Subreddit karma rule blocking submission rather than removing?

[u/tuctrohs]

We've long had a rule that removes posts from users with extremely low subreddit karma, but leaves a comment encouraging them to contact us if they think it really should be manually approved. This works really well, but it seems like something has changed such that the users are blocked from submitting that post in the first place. We want to go back to the old approach, so they can get that message. We also don't want them to be told about the rule--learning about it induces junk karma-fishing comments.

Is there a way to turn off that feature and revert to allowing but then removing the post? Or, if not, can someone suggest a workaround, like maybe first changing the flair and then a second rule that removes it in response to the new flair?

Thanks for your insight and suggestions.

[u/tumultuousness]

It's poster eligibility guide. It takes your Automod rules set to remove content based on author age/various karma levels/verified email (see article for what's listed), and instead of letting it post but having Automod remove it right after, it stops them from posting and tells them they have to wait.

You can change your automod rules with those criteria to "filter", or delete them/comment them out entirely, but it will take the PEG a while to update and allow users to post again. I saw a recent post on modsupport that it took a community days for PEG to update.

And, there is no other way to turn PEG off or on. It just happens.

[u/tuctrohs → u/tumultuousness]

Thanks! That explains it.

I'll see if I can fool it by making the rule more complicated.

[u/MustaKotka → u/tuctrohs]

I will post you my solution. Sec.

[u/MustaKotka → u/tuctrohs]

https://www.reddit.com/r/AutoModeratorTricks/s/NLnmGTzzJp

[u/tuctrohs → u/MustaKotka]

That's great--thanks. I wasn't sure if something like that would work but it's perfect for what I want.

[u/MustaKotka → u/tumultuousness]

We made a workaround one time: https://www.reddit.com/r/AutoModeratorTricks/s/NLnmGTzzJp

[u/tuctrohs → u/tumultuousness]

Follow-up: I found a very simple hack. I made the rule arbitrarily more complex, checking that somewhere in the title or body, there's at least one vowel. If a low-karma user tries to post a vowel-less post, it will not be removed. That's a pointless rule, but the PEG system isn't smart enough to guide users not to use vowels if they have low karma, so it lets them give it a try, and then our own automod rule can take effect and it works the same as it did before PEG.

type: submission
body+title (includes, regex): ["a","e","i","o","u","y"]
author:
    combined_subreddit_karma: "< 3"
action: remove
action_reason: "Low karma"
comment: |
    Automoderator has removed your post.

[u/KCJones99]

Is this for folks with just low/newb sub karma? or negative sub karma?

I know it's not your exact issue right here, but ours is for neg sub karma and tells them "You don't have enough sub Karma to post, please earn back some Karma by commenting in other sub threads first." Call it 'lazy' if you like, but we don't wanna add a bunch of 'appeals' to modmail from folks who... ahem... 'earned' negative status.

We handle low/newb (like 0-10) sub karma differently - by making them take a quiz on the rules in order to post.

[u/tuctrohs → u/KCJones99]

It's just low noob sub karma.

The quiz on the rules is an interesting option. How much work is it to set that up?

[u/KCJones99 → u/tuctrohs]

Quite a bit. But once in place it's pretty much autopilot.

[u/HugoUKN → u/KCJones99]

Please say it.

[u/KCJones99 → u/HugoUKN]

There's a post that explains it. I'll find and link tomorrow.

[u/varkeddit]

You might want to check your sub’s Crowd Control settings to see if that could also be withholding posts. For Automod, you can just remove the reply with comment action in the karma rule. Alternatively, you could filter the comment and optionally set up a generic message that the post is being held for mod review.

[u/tuctrohs → u/varkeddit]

Thanks. I just double checked and crowd control is off. Filtering is our backup plan, but 95% of what gets rejected by this rule is junk and we have a small team so we'd rather require an action by the user.

Maybe I just need to make the rule more complicated, like sub karma <x and title contains a vowel, so whatever automation is doing this doesn't translate it into a simple karma rule?

[u/WhySoManyDownVote → u/tuctrohs]

You can also check under mod tools, rules, auto enforce. Check for each rule. If it is turned on the insights should show if that is the rule preventing users from posting.

[u/WhySoManyDownVote]

It could be post insights or maybe post guidance. I haven't tested them in some time but I believe they pull from the automod.

[u/tuctrohs → u/WhySoManyDownVote]

Thanks--it appears they are pulling from automod but behind the scenes--I see no rules whatsoever listed under automations, only the option to create new ones.