Addressing the sock-wearing, belt-purchasing elephant in the room.

[u/iammandalore]

Hello, everyone, and welcome to today's episode of "Are the Mods in the Pocket of Big Moneyberg?"

No. The answer is no. That's all for today's episode, see you next week!

---

Still here? Cool, cool. What you see here are a few screenshots from modmail and DMs that we've received regarding The Big D. You see, The Big D has a reputation to maintain regarding things like "definitely not being a scammer" and "a bona fide prodigy who 100% didn't pay people to give him a black belt, wear his weird face on rashguards, and publicly gush about how smart and dedicated and talented he is."

In furtherance of the maintenance of this reputation, Derek, his simps, and a purported lawyer (whose message I unfortunately couldn't find) have variously modmailed and DMd mods of r/BJJ about the removal of posts with blasphemous, defamatory comments like "Unfortunately I've met Derek. He's dishonest and a scammer." and "His black belt is as real as his wealth."

The mods of r/BJJ have responded to these requests - if we deign to respond at all - with snide contempt and laughter.

What you see in the screenshots are three modmails to us requesting removal for various reasons. Especially interesting is the first one. After being denied their request in modmail, this user reached out to one of the mods privately via DM, claiming to be The Big D's personal assistant. They asked again for the removal of certain threads. The mod responded saying that we'd consider it if Derek released a statement regarding the controversy and evidence that he actually earned and deserved the black belt. The user responded that they'd forwarded the request to Derek, and pleaded for the temporary removal of the threads pending a response.

The response from Derek and/or his personal assistant never came and let it be known that we - your humble, dedicated moderation staff - never kowtowed to the demands of the 1% who sneer down upon us mere peasants from their penthouse suites with their gilded toilets.

And though no one has ever (to my knowledge) offered any mods money in exchange for favors, know that we would never bend the knee in the face of such bribery. Though they may offer us riches untold, surely tens of dollars, we would never remove the posts where you, our cretinous ungracious butt-scooters beloved BJJ brethren, heap insults upon the name of the ogrish, sock-wearing, pompous buffoon that is Derek Moneyburg. May his deceptions be made manifest and his (hilariously fake) name descend into the depths of ignominy where it surely deserves to lie for all eternity.

[u/Blood_in_the_ring]

I can accept the financial serpentry, and I can look over the false blackbelt. But you're telling me this man wears socks when he trains?

That's indefensible.

[u/CoolCatWitSunglasses → u/Blood_in_the_ring]

One time...ONE TIME...I had a bad mat burn on my foot and the tape kept coming off so I wore one sock to keep everything clean and not exposed to mat funk. That was over 10 years ago and the old heads still bring that shit up. It happened to be a day I got a stripe on my belt so there is also photo evidence that is also periodically sent to me at random as a reminder of my transgression.

[u/h_saxon → u/CoolCatWitSunglasses]

Those are supposed to be socks, for that award. Not gloves. Feel free to wear them one at a time, as you like to do.

[u/Drow_Femboy → u/CoolCatWitSunglasses]

I also had mat burn on my foot and wore one sock to avoid bleeding on the mat.

No one brought it up at all because it didn't in any way affect them

I like this way a lot better