So this continues to follow the classic playbook:

1. Create an overreaching policy based on a personal experience (i.e. assuming that your experience is universal)
2. Stifle any dissenting opinion in the name of decorum
3. Offer to listen to feedback while denying wrongdoing
4. Ask for additional leadership while being the sole arbiter of who gets selected, while refusing to relinquish any control

Since I will almost certainly get banned, here's a form where you can report moderator abuse to reddit admins. I have no idea if it does anything, but it might be useful to some of you: https://reddit.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=179106

How much do I owe you?

Live feed of the mod.

It's not about a difference of opinion, it's about neglecting and then misusing the moderator tools. But it's all good man, enjoy ruling over the ghost town.

I’m happy to summarize: this sub, which has 17,000 members, only has one moderator. That moderator made a new rule based on an interaction he had outside of the sub (according to his own explanation), and has removed posts and outright banned people based on that rule. People are upset about it.

Context is important then, isn’t it?

I can see this comment. Thanks for sharing the messages.

You created a rule based on something that happened to you OUTSIDE the sub. And now you're trying to solve a problem that wouldn't have existed in the first place if you hadn't done that.

Restoring on-topic posts about bicycling seems pretty uncomplicated to me.

I'm not trying to be argumentative here, but it's worrisome that you're continuing to remove cycling related posts. Are you also banning the people who make them?

Seriously, asking for recommendations about where to ride a bike in Cambridge is not a hostile post or an attack.

Also, this exact scenario has played out in discussion forums since the beginning of the internet. Mod institute rule changes based on his or her own personal preferences, gets negative feedback, then offers to listen to the community to make things better without actually changing the rule or apologizing.

Add additional moderators, and seek community input before adding new rules.

Yeah it looks like that post got removed, unfortunately. What a mess.

​

EDIT: I found this form, which might be helpful (in case anyone is still clicking into this thread): https://reddit.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=179106

And as far as I can tell, there's no way to report mod abuse to Reddit admins.

>But then why not add new mods

Then he has less power to make arbitrary rules based on fake stories.

Let's get rid of all roads and replace them with a series of hydraulic tubes. While we're at it, let's get some catapults and fling our trash into outer space.

The new protected bike lanes on Mass Ave in North Cambridge are really great progress, and I'm looking forward to the city extending them all the way into Harvard Square. It'll make getting around a lot safer and prevent accidents.

I'm also hoping that Memorial Drive continues to be bike and pedestrian only on Saturdays and Sundays in the warmer months--and would love to see that extended all the way down to MIT. It's great for bikers and pedestrians.

>I thought Cambridge was progressive city.

Doesn't mean there aren't plenty of assholes in the city. (And who knows if the moderator still lives here anyway.) The single rule maker in a community is stifling debate because he's got an unpopular and incorrect opinion.