Following up from the stickied comment and some excellent feedback from users made last weekend, we're setting up this thread for a deeper discussion about the subreddit.
We want to know what's worked in this subreddit, what hasn't worked, and what can be done to improve and make this a better subreddit for all.
Let's talk, r/Brunei.
Posted Apr 24, 2022, 9:24 PM UTC
please do more about "menu". the links inside the wiki should be given a sub-topic menu for each of the criteria. It will be useful for locals or tourists.
Thanks for your suggestion, we'll look into this. If the community can help source and collect these types of information, we will be more than happy to put it up in the wiki.
Please allow poll.
Suggest those who are keen to start a thread on proper discussion to label their title with [Serious] so proper discussion can take place without trolling / jokes. Any account that trolls / jokes made in any threads under a serious label mods will suspend the account immediately.
I agree on this. Sometime when you see a particular topic, and you spend time scrolling through people post joke.
More needs to be done to onboard any new users to use the appropriate flair. Suspension is a bit much, but I do agree that there are threads where jokes are inappropriate. In those cases, please also use the upvote and downvote buttons, as well as report this comments for removal by the moderators.
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We are very onboard with community-sourced FAQs! To start we can make threads to source this information from fellow Redditors. What sort of information specifically would you like to know from these FAQs?
Hi u/Whitemouse and Mods!
Thank you for the privilege in opening up the forum for community suggestion in this thread. Here are some changes that could be considered for the benefit of the 42,000 strong community. FYI some of the ideas are based off other users suggestions as well, not just mine alone.
The suggestions are directed at solving/reducing the increasing issues mentioned before, namely "inactive mods, banning/suspensions of users without given any reasons, restrictions on free speech, unfair brigading on users, voting manipulation by bots(software)/same users using multiple accounts, trolling, doxxing(!), harrasment, people pushing propoganda, hateful, anti-minority ideas."
I trust the mods’ final judgement and decision on the suggestions, so feel free to implement what is useful and discard what is not. Here it goes:
1. To add a ‘Rules’ page/wiki
Example: r/History rules wiki. r/Brunei would need it in order to create a clickable link for auto-function mods to direct people to go to read/refer the rules set out here. Included in the ‘Rules page’ are obviously r/Brunei Rules, as shown in r/Brunei sidebar + possible amendments/additions (see point 7).
2. To introduce/edit an auto-welcome message.
Here’s a blurb that can be worked on for new members who just joined r/Brunei:
“Welcome to r/Brunei!
Thanks for checking us out and becoming a participant in our community. Please familiarize yourself with the community guidelines (r/Brunei Rules link) and enjoy your visit. If your submission goes against any of the above rules (or any of our other rules), you are encouraged to delete it immediately.
Rule-breaking posts that remain up will be removed, and they may result in a temporary/permanent ban.
We hope you leave with a smile and maybe even a change of heart.
This message can not be replied to. If you have questions for the moderators of r/Brunei you can message them here
3. Amend auto-filter or auto-removal function to reduce spam and troll accounts.
New accounts that are less than 1 days old and have less than 10 karma points should be removed through auto-filter function. [The script can be found here.]
Below is the auto-message to be sent to those who got caught in the filter:
“Sorry, your submission has been automatically removed for your account being considered new (less than 1 day old), in order to avoid spam. Please contribute more to the general Reddit community by earning 10 karma points minimum before posting here. Thank you.”
This message can not be replied to. If you have questions for the moderators of r/Brunei you can message them here
4. Remove from “Local News and Information” sidebar the following sites due to website inactivity/dead link:
Remove New Brunei Daily, Sutera.co and Muslyfe.
5. Remove the “Local Subreddit” part from Sidebar as it has become negligible.
Sorry, r/BNDota2, but it has been 3 years since you guys last posted.
6. Give reasons why posts are removed as per r/Brunei rules.
This gives transparency and increase trust of why Mods do what they do in removing posts as per the r/Brunei Rules. It will make community more understanding of the decisions made by mods. It will also discipline members to be responsible not to abuse the r/Brunei community yet at the same time give them the chance to appeal for review. The info to enable removal reason function is here. Here is a text which can be used as response why mods remove a post based on Rule 1(as example):
“Hello, u/user.
Thanks for contributing to r/Brunei! Unfortunately your submission has been removed:
It breaks Rule 1: Post about Brunei (or any of the other rules)
(Description of Rule 1 Or any other Rule) See r/Brunei Rules (insert wiki link).
If you feel this was done in error, or would like better clarification or need to appeal the decision, please don't hesitate to reply to this message or contact us here.”
(Cont)
7. Consider amending and introducing new r/Brunei rules:
(Amend description) Rule 2: Contribute Positively and Be Civil.
Well-reasoned arguments and disagreements are welcomed.
Harassment and personal attacks are not. Harassment includes but is not limited to ad-hominem attacks, racism, discrimination, sexual harassment, hateful/violent language, or slurs. If you are being harassed, report it to us or Reddit admins. If you are harassing someone, you will be banned and reported to Reddit admins. Remember to attack ideas, not users. Do not spam or make attempts to farm karma. Use this guideline how to argue your case. Remember the human behind every account.
