Changes to the sub: post flair is now required

Submitted by baltimore-mods t3_124wavf in baltimore

A couple months ago, we started the discussion about changing the sub rules. We got a lot of really great feedback, and we have been having some discussions about how to best implement the feedback.

One suggestion we got was to be a little more permissive on what is allowed, and to use Reddit's post tagging system to allow people to filter posts. We are testing this before we rewrite the rules in an effort to see how effective post tags can be at helping to manage the subreddit. This doesn't mean that we will take a hands off approach, but it does mean that we might allow some posts that previously broke the rules. For example, post tagging will let us get away from the under-utilized Events and Marketplace thread, and let people tag their posts as 'Events' or 'For Sale' instead. Does this mean that we will open the dam on 'FREE DENTAL CLEANING' posts? No. But we will play with allowing businesses to post their events here.

We are also looking at ideas that use Automod to automatically respond to certain types of posts, such as all of the 'Moving to Baltimore' or 'Visiting Baltimore' posts that ask the same question. There are other subs that have similar problems to r/Baltimore, and we will play with some of the tools and techniques they use. We might also have some calls for updates to the wiki, so we can direct people to that more frequently. The wiki is a little stale.

To filter by flairs, click on the flair in the sidebar or get more information here.

Feel free to give us feedback, either by messaging the mods or in this thread.

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Comments

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starrbub t1_je199rc wrote

Good timing on my part, I guess 😅 I just now made a post asking for recommendations for a specific type of restaurant that doesn't have any recent threads (last I saw on the subject were at least 3 years old, and some were 7 or 10 years). I went with the Baltimore Love flair, but a food- or restaurant-specific one might be handy.

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YorickTheCat t1_je1aagx wrote

The Philadelphia sub has Moving Mondays that they pin every Monday. I don't know how strict they are about limiting moving posts to that, but it nicely organizes all the moving questions.

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petitepixel t1_je1reog wrote

I feel like a complete internet n00b, but is there a way to show the feed with more than one flair active?

I tried editing the URL structure, and then following the info below from https://www.reddit.com/r/modhelp/comments/czx9so/filtering_by_flair_a_guide_for_desktop_old_and/ but it would either only output one flair selection or just show search results.

>You can add more filters by writing -flair:Classic+-+Humor+/+Meme, -flair:question etc. This also works on the re-design for desktop, however you'll have to manually sort by "top" and "last 24 hours" every time you add a new flair to the list.

Thanks!

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Biomirth t1_je2ypxk wrote

I'm all for a pretty liberal post acceptance threshold. There are all sorts of people in the city or curious about the city and I think the r/baltimore sub should think as much about how much we have here to offer as what we want to read about. There has to be a balance for sure; Can't have 27 "I'm wondering where to go for dinner when I visit" posts without interruption, but we can continue to be inclusive and inviting and accept some repetition (as we already do).

Free Dental Cleaning posts are important too. Just because you don't care doesn't mean r/baltimore can't continue to be useful to people of widely different means. Free dental is something you'd be surprised how many people would rather have than paying for extra dental insurance. For example. I think we need the humility to recognize that we don't always know what other people might benefit from. As long as we can continue to be an inclusive and welcoming group I think most things should go.

There was the gracious exchange 18 months ago (or thereabouts) where baltimore events got their own sub rather than having people post upcoming events constantly. I do think a pinned reference post would be great. Some people are here for 36 hours, some for a lifetime. Nobody will suffer from a little scrolling past a resource post. There are LOTS of Baltimore related subs that could be directly linked from here. Lets not be stodgy. It's for everyone.

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underwatertrees t1_je4nb5m wrote

Cheers to tags, with a request: is it possible to change up some of the colors? The city politics and moving ones are difficult to read because of the low contrast between the text and tag color. Thanks for all the effort you're putting into this!

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Biomirth t1_je53uzi wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,443,228)

Sometimes it is necessary. Like if your sub gets overrun with legitimate posts that all belong to a related thing. Sure, it's hard to drive traffic to other subreddits but it can work with a pinned post or links on the side or both, coupled with people referring to that sub when people crosspost. I get that it isn't ideal but it's better than the other options (banning relevant posts or just allowing all types of posts), no?

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Fun-Net-1824 t1_je57qmj wrote

Replying to Biomirth (#2,434,229)

Prior to the reddit post last year, I was unaware of the low cost dental cleanings at CCBC, so I found that post back then very useful and took them up on the offer. So on the reddit community end, there is a benefit to having them appear.

That being said, we don't need every single Dental student in the Baltimore region creating their own individual reddit threads every start of semester / every time scheduled patient was a no show.

A potential compromise might be a single collective pinned post at the start of semester?

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