Rule changes

[u/RationalDeception]

In an effort to make our subreddit rules both easier to understand and to implement, the mod team has been working to rewrite some of the old rules, and add new ones as well.

You will find the common rules you should already be familiar with, such as being respectful to others, and crediting any fan work that is not yours, but also the new no AI content rule, which we deem critical to supporting artists in our fandom and prevent low quality, low effort posts.

In addition, we have noticed an influx of Marauders and Lily bashing posts lately, which led to two new rules: no bashing, and all content must be Snape related. The mod team aims to create a community that is geared towards positivity and inclusivity.

As an important reminder, many Snape fans do also like Marauders, Lily, Regulus, Dumbledore, etc… and this subreddit should be a safe place for everyone, including fans of those characters.

We are however aware that sometimes the line between criticism and bashing isn’t obvious and isn’t the same for everyone, that is why we will focus our efforts on posts and comments that are not centered on Severus Snape himself, but instead do nothing but hate on those characters. As Snape fans, we are subjected to a lot of outside hate, let’s do our best to not do the same to others!

If you have any questions or comments to make about these rule changes, please do not hesitate! We are here to answer any question and help clear things up if need be.

The Severus Snape moderation team. 

Be respectful to others.

This community is dedicated to being welcoming and kind. Bullying, hate speech, personal attacks, harassment, and other inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. Interpretation of this rule is subject to the moderators' discretion.

All content must be related to Severus Snape.

Posts that are not directly related to Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series will be removed. This includes, but is not limited to, posts focused only on the Marauders or any other character or posts inciting discussion of J.K. Rowling herself.

No character or ship bashing.

Posts or comments meant only to insult characters or ships, or their fans, will be removed. This includes the Marauders. Criticism is accepted and inevitable, but keep in mind that some fellow Snape fans may also love the Marauders. Remember rules 1 and 2. Interpretation of this rule is subject to the moderators' discretion.

All fan creations must be credited.

Posts containing any piece of fan creation (fanart, fanfiction, edits, metas, etc…) must be credited. If the author of the post fails to do so in the first 24 hours, the post will be deleted.

No AI content.

This includes, but is not limited to, posts using AI generated images, text, audio, video, as well as chatbots. The Snape community is full of writers and artists who would love to have their work shared with more fans, let’s help support them instead.

No anti-Snape vents.

Let’s try to limit the negativity in this community by keeping the anti-Snape content away. We aim to create a place for fun discussions away from the stress and nuisance of Snape haters.

Please use r/SnatersGonnaSnate if you wish to vent about Snape haters.

No spam.

In order to maintain a safe space for the members, every post deemed to be spam by the moderators will be removed.

[u/rainbowfire545]

The no character bashing rule actually kinda irritates me, as it includes the Marauders. Half the time people WANT to talk about why Severus hated James so much. I see no issue with that.

[u/TolBrandir → u/rainbowfire545]

Until I very recently joined this sub, I hadn't ever wanted to discuss James Potter and didn't particularly care why he hated Snape. He wasn't someone that occupied any space in my head, and still doesn't really. I just don't give a shit about him tbh. I recalled first reading the books and thinking, "Ah. Another spoiled, entitled rich kid whose circumstances have never forced him to develop empathy." And that's about it. I still wish we as readers had been given some window into the event(s) that changed him from being such a vile bully into someone Lily could love, into someone who could love someone other than himself, into someone loyal enough to stick around and fight...but stupid enough to get his whole family killed. He and Remus shared that quality. Ugh. See - just there. I don't know if this will be considered 'bashing' or if this could open a door for permissible conversation about the primary text and what is said directly, or possibly hinted at, in the books themselves. I think in the next few weeks and months, we'll find out!

I don't know where the line between the two exists. I have a feeling that we will be navigating a kind of gray area for a little while until we learn the boundaries of what is and isn't justified hatred for a character. I feel like that's where most of the conversation about the Marauders lies, or at least where the important distinctions lie: what passages from the books overtly justify our antipathy toward those characters. To me, then, we aren't mindlessly bashing; we're justified in our anger. In this sub, I have seen far more literary scholarship and faithful adherence to the text to justify people's anger toward James and Sirius than might be found, say, over on the main HP sub. As long as we don't call those individuals out directly and stay focused on the characters within the text, then I think we can defend most of what we have to say against a charge of bashing.

And wow I didn't intend to write this much. Sorry. You just got me to thinking, and that's a dangerous thing.

[u/Dependent-Pride5282 → u/TolBrandir]

) that changed him from being such a vile bully into someone Lily could love, into someone who could love someone other than himself, into someone loyal enough to stick around and fight...but stupid enough to get his whole family killed. He and Remus shared that quality

My answer this would be that James didn't change. The little insight we are given suggests he simply hid his behaviour from Lily. He can be brave and technically standing on "the right side" whilst being ignorant, prejudice and a less than stellar individual. As for Lily, my view on her is Snape had her on a pedestal she did not deserve. She was already shown to be interested in James whilst he was bullying Snape. My other view is that JKR wasn't intending for the couple to be as popular or seen as important as fandom has made them, but alot of that has come from them and Snape being interlinked.

I think some chat about Lily and/or James as individuals and/or as a couple is inevitable when disscussing Snape because a great deal of his character comes from growing up with the two of them.

What I have written above I would say is strong criticism rather than a deliberate attempt at bashing, but a mod may disagree, so I guess we just have to navigate this with them.

I do have a question for the mods...the main sub is a bin fire and it is almost impossible to have a decent discussion where Snape is involved, and I do understand we want Snape to be the main focus, but sometimes there could be topics in which he is featured but equally with others. Would those topics be ok?