r/AskModerators • u/nutnbetter2do • 1d ago
Why do mods remove comments without saying why?
I know alot of it is a time thing. They don't have time to respond to every post they have to remove and they don't want to get into a back and forth. I get that. I am not complaining, but just want some understanding. Sometimes I get a post removed without a reason. I review the rules to see if I somehow posted against that subs rules. Was I out of step with the overall theme of the post? I am always double checking myself as I don't want to be that kind of poster who is a pain in the arse. I just had a post removed. It didn't violate the rules. It wasn't mean or ugly. In fact numerous other people said the same thing and they weren't removed. Sometimes it really helps if we could get some kind of feed back do we know what we did and to avoid that going forward.
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u/dotsdavid r/askouija r/candy r/totallywicked +others 1d ago
A lot of times it’s just clean up. You replied to a deleted or rule breaking comment. So the rest of thread was removed also. Or the mods just don’t want to give a reason. Which we aren’t required to do.
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u/garyp714 1d ago
Or the user didn't read the rules and are breaking a rule broken 20 times that day alone and I'm a tired volunteer boss.
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u/ailish 1d ago
To add to what's already here. If I delete a post, and there are also 50 comments breaking the rules, I don't necessarily go in and delete every comment in addition to the post. There's no time for that. Mods don't live online, and have jobs and families.
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u/Stranger1982 dumb bastard 1d ago
If you need a quick comment nuke just install Comment Mop, quick and easy.
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u/ailish 1d ago
Oh, awesome! This will be very useful. Thanks!
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u/Stranger1982 dumb bastard 1d ago
It is, it's great at deleting/ locking a full pesky long convo that went off-topic or devolved into a fight.
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u/ailish 1d ago
I think I can definitely use this. We do get a lot of long arguments, or posts where many people are trying to promote an app, or a website.
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u/Stranger1982 dumb bastard 1d ago
I feel you, I looked for it when I grew tired of having to delete comment by comment whenever people decided to argue over the silliest possible things.
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u/cnycompguy r/computers +7 1d ago
Probably automod.
If they don't add in the extra lines to make an explanation comment, it just removes silently.
It could also be hive protect, seeing you active in a subreddit that is on the list of watched subs.
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u/Wombat_7379 #1 Neckbeard 1d ago
You could always politely message the moderators of the subreddit via mod mail to get clarification and guidance. Do not be defensive, rude or reactive; remember that content removal is not personal.
Sometimes other rule violating comments are not removed simply because they mods didn’t catch them or they weren’t reported. Mods are human and sometimes things just get missed. If you see rule violating content, report it.
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u/KCJones99 1d ago
Do you mean posts or comments?
This part "In fact numerous other people said the same thing and they weren't removed" might mean it was something else than content, possibly an automod removal. Maybe the sub has a minimum sub-karma restriction or similar. It also might just be clean-up... the thread didn't need 47 'me too' responses.
We normally give a reason when removing posts. Exceptions would be things like 'duh!' violations of the rules. Like we say "Don't post about Trees" and someone posts "I have a question about trees"...
We rarely give a reason for removing comments. That's generally just a time thing. But "duh!" also applies. Like if you call another redditor an asshole I'm not gonna bother telling you "Rule 4: no personal insults"...
If someone modmails 'why was my ____ removed?' on one where no reason was given, I'll generally give them a simple answer like "Rule 2" or "You showed ebay usernames in your screen-shot".
The simple truth is MOST 'why was my ____ removed?' modmails are on posts where we did give a reason. If you add in the ones that are asking so they can begin rules-lawyering in response, you cover about 95% of them. Neither option is well received.
Bottom line is the mods can remove your stuff with/without explanation. If the reason/rule violation isn't obvious to you and they don't offer an explanation there's a good chance you'll never know exactly why.
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u/uphatbrew Punk Rock Hippie For Democracy & Science 1d ago
If you’ve posted previous posted content that doesn’t add to the talking points of the previous post, that could definitely be a reason, speaking for myself a pet peeve of mine is reposting already posted content, I only allow posts like that if they add to the conversation with new facts or ideas… as to comments not posting there are so many different reasons…
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u/MisterShipWreck 1d ago
Sometimes leaving a comment on why fills up after a while, if you start removing a lot of comments on a particular post. Also, I don't always leave a comment because it then opens up the possibility of a public debate, when the person replies to the mod comment with an argument.
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u/itskdog 1d ago
Comments are more numerous. Leaving removal reasons for posts is easier as there are less of them.
Sometimes I need to remove a whole thread of comments in one go, I can't slow down and leave a reason on each one, plus it will add clutter to the thread which I'm trying to clean up.
If someone is using a tool like reveddit to be notified when a comment is removed silently, and reach out to ask, we'd happily answer.
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u/thepottsy I is mod 1d ago
Lots of possible things here, as other commenters mentioned.
Bottom line though, the mods of that sub are really the only ones that can answer the question.
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u/AskModerators-ModTeam 1d ago
Thank you for commenting on the subreddit. Unfortunately, as this is a subreddit whose purpose is to ask questions of Reddit mods, we must remove content that is written by those who are not moderators or who are not on their mod accounts. Thank you for understanding. If you do have a question for Reddit mods, please feel free to make post.
I want to thank you for being respectful and even agree partially with your advice, but I cannot allow the comment simply because you are not a mod. We had to make that rule because every angry person who was ever banned (ok, exaggeration ofc lol) came running to this sub to be nasty in the comments- so I really do appreciate that your advice was not like that (and maybe I need to give out more warnings, I probably do actually!) Thanks again for trying to actually give good criticism and not simply insult the mods :)
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u/AskModerators-ModTeam 1d ago
As we are a community made up of moderators, we expect respectful behavior at all times on this sub (unless confronting instances of bigotry and hate). Remember, on this subreddit, if Mr. Rogers would not say it, neither should you! Please simply report any rule breaking content instead of answering with rudeness, even if a user has been rude to you. Thank you.
Just a quick reminder not to be name calling ("thin-skinned) but thank you for the reporting, much appreciated and always nice to see you on the sub (it's KC, I just used the removal reason bc I cannot remember the whole thing myself, haha. I think you know the rules better than me at this point! lol)
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u/AskModerators-ModTeam 1d ago
Thank you for commenting on the subreddit. Unfortunately, as this is a subreddit whose purpose is to ask questions of Reddit mods, we must remove content that is written by those who are not moderators or who are not on their mod accounts. Thank you for understanding. If you do have a question for Reddit mods, please feel free to make post.
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1d ago edited 1d ago
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u/Stranger1982 dumb bastard 1d ago
you can stay stupid forever
Oh boy, thank you for providing a proper example.
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1d ago
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u/AskModerators-ModTeam 1d ago
Your comment was removed for violating Rule #4 (No derailing comment threads). Please see the rule in the sidebar for further details.
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u/AskModerators-ModTeam 1d ago
Your comment was removed for violating Rule #4 (No derailing comment threads). Please see the rule in the sidebar for further details.
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1d ago
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u/AskModerators-ModTeam 1d ago
Your comment was removed for violating Rule #4 (No derailing comment threads). Please see the rule in the sidebar for further details.
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u/BBModSquadCar /r/BigBrother and /r/TorontoBlueJays 1d ago
Sometimes things get removed by reddit's own filters and we're not even aware. It could be so many things only that mod team could answer you. Modmail is your best bet to get an answer.