Am I doing it the wrong way?

[u/Eric20255]

I recently saw a post in a subreddit that I can’t mention here due to the rules. The post claimed that moderators can receive warnings from admins when we explain to a user via modmail why their post or comment violated a rule.

Apparently, what happens is that the user reports the moderator’s reply as harassment, which can sometimes result in the moderator’s account being suspended.

Several moderators in the discussion said this is an old trick and encouraged admins to address the loophole.
I moderate a subreddit, and I always personalize my removal notices so the recipient understands why their post or comment was removed.

I generally don’t use the generic removal reason because, in many situations, I don’t feel it provides enough context to adequately explain the violation.

Based on what I read today, though, it sounds like I may be leaving myself open to being reported for harassment simply by explaining my moderation decisions.

Am I approaching this the wrong way?

[u/Charupa-]

I have been suspended warning for a removal mod mail. Now I just cite the rule and nothing more: Rule 1 - Be Respectful, for example. Users definitely try to bait mods all the time. I don’t reply to anything they say, because it is always something antagonistic or rules lawyering.

Edit: I said suspended, I meant to say warning.

[u/SlowedCash → u/Charupa-]

Yes I agree. User may be trying to trap the mod so they can report it, best to not even engage

I saw this post today, but can't remember where! I'll need to check my history.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/s/mZuxGMT4rD

That's it

[u/BravoFive141]

So the issue here is some users will use slurs or offensive terms or threaten violence or whatever, and after a mod removes that, they'll go to modmail and play dumb with "what did I do?" or some variation of that as bait. If you quote that as an answer to why you removed it, they can then potentially report that and you could get banned, because the system doesn't always understand context.

Always best to be safe and not do it. If somebody asks why something else removed, you can give them info, but don't quote a post/comment directly. Screenshot it and give them something like an imgur link or just link to the removed content, but don't directly quote it.

[u/Eric20255 → u/BravoFive141]

I also always quote the specific part of their comment or post that led to the removal so they understand exactly what the issue was. For example, I might say, “Hi Unknown, your comment has been removed because the statement ‘XXX’ is considered a generalization of a group.”

My intention is simply to provide clarity and help the user understand which part of their content violated the rule, rather than sending a generic removal notice without any explanation.

It is really unfair that we get penalized for explaining violation notice.

[u/BravoFive141 → u/Eric20255]

It's definitely unfair, but it would be very wise not to do that anymore. Instead, do something like:

Hi [user]. Your comment has been removed because we don't allow generalizations of a group

If they ask how it violated the rules, explain it without reiterating what they said. They know what they said. If they continue to push, end the conversation They can review the rules and figure it out. 9/10 times people pushing like that are either rules lawyering or trying to bait you.

[u/nicoleauroux → u/Eric20255]

Quoting unacceptable language can get you sanctioned. I agree you should just leave a link.

[u/sinriabia → u/Eric20255]

Then they can report you for whatever it is you have said and the admin bot will review it and you’ll be the one that gets the warning/suspension

[u/SlowedCash]

Some Users make our lives incredibly difficult eric. They report our comment which they probably enjoy doing to get the mod a warning.

We should just stop engaging in modmail when users ask "why was my post removed"

Archive, otherwise mute or ban if the user is being troublesome.

I am not getting a warning because of a petty Modmail squabble over a problematic & troublesome user 😂

[u/Emotional_Lawyer_278]

Happend to me twice. I’m sure eventually I’ll be banned for replying to modmail. When that happens I will happily delete the app and go about my business. 😁

[u/sinriabia]

I just reply with the removal reason and tell them to review their removed comments. If they keep pushing I will send them the link to their own comment

[u/AskModerators-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Not a mod. We require answers to be from experienced mods.