Moderation Abuse on AOE2 Reddit, streamer Grathwrang Banned

[IYIyTh]

Relevant links: https://www.reddit.com/r/aoe2/comments/13wqemp/user_grathwrang_twitter_grathrang_was_banned_by_a/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/grathwrang/status/1663907224148754432?t=VtS7z9epjtKx9pJozweS1Q&s=19

A mod was banned from Grathwrang's "stream and discord," for allegedly saying toxic things during KOTD/on Grathwrangs stream (twitter post)

Mod confirms that this is the reason, in fact the ban reason itself hilariously says it.

The moderation team issued a stickied comment in a thread started by a random observer, saying the moderation team at AOE2 attempts to excuse behavior, says they're giving him a warning -- and although he offered to resign for his blatant abuse of power, they have declined -- and they are "sure it won't happen again."

An hour later, after damage control messages from the moderation team, the mod in question can be seen in the reddit thread continuing to defend their actions as valid.

Grathwrang was unbanned a few hours later when the mod team realized how stupid the situation was, but does not yet appear to have a grasp on the fallout.

TLDR: AOE2 reddit moderator abuses mod privilege's. Water is wet.

 

[Liamsmalley7]

I looked at that thread earlier and still have no idea what the guy said in Twitch chat.

 

[IYIyTh]

I looked at that thread earlier and still have no idea what the guy said in Twitch chat.

Honestly, I haven't looked either -- mostly because it doesn't matter...partially for a lack of interest.

It would be like a MS affiliate or tournament organizer denying funds and/or appearances to a streamer because they were banned from their channel for cause in the past.

Just shouldn't happen.

 

[Progeusz]

Reddit mods are mental children just like reddit users. Nothing new.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

It is already resolved and he is unbanned. This seems drama for nothing.

This is being sorted in modmail.

I told cyanide to unban grathwrang immediately and he was unbanned hours before this tweet was made.

This sort of ban does not line with our rules in this subreddit.

Edit: Cyanide offered to resign as mod, that's been declined and he's been given a warning instead, same as a user would be treated as he hasn't overstepped before.

Finally the subreddit rules still apply in this thread. Personal insults are breaking them, don't.

 

[IYIyTh]

It is already resolved and he is unbanned. This seems drama for nothing.

Yes, that is what the OP says.

If we just deleted everything anytime something was "resolved," no one would know anything happened at all.

 

[Paul Blart Trade Cart]

Fight! Fight! Fight!

 

[Rayne]

For some reason, this thread reminds me of the whole chessbae stuff from the chess community few years back. Only it had a few disturbing things.

 

[tissuepapercatmat]

what has the world come to when Aoezone fails to fan the flames of some drama when upstart Reddit AOE2 channel is doing such stirling work. Is this the end of the aoezone era?

 

[robo]

what has the world come to when Aoezone fails to fan the flames of some drama when upstart Reddit AOE2 channel is doing such stirling work. Is this the end of the aoezone era?

I could run a lottery and randomly ban some people if you want?

 

[otw_Da]

Quiet disappointing - expected more drama - 3/10.
If someone will post "discussed/banned" comments maybe this drama thread could be an solit 7/10.
I hope for some racism,sexisem or caster drama *fingers crossed*

 

[tissuepapercatmat]

I could run a lottery and randomly ban some people if you want?

Maybe we aoezoners are just getting old... new generations of dramatists are coming. To quote Victor Hugo "This will kill that"

 

[IYIyTh]

I could run a lottery and randomly ban some people if you want?

"randomly."

 

[uberkerl]

people just have not changed since the use net era.

 

[Paul Blart Trade Cart]

Cave wall paintings era*

 

[robo]

"randomly."

we'll make it a stream event, put in all the user account numbers to a random generator and start banning whatever shows up.

 

[Potkeny]

to a random generator

Duckrace, clearly

 

[aromatic]

And some people say aoezone is not needed (and toxic) because reddit is there.

 

[Hunyadi_]

It's not surprising this happened.

On the one hand you have Grathwrang himself a polarizing figure and often unstable person. But he has been trying to improve and also has contributed to the community so he's not all bad.

On the other hand you have reddit mods who are power hungry and power tripping cretins.

