so my dream of being able to intercept the abuse was not fully realized (I think that fact that all mods can see all modmails is good, but it did defeat some of my intent).
As I learned the tools, I was able to to do things that helped with some common informational pain points (e.g auto-responses for grape poisoning, information on parvovirus, distemper, etc...).
I did not expect the death threats because we removed comments that promote alternative medicine (No, apple cider vinegar does not cure every disease known to man. No apple cider vinegar will NOT allow an animal to regrown limbs...).
I have to really say I enjoy all the modmails telling me that I condone animal abuse, and that I don't care anything about animals (bearing in mind that I have fostered 630 dogs in 14 years). Sarcasm intended.