Question for the Mods (of PPD, or any other sub)

hyperrreal · 2015-01-07T23:48:10+00:00

Has being a mod changed how you act on-line?

I was always fairly moderate/low-key among redpill users, but I make an extra effort to do so now. By now there are quite a few RPs who think I am BP.

Has it changed how you think of people?

No but you do see the ugly(ier) side of this subreddit much more often. I had no idea how extensive the trolling was before.

Are you more understanding? Less understanding?

Less understanding/more judgmental of trolls, more understanding of people with other viewpoints.

Are you more patient? Less patient?

Again less patient with obvious trolls. Pretty much the same otherwise.

Has it helped you understand those that have viewpoints different than your own seeing that as a moderator, you at times will have to side with those who have viewpoints different than your own?

I've always been able to see things from the perspective of the other side. But I did notice the RP trolling more, because before I was never a target of it.

Do you feel that you've learned more about the topic by being a mod than by being a participant?

Definitely not. If anything I learn less now, because I have less desire to actively participate.

Since being a mod, have you moved more towards the center, or moved more towards the edge?

Haven't moved much in either direction. PPD made me more moderate in general, but that's separate from my experience as a mod.

cuittler · 2015-01-07T22:00:06+00:00

Has being a mod changed how you act on-line?

Yes, I've had to bite my tongue more than once.

Has it changed how you think of people?

People in general, no. People on this sub have become more human, which is totally throwing off my snarky hate game.

Are you more understanding? Less understanding?

About the same.

Has it helped you understand those that have viewpoints different than your own seeing that as a moderator, you at times will have to side with those who have viewpoints different than your own?

Definitely, it might be something unique to PPD having half the mods in very different camps of thought...

Do you feel that you've learned more about the topic by being a mod than by being a participant?

Not really, but it helps to be familiar with what is being said.

Since being a mod, have you moved more towards the center, or moved more towards the edge?

Probably a bit more neutral but still non-RP.

MissPearl · 2015-01-07T20:53:12+00:00

Has being a mod changed how you act on-line?

I created a reddit username solely to participate on the RPW sub. Prior to that, I knew about the reddit, but had never visited it/any of the subs. Being invited to Moderate the RPW sub was an unexpected and enormous honor. I've said before that I care about the RPW community, along with the ladies that participate there.

Being a Mod has forced me to 'toughen up' quite a bit when dealing with various situations. I am very non-confrontational in my normal day to day life (I seek to resolve conflicts when they manifest, and I enjoy helping my friends and loved ones). I'm much more outspoken and direct online, and my interactions on reddit have helped me be a bit more stern in my every day life when the circumstances call for it.

Being a moderator has also helped me think of new ways to convey certain ideas so that they make sense to different users. The better you can explain something, the more likely it is that you understand the concept/idea. Which isn't to suggest that I have all (or even most) of the answers. I learn more and more every day (not only in regards to Red Pill ideas etc, but also other areas of my life).

Has it changed how you think of people?

Yes and no. I never really knew what trolling was prior to my activity on reddit, and even after I did learn about it - I still thought getting through to insincere users was just about patience, clarity, and understanding. "Causing trouble just for fun" was a foreign concept to me, and I still probably spend too much effort on various insincere users.

Are you more understanding? Less understanding?

Both. I recognize a lot of underlying issues and see how they apply to many different situations. When the person directly involved in the situation doesn't recognize certain things, that means rephrasing/explaining the situation in a way that makes sense and introduces issues that aren't on that person's radar. When someone looks for advice, they sometimes aren't aware (or are trying to gloss over) certain things - and the initial instinct is often to minimize and deny the existence of those issues. This doesn't only apply only to other RPW users by the way - it also applies to RP male users that haven't been active for very long and don't understand the differences between TRP and RPW (in terms of approaches, advice, and focuses etc).

Early on, I didn't think there would be any issue with commenting on other relationship/advice subs as well as the RPW sub. That lead to some interesting exchanges and in turn I decided to stick to RP-related subs only.

I understand that everyone has different beliefs and approaches, and that's entirely fine by me. I'm understanding in that I believe people should do what makes them happy. I'm 'less understanding' in the sense that "doing whatever makes a person happy" often goes hand in hand with certain consequences - and it's the disconnect many people have between action and consequence that makes me less understanding. I'm big on accountability and responsibility, and I believe that the only person you can change/control is yourself.

Are you more patient? Less patient?

No one is perfect, and while I do strive to be patient and detailed - there are times when I fall short of my own ideals. Dealing with trolls and insincere users has an unfortunate side-effect sometimes, and someone that talks like many trolls I have encountered in the past can immediately put me on 'alert.' Moderating is not a 'job' in the sense that I get paid or anything like that. But my main interests are to help improve the RPW sub, and keep it clear of insincere/troll users.

Tone is a tricky thing when all you have to work with are words. Honesty can be viewed as coldness/frigidity. I do try to write comprehensive comments/posts so that my thoughts are expressed as clearly as possible. Does this always work? No. I have good days and bad days, just like everyone else. I try to hold myself to certain standards, and when I fail to meet those standards I do my best to learn and move on.

There are a lot of things that non-mod users never see and never have to deal with - and that's a good thing. The purpose of having Mods is to give useful advice, help generate new content, take care of problems, and make sure the sub doesn't transform into something entirely different than what it's supposed to be about.

