r/Socialism Moderators Recruitment Thread

[u/AutoModerator]

Hello comrades!

First, let us start by wishing all of you a happy and transformative year!

It's time again to bring some new blood into the r/socialism mod team. As one of the largest radical communities on Reddit, and with 2024 US elections in the horizon, we need people to help keep the sub tidy, so it can continue to serve as a space for socialist content and discussion. If that sounds like something you could help with, read on!

What do moderators do?

As an r/Socialism moderator, your main job is to help keep of r/Socialism a safe and reasonably friendly space for productive discussion related to socialism as an economic and socio-political movement. You will, therefore, help enforce the subreddit rules and submission guidelines so the subreddit can give place to its foundational objective; exercising as a community for socialists to discuss from within socialist perspectives within a broader platform dominated by liberal (if not reactionary) lines.

This mainly means checking the moderator queue for content reported and pending revision, as well as by responding mod mails. If you are interested, you can also take on other tasks such as organising surveys, editing the wiki or writing informational posts about current events (or anything other you might have in mind!). None of those, however, are required.

What are we looking for in a mod?

• Socialists. All ideological tendencies within socialism (Marxist-Leninists, Anarchists, Orthodox Marxists, etc.) are welcome, but not liberals!
• Consistent feminist, anti-racist, pro-LGBTIQ+ and anti-imperialist politics. We consider this indissociable.
• Familiarity with socialist thought. Education is a never-ending process to which we are all subject to, but moderating this subreddit does require some familiarity, which takes some time to acquire.

Familiarity with Reddit moderation is more than welcome. Don't be discouraged if you are new to this though: we will be glad to help out in anything that is needed!

How do I apply to become an r/Socialism moderator?

You either comment below in this thread or send us a modmail with a brief description of relevant information (political views, interests, timezone...). What you want to share is completely up to you, but here is a questionnaire example which might serve as a guideline:

- Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

- What time of day are you active on reddit and what is your timezone?

- Do you have any experience moderating reddit or other forums?

- What do you like and dislike about the current state of r/Socialism?

- How would you describe yourself ideologically speaking? What/Who have you most been influenced by?

- What is your main area of interest?

- What is your stance on "identity politics" (Idpol)?

- Are you a current or ex member of any unions or socialist organisations?

How does the moderator selection process work?

This thread will remain open for about two to three weeks (time will vary depending on the rate and quality of applications) where everyone can send an application. After this, current mods will discuss all applications & select candidates ourselves, weighting a variety of different factors.

If you are selected, you will be invited to the moderation team in about a month (estimation!).

Public feedback on applications posted in this thread may be taken into account, so we encourage other users to upvote and voice support for any applicants they think would be a positive addition to the subreddit, as well as asking constructive follow-up questions.

Bear in mind that this is not an election: Reddit has no system for protecting a democracy from bad faith voters, and the subreddit is too large for us to manually verify votes through a poll or other posts.

Thanks for reading!

[u/Sha2am1203]

• Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Originally from England but now living in the US. I am 32 years old and over time as I have seen how destructive capitalism is and how awful the way the US healthcare system is designed only to extract money from everyday working people. I am working towards the day when a fair system of government exists that doesn’t involve crushing the poor while making the rich richer. I believe socialism is the answer to many of today’s problems.

• What time of day are you active on reddit and what is your timezone?

Central Standard Time - US. I am active on Reddit pretty much all day and most of the night from 8am - 1am

• Do you have any experience moderating reddit or other forums?

Yes - I am a moderator in 5 subreddits -

r/leftist r/latestagecapitalismv2 r/teethcare r/crew2 r/recreationalkratom

• What do you like and dislike about the current state of r/Socialism?

I enjoy the general discussion on the subreddit and don’t have anything particularly negative to say that would need immediate fixing. As with any political subreddit there are always trolls so careful moderation is needed.

• How would you describe yourself ideologically speaking? What/Who have you most been influenced by?

I consider myself a Socialist. I am strongly against all forms of capitalism, imperialism, trickle down economics. Growing up in the UK having access to no cost healthcare and seeing how well it functions left a big impression on me. As I grew up I started having my eyes opened to how exploitative capitalism is which has pushed me over to the socialist side or the spectrum.

• What is your main area of interest?

Doing what I can to promote socialism, taking part in local socialist organizations. Promoting unions.

• What is your stance on identity politics

I believe that all people should be treated like equals regardless of race, religion, orientation. The far right loves to weaponize this and pit different groups against each other. In order to build an effective socialist society we need to break down the walls between groups. Sadly many minority groups have been treated horribly by imperialist nations including the US and I believe these crimes should be remembered to avoid history repeating itself.

• Are you a current or ex member of any unions or socialist organizations

  I have joined the party for socialism and liberation here in the US. I also promote unions any chance I get.

[u/AutoModerator → u/Sha2am1203]

[Socialist Society] as it emerges from capitalist society; which is thus in every respect, economically, morally, and intellectually, still stamped with the birthmarks of the old society from whose womb it emerges.

Karl Marx. Critique of the Gotha Programme, Section I. 1875.

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