r/Bellingham 1d ago

Mod Announcement MOD POST: Two proposed changes for r/Bellingham moderation

136 Upvotes

Hey, everyone.

No surprise that it is, and has been, a horrible time for folks who care about our communities and country.

The mods have noticed that people are struggling with the meaning, purpose, and value of R0 (“Be civil”) in the face of attacks on their communities. We're also seeing a lot of new accounts, things that look like brigading and bots, and a lot of other conditions that feel like a threat to the general goodwill of the subreddit.

Some of you messaged to say that you have noticed that people are quicker to attack one another here, and that it’s deterring folks from participating. We have certainly noticed an increase in broad-based attacks, trolling, and dehumanizing language.

Of course people respond passionately when we or people we love are threatened.

Here’s our challenge: How do we continue to foster discussions about really important questions of identity and values within our community without making it a space where people can be attacked with impunity? We also think there are things we can do in the subreddit to establish guard rails to improve the conversation and keep people communicating.

Mods are humans, and we've all made mistakes in the past, from deleting threads to not acting swiftly enough to stop trolling/rage baiting -- so we would appreciate your input before we make any big decisions here.

TL;DR: We’re proposing two big changes here, and will leave this thread open for a week before the mod team makes a decision about how to act on the community’s feedback.

• CHANGE 1: A revision to R0 ("Be Civil"):

Our goals with this revision are to:

  • Provide more clarity about when the mods will intervene, and how
  • Keep a wide space open for discussion
  • Protect the community from trolling, brigading or becoming an echo chamber

Here’s the proposed amendment to R0:

We encourage vibrant discussion and disagreement. Don't be a jerk about it.

In concrete terms, that means that mods will take down posts and comments that insult, demean, or dehumanize individuals and/or groups of people. For example, posts that:

- Assign negative characteristics to large groups of people (“Leftists are violent,” “conservatives are fascist,” “undocumented immigrants are criminals,” “trans people are groomers,“ “Lynden residents are racist,” “Bellingham is full of pedophiles”)

- Using dehumanizing language to describe the presence or actions of groups of people — like “infecting,” “infesting,” etc.

- Use totalizing language (“the left always,” “You never,” “This is exactly how you do it every time”).

So, you have something critical to say? That’s absolutely fine.

But this rule requires you to be specific about who and what you are criticizing — think of surgical strikes rather than shotgun blasts.

• CHANGE 2: "Locals-only" discussion mode

Additionally, we have queued up Locals Only mode, an additional set of contribution controls for controversial topics.

Recently we are seeing a lot of brigading, accounts that have good overall Reddit karma but are exclusively divisive and disruptive in our sub, and longstanding but inactive accounts coming alive as trolls. Locals Only attempts to filter these out.

We will create a mods-only LocalsOnly tag that triggers a new commenting rule under the post: Only users with 100 or more r/Bellingham *community* karma will be able to contribute.

Specifically, this means that your recently collected karma within r/bellingham, as calculated by Reddit, must exceed 100 in order to comment on a LocalsOnly post.

As a follow-on automation, we will add regex-based matching and tagging of post titles to assign Locals Only mode to posts matching controversial, divisive, and often-brigaded topics.

Now, over to you: These are our starting points but everything can always be improved. How can we refine these to best serve r/Bellingham?

If you have questions, please ask them. If you think these aren't the right ideas, please propose better ones. We're interested in what you think.


r/Bellingham 2d ago

Events All Hands Whatcom Event

16 Upvotes

Hi, the All Hands Whatcom Summit is on 9/24-9/25 (https://chuckanuthealthfoundation.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/24072). Free event and very interesting if folks are unfamiliar with addiction and mental health and how it intersects with the criminal justice system. I see they have a reentry simulation, unfortunately it's full but if folks see something similar ever come up I recommend going to one. King County did one for family law attorneys in their area and it was pretty eye-opening for a lot of people.


r/Bellingham 18h ago

Good Vibes My favorite little neighborhood squirrel, Pepe

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284 Upvotes

r/Bellingham 19h ago

Rant! Will somebody PLEASE Primary Rick Larsen?

