3 Strikes Rule
If you blatantly disregard these guidelines three times you will be banned from DIY.
Last Updated: 08/22/13
Submissions
1) /r/DIY is focused on the process of completing a project rather than the completed result.
The content of your post has to be very clearly focused on the process. Even if you are submitting a batch of progress photos there should be some accompanying text detailing important aspects (materials, construction methods, etc.) There is also value in sharing mistakes and roadblocks and how you overcame them. If your submission does not include progress photos the accompanying text should make up for that with higher levels of detail.
When submitting a post, approach it as if you are teaching a classroom how to replicate your project.
2) Fly-bys are frustrating to DIYers interested in replicating the project.
Even a very thoroughly detailed submission is bound to generate some questions. Please do not abandon your submission.
Check the comments for questions for the first 24-48 hours.
3) Check /r/DIY/new after submitting your post.
If your submission does not show up in /r/DIY/new send the mods a message. It is most likely stuck in the SPAM filter.
Two things that increase the likelihood of being caught in the SPAM filter are URL shorteners (bit.ly) and direct links to materials/tools. If your submission contains either of these make sure to check that it has shown up in /new.
4) If you don’t have time to submit a complete post at the moment, don’t submit anything.
We get a lot of mid-work day submissions from DIYers who do not have the time to include typed out instructions. Just wait until you do have the time to create instructions.
5) When asking for help on a project, please do basic research yourself first.
In other words, don’t show up to /r/DIY and ask how to build a house from scratch. You’ll get much more useful information if you’ve put in the time to understand the basics and return with more specific questions.
5.1) All questions asking for help must go in a self/text post.
Please make sure you include detail about your project so others can easily help.
6) How-To videos should be submitted to /r/howto
While instructional resources are great, /r/DIY would much rather see photos/videos of you doing what is explained in the How-To video along with your result and lessons learned.
7) Don’t force your text post into a link post.
For example, if you’re asking how to glue two materials together don’t submit a link post with a stock photo of Elmer’s. There are plenty of experienced DIYers willing to help you out without the need for a pointless photo to grab their attention.
8) Please don’t downvote submissions due to differences in taste.
A submission of an extremely well done (and documented) desk rehab doesn’t warrant a downvote just because you don’t agree with the submitter’s color choices. Please keep the context of a submission in mind when voting.
9) Photos of replicating another DIY submission should not be submitted in a new post.
Replicating another project should either go in the comments of the original to maintain the association or in another reddit entirely.
10) 3D Printing
3D printing a model created by someone else is not appropriate for /r/DIY.
If you’ve created your own 3D model and then printed it, try to at least explain the tools you used for creating the model and discuss issues you may have had to adjust around.
Reporting
1) Report submission that do not meet the above guidelines.
Regardless of how many moderators a reddit has, there are going to be bad submissions that aren’t caught by a mod. It takes two clicks to report a submission, do it. You would be surprised how under-utilized the report feature is.
If you’re going to take the time to downvote a submission for breaking the rules or comment on it to the same effect, take an extra minute to report it. If it is an egregious violation send the mods a message as well. Mod messages have much higher and more universal visibility than reports.
2) Not all reported submissions are guaranteed to be removed.
If a submission is reported for not including instructions or answering questions and by the time a mod reviews the report the original submitter has added these details or responded to questions it will probably not be removed. Once the knowledge transfer has begun, there is nothing to be gained from removing a submission.
3) If you’re upset that a reported submission wasn’t removed, send the mods a message with detailed information about what you reported and why you think it should be removed.
At least a few times a month we get a very angry but very vague message about reported submissions not being removed. Typically the underlying cause is a misunderstanding of how removal works or a disagreement on what submissions warrant removal.
We’re more than happy to review these things with you but we need a starting point for these discussions (i.e. the submissions you’ve reported). Simply yelling at us to "stop being lazy" or "do your jobs" without any context isn’t going to get us very far.
Please use the comments on this thread to discuss these guidelines.
Suggest additions or adaptations. Raise issues. Highlight common problems you’ve seen.
Also please upvote this thread for visibility.
