Hi! It's me, a moderator.
Far too often, the notion of preventing free speech is tossed around when content is removed or banned. Our primary role as Moderators is to enforce our community rules and, when applicable, enforce reddit platform rules as well. Our role is not to silence opinions. Unless, of course, you say you don't like Moxie 😎
Contrary to some previous sentiment and rumors in other posts, the moderator team does live in Maine and we're proud of that, just like every other resident of our Great State. Okay, perhaps I'm admittedly less proud to live here when it's -15° and my car sounds like a drunk bullfrog when trying to start-up before bringing my kiddos to school.
We sincerely value and appreciate our community with the highest regard, as it's a special corner of Reddit that we've got carved out.
Being referred to as Nazi sympathizers isn't a good feeling, but the driving force behind users who made those remarks, in posts and direct messages, demonstrates what community members are feeling - even if it's not expressed in the most civil or productive way.
As I have said before personally, along with other members of the mod team, we aren't perfect. We try to balance the commitment we have to this community with that of our other responsibilities; raising families in Maine, working in Maine, and relishing in the fact that we get to call Maine our home. Sometimes life can become busy, and that may slow down, speed up, or otherwise cause confusion when pertaining to any moderator action or inaction. It takes a lot of time to read 1,345 comments on a post!
Feedback from community members remains a critical function to the success of r/Maine. While some methods used to convey that feedback to us could be better, the fact is we try to listen to all opinions, be them dissenting or in agreement. We also understand it's frustrating when individual content is removed, which is typically the same time we may start to hear feedback about this space becoming an "echo chamber". We don't want an echo chamber, and we act with the presumption that no community member does either. We want a place to complain about Hannaford prices, view photos of interesting locations (Okay, maybe the Bass Harbor lighthouse has been photographed enough 😉), or enable a place for us to congregate during weekly power outages. Those examples are just a sliver about what makes this community enjoyable and not at all an exhaustive list.
I can say with confidence that no member of the Maine moderation team is out to flex & wield the almighty ban hammer in hopes of trying to engage in a power trip, or limit opinions to only those matching their own.
If something seems off, raise a proverbial hand, or send a direct message, we want to help create a space that is familiar where every member knows what to expect.
To paraphrase Ted Lasso, "be curious, not judgemental". Because at the end of the day, we're just a very small group of volunteers trying our best to serve our neighbors.
Stay warm, check on your friends & family (Yes, even Aunt Dottie and her 9 cats) and please contact us if something doesn't feel right, seem right, or otherwise causes you confusion or frustration.
Thank You all for being a part of this community.
A very grateful moderator,
Beardedbaxterholic