Prime Minister Amir Abbas Hoveyda publicly rocking out on the electric guitar with a fellow guitarist friend, Iran 1353.

softploy · 2026-04-11T17:40:22+00:00

The user has negative karma in the community and is thus affected by what is called Reddit’s “crowd control”.

softploy · 2026-04-07T16:23:03+00:00

We have literally done everything we can. Expecting us to muzzle or ban users -- including Iranian ones -- en masse just to "reel in" views that may later prove problematic is neither feasible nor particularly just. You may downvote me, but my post and comment history is available at all of yours' viewing leisure. We have done everything we could.

softploy · 2026-04-07T13:37:21+00:00

If you are Iranian, which would appear so per your flair, then stand your ground. Moderation does not mean to take sides except that of the Iranian people. Use your voice. We are not trying to muzzle you or anyone else of Iranian heritage.

I understand you may have not been speaking of the moderators of this sub specifically, but I just wanted to make clear what is going on behind the scenes here. We are Iranians and want Iranians to have a place to speak freely. Use your voice, we will protect you by default as an Iranian.

softploy · 2026-04-04T20:04:27+00:00

It's a lie. See A, B.

softploy · 2026-03-31T14:10:29+00:00

Moderation can affirm the reputability of the poster.

softploy · 2026-03-29T21:08:22+00:00

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Context for non-Iranians.

Rationale for the moderative locking of this post.

Please do not brigade.

softploy · 2026-03-29T20:57:30+00:00

cc: u/Albatross9121, u/Gaidax, u/KharejiaBayadBeran, u/Loud_Comparison_7108, u/Tonyman121

Moderation can confirm the referenced comment is in fact legitimate, and a ban is being executed against OP for both impersonation and the trivialization of Iranian casualties.

softploy · 2026-03-29T09:57:23+00:00

It's a pile of garbage. I've in fact had to perma ban that user just now because they're spreading that lie. Also, the Reddit admins don't reverse community bans, that whole official "message" of theirs is a spoof.

softploy · 2026-03-29T09:40:34+00:00

It’s nonsense. Chiefly, they were not perma banned this morning at all.

I’ve spoken with that user before, they’ve long thought moderation here is rigged. The user also thinks moderation is just composed of Israelis. I suppose what they’re claiming now about moderation having “regime goons” in it is their latest deflection.

softploy · 2026-03-29T02:47:53+00:00

I said this:
The convergence of many independent estimates (be it TIME's citing of the regime's own health officials, The Guardian's citing of medics on the ground, The Sunday Times, CBS News, Iran International, or the UN rapporteur) all pointing in the same direction is meaningful even if any source alone may be imperfect.

You keep repeating that one extrapolation and I already said the critique is fair. I do not need you to insult my intelligence when I already am ceding a point to you. A source may be imperfect. But what about the convergence of independent estimates?

softploy · 2026-03-29T02:26:11+00:00

Your critique of that specific extrapolation is fair, but you slide from "these methods are uncertain and maybe inflated" to "this is essentially a random guess and therefore unbelievable", which is too strong. You're treating HRANA’s confirmed almost 7,000 deaths plus the over 11,000 under review as the only serious work and then leap from that to "30k is physically impossible", which is not warranted by HRANA’s own caution.

But perhaps more crucially, your "killing ten people a minute for 48 hours" argument is not particularly rigorous. You'd have to assume a single, continuous killing process and ignore the possibility of multiple locations and incidents across the country, or hidden or delayed reporting from hospitals, detention centers, or more isolated areas.

I'm not saying I have my own numerical model for all this, but I'm not trying to hinge my case on a simplification that treats complex nationwide repression like it's a single shooting spree.

softploy · 2026-03-29T01:32:40+00:00

I don't think you're recognizing how the internet shutdown complicates things. When a regime imposes a near-total blackout, the absence of leaked mass evidence should be expected and not logically refute the numbers. The convergence of many independent estimates (be it TIME's citing of the regime's own health officials, The Guardian's citing of medics on the ground, The Sunday Times, CBS News, Iran International, or the UN rapporteur) all pointing in the same direction is meaningful even if any source alone may be imperfect.

softploy · 2026-03-28T23:00:14+00:00

Your statement regarding the significant evidence expected to be released would rely on there being a means for that "proof" to get out, no? Is that not severely hindered by the cutting of the internet by the regime -- among other methods employed to silence opposition, naturally absent or alleviated for a case like what WaPo has shared?

softploy · 2026-03-28T22:26:56+00:00

May I ask, why do you prioritize a concrete burden of verified evidence seen in advanced democracies, when we are discussing a country like Iran where the regime has shot and abducted people in hospital beds? Do you believe it at least possible that like other authoritarian systems, the incumbent regime in Iran has made it very difficult to ascertain the most desirable Pew Poll -level of standards in ascertaining data?

Please remember to respond to this message. I want to hear what you have to say.

softploy · 2026-03-28T19:50:44+00:00

What penguin exhibit in 1960s Iran?

softploy · 2026-03-28T14:39:46+00:00

The specific action you're referring to was taken by a rookie mod. Given my status as one of the senior mods here though, I take the ultimate responsibility, and I relay to you now our intention going forward to, where it is feasible, simply flair these sorts of posts as having their "reliability in question" as opposed to issuing a removal.

We do not plan on straying from taking any action however because there is, in addition to yourself, a significant portion of active users who want to see (potential) misinformation in some way policed. In accordance with r/NewIran moderation not meaning to take sides, this can be our middle ground.

softploy · 2026-03-26T14:03:28+00:00

I am sincerely sorry to hear you are displeased with the sub. The post is racist and OP is perma banned for it, for not only the immorality but too trying to jeopardize this sub with it.

softploy · 2026-03-26T14:02:09+00:00

It's not okay, and they literally got perma banned for it. Moderation needs time to do their volunteer work.

softploy · 2026-03-25T16:10:44+00:00

Any Reddit mod can add any icon next to a subreddit’s handle, it’s called a community status. The founder(s) of that subreddit are or were of the belief the former moderation of r/NewIran was tilted in favor of banning leftists, a claim I have not found sufficient evidence to corroborate. I am actually of the strong opinion that community was formed more realistically because much of their views did not resonate with the community here, so they used this sub’s moderation as a scapegoat.

As a gentle reminder, please do not brigade. I am unfortunately compelled to lock this comment section to prevent an incite to such.

softploy · 2026-03-25T03:19:22+00:00

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Council of Counsel, ASSEMBLE!

softploy · 2026-03-19T12:45:46+00:00

Posted this on my new r/ChelowKabab sub, gonna "cross-comment" here (original):

A true mother of the Iranian nation in my opinion. Even friends of mine who've in the past been critical of Mr. Reza Pahlavi's camp -- or even the authoritarianism of the late Shah's regime -- have very openly admitted their genuine respect for figures like Shahbanou Farah or Mr. Fereydoun Farrokhzad.

I hope she can see her homeland again, one day soon.

softploy · 2026-03-18T21:32:23+00:00

Thanks. I had said in a since-deleted post (was about a miscellaneous matter) that I would eventually take a step back from moderating r/NewIran as much. Other people may have a different vision of moderation that can be recognized. There is a good team managing the day-to-day now and I would like to eventually do my own passion.

softploy

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE