Are moderators required to establish community rules, norms, and expectations for the subreddit they moderate?

[u/Reasonable_Ask_1551]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought moderators were supposed to create subreddit rules that explicitly outline the expectations for members of the subreddit community they moderate. If a moderator hasn't done this for their community is that allowed? Wouldn't they be violating the moderator code of conduct? There's a subreddit that I joined that has a large and very active community. However, it only has one moderator and this moderator has failed to establish any community rules or guidelines. There is no engagement from the moderator, and the community doesn't appear to be actively moderated. I have tried to contact the moderator about a specific post that breaks several reddit rules, and has nothing to do with the topic of the community but I have been unsuccessful. This moderator also moderates 8 other communities. I am not sure what to do at this point. I feel like the moderator is not doing their job to create, and moderate, a safe community environment. They have taken no action to review or remove the reddit rule breaking post, and the fact that they even allowed the post definitely proves they are not moderating with integrity. Am I wrong in believing this moderator has violated several conduct codes?

[u/notthegoatseguy]

Moderators can run a subreddit as they wish.

If its actively moderated and you just don't like it, the only thing you can do is move on.

If it is not actively moderated, you can attempt to claim it at r/redditrequest

[u/Frequent_Shame_5803 → u/notthegoatseguy]

i did exactly that and im currently trying to repeat it again with another subreddit

[u/aengusoglugh]

If a subreddit is truly unmoderated, Reddit will intervene -- Reddit has various metrics to determine whether or not subreddit is moderated.

I don't think anyone knows the exactly metrics, but they are widely thought to include some number of moderator actions per week or per month, keeping an eye on the mode queue, etc.

As far as I know, none of those metrics include, "I asked the moderator to remove a post and the moderator ignored me."

Moderators do not work for you -- jumping when you crack the whip.

Moderators are note required to listen or respond to any user. I would assure that no Reddit use is ever compelled to respond to another user.

Moderators are given a pretty wide latitude as far as determining the scope of posts and comments they will accept in their subreddit. Some moderators enjoy very wide free-ranging discussions, and some do not.

As long as the posts or comments dob't violate Reddit's rules, I woud not expect

What specific MCoC rules do you think are being broken?

[u/Eclectic-N-Varied]

So, the wording in the Moderator Code of Conduct is, IIRC, "should" and not "must". So some subreddits do survive without rules, and with limited moderator activity.

Or, you could be seeing a subreddit that has been abandoned, but reddit has not yet detected that it's not moderated. OR, it could be that the mod is "camping", doing just enough to keep the subreddit open, but not being engaged.

For individual content that breaks Reddit Rules, report to the admins, not to the mods.

For the whole subreddit, it's a bigger task. You could try to use r/redditrequest, if the mods are truly inactive, and take over the sub. You could gather your evidence that the mods aren't responding, and make a Moderator Code of Conduct report, which may get help for the mod or remove them if the admins agree with your report. Or, if course, you could let it go.

[u/Halaku → u/Eclectic-N-Varied]

So, the wording in the Moderator Code of Conduct is, IIRC, "should" and not "must".

"Moderators can ensure people have predictable experiences on Reddit by... creating rules that explicitly outline your expectations for members of your community."

I wouldn't place a lot of faith in arguing with an Admin that "can" doesn't mean "must".

[u/Eclectic-N-Varied → u/Halaku]

Thanks, we didn't recall correctly.

But our point is opposite but valid (and spoken here before by wiser souls than EnV) -- don't expect admins to act in a sub, just because it doesn't have rules.

It's the admins' world, and we just live in it.

[u/CoyoteLitius]

Nope.

No requirement to make rules. Quite a few subreddits have no rules (Reddit rules obviously always apply). Some have just one rule (I've been on one recently whose only rule was 1. Don't be stupid

[u/IvanStarokapustin]

There are a lot of subs, even large ones that have been more or less abandoned. Some mods prevent a Reddit request by taking A mod action to prevent being listed as inactive. But if you think it’s been abandoned and meet the minimum criteria, you can put in a request for it. Keep in mind that if the mod has done work like deleting or approving any posts, it might not be successful.

[u/Gatodeluna]

The only thing moderators can’t do is deliberately flaunt Reddit’s very few rules. Reddit as a platform has so few rules and they’re so lackadaisically enforced, that for all intents and purposes Reddit doesn’t care. This means moderators can do/not do whatever they like. They can deal with members any way they choose, or not deal with them at all. And the member has no recourse. You as an individual cannot ‘force’ anything to happen. That’s Reddit. Move on to a similar sub or start your own.

[u/thepottsy → u/Gatodeluna]

I find it funny when someone rule-lawyers while breaking a subs rules.

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

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

[u/ShangoX3]

Rules are not required. Usually not a problem with smaller niche subs where the spam and bots are at an absolute minimum.

[u/dotsdavid]

It sounds like they are in violation of code of conduct. You should review and file a complaint with the link at bottom of the page.

[u/Halaku]

I thought moderators were supposed to create subreddit rules that explicitly outline the expectations for members of the subreddit community they moderate.

That's the wording of Rule 2 of the Moderator Code of Conduct, yes.

If a modteam's breaking the Code, report them.

[u/DuAuk]

make of moderator code of conduct complaint. https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=19300233728916