Moderator abuse: Request for review and removal of Decoy321@lemmy.world

[grumpus_maximus@thelemmy.club]

I am requesting an admin review of the moderation actions of Decoy321@lemmy.world in:

• !lemmyshitpost@lemmy.world
• !shitposts@piefed.world

Specifically, I am requesting review of two bans imposed on me, removal of the characterization of my posts as racist where no reasonable basis for that characterization exists, and review of whether Decoy321 should continue moderating these communities.

Context

These are shitposting communities. Merriam-Webster defines shitpost as:

“to post something online (such as a comment, video, or meme) that is deliberately absurd, provocative, or offensive”

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shitpost

Provocative or offensive humor is therefore not, by itself, evidence that content is racist, harassing, or otherwise prohibited. Obviously, shitposting does not override an instance's rules against genuinely racist or abusive content, but moderation should distinguish between those things.

First ban -

I had been actively contributing memes to !lemmyshitpost@lemmy.world, including reposting content from Reddit's /r/shitposting.

After dozens of contributions, Decoy321 banned me for one week over this post:

https://thelemmy.club/post/53660620

The reason given was:

rule 1 violation. don't post racist shit. take a week off

The same meme remains publicly available on /r/shitposting:

https://www.reddit.com/r/shitposting/comments/1vc34os/cueta_spain_right_now/

I dispute the moderator's characterization of this post as racist. More importantly, I would like the admins to review the post themselves and determine what specific element of the content constitutes racism under the community or instance rules.

Calling a user racist or their contributions “racist shit” is a serious characterization. It should have an identifiable factual and rules-based basis rather than simply reflecting a moderator's personal interpretation of provocative humor.

Second ban -

After the first incident, I began contributing to !shitposts@piefed.world.

At the time, this was a very low-activity community, averaging roughly one post per week. I made a substantial effort to contribute content and help build activity there.

I did not initially realize that Decoy321 also moderated this community.

After what became hundreds of contributions, Decoy321 permanently banned me following this post:

https://thelemmy.club/post/54265031

The same post was publicly available on /r/shitposting when I reposted it:

https://www.reddit.com/r/shitposting/comments/1vlso8s/_/

This time I received a permanent community ban without an explanation identifying what rule the post violated or why a permanent ban was warranted.

I am asking the admins to review both the content itself and the proportionality of that action.

Why I am requesting moderator review

My concern isn't simply that I disagree with two moderation decisions.

There appears to be a pattern in which an active contributor is subjected to increasingly severe sanctions based on a moderator's subjective interpretation of shitposting content, without a clear connection to the communities' published rules.

A moderator is obviously entitled to remove content that violates community rules. But removing a questionable post is very different from repeatedly banning an active contributor - and ultimately permanently banning them - without clearly identifying the rule violation warranting that escalation.

This is particularly concerning for !shitposts@piefed.world, which already has very little activity. Removing prolific contributors through unexplained permanent bans actively works against building a healthy community.

I am not asking admins to agree with every meme I've posted. I am asking for consistent, rules-based and proportionate moderation.

If either post violates a specific rule, I would like that rule and violation explained. If it does not, then the resulting bans should not stand.

Requested resolution

I respectfully request that the Lemmy.world/PieFed.world administration:

1. Review and reverse my permanent ban from !shitposts@piefed.world if the admins determine that the cited post did not justify that sanction.
2. Review Decoy321's moderation history involving my account, including the earlier ban from !lemmyshitpost@lemmy.world.
3. Review whether Decoy321 should continue serving as a moderator of !shitposts@piefed.world and !lemmyshitpost@lemmy.world given the pattern described above.
4. Remove or correct moderation records characterizing my content as racist if the administration determines that the posts did not violate rules prohibiting racist content.
5. Clarify what specific community or instance rules justified these actions if the administration determines that the bans were appropriate.

I am happy to accept moderation when I actually violate a published rule. What I am objecting to is being labeled as posting racist material and ultimately permanently excluded from a community based on standards that do not appear in its rules.

I would appreciate an independent review by an administrator rather than another decision by the moderator whose conduct is the subject of this complaint.

cc: @ieh@lemmy.world