Let's talk about Harry Potter

[u/AMVilla86]

… and other problematic IP

Hi folks,

We need your input. The mods have been discussing for a bit now about crafts with complicated Intellectual Property creators. Occasionally a craft will receive reports due to the theme of the craft and not about crafting itself. While we try to be as open-minded as possible, and we follow sitewide rules (such as no hate speech targeting identity or vulnerability, etc), there is still some nuance with moderating these types of posts. These posts have raised many questions, but we realized we needed to ask the community what they thought. If the community is uncomfortable with something, we want to know and be sure to moderate appropriately.

Some of the ideas we had so far, and why they would be tough to implement:

- Ban specific IP→ Where do we draw the line of what is and isn’t allowed?

- Create specific flair for ‘problematic’ → again, where is the line drawn?

- When a post receives enough reports about the theme and not the craft, leave a high-level moderator comment explaining how to block a user and/or hide a post → might be ignoring a problem rather than solving the issue for the sub.

With that being said, there’s only so much we can police. We want crafters to feel welcome, but with all the moderating we do, it would be hard to add on a layer of “educate a crafter on why the creator of this IP is bad” on top of our normal roles. We also don’t want our subreddit to become a lightning rod for debate. Ultimately, we are a crafts subreddit. While a few comments about inspiration of a craft is allowed, and questioning of said inspiration is also welcome, once we're many comments deep in multiple comment threads with no mention of crafting, it is no longer an appropriate conversation for r/crafts. There are many other subreddits for discussion and debate where you can converse.

So, what do you all think we should do with these types of posts? If we receive a large variety of ideas, we'll put it together in a survey or poll to further gauge how the subreddit feels. Also, feel free to message the mods if you're uncomfortable commenting on the post.

[u/takamarou]

IMO, it sounds like the problem trying to be solved is not the posts themselves, but the many-layers-deep comment threads debating the ethics of the IP. I would not ban the posts, or require a flag, but instead clarify that Rule 8 applies to IP-bashing in comment threads. Remove those threads, and leave a mod comment explaining why, so folks can learn.

It sounds like a real can of worms trying to maintain a list of "problematic IP". Like you said, it's a crafting subreddit. People should be proud of their crafts, regardless of IP. Mods don't need to police that, they just need to keep discussion moving in relevant directions to crafting.

[u/FalalaLlamas → u/takamarou]

I agree with this. That’s my issue tbh. That every time something HP related is posted, it devolves into deep layers of arguments. When in reality the OP is just trying to hold onto something they cherished as a kid, while not putting money into the problematic person’s pocket. I feel bad when someone thinks they’re posting something they feel good about and then get attacked. All because they didn’t know how taboo the topic is on reddit.

Idk if there’s a good solution to this that doesn’t put a lot of strain on the mod’s. But I prefer to keep this a crafting space focused on crafting more so than politics.

[u/mensfrightsactivists → u/takamarou]

this is the most foolproof way in my opinion. make a no post hijacking kind of rule that can be applied in the comments, along with a removal reason acknowledging problematic IP, mods don’t take sides but don’t necessarily disagree with the criticisms in the thread either, all crafters welcome, etc., while reminding members that this is a crafting-first space. anything beyond “i have my issues with ___ but this craft is so cool!” should be a conversation had in another sub probably.

[u/just_flying_bi → u/takamarou]

Seriously. It’s not hard to just scroll past or block a post.

[u/CMRC23 → u/takamarou]

Nah that's also censorship

[u/mensfrightsactivists → u/CMRC23]

yeah buddy that’s like 75% of what moderating is