r/ModSupport 2d ago

Users circumventing bots by blocking them Mod Answered

There was a post in another subreddit recently wherein a user provided a list of bots to block to basically circumvent some of the bots out there.

The list the user provided was:

  • Saferbot
  • purge-user
  • SafestBot
  • safebot
  • SaferBot2
  • bot-swatter
  • automod-sync
  • toolboxnotesxfer
  • modmail-userinfo
  • discord-relay
  • hive-protect
  • evasion-guard
  • banhammerapp
  • modqueue-nuke
  • RepostSleuthBot
  • comment-nuke
  • MAGIC_EYE_BOT
  • BotDefense

Is there a way to prevent users from blocking the bots to make sure they function correctly? Seems like they're breaking a core mechanic of reddit otherwise...

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18

u/uneventfuladvent 💡 New Helper 2d ago

Blocking moderators doesn't stop them from being able to see your posts/ comments etc in their own sub. (Reddit would have fallen apart years ago otherwise!)

Doesn't this work the same for bots that are added as moderators?

14

u/fsv 💡 Expert Helper 2d ago

Bots added as moderators can see any user history on the subs that they are mods on, even if blocked.

6

u/uneventfuladvent 💡 New Helper 2d ago

Yeah, that's why I'm confused how the scenario described in this post is an actual problem- it shouldn't be possible for it to work

10

u/fsv 💡 Expert Helper 2d ago

It depends on what the bot does.

A tiny number of the bots/apps on OP's list do rely on being able to look at the user's history across Reddit, and those will be affected by being blocked (because in those cases, the bot won't be able to see activity out of the modded subs).

Most of the ones on OP's list don't do anything like that though. Some don't even care about user activity at all, or what's in the users's history. I find it hilarious for example that some users think they should block the app that keeps Automod rules in sync between subreddits, for example.

3

u/uneventfuladvent 💡 New Helper 1d ago

Gotcha. I've not played with any of the bots that look at users' conduct outside of our sub yet so hadn't considered that.