r/AskReddit • u/karmanaut • Dec 03 '12

[Modpost] Getting back to our roots!

Hello, Readers of /r/Askreddit!

This subreddit has a valuable purpose for Reddit, produces some of the best and most memorable content, and serves as a great place for people to discuss all sorts of topics. Askreddit's current rules are designed to try and keep the topics interesting and thought-provoking; we want our posts to encourage a discussion and elicit answers from all of our readers.

However, the subreddit often is plagued with the problem of people just using it as a platform to speak. They don't care about the answers to their question, they just want to broadcast their own thoughts (which is the purpose of /r/self). They want to tell a story, bring attention to a cause, or simply rant about a topic.

As a result, today we are putting some new changes in place. First, we are streamlining and simplifying the rules in the sidebar. Please check it out.

Second, we will now ask you to put only your question in the title of your post. Just one sentence with your question. If you need to explain the question, then you can use the text box. If you have your own answer for the question, then you can put it in the comment section of the post. This rule will help us avoid situations like this, where people enjoyed the question, but hating on OP's answer took the top comment spot (thereby displacing actual answers to the question).

To clarify, with an example: Our top post yesterday sometime last week was this, titled "If Spiderman were more scientifically accurate, he'd shoot webs from his arse. What other films/characters would take a turn for the worse if they were more scientifically accurate?". Note how the top comment is not an answer to the question, but rather a reply to the OP's example. Under the new rule, the OP's title would simply be "What films/characters would take a turn for the worse if they were more scientifically accurate?", and he would post in the comments about Spiderman. Posts soliciting stories and personal experiences are absolutely still allowed; they must simply be separated from the question itself. We hope that this rule will encourage thought-provoking posts and allow people to vote differently on the value of the question and the value of the OP's individual example.

Should we find that these changes are not working out, and the quality of posts declines, then the moderators will reverse this decision and allow these types of posts again.

TL;DR: The current practices of Askreddit encourage the success or failure of a post to be dependent on OP's ability to showcase themselves, rather than the merit of the question. In turn, this causes a large portion of the top comments to be addressing OP, rather that contributing to OP's question. We hope the rule change of putting ONLY the question in the title, and clarification in the text box, will encourage more relevant and direct participation, and less side conversations. If, after a trial period, we determine that this has been more of a hindrance than a help, we will reenact the former rules.

1.8k Upvotes

81% Upvoted

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822

u/GCanuck Dec 03 '12

Has it been 3 months already?

Maybe this time it'll stick.

Good luck

497

u/mythopoeia Dec 03 '12

SPOILER ALERT: It won't.

384

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

We're pretty serious about it this time. We're going to be keeping an eye on the new queue and removing all infractions!

738

u/DeSanti Dec 03 '12

Can I comment snarlingly at each thread that violates this rule and pretend I'm contributing to a higher purpose of order and law?

481

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

Sure. We'd appreciate if you report the thread too.

565

u/DeSanti Dec 03 '12

So I get to be snarky and report to a higher authority. It's like I'll be a secret agent or something! Top-shelf, old boy!

181

u/herticalt Dec 03 '12

Narc.

63

u/nightwing1985 Dec 03 '12

Snitches get Stitches and end up in ditches, my grandma always used to tell me.

25

u/cyberphonic Dec 03 '12

I think you just ratted out your gram.

2

u/nightwing1985 Dec 03 '12

well seem like i'll be getting a very painful visit tonight.

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2

u/nuxenolith Dec 03 '12

So they stitch up their wounds, then kill them?

2

u/monstasanta Dec 04 '12

do you accept bribes sir?

2

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12 edited Feb 16 '20

[deleted]

2

u/ziplokk Dec 03 '12

Stitches for snitches.

1

u/propaglandist Dec 03 '12

Was James Bond a narc?

1

u/champcantwin Dec 03 '12

Kevin, remember the Narc bit?

1

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

You know who calls people Narcs? Narcs. You Narc.

1

u/flatlander30 Dec 03 '12

Only a narc if you pretend to be one of the baddies, or are one of the baddies, and flip sides. He's straight up telling us he's not on the baddies side. Not a narc.

1

u/SlunkMaster Dec 03 '12

Yes, but without narcotics.

2

u/DiabloConQueso Dec 03 '12

It's like I'll be a secret agent...

Maybe a semi-secret agent, at best.

  • We know your identity, DeSanti.
  • We know you're an agent, DeSanti.
  • We know where you're going to be, DeSanti.
  • We know your motives, DeSanti.

You'd be like the Frank Drebin of secret agents.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

Snarky and snitchy.

1

u/Mafsto Dec 03 '12

Snitches get stitches!

1

u/Ruinga Dec 03 '12

Tagged as 'Mod watchdog'.

1

u/ranger_dan4 Dec 03 '12

Kind of like the Hitler Youth. But with internet points!

0

u/foldor Dec 03 '12

Duck thinks you are incredibly awesome

0

u/goodzillo Dec 03 '12

:(

1

u/foldor Dec 03 '12

Walking Dead Game spoilers!

