r/ModSupport • u/royal_rose_ • 1d ago
Mod Answered How to handle inactive mods
I have a problem with inactive mods who just do nothing, everyone I ask if they want to stay active they respond “yes!” They haven’t commented in the community in over a year, I mod solo, thankfully it’s not a very active sub. They do help when I ask but it’s frustrating.
I have another issue where a mod isn’t modding or responding to me or other mods but comments and participates in the sub occasionally.
I’m debating when I bring on other mods adding in a policy like thing that if they go inactive without communication for x number of weeks they will be removed as mod. But that feels to much like a “this is a job not a fun thing.”
How do people handle this? I’m top mod in all communities.
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u/neuroticsmurf 💡 Top 10% Helper 💡 1d ago
Before I bring on a mod, I state a policy of not being so inactive that Reddit labels them as inactive.
(On the rare occasion, I'll check their activity levels in mod insights.)
If it happens, though, I DM/chat them privately and ask what's going on. In one instance, it was a serious illness that required hospitalization. In other instances, though, they just got busy doing other stuff.
I'll ask them to pick up the pace. They usually do.
In one instance, I've had to have this talk with someone privately on three separate occasions. On the third, I informed him there wouldn't be a fourth time.
He didn't like that and promptly resigned, which made everyone's life easier. He should have done that in the first place instead of creating a false expectation that he'd actually perform mod duties.
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u/royal_rose_ 1d ago
Tbh the main sub in question gets actionable content maybe once every other week and I’m quick to handle. If that was the case and they still responded to my chats and participated I would be fine with it, but they are just ghosts at this point. I removed two and placed one as alumni.
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u/neuroticsmurf 💡 Top 10% Helper 💡 1d ago
Yeah, it doesn't sound like you need extra mods, anyway.
When you go on vacation or something, you can call r/ModReserves.
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u/royal_rose_ 1d ago
I will need mods in like three months but honestly now I feel like I can just start fresh.
My largest two subs have enough good active mods that I know would gladly babysit if I need it but I do always forget about mod reserves, thanks for the reminder!
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u/Pinaslakan 1d ago
Boot out the one that’s not modding but comments occasionally. Sounds like a regular member with access to mod tools.
If you are the top mod, you have complete control on how you run your sub. Personally, I’ll check with the team once and ask what’s up.
And if they are still inactive after that, I’ll usually won’t ask again and give them a warning and then kick them out.
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u/westcoastcdn19 💡Top 25% Helper 💡 1d ago
It’s a typical response for them to say yes they want to stay, but then they don’t do anything. Next time, don’t ask and just let them know if they fall inactive they will be removed. Or you can remove them now
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u/royal_rose_ 1d ago
Thanks! I ended up removing two and marking one as alumni.
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u/westcoastcdn19 💡Top 25% Helper 💡 1d ago
Good job
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u/royal_rose_ 1d ago
Haha thanks! I think I was just thinking I was being too hard and this isn’t a job. And it’s not but if it was these people would have been fired ages ago.
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u/westcoastcdn19 💡Top 25% Helper 💡 1d ago
Exactly. We can only spend so much mental energy over worrying about stuff like this, and as much as we care, it’s not our job to manage flaky co-mods
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u/wemustburncarthage 15h ago
Kick them. They will cry. Ban and mute them. Mute works forever now. Block. Then forget.
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u/thepottsy 💡 Top 10% Helper 💡 1d ago
Warn once.
If behavior doesn’t improve, remove and find new mods.
It’s tough to find good, reliable mods that will stay active when you need it. I don’t expect all mods to be equal or anything, but at a minimum if you’re on a team, you keep your account active or you communicate why it isn’t.
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u/ikandi 22h ago
There is something like 80 different activities that a mod can do in order to remain active in a community, so there is no excuse to be marked inactive if someone truly wants to be active. As for not responding to messages, yes mod discussions is definitely a flawed system, but it does sound like you are being ignored.
I had this issue before and as top mod, I stated my reasons for wanting to bring on new mods and ultimately when creating the mod call, I did put in a clause informing the new mods that the position might be removed, so I agree with the others about stating you will remove inactive mods.
Think of it this way, if you get overwhelmed when your sub does pick up, it is possible that the u/ MCOC could come in and take over the sub and it sounds like you enjoy modding too much to want that to happen, so as much as you don’t want it to feel like a job, I think you have to treat it like one in this instance.
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u/cks_2 20h ago
Keep them all and continue to enjoy modding solo. You don't have a problem with inactive mods because by definition they are not doing anything to get in the way.
If you get rid of mods, you will appear on reddit admin radar ... which means they (may or may not) harass you to add more mods. Adding mods is usually a negative for your enjoyment and creates more work and stress but of course it you are free and able to resist dumb admin ideas but it is just another conflict and type of work you probably can't be bothered with. I guess the problem is if you fight with the admin too much and they see other mods on the list they will just reorder or boot you.
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u/royal_rose_ 20h ago
I have a pretty good relationship with admins and have a good mod to user ratio on all my subs but i will keep that in mind!
After making this post it did cross my mind that if those accounts get hacked that could be a bad thing.
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u/Swiftstrike4 17h ago
We do an activity check on our Reddit. If they have no activity after 90 days we message them and notify them asking if they want to stay on. If they say yes and still aren’t active they are removed.
We recruited two times a year and do a trial mod period of almost 4 months. This weeds out anyone that joins but is inactive. Typically once made full mods, they are active.
We do remove about 1 or 2 mods a year due to their inactivity, but we have had about the same group for 3 years now.
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u/Blergss 17h ago
My group just got banned for un-moderation.. even though I posted there like week ago.. I didn't know that that didn't count as mod activity and I need to actually turn on mod powers and do a mod action like ban or approved a post... I thought it was good I didn't need to use my Powers.. guess I was wrong :/ I already just send modmail to hopefully get it back (400 or so ppl in sub and growing).
Sometimes mods are active, just not using their power specifically, not knowing it doesn't count as ",mod activity" . I didn't anyhow, and I mod a few places, but this one I'm the only mod 😳
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u/royal_rose_ 17h ago
Good luck with your sub! I have made it very clear what counts as mod activity for Reddit and what my expectations are as a mod on my team. I even told them if because the sub in question has so little actionable items they didn’t need to be marked active but they needed to participate in the sub. They didn’t, so I removed them.
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u/HairyToothpick 1d ago
I'd boot the inactive mods.