(Amend description) Rule 5: Mind your privacy and of others
Mind your privacy. Take care not to leak your personal information, or get yourself "doxxed". This also applies to other people, as per Reddit rules. Use throwaways if necessary. Do not post or seek any real or fake personal information (examples include: full names, phone numbers, email addresses, or social media accounts). Only link another user's comment when it is relevant and never when it is to launch a personal attack or encourage others to do so. Do not ask questions designed to target specific usernames or links to social media, as this could constitute doxxing and brigading.
(New) Rule 7: Gatekeeping/Content Policing
Do not post comments saying/implying posts do not belong here without backing up your claims. You are more than welcome to point out inconsistencies or express your skepticism, but saying things like 'ban this user, 'this isn't bestof', 'this is bestof?', 'how/why is this post bestof', etc. do not contribute to the sub and create a toxic atmosphere that would discourage healthy discussion. If you're unwilling/unable to put forth effort into showing why a post doesn't meet your personal standards, please downvote it and move on.
(New) Rule 8: Transparency in Surveys and Polls
Posts that require users to take a survey/poll are not allowed unless a pledge is made to make the result/data transparent upon survey/poll completion. If you are a student/researcher and want the community to fill your survey/poll, promise there will be a follow-up on the results to be shared in the community. Failure to do so may result in the community downvoting and reporting you for breaking Rule 8.
(New) Rule 9: [Serious Discussion] tagged posts are off-limits to jokes or irrelevant replies
[Serious Discussion] tagged posts are off-limits for joke replies and irrelevant or off-topic comments and discussion. Any account that trolls / jokes made in any threads under a serious label mods will lead to immediate comment removal/user suspension.
8. Adding New “User Flair” with Customized Emojis.
We need more spice in the Flair. See here how to add:
1/ (This flag as emoji) Yang Berhormat
2/ (This Songkok as emoji) Dato Paduka
3/ Any other suggestions are welcomed by the r/Brunei community
9. On Mods.
As mods are the heartbeat of a community, here are some suggestions.
1/Assess and consider letting go off inactive mods. Keep those that do well and are active, let go those who aren't - but thank them for their time.
2/In choosing/hiring new mods, consider interviewing them, give them a trial period, and even training them (see below). More info here.
3/Consider making existing/future mods to enrol in the Mod Certification Programme 101 as a prerequisite to becoming a full-time mod.
4/Moderately experienced mods could take Mod Certification Programme 201
5/Experienced Mods could take Mod Certification Programme 301
10. Reintroduce Poll Function
Reddit Poll is a vital tool to gauge public opinion of this community. When done right you can create great polls like I've done before. But aw of late there may be abuses to the polls, but Rule 8 can be introduced and enforced to optimise results and discourage misuse of Poll function.
Finish
The above are the suggestions. I do hope some of them can be considered. I personally won’t mind if all/some of the suggestions are not implemented. What I do want is to see this community to grow to greater heights.
In my opinion, Brunei Reddit is the few places where Bruneians can engage and express their ideas without fear or favor in the country. For that matter, the suggestions would hopefully allow more Bruneians to engage in the forum to contribute positively, critically and constructively for the benefit of the nation.
Other users are more than welcomed to input their ideas.
Hope this helps and good night.
Yours is a long list of suggestions, but a quick read suggests to me that some of these are quick fixes and in fact have been on our radar for a while. We'll have another digest on this and see what we come up with. Thanks for your input to make this subreddit better.
Thanks tor putting this up. Give me time so i can formulate my suggestions
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The most active post determined by number of new comments should be stickied for as long as that post can generate interest.
Otherwise sticky another hot trending post.
This is a simple but effective formula to keep everything fresh and everyone happy.
This was previously well covered here in a long post.
The thing with Brunei and I supposed most asian cultures is that they are not proactive.
When there are issues they will complain , but when it's time to do a discussion and do something constructive and productive, then everyone is silent - both mods and users are like this.
So mods need to take top down action and show both initiative and the ability to keep changing and updating to see what works, rather than have a wait , see and ask approach.
A simple formula is to sticky posts with high comments for a few days , and if they keep generating comments, then keep it stickied. Remove greentexts that have low daily comments, and replace it with a post that has better interest.
Keep content and post quality high. Bring back critical and serious discussions about local and world issues in its own thread which is what made r/Brunei boom a few years back.
Police the site better against vote brigaders, trolls , factionists and witch hunters which is what broke BruFM before and are now migrating to r/Brunei. Respect the serious discussion tag.
Community and mods need to work together, but mods need to lead the way and are too passive currently.
With borders opening, maybe we can look into creating a 'tourist-guide' thread. Updated covid-entry procedures, a list of simple and general do's and don'ts in Brunei, heads up on public transport and Friday 12-2pm shutdown, etc. We can all chime in to make it as informative and concise as possible.
Its easy to suggest but you need someone actually invested in the topic to maintain and update it.
There have already been quite a few COVID travel posts. There's no need to remake it. A simple link to previous post will suffice.
Yes it's why I'm pitching my suggestion to this suggestions thread lol. I don't have the time nor energy to maintain a thread but it's and idea for anyone else feeling extra or willing to help out the community and tourists.
Let’s allocate that to an employee at ministry of tourism since it should be their job.
good suggestion.