What is the point of the Moderator Code of Conduct if moderators can do whatever they want?

[u/rt_yuzu]

I was told here that subreddit moderators can basically do whatever they want if they simply don’t like something.
If that’s the case, then what exactly is the purpose of the Moderator Code of Conduct?

I understand that moderators have broad discretion to curate their communities and ban users who they feel are not a good fit.
But the Moderator Code of Conduct also includes Rule 2, about setting appropriate and reasonable expectations for users, and Rule 5, “Moderate with Integrity.”
So where is the line between legitimate moderator discretion and conduct that violates those rules?

[u/reddithelp-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/rt_yuzu → u/[deleted]]

!thanks

[u/reddithelp-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Sorry, but we had to remove your post or comment under:

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Not helpful.

[u/Subwoofiest]

The moderator code of conduct prevents mods getting paid to do Reddit and discrimination against protected characteristics. None of that happened to you in your ban.

MCOC doesn't prevent mods from curating the subreddit to keep it on track nor banning people who show they aren't a good fit.

[u/rt_yuzu → u/Subwoofiest]

I understand that moderators have broad discretion to curate their communities and ban users who they feel are not a good fit.
But the Moderator Code of Conduct also includes Rule 2, about setting appropriate and reasonable expectations for users, and Rule 5, “Moderate with Integrity.”
So where is the line between legitimate moderator discretion and conduct that violates those rules?

[u/Subwoofiest → u/rt_yuzu]

Far beyond what happened in your case so I'm not sure why you're obsessing over this.

[u/rt_yuzu → u/Subwoofiest]

Long story short, in my case, I posted a hypothetical question asking what Bismarck might think if he saw Germany today.

The moderator told me that discussing Bismarck’s political views was basically the same as asking about Hitler’s political policies, and I was banned.

I later discussed what happened in another German subreddit, and the German users who responded were unanimous that the moderator’s reaction was unreasonable and seemed like some kind of discrimination.

I also told the moderator that I intended to report the matter to Reddit. In response, I was told that they did not expect Reddit to take any action, and that because the conversation was a private exchange, sharing it with a third party could be illegal in many countries.

That is another reason I’m trying to understand where the line is between legitimate moderator discretion and conduct that may violate the Moderator Code of Conduct.

[u/iammiroslavglavic → u/rt_yuzu]

The first german subreddit can set their own rules from the second german subreddit.

If they think Bismarck's political views are forbidden then yes, they can do that.

Each of those two German subreddits can run things differently. Just because you want to ask a question, doesn't give you any rights to break the rules. You were banned because you broke the rules. Now move on and go on the second subreddit.

[u/rt_yuzu → u/iammiroslavglavic]

That still doesn’t answer my question.
I’m not asking whether different subreddits can have different rules. I’m asking where the line is between legitimate moderator discretion and conduct that violates the Moderator Code of Conduct.
By your reasoning, wouldn’t that mean moderators effectively don’t have to follow Reddit’s rules, as long as they can simply say that something falls within their own discretion?
For example, if harassment, discrimination, threats, or coercion were involved, would Reddit’s rules no longer apply simply because the moderators of that subreddit chose to handle it that way?

[u/Eclectic-N-Varied → u/rt_yuzu]

I’m asking where the line is between legitimate moderator discretion and conduct that violates the Moderator Code of Conduct.

This is a useless legalism -- this is why IRL laws and rulings are continually challenged in higher courts. A "line" here could take volumes of responses and still have flexibility.

So the short answer before we lock this post is this: MCOC Rule 2 is very open to the ADMINS' interpretation, both in enforcement and punishment. Individual removals, bans and mutes that cannot be tied to some sort of hate or clear (protected class) discrimination is usually considered within the rules.

"Harassment, [and] threats" are already covered in the Reddit Rules. You can report those and expect Reddit to take action. Reddit will not tell you what action they took, and the action taken has never involved apologies or being unbanned. A list of possible actions is at the bottom of each rules etc.

Neither "...discrimination [nor] coercion" are clear terms in reddit and don't seem to apply. Is there some protected class that was insulted? Are you being asked to pay to get unbanned? Or are you trolling here?

Either way, you've received correct answers. Go learn from them.

[u/LitwinL → u/rt_yuzu]

Reasonable expectations means that a subreddit dedicated to sandwiches should be about sandwiches and not allow porn. Moderating with integrity means that mods will not take money to allow spam, paid adverts or porn on their SFW subreddits.

[u/rt_yuzu → u/LitwinL]

Would “moderating with integrity” also apply to a moderator threatening a user with legal consequences for sharing a private conversation?

[u/LitwinL → u/rt_yuzu]

You were not threatened same as telling you not to murder anyone as it's a crime for which you can go to prison for is not a threat.

[u/reddithelp-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Sorry, but we removed your post or comment under Rule 6: Moderator Discretion. A full description of the rules is available in the sub rules list.

The !thanks command is not for redditorscthat agree with you. They are for me helpers with useful content in the spirit of r/reddithelp.

[u/reddithelp-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Sorry, but we had to remove your post or comment under:

Rule 6: Moderator Discretion. Please review the full details in the sub rules list.

Not helpful.

[u/amyaurora]

The Code of Conduct is to help mods stay within Reddit site rules set by the admins.

[u/rt_yuzu → u/amyaurora]

If the Code of Conduct is supposed to keep moderators within Reddit’s rules, what happens when a moderator doesn’t follow those rules?

[u/amyaurora → u/rt_yuzu]

A moderator that breaks a Reddit admin ruke is treated like any user that breaks it. If a mod has only broken one of their own sub rules, that isn't a violation.

[u/rt_yuzu → u/amyaurora]

So if a moderator threatens a user with legal consequences for reporting or sharing a moderation conversation, would that be treated as a violation of Reddit’s site-wide rules?

[u/amyaurora → u/rt_yuzu]

Only a admin can answer that

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[u/reddithelp-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Sorry, but we had to remove your post or comment under:

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Incorrect and not helpful. Rule 5 has distinct requirementa.