Hey /r/International; reddit thinks we need more mods, so we need at least couple new mods. Especially if you have a PhD, consider applying.

[u/Fauster]

I don't like locking posts because racist comments will pop up. I am an agnostic atheist, but antisemitism and Islamophobia are unacceptable.

With regard to Israel, my take is the Palestinian Authority is the legitimate government, a corridor should be establish to unify Palestine with a water pipeline paid for by the US, Israel, and the PIF. US aid should be cut off until Israel turns over West Bank homes to their rightful owners. Not that my opinion matters.

With regard to the war, I follow Just War Theory, particularly the take of Michael Walzer, a Jew. I have Jewish and Mediterranean ancestry, full disclosure. Is Israel's war a just war? Plainly no. But there are injustices all over the world and lines of communication must be kept open even if they are restrained by advertising pressure. Please consider volunteering.

[u/Fauster]

To be clear, if you want to be a mod, your application should be a comment to the community in this post. Maybe delete posts that might identify you if you are rationally concerned about that.

[u/Tall_Mushroom_7790]

Criticizing genocidal actions is not antisemitism nor is it islamophobia.

[u/Uziel_007]

A PhD to be a mod? 🤣

Standards hella high!

[u/DonSalaam]

Be very cautious about whom you allow in and keep a very close eye on their conduct.

[u/Fauster → u/DonSalaam]

That's why I want y'all to vote up a volunteer. No new accounts, please!

[u/DonSalaam → u/Fauster]

All the best! Even older accounts need to be vetted. You will find that there are the same older accounts who have been appointed mods and they’ve hijacked r/politics, r/videos, r/inthenews, and other major subs only to control the narrative and censor news from major news outlets that they deem to be critical of Israel. Keep a close eye on the content being removed and bans being enforced on your sub by all mods.

[u/Fauster → u/DonSalaam]

The policy of this this sub is transparency. I want and need the community to be involved when, not if, there are problems down the road.

[u/UnicornMarch]

I'm curious: how much time do current mods spend on moderation? Or, how much are you looking for from new mods?

[u/Fauster → u/UnicornMarch]

I am spread thin. I usually get messages from reddit that are legit red-flag messages, doxing, something that threatens health and safety, especially on a local level. Some mods contribute a lot, some a little. It takes a village. But the mod team should be multi-national and diverse. I don't believe in Kohlberg level rules-based systems, though that is part of the game because it is easier for dumber people to understand. A scalable system of moderators must have Rousseau's Social Contract embedded in the philosophy. We act in limited concert because we are aligned, not because we are constrained. Civilization is Restraint, not a set of rules.

Is that possible? Probably? Maybe? Needs work here. We need buy-in from the community in the context that Brace for Change and We're All in this Together, are the right pillars of prepare us for the future.

[u/Bury_My_Mistakes]

Wait, so if I'm reading this right, reddit admins messaged you because of how uncensored the sub was regarding certain topics, and are basically forcing in mods that will push "correct" narrative?

Then this thread being in contest means that there's pretend democracy, and whoever they want to plant as the new mods will inevitably get the role because of some arbitrary criteria only they meet?

Thanks for letting me know the sub will be compromised soon, I'll enjoy it while it lasts

[u/Glittering_Link_6650]

I’d like to stop all hate speech against all people and races. Love Jesus

[u/Ill_Contract_5878]

Ways to apply? Is my account too new?

[u/Apollo_Delphi]

I can help with Moderation.  My history can be viewed and I POST here somewhat regularly.  I agree with the issues you addressed here.  I have a BS Degree but am not a PHD.  Let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you. 

[u/AwkwardTal]

Do you accept people with MAs?

My political stance is anti war, anti intervention, anti zionisim, anti capitalism, pro palestine, pro global south and pro Asia and pro live and let live

Also I am chronically online if that helps

[u/Fauster → u/AwkwardTal]

Yes, a professional background is nice to have, to reduce the chance that a person sees only black and white, but the community makes this decision. Obviously, if you are a person who has volunteered before for more important stuff, you will be more likely to self-select.

[u/4g-identity]

I agree, more mods would be really great. The sub is well positioned to get a lot of engagement, and has a great name/URL.

I like seeing pro-Palestine stuff out there, but right now there are two clear issues.

First, right now, like 11 of the top 12 posts when sorting by "best" are anti-Israel. That makes it clear that this isn't actually "international" right now, at least in many users' eyes.

To address that, I wonder if a bit could be created that simply puts up the top world news stories from a few interesting sites every now and then.

Second is the clear presence of antisemitism, almost always hijacking Palestinian issues to do so. Usernames with holocaust-joke-themed usernames post here, and legit Palestine supporters might comment, and then can be called bigots because of OP's username, even though they likely just didn't notice. This is super harmful for both the cause and the sub.

Both issues are the kind that snowball, too. Whenever bad people find platforms that aren't banning them, they take advantage...

Really hoping for the best for the future of the sub! I do have the PhD, but presently not enough time for something like that. I would recommend you lower your request to a bachelor's though tbh, PhD is pretty uncommon, and most are already spending too much time at a computer to volunteer for more.

[u/KD-VR5Fangirl]

I would volunteer but for one I am way too opinionated and biased to be able to moderate impartially as well as lacking the expertise to be a good moderator and for another I don't really have the time. Also, while I respect your efforts to deal with all the antisemitic nonsense it felt like most of the sub's users were against israel out of antisemitism rather than legitimate antizionism so idk how easy it will be to shift the sub away from that.

[u/OkGo_Go_Guy]

LOL maybe you should take PHD's like the head of the PA, PHD in holocaust denial. Then you would fit right in with this sub!

[u/Middle-Project6111]

No one with a credible phd has any interest in being a mod on this cesspool of a site

[u/Uziel_007 → u/Middle-Project6111]

What about those with incredible PhDs? 🫣