The two were meant to eventually clash. It's like a Nissan driver and Ram pickup driver finally meeting and some crazy road rage ensuing.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

Yes, that is what the OP says.

If we just deleted everything anytime something was "resolved," no one would know anything happened at all.

I really dont understand the drama. The issue is resolved. The mod who did it, got a warning. The mod it self even offered to resign (which was rejected by the mod team).

Not really drama worthy to me. I expected something more spicy seeing this threat.

 

[Tempires]

I really dont understand the drama. The issue is resolved. The mod who did it, got a warning. The mod it self even offered to resign (which was rejected by the mod team).

Not really drama worthy to me. I expected something more spicy seeing this threat.

Well then you like to hear that this thread, reddit thread and original Tweet all were made hours after it was resolved.

 

[IYIyTh]

I really dont understand the drama. The issue is resolved. The mod who did it, got a warning. The mod it self even offered to resign (which was rejected by the mod team).

Not really drama worthy to me. I expected something more spicy seeing this threat.

I think you're missing the point. What you consider worth discussing or not is inconsequential.

For instance, if you don't think something is consequential or worth discussing -- you don't even have to reply at all to this thread.

For some -- however, they might like to know of heavy-handed moderation in another aoe2 medium, especially considering the thread is quite easily the most active on the aoe2 subreddit in some time. The streamer involved is also not of no consequence and has notoriety (good and bad,) as discussed in the linked thread. Regardless of whether the issue was resolved or not, not everyone peruses other aoe2 mediums and may not be aware of happenings within the scene outside of this medium. For some, moderation tendencies may influence where they choose to spend their time, or perhaps have interest in the decisions that are made regardless of if they even visit at all.

None of the aforementioned requires you to care in the slightest, or really matters in how you perceive its significance (or lack there of.)

 

[Tempires]

r/aoe2 is purged and only active old moderator is greg_stream (restored mod) who posted AI generated comments as behalf of mod team. All posts asking what happened to mods are removed.

It seems creator sixtyt3 has returned and decided remove all old mods:

 

[Davion]

if aoe reddit's really down then will the Zone's member count stonks?

 

[Yekky]

Relevant links: https://www.reddit.com/r/aoe2/comments/13wqemp/user_grathwrang_twitter_grathrang_was_banned_by_a/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/grathwrang/status/1663907224148754432?t=VtS7z9epjtKx9pJozweS1Q&s=19

A mod was banned from Grathwrang's "stream and discord," for allegedly saying toxic things during KOTD/on Grathwrangs stream (twitter post)

Mod confirms that this is the reason, in fact the ban reason itself hilariously says it.

View attachment 204917


The moderation team issued a stickied comment in a thread started by a random observer, saying the moderation team at AOE2 attempts to excuse behavior, says they're giving him a warning -- and although he offered to resign for his blatant abuse of power, they have declined -- and they are "sure it won't happen again."

An hour later, after damage control messages from the moderation team, the mod in question can be seen in the reddit thread continuing to defend their actions as valid.

Grathwrang was unbanned a few hours later when the mod team realized how stupid the situation was, but does not yet appear to have a grasp on the fallout.

TLDR: AOE2 reddit moderator abuses mod privilege's. Water is wet.

It's quite commendable that the Reddit mod offered to resign for something they admitted was wrong of them to do. Admitting to a wrong takes courage. It was also very commendable that the issue was resolved in a matter of hours sounds to me like the mod team is responsive to complaints. It's good to be in a place where you know that mistakes that happen get handled by the individuals who volunteer their time to make sure things are running smoothly. In my experience, a lot of incidents of power-tripping go unchecked. And things that **should not happen** do **happen** quite often actually. Everywhere. Thank you for being the voice to remind us that when something like that happened it was dealt with and not shrugged off. And of course, when someone does a mistake and admits to it they face consequences - like being put on probation and having powers (like being able to ban) removed - but are not dropped off and their contributions are binned for that. I hope no streamer has to face an ordeal like that moving forward. It must have felt extremely unfair, so it's good it didn't last long and was resolved in a reasonable non-vengeful manner. I for one could not resist reading this piece, the title is truly worthy of a newspaper headline and I feel more informed now about choosing to spend some time there, especially once the mods are back.