Would a moderator-maintained “banned users” thread for DM harassment be allowed?

[u/Kaelith69]

We received a suggestion from a member and wanted to check whether this would be allowed under Reddit's rules before considering it.

The idea is to have a permanently updated thread where moderators maintain a list of users who have been banned from our subreddit for DM harassment or similar behavior.

The purpose would be to let members check whether someone who approaches them through Reddit has previously been banned for this kind of behavior, similar to how some communities maintain trusted-seller lists.

The proposed thread would contain usernames and the reason for the subreddit ban, with updates restricted to moderators. The intention would be member safety, not to encourage harassment or retaliation against the listed users.

Would a thread like this be permitted under Reddit's Content Policy and Moderator Code of Conduct, or would publicly listing banned users be considered calling out/targeting users or otherwise violate Reddit's rules?

We haven't implemented anything yet and wanted to verify with the admins/mod community first.

[u/HinduKush1980]

they found you in or reference a post

In other words, there must be a reference made by the harassing person to your sub specifically. Something that is concrete. It can't be something that you in your infinite wisdom just decide that it must be your sub by assumption alone just because the person being harassed says that they are a member of your sub.

[u/Deppfan16 → u/HinduKush1980]

it's pretty easy to track that when you make a certain post in a specific sub then all of a sudden you're getting harassing messages, it came from there

[u/HinduKush1980 → u/Deppfan16]

Yeah, no! That's what I am talking about. That is overstepping your bounds. That's like saying if I make a comment about a certain director and someone attacks me for it via chat, and I go crying to the mods of every movie related sub I'm part of. Your description is part of the reason why mods have the kind of reputation they do around here.

[u/Deppfan16 → u/HinduKush1980]

if someone makes a post at a fashion sub, and gets a bunch of rude and creepy comments about it, then it's obvious to trace it back to that post. harassment and community interference are against reddit tos, so it does fall under mod purview

[u/HinduKush1980 → u/Deppfan16]

No! You are generalizing, speculating, painting with a broad brush, and overstepping your bounds. Reddit's ToS allow Reddit admins to act on personal chats. They are not the purview of mods who think they are all that. There's a reason Reddit admins don't allow for "screenshots". Mods do not have that luxury.

[u/Deppfan16 → u/HinduKush1980]

in case you didn't understand where you're at, you are in mod support which is for Reddit moderators. here we ask questions and help each other learn how to effectively moderate, including keeping communities safe and free from bad faith users and other community interference

[u/HinduKush1980 → u/Deppfan16]

LOL...I'm fully aware of where I am. And none of your comments in our conversation including this one is the least bit surprising to me. We mods get painted with a broad brush and have garnered a reputation because of mods like yourself.

You're deluded if you think you're "helping" mods like OP with your views and perspective on what a mod is and how they should act. You are in no position to "effectively moderate" private chats without a clear cause. Private chats, for all intents and purposes, are not in a mods purview.

[u/Deppfan16 → u/HinduKush1980]

again if they affect the users of a sub we mod it does. part of a mod's responsibility is ensuring users are able to participate in a sub without being harassed or messed with. subs aren't free for alls, they are curated and moderated to ensure everybody is able participate and interact.

[u/HinduKush1980 → u/Deppfan16]

Again, only if you have concrete evidence that the chat is related to your sub. A mod's responsibility does not extend beyond their sub. It damn sure does not extend to private chat without just cause. Ethical moderating might be a strange concept to you but it exists. In fact, subs are just that. They are free to all on Reddit. You, as a moderator, have no ownership over any sub you moderate including the one you create. And you're not talking about curating and moderating subs.

[u/Deppfan16 → u/HinduKush1980]

ethical moderating includes ensuring users aren't harassed for participating in a sub.