Regardless of where you stand on this issue, silencing from someone as big as Reddit is gross.
I am a Black woman living in America so policing of my voice and silencing me is nothing new, but it's tiring ya'll. I'm tired. 😔
A few days ago I made a post where I shared that a certain sub that claims they are against misogyny banned me from their group as well as banned me from messaging them. I was not a member of this sub, but since they were discussing an asexual issue I commented. My comment consisted of a graphic of definitions that have either come from the dictionary that sited AVEN or AVEN's website itself.
This is the post in that Sub (I did not make this post, I only posted a comment in it):
In response to one of the comments I posted a graphic of DEFINITIONS ONLY:
The MOD of that group disagreed with what my graphic implied, even though it was literally just definitions with no other words. (How one can disagree with definitions is beyond me, but I digress).
This MOD did not like that the actual definition of these words goes against their personal views on what asexuality is, even though there is a clear divide in the community and the people that sway one way (greysexuals) are never silenced and the people that sway the other way (black stripe asexuals/asexuals) are often silenced and banned form our own communities for speaking up because they are louder and outnumber us in a community the we created. There are always debates going on, but since this MOD personally disagreed with me, my comment was removed for spreading "misinformation". Even though all I posted was a graphic of definitions and nothing else. Somehow posting definitions is now "misinforming" in the world of Reddit.
Now, when I posted this original post complaining about be silenced, I had not blocked out he subs name which goes against Reddit rules, even though I personally could not find any rules that stated this. Please point me in the direction and post a link if you have it. So my original post was removed which was fine, if it broke a rule, go ahead and take my post down.
I was just going to repost my post with the names removed, but imagine my surprise when I found out I am banned from posting on Reddit for three day because of harassment. This MOD of a certain sub that claims they are against misogyny, reported me for harassment because I questioned how my comment was misinformation. I was not under the impression that asking a MOD why your post was removed is against the rules.
Apparently, if you question any MODs on Reddit you better be ready to be banned because what they say goes and you are NOT allowed to question it or you will be banned form their sub and banned from Reddit all together because they will just report you for harassment since they don't like what you are saying.
I filed and appeal because harassment seemed ridiculous to me, but Reddit agreed with the MOD.
Reddit's rules on harassment are as follows:
This was my message to the MOD, I do not think this qualifies as harassment, especially when we both stopped talking to each to each other, they banned me from the sub and from messaging them and then after all that decided to report me for "harassment" for this conversation where I in no way threatened, or abused, or intimidated them:
If this counts as harassment to a MOD because I disagreed with them then I really worry for the future of this site as it seems anyone who disagrees with the personal opinions of a MOD can be banned and silenced and Reddit will back them up.
My comment in question is a list of definitions mind you. 🙃
Also, that same day imagine my surprise when I was banned another community, this time an aromatic community here on Reddit (I am not a member of this sub anymore, I left some months ago, but I posted a comment).
This comment that I posted was posted WEEKS ago, but somehow it was brought to the MODs attention on the SAME day another MOD decided I should be banned. I find that quite suspicious if you ask me. That sounds like harassment to me no? One MOD is unhappy with me and somehow reaches out to another MOD and gets me banned form that group as well. That's definitely harassment. But I can't report that because Reddit banned me!
The post I commented on and my comment:
Apparently saying my feelings on a question is trolling and is grounds for being banned from said community:
I called myself a "gatekeeper" in quotes and this MOD has no clue what that means for me personally, but it's enough to ban me I guess. Freedom of speech is dead and these MODS are on a major power trip.
I now know that freedom of speech has been banned and that Reddit backs this sentiment. If this gets me banned from Reddit forever, my point will only be further proven, but the proof is in the pudding already.
I have seen some absolutely VILE stuff here on Reddit, but me posting a list of definitions, calling myself a "gatekeeper", and asking a MOD how definitions can possible be misinformation, is grounds for banning me from Reddit for 3 days and being banned from two communities.
There are whole communities dedicated to being racist, to hating women, to being transphobic, to supporting rapist and such, but me posting definitions and calling myself a gatekeeper is pushing it too far I guess.
The silencing will literally never stop, and people will continue to ask how asexual people are being silenced while supporting, doing, and aiding in silencing of us. It's disgusting, but I expect nothing less. People crave power and hate anything that challenges them or their way of thinking even on PUBLIC forums.
They don't value discussion or healthy debate. They just want everyone to fall in line with their views and will shut anyone up that doesn't agree with them by any means necessary. Ant then they wonder why people turn into bigots for communities they used to be a part of.
Not that I would ever do it, but I can see very clearly how someone that has been constantly silenced for questioning something, even if done civilly, can make a complete 180 and decide they that now hate the group they have been trying to eye to eye with.
I can't ever see it happening, but if you see me 5 years from now and I'm spewing ace or aro hate, you know who made this monster. People can only take so make before reaching their breaking point. This is why I left majority or ace/aro communities already and why I removed those identifiers from all my bios. I no longer even feel comfortable associating with MY OWN communities.
The silencing will never stop.
The policing will never stop.
The power trips will never stop.
I'm tired.
I am aromantic, I am asexual, and I do not feel safe in any of these communities.
