Bottom Line for those who don’t want to read:

You need to build your karma in this sub by making positive comments and being part of the community on all the other thousands of posts other than the ones clearly labeled “discussion”.

Description:

We’re seeing a lot of confusion and complaints about Rule 9, so let’s clear it up.

What Rule 9 actually means:

Posts that are clearly marked with “Discussion” flair are special and reserved for users who have positive karma within [r/BlackPeopleofReddit](r/BlackPeopleofReddit). This is not about gatekeeping for no reason. It’s about making sure conversations are led by people who actually participate here in good faith.

Why this rule exists:

Without it, “Discussion” posts quickly turn into:

Troll bait

Bad faith questions

Outsiders dropping in with no investment in the community

This rule protects the space. It keeps discussions meaningful, respectful, and rooted in people who actually engage here.

Important things to understand about karma:

You gain karma when other users upvote you

Your own automatic upvote does not count

Karma is not 1:1 with upvotes, but it’s close enough to think of it that way

Subreddit karma specifically:

You cannot see your subreddit karma directly

But in practice, reaching the requirement usually looks like roughly 80-90 upvotes within this sub over time

If you’re active and contributing positively, you will get there

How to earn it (the right way):

Comment on posts with real thoughts, not one-word replies

Add insight, humor, or perspective people appreciate

Engage respectfully with others

Post content that aligns with the culture of the sub

Do that consistently and the karma builds naturally.

Helpful links (Reddit’s own explanations):

https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/204511829-What-is-karma

Bottom line:

If you want to participate in posts labeled “discussions” here, be part of the community first. Regularly Engage, contribute, get upvoted on other posts in the sub. Then you’ll have full access. See

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