[interroboink]

> what is the deal with all the completely different moderation guidelines ... for every subreddit

My sense is that the bigger the userbase, the more it attracts junk, spam, abuse, etc. So, the rules get tightened to combat it. Also, my impression is that the moderation tools are not great, so crude/heavy-handed methods are sometimes all that is available.

I think you found the corollary already: smaller subreddits have less rules and/or less strict enforcement.

I'm not sure a better solution, given the situation. Though I agree it can be discouraging for well-meaning occasional contributors.

[shiroiushi]

The other problem is the moderators themselves. Each subreddit has its own volunteer moderators. It's a thankless job, so who volunteers to do it? Frequently people who shouldn't have that power. So many subs have terrible mods who abuse their power.

[interroboink]

It's like a little microcosm of politics (:

"... It is a well-known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job."

— Douglas Adams