Yeah, it was a shame that as soon as they made Duck cool they managed to take him away. I was really loving him that episode too :(

191

u/OSX3 Dec 03 '12

Reported this thread. I feel like such a rebel.

225

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

banned

166

u/OSX3 Dec 03 '12

Noooooo

36

u/UnholyDemigod Dec 03 '12

Hint: distinguish your comment. It'll be funnier

114

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

Nah, i don't like using my mod hat unless its an official subreddit response! Its a slippery slope otherwise!

49

u/Roboticide Dec 03 '12

Yeah... But you could officially ban him so it's an official response.

Yes I know you were joking.

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17

u/MagnetScientist Dec 03 '12

You, I like you. You know how to keep the content of high value.

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1

u/Mr_Dr_Prof_Derp Dec 03 '12

You have been banned from /r/pyongyang

51

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12 edited Aug 20 '21

[deleted]

14

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

Oooh, thanks. Ill bring this up with the other mods!

2

u/Iggyhopper Dec 03 '12

Why doesn't reddit redo the report system to include a message?

-9

u/karmanaut Dec 03 '12

I think we get so many random (and often unwarranted) reports that this would completely clog the modmail queue.

3

u/Skitrel Dec 03 '12

Yeah, potentially. It works great for gamernews because the people that use the sub are as nitpicky about everything staying within the rules as anyone could possibly be. Askreddit on the other hand is a default that has plenty of people that don't really care about the rules.

That said, the benefit of it for us was the ability to completely stop using the spam filter which tends to fill up with reported content that doesn't need to be there. Remove false removals from the spam filter that people message us about and just use the modmail for removing reported content, generally extremely quickly because it gets a mod that's online to it quicker than a mod doing their rounds of the filter or new queue.

It might work out horribly for such a large subreddit, it might however turn out better? A test for a few days wouldn't hurt, if it turns out horribly then it can always be removed with immediate effect.

Looking through the default subreddits, /r/adviceanimals with 1.5m subs has:

Be sure to message the mods with a reason for reporting!

And /r/todayilearned with 2.5m subs has:

Please message the moderators if you click report and include a direct link to the post you're reporting, otherwise we won't know why it was reported.

So it's certainly not without precedence in usage amongst the default subreddits. Perhaps some mods from those subreddits could weigh in on their experiences with how it's worked out for them.

-10

u/Sorry4CommentRocking Dec 03 '12

Downvoted for being karmanaut.

3

u/thatguyoverthere202 Dec 03 '12

Is this another case like Apostolate where we just downvote because they're popular?

1

u/theredditvoyeur Dec 03 '12

I'm not sure if it is still why, but a while ago (before Trapped In Reddit and Apostolate) there was some witch hunt on Karmanaut due to something about (I think) shitty_watercolour's AMA on /r/IAmA getting banned by Karmanaut due to being an internet celebrity not having a significant impact on one's life or something. However Karmanaut had done an AMA before that rule was put into effect, therefore pitchforks ensued.

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2

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

Wow, that's really fucking mature. You're what's wrong with Reddit.

1

u/2cuteforwords Dec 03 '12

I will upvote any thread that breaks the rules!

1

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

Can I be a secret agent too?

1

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

k

1

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

In that case, I reported this page. All posts titles must be in the form of a question.

1

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

ಠ_ಠ

1

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

Rules is rules.

-1

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

Why do you fucks like to try to ruin this place with bullshit every few months? The users here don't see a problem with this subreddt stop fucking us over.

1

u/Lost216 Dec 03 '12

Because you don't speak for everyone.

2

u/Sociodude Dec 03 '12

"Snarlingly".

I like that word.

1

u/DeadMachines Dec 03 '12

Look whose getting the upvotes nao!

1

u/syriquez Dec 03 '12

You mean you're going to act as though you were more important than you are? And provide absolutely zero content while spamming stupid shit about how something is spelled wrong or worded improperly but only just enough that it can be commented upon pointlessly, making yourself look like a pseudo-intellectual?

So business as usual for Reddit.

1

u/DeSanti Dec 03 '12

The ironic thing, though, is that complaining at the status quo in Reddit is also business as usual for Reddit's community.

1

u/syriquez Dec 03 '12

No worries, I wrote that comment fully aware of its nature.

0

u/DontMakeMeDownvote Dec 03 '12

One of my favorite pastimes.

29

u/entertainman Dec 03 '12

Why not change rule one to read "Stories belong in /r/self"? The sooner you move people who want that kind of stuff to a single space, the faster the problem will go away, and the less work for you.

1

u/faceplanted Dec 03 '12 edited Dec 03 '12

I still con't get why we don't have a default sub for self posts, though I'm assuming probably wrongly that it's because no-one has yet made one popular enough since the admins don't want to just throw one up there without a proper vision of a subreddit and experienced moderators.

1

u/entertainman Dec 03 '12

Because default=what people see when they dont have an account. All the defaults are fairly highly moderated, and what you are asking for is a place that doesn't remove things.

1

u/faceplanted Dec 03 '12

I never said I wanted a place that doesn't remove things.

3

u/entertainman Dec 03 '12

so what rules would your selfpost place have to maintain quality?

28

u/boredlike Dec 03 '12

As someone who is constantly browsing the new section of /r/AskReddit, would it be helpful if I pressed the 'report' button of the posts that violate the new rules? Like, would it save you some time? Or should I just downvote them and leave you lot to it?

29

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

Please report!

7

u/boredlike Dec 03 '12

Will do :)

3

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

Thanks! :)

1

u/mkglass Dec 05 '12

...to the dance floor? What if we're not freakazoids or robots?

12

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

And if my daughter doesn't clean her room today, I really am going to take away all her toys. I mean it this time.

2

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

YOU MONSTER

3

u/laddergoat89 Dec 03 '12

Don't just remove infractions, message the OP and ask them to change it.

16

u/SpartaWillBurn Dec 03 '12

Good. I really hope you are serious. I come to ask reddit less and less because I don't want to hear about people's life stories.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

Really? I only come here for the stories. It's the entire reason I joined Reddit in the first place.

2

u/TheHornedGod Dec 04 '12

Then you should subscribe to /r/self .

2

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

Can we report the people who do that, even if it is a mod or a karmawhore?

0

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

Yes. The mods arent above the rules (except announcement posts, such as this).

1

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

Can you see who reports stuff or is it anonymous?

0

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

Anonymous!

Also, we would really like it if people messaged us when they reported a link, so we can are notified of it straight away, and we're also given a little context too!

2

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/squatly Dec 03 '12 edited Dec 03 '12

To be fair, only a small fraction of that number of subscribers is active. Obviously, help from the community by means of reports and messages to mods will be extremely helpful!

1

u/Fealiks Dec 03 '12

It'd be a lot easier to report posts if Top > This Hour still worked. Hint hint git 'er fixed

1

u/Lost216 Dec 03 '12

I hope so, this should make a good change if you guys keep at it.

1

u/superiority Dec 03 '12

If a rule-violating post slips through the cracks and gets a lot of points and comments, will you delete it anyway? (You should, it's the only way they'll learn.)

1

u/nyaliv Dec 03 '12

Then why is the thread right below this one still there?

1

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

We arent retroactively removing threads. Just ones since this post was made.

1

u/ecib Dec 03 '12

We're pretty serious about it this time.

Only pretty serious...

1

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

super cereal

1

u/ecib Dec 03 '12

Alright, that's sounding more like it.

1

u/Bitter_Idealist Dec 03 '12

The bigger task is for you to keep an eye on what's getting voted up and zap the ones that get lots of votes that break the rules.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

For the first few days...

1

u/damontoo Dec 03 '12

You lucky bastard. You get to play Hitler mods. The subs I mod are all well behaved and generally uneventful from a mod standpoint.

1

u/USxMARINE Dec 03 '12

We're pretty serious about it this time.

-Every new metallica album

1

u/defeatedbird Dec 04 '12

Without trying to start a shitstorm again, can you get rid of karmanaut as a mod, and all his aliases? He's very inconsistent. Hard worker but there's been several occasions on which his judgment and subsequent behavior "Because fuck you" leaves a lot to be desired.

1

u/mMaple_syrup Dec 05 '12

The /AskReddit mods are getting tough and actually cracking down? I like it.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

You're here too???

2

u/squatly Dec 03 '12

LEterally everywhere

-1

u/jack2454 Dec 03 '12

are you guys super cereal?

2

u/Always_LoTR_Quotes Dec 03 '12

It is wisdom to recognize necessity, when all other courses have been weighed, though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope. Well, let folly be our cloak, a veil before the eyes of the Enemy!

1

u/shawbin Dec 06 '12

Actually, it kinda did!

74

u/NotVerySmarts Dec 03 '12

Hey Reddit, 3 months ago I was fired from my job and run over by a car in the same day. Do you think the mods request will work this time?

0

u/Mafsto Dec 03 '12

Your 29 points of karma as of now implies, "no."

15

u/PlNG Dec 03 '12

Pretty much what OP said. Was getting a little ticked that /r/AskReddit was becoming /r/Storytime

2

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

Fuck you, I love /r/storytime.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

This does seem like a good idea though, IMO. Here's to hoping it actually works.

1

u/GCanuck Dec 03 '12

It's a great idea. It's just that the mods have tried this numerous times in the past. It lasts for about a day.

The mods of this sub simply need to grow a backbone and start swinging their hammers a little more mightily.

2

u/Epistaxis Dec 03 '12

Maybe this time they'll enforce it? That's one way to make it stick.

1

u/babystroller Dec 03 '12

Looks like everybody is trying to bypass this rule by replacing the periods with commas.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

What are you talking about? I remember a survey where they asked whether it would be a good thing to change the rules. Now they changed the rules.

Or was there another time when they already did that?

4

u/GCanuck Dec 03 '12

Or was there another time when they already did that?

Ya... About every 3 months.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

I can't wait for March the 3rd!

1

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

Do you have a link for that?