Request for Comments: New Rules
A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away this subreddit could get by with minor moderation, to the extent that the subreddit did not even need established rules more than what is mandatory as part of the platform rule.
More recently people have not been happy with what I might euphemistically describe as convoluted and highly speculative posts with little to no discernible structure or connection to to established complex systems research.
After some discussion, the recently reinforced mod team here at r/complexsystems has some new set of community rules. We will all be eagerly awaiting your comments about these proposed rules under this post. At some point early next week these will go live and retroactively apply to the existing content as well as to all new content posted or commented on the subreddit.
Here goes:
Stay on topic
Posts and comments must be clearly related to complex systems, networks, complexity science, nonlinear dynamics, emergence, self-organisation, adaptation, or closely related fields.
Published science is welcome
Sharing papers, books, lectures, videos, blog posts, and explainers about published or well-established complex systems research are allowed, as long as they are relevant. Posted or linked content should be either clearly and obviously about the mainstream, published complex systems research or cite one or more highly relevant peer-reviewed sources.
Original ideas need evidence
Original works, models, essays, or speculative posts are allowed only if they are clearly connected to complex systems and cite one or more highly relevant peer-reviewed sources.
Extraordinary or very broad claims require stronger evidence. If a post is making a major claim or falls outside the scope of the mainstream, published complex systems research, it may be better suited for submission to a different subreddit or a peer reviewed venue.
No low-effort posts
Memes, jokes, GIFs, vague questions, AI-generated filler, and other low-effort content may be removed unless they are clearly substantive and directly relevant to complex systems. If the post does not squarely fit within the boundaries of the mainstream, published complex systems research, it may be removed.
Be respectful
Treat other users with courtesy. Personal attacks, hostility, insults, condescension, harassment, or deliberately inflammatory behaviour may be removed.
This subreddit welcomes both beginners and experts. Be helpful, clear, and patient when discussing technical topics.
Keep comments substantive
Comments should contribute to the discussion. Top-level comments that are only jokes, anecdotes, memes, off-topic remarks, or show no engagement with the post may be removed.
Enforcement
Moderators may remove posts or comments that break these rules. Repeated violations may lead to a temporary or permanent ban.