One of the most common complaints about reddit is that communities should self-moderate by simply downvoting irrelevant content or spam. Two years ago, f7u12 decided to put that idea to the test, pledging to stop removing most disallowed content for one month. They lasted six days. While the images and comics dredged up during this investigation may shock and disturb you, they ensure that no one will ever forget the reason for moderation. Be warned, lest you share the fate of f7u12 in April of 2012.

A quick reminder: this occurred months before the word "le" was banned from rage comics. You have been warned.

Day One

On April Fools' Day of 2012, the moderators announce that they will no longer remove things from the subreddit simply because they are not rage comics.

Since all our attempts to come up with an objective criterion for what constitutes a rage comic have failed, we've decided to just take that rule out. From now on, moderators will not remove anything other than obvious spam, and will approve any other post. One major complaint from the community is that we don't trust it enough to moderate itself, so, from now on and while this experiment lasts (we're aiming for a month), it's up to the community to downvote irrelevant content.

Reactions are immediately mixed, ranging from the incredulous:

APRIL FOOLS

Oh God I hope so

I didn't attend to any April Fools shenanigans, too busy with work, extra shifts, etc. So I'm posting to assure you: No Moderation Month is absolutely real. We are not doing any content moderation of any kind for the next month, aside from spam removal.

to the excited:

Great idea. We wont let you down reddit!

to the pessimistic:

This comment is actually just a picture of a troll face, I can't reproduce it here.

to the holy shit, this guy literally called moderation of rage comics fascism:

I approve of this, actually. I've been getting a bit tweaked by the imagined fascism and trimming down of f7u12 from what it was when I first encountered it...

And the announcement is certainly not without petty slapfights: This guy is really mad at the moderators. He agrees with the policy change, but he's still mad. Why is he mad? Fuck you.

Hidden at the bottom of the page is a comment that reveals a more sinister motive for this innocent "experiment".

We're not enforcing rules anymore. People bitch about rules, good, now you can choke on reposts.

Day Two

One day later, the ruling has not been reversed. The citizens of f7u12 are forced to quickly come to grips with the new reality. The first livejournal entry is written, a story about all of OP's friends dying. (Some backstory to help you better understand the drama- in f7u12 lingo an unfunny and long rage comic is referred to as a "livejournal"). There is a small surge of resistance.

You know what?No offence but never fucking post these comics,if you seek remorse go somewhere else this is reddit a place for funniness because we all know,most of these people just want you type of guys to FUCK OFF AND STOP SEEKING REMORSE.I'm sorry if I know look like a dick,but reddit isn't the place for you,so funnies or GTFO.

However, most people are apparently fine with the change, as that is the only comment that really takes issue with the post.

Day Three

f7u12 is hit at their darkest hour with a raid from 4chan. Er, I mean 9gag. No wait, it was Circlejerk. Ah, fuck it. Some group raided this particular f7u12 post and there were no mods to stop it.

I won't link them all but you'd be doing yourself a disservice to miss /u/epic_comebacks ' witty retorts throughout the comments section. Read the whole thread and expand all the downvoted comments!

what the fuck did i just read

le fuk le off lelelele

Day Four

You know how towards the end of holocaust documentaries, before the allies arrive they just show a giant montage of horrible things that happened at that time with sad music in the background? Pick your favorite tune.

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT.

http://np.reddit.com/r/fffffffuuuuuuuuuuuu/comments/rsp31/and_this_is_why_i_hate_tweens/

http://np.reddit.com/r/fffffffuuuuuuuuuuuu/comments/rviy7/do_you_fuckin_like_that_feeling/

http://np.reddit.com/r/fffffffuuuuuuuuuuuu/comments/rsp73/i_heard_that_sex_and_the_word_fuck_sends_a_comic/

http://np.reddit.com/r/fffffffuuuuuuuuuuuu/comments/rrd0q/why_not_zoidberg/

http://np.reddit.com/r/fffffffuuuuuuuuuuuu/comments/rulds/the_difference_between_dora_and_goku/

Day Five

Tensions finally reach the boiling point and a meta-comic calling for the rules to be enforced (itself violating the rules at the time) reaches the front page. Full Post

It seems as though f7u12 is now populated by 12 year olds from X-Box Live. The above mentioned imaturity needs to stop. Now. If all you guys realy are 12, then you need to leave and come back in a few years.

In fact, it seems more than f7u12 is at stake- many people are afraid that the overall quality of reddit is rapidly declining. /u/Jess_than_three says that homophobia and racism are increasing which is immediately derailed into a defense of calling OP various racial and homophobic slurs.

That should help you dumb f***** n*****s.

Another person is more concerned that outsiders have learned the code phrase "when does the narwhal bacon," but most of f7u12 does not share his concern.

The other day I asked my friend when the narwhal bacons. He looked at me funny and said his two little brothers asked him the same question a couple days ago. They are 12 and 10. This is a problem.

Day Six

And they all lived happily ever after now that they appreciated the mods for what they were: worthless parasites, fags, and mega cunts.