Hey r/Apple!
aaronp613 here. I’ve been a moderator here for close to 5 years, but some of you might recognize my name from the Apple Event threads posted here over the past few years.
As of yesterday, I have joined MacRumors as a contributing researcher which leaves me in a bit of a pickle as to what I should do as far as my moderator status on this subreddit.
I’ll admit, ever since the API changes and strike, I have not really moderated this subreddit (or really any subreddit) that much, but as mentioned above, I still handle the Apple Event megathreads each time as I love experiencing the Apple Events with all of you.
So now the question is, what do I do?
Obviously, I should not be handling any day to day moderation going forward as I beleive that every news blog that follows our guidelines should have an equal and fair chance of being posted on our forum without the appearance of any potential bias from the moderation team.
When I brought this up to some of the other r/apple moderators, 2 possible solutions we thought of were these:
Option 1: Only continue posting Apple event threads and moderate the comments on those threads (leaving the news posting to another moderator).
Option 2: Option 1 but I also continue to post news links during the event for each topic. Accusations of bias can be avoided as we always post whichever news blog posts first, so the timestamps would speak for themselves.
So I want to hear your thoughts on the matter, because at the end of the day we are a community.
Option 2 seems fine and congrats on the job!!!
I’m going to defer expressing an opinion about your role as a mod, but I just wanted to say congratulations and you definitely earned it!
Congratulations. You absolutely need to leave as a moderator.
Following up with people who may not see the update:
https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/17xpa3n/addressing_a_conflict_of_interest_on_rapple/k9q045r/
Option 2 is fine. You really don‘t need to give up your work around events. You seem to enjoy these duties and you‘re obviously doing good work for this community. I really don’t see the problem. As you said, the timestamps will speak for themselves.
I appreciate the willingness to step back. I think a simple asterisk when posting would be enough for me. Kinda like when you read a news article sharing a related sponsor. I’m good with you doing whatever you want!
MacRumors… Is that a McDonald’s menu update site?
Congratulations on the new job at MacRumors. 👏
Leave. Get paid. Congrats
Following up with people who may not see the update:
https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/17xpa3n/addressing_a_conflict_of_interest_on_rapple/k9q045r/
Option 3: Remove your moderator status.
What else would need to be done? That’s literally the most obvious answer when COI is involved. Stop being involved with one of the parties.
Following up with people who may not see the update:
https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/17xpa3n/addressing_a_conflict_of_interest_on_rapple/k9q045r/
Moderating is honestly a selfless and thankless job. I say leave moderating and let me explain why. You have a really cool and unique job now. Give that your attention, not this place. Go pick up a cool ass hobby, or spend more time with your family. We all spend too much time on our phones anyways! Congrats on the job! Well earned!
If you go through with option 2, I think that would be fine. Like you said, timestamps would speak for themselves.
Leave. Change your username. Become the newest moderator. We’ll never know.
IMO, do as much or as little as you want with regards to moderating. I know personally I’d get the heck out asap, so as not to say/do anything that could jeopardize the new gig. But that’s me.
In the moment, I really want you to stay in any capacity, just to spite that other guy in this thread.
You don’t need to respond to that last part.
People telling you to quit are taking this too seriously. It’s a subreddit, and you’re going to be working for a blog/news site. It’s not like you’re taking a job with Apple and could be removing posts critical of Apple. Option 2 is fine. Congratulations on the new job.
Don’t post nor moderate MacRumors posts. Comments are safe to moderate for the usual rule breaking. It’s that simple.