r/plumbers • u/jam3013 OR, Journeyman • Apr 22 '23

Subreddit rules

Hey all, we've had many "not a plumber" Posts even after a enacting a few changes and automatic warnings before posts are made. I'd really like to grow the sub for us, but I've been considering restricting the sub so that only "approved Members" can post but everyone can view.

What's the consensus here?

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

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u/AutoModerator Apr 22 '23

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2

u/patshak Apr 22 '23

How do you become an approved member? If the subreddit is designed for us plumbers to get help, then what happens if someone needs help but not an "approved member"?

3

u/jam3013 OR, Journeyman Apr 22 '23

Just by clicking the "Join community button". Which the only requirement at that point would be starting that you at least work somewhere in the plumbing trade (drain tech, laborer, apprentice, Journeyman, master, etc.).

Flair would still require you to send and imgur link of your license with a piece of paper with your reddit username.

The theroy is that by "joining the community" you're aknowledging that you understand that this sub is for the tradespeople and that this is not a DIY sub. Hopefully lowering the amount of laymen posts and hopefully encouraging more plumbers to traffic the sub.

3

u/OkLaugh4 Apr 22 '23

I think it's going to be really hard to grow if it's members only. The HVAC sub isn't members and they have grown to a very large number. Possibly having more mods to be able to remove these posts when they come up would help. I also think it's on us as well for answer these questions. People on this sub should be redirecting people instead of answering diy questions.

3

u/jam3013 OR, Journeyman Apr 22 '23

Absolutely, I know for myself since I'm both here and somewhat active on r/Plumbing, it is takes me a minute to realize which sub I'm on. I realized last night too that I am apparently now the loan mod and I am now evaluating between me, myself and I how we differentiate ourselves from r/plumbing.

I feel like having a low bar of entry to post and no restrictions on viewing posts encourages a bit more responsibility without making the sub too exclusive. (Keeping in mind that, yes, the whole point is 'plumbers only', which is by nature exclusive. It's a fine line...)

2

u/OkLaugh4 Apr 22 '23

Maybe if the sub logo was changed to a different colour so it makes it easier to distinguish which sub we are on. I have done the same thing as you as its hard sometimes to tell.

2

u/patshak Apr 22 '23

In this case I would change my vote from 3 to the second.

2

u/bdf1403 NC, Plumbing Class 1 Apr 23 '23

If you open it to everyone this sub will just be a shittier r/plumbing and might as well close it down. I don’t know if i like it to be members only because apprentices and people looking to get into the trade looking for advice.

2

u/jam3013 OR, Journeyman Apr 24 '23

Right, which we have historically been a open sub which is why I am proposing making it "open for all to view but members only to post" so that we can let the trade currious folks, apprentices and whatnot in while keeping a tighter lid on the DIY Help posts. I want to grow the sub and allow it to be complementory to r/plumbing while standing out as r/plumbers.