There have undoubtedly been times where I could have explained my thoughts better, just as there have been times where I've tried explaining things five different ways and the sixth way is very short and abrasive. That said, the moderators come back day after day because we do care. We have had policy changes, and we try to check in with each other to confirm decisions. We are a team, and there is a hierarchy to that team. I consider /u/tempesttcup to be my boss. In truth, I think of all the female mods as my superiors in a work-environment sense, for several reasons (which I can go into if anyone's interested).

Has it helped you understand those that have viewpoints different than your own seeing as a moderator, you will have to side with those with viewpoints different than your own?

I always understood other people's viewpoints. I've spent most of my life listening to, asking questions about, and discussing other people's viewpoints. I'm very introverted, and I enjoy listening to people a lot. I lurk on many different subs (but don't participate). RPW is really the first community where I have been able to talk about my personal beliefs, ideas, concepts etc as they relate to relationships. On the RPW sub I can be very frank and clear with advice, and talk openly about various things. When I try to do so in my normal life, I end up having to make 20 point amendments to every possible sentence so that it doesn't make someone I care about bristle. I am very sensitive to the people around me, and I don't seek to create conflict. I rather let other people talk and listen to what they have to say, than put forth an opinion I know will make other people pause. When a user tells me that I'm rude, high and mighty, or lack compassion - it always takes me aback. Usually I just remind myself that my online presence is very different from my actual personality in many ways. I also understand that other people are the same way. How they talk online isn't necessarily how they are in real life. By the length of some of my comments - people may get the idea that I walk around sharing my opinions all day with everyone - when in reality, that's not the case at all.

Edit: I see that I misunderstood your question, and I answered it more directly on another comment, but I'm going to leave my original answer up as well. :0)

Do you feel that you've learned more about the topic by being a mod than by being a participant?

Yes, but only because I've had more practice with trolls. I think debating on PPD, or trying to talk about RPW on non-RP subs would lead to the same types of experiences and skills - though I would caution RPW users to avoid trying to look for trouble in non-RP related communities. It's not as though Mods are superheroes or even experts. I've never claimed to be a Red Pill guru or expert, because I don't believe that I am. I just try to be as thoughtful and clear as I can be. I have learned a lot by being a moderator - but there are also other ways to gain that kind of experience on reddit.

Have you moved more towards the center, or moved more towards the edge?

I've been able to solidify a lot of my views more concretely, and I also view a few things differently than when I first started (because I have learned a great deal) - but overall I think my positions are more or less the same.

Interesting thread by the way, I'm looking forward to seeing what other's have to say. :0)

ppd_FrameEnforcer · 2015-01-07T19:40:50+00:00

Has being a mod changed how you act on-line?

No. That's why I used an alt.

Has it changed how you think of people?

People in general: No. I'm already a bit of a cynic.

Individuals: No. Nothing on TRP/TBP/PPD could make me like or dislike people I know in the real world any more or less than I already do.

Are you more understanding? Less understanding?

I have slightly more insight on other mods (positive) as well as certain users who get their comments removed often, which I would have not caught as a non-mod (slightly negative).

Are you more patient? Less patient?

Managing people is always an exercise in patience. I've had worse.

Has it helped you understand those that have viewpoints different than your own seeing that as a moderator, you at times will have to side with those who have viewpoints different than your own?

I already understand viewpoints of others.

I do have to side with viewpoints different than my own often, because people can be "on your side" and still be rule-breakers.

Do you feel that you've learned more about the topic by being a mod than by being a participant?

No. Enforcement of rules is separate.

Since being a mod, have you moved more towards the center, or moved more towards the edge?

Positions of authority, no matter how little, always move me more towards authoritarianism by some amount. I consider that more RP than BP.

TempestTcup · 2015-01-07T19:41:13+00:00

Has being a mod changed how you act on-line?

I don't think so. When I first got online, other than the old bulletin boards and etc from the long long ago, I was on RagingBull.com forums while day-trading penny stocks in the 1990s; the conversations were pretty serious and dry, which is probably why I have always spoken my mind online.

Has it changed how you think of people?

Yes, people are really damaged today, physically and mentally. I didn't realize the extent of the population with mental problems like depression, anxiety and physical problems and autoimmune diseases like Crohns that usually don't manifest until old age. These were largely unheard of in the 1970s and 1980s.

Are you more understanding? Less understanding?

No.

Are you more patient? Less patient?

No.

Has it helped you understand those that have viewpoints different than your own seeing as a moderator, you will have to side with those with viewpoints different than your own?

I can't really decipher the question, but I have never sided with viewpoints that I don't agree with.

Do you feel that you've learned more about the topic by being a mod than by being a participant?

No, I discovered RP a few years ago and had a RP blog about a year before I got on reddit to mod RPW. Rather than learning anything, the experience has only confirmed everything I had already learned before reddit.

Have you moved more towards the center, or moved more towards the edge?

No.

[deleted] · 2015-01-08T07:39:44+00:00

Question for mods: Out of the three, which one do you identify closest with: RP, PP, BP?

Title	Question for the Mods (of PPD, or any other sub)
Author	[deleted]
Upvotes	5
Comments	29
Date	January 7, 2015 7:05 PM UTC (11 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/PurplePillDebate
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/PurplePillDebate/comments/2rnm05/question_for_the_mods_of_ppd_or_any_other_sub/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/PurplePillDebate/question-for-the-mods-of-ppd-or-any-other-sub.283865 https://theredarchive.com/post/283865

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