But… we had those on reddit. I didn’t see many actual examples of the “moderator gone power crazy” stereotype that is so often echoed there (especially by people who fully deserved the moderator action they received).

The issue wasn’t that the rules were clear. The issue was that people refused to read them in the first place, and became hyper-defensive and obstinate whenever they were called out on it, even by moderators.

What alternatives to votes would you propose to handle this better? Because I have no doubt the same thing will happen here too…

It’s just how people work, especially when things get heated. That said, perhaps that’s a poor example as a heated discussion isn’t necessary a helpful/constructive one…

Redditors did that, rather than reddit I’d argue. Still the same result of becoming a far less useful heuristic though.

Not really sure how to “fix” a system like that, which depends on the masses to do something correctly. They… don’t.