r/modhelp • u/KillahHills10304 • 6h ago
Users How to handle users clearly trying to farm outrage?
I created a fraternity/sorority subreddit like 15 years ago when I was in college. It mostly runs itself, I don't have to do a lot. There is one issue that pops up sporadically, and handling it bothers me.
Every so often, some monsters affiliated with Greek life rape a victim. Obviously, its terrible and the perpetrators usually get off with pretty weak consequences- which is an issue between, and failure of, multiple systems.
When these rapes occur, I notice 1 month old, auto generated username accounts begin spamming questions about rape and Greek life. Theres going to be questions after something horrible happens, so its relevant and deserves a spotlight and discussion. The issue is they keep posting the same questions worded differently day after day.
I warn them, I tell them to stop, I tell them there will be consequences, then I ban them (usually after the 4th or 5th time they ask the same damn question about "what are you doing about rape?"). They spiral out into victim mode, because how could you ban someone just asking innocent questions? Clearly, youre covering for rapists and perpetuate rape culture. Its all in bad faith and Im way too old to deal with it.
Do I just continue what Im doing and keep banning them? Theyre clearly trying to farm outrage and generate quotes they can use to fit or craft a narrative. Its literally the only issue I deal with, everything else is cool (except for this one guy who is about 30 and pops up now and then lamenting how he never got accepted to a fraternity 7 years ago, like bro, just let it go, move on).
Its a delicate subject, so I dont want to feed the trolls or give them ammunition.
I am mainly using android.