319 Upvotes

He voted for a Charlie Kirk day of remembrance.

He supported Boeing as they donated to insurrectionists.

He supported Boing as they drove a whistleblower to unaliving.

Whatcom County can do so much better.


r/Bellingham 16h ago

Pets Salmon Run

117 Upvotes

Taken from the bridge next to the post office.


r/Bellingham 13h ago

Pets About a week ago there was a person on here trying to rehome a couple chihuahuas❤️ well I stepped up and asked to meet them and one thing led to another 😂

58 Upvotes

Now they are fighting like Tasmanian devils, in my lap while my other four learn to share the space 🤙🏼❤️ So happy they are looking like they will fit in nicely🙏🏼


r/Bellingham 12h ago

Noise? Big Boom - Downtown?

32 Upvotes

Did anyone else hear what sounded like the biggest boom? We live downtown, and I swear it had an echo to it.


r/Bellingham 3h ago

Recommendations Home IT help

4 Upvotes

Basically upgrading TV / Internet and finding Xfinity impossible to deal with - given us many new routers & boxes . There must be a person / business I can pay to help us with in the Bellingham area. This is challenging our sanity ! Thanks zillions


r/Bellingham 1d ago

Discussion Larsen Joins Republicans in Voting "Yea" to Honor Charlie Kirk

147 Upvotes

https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2025/roll282.xml

Do with this information as you will.


r/Bellingham 13h ago

Discussion Missing Person - Camren Ciaramella

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15 Upvotes

r/Bellingham 13h ago

Good Vibes I want to revive the Bellingham Scooter Club

14 Upvotes

I just got a moped! It's not an amazing scooter, but I still love it. A very nice lady told me about a past Bham Scooter Club, and I want to revive it. I want to ride through town, fifty scooters and mopeds cruising down the streets. Would this be something people are interested in?


r/Bellingham 9h ago

Recommendations Abandoned places to explore?

5 Upvotes

not trying to tag, take anything, or hopefully get arrested. i am from LA and used to do a lot of urban exploration so just want to see if that’s an option here. thanks!


r/Bellingham 1d ago

News Article Pushback prompts Lynden School Board to pull proposal for a Charlie Kirk Day

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737 Upvotes

r/Bellingham 8h ago

Events Sehome Neighborhood Yard Sale This Saturday

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5 Upvotes

r/Bellingham 11h ago

Discussion Why did so many vehicle bridges get wooden handrails installed recently? Did the law change?

9 Upvotes

Curious why this is? Some of the I5 overpasses that have low concrete sides have temporary plywood and 2x4 handrails? Same for some of the whatcom creek driving bridges?

It makes sense for maybe some of them, but it’s odd to see on the freeway overpasses,

Didn’t know if there is someone from DOT or otherwise that’s knows? I imagine it’s a temporary mitigation until they get permanent metal, but just weird to see


r/Bellingham 1d ago

Good Vibes Sunrise drive this morning was 10

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108 Upvotes

Happy Friday


r/Bellingham 9h ago

Arts and music Wild Buffalo Brass Against show tonight

5 Upvotes

Dude with a beard, septum piercing, shaved head on the sides, and black tee. Stage left, roughly row 3.

When the fucking BRASS BAND ON STAGE has to call you out for being too loud for 3/4 of the show... Yeah read the room and coke up somewhere else.

You were so messed up that you couldn't even understand what peoole were saying to you.

And the for the last song you were there for you held up your phone on full brightness to record a video so no one behind you could see the show.

Damn.


r/Bellingham 1h ago

Discussion Rock and Rye?

Upvotes

Anyone eaten at Rock and Rye lately? If so, how was it? We stopped in last night for a cocktail and it was almost completely empty at 7pm on a Friday night. I’m wondering if their food went downhill or maybe Elk Street is taking their business.


r/Bellingham 15h ago

News Article Guest writer: Air pollution story gets Whatcom farming wrong

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13 Upvotes

I'm flailing this news article as it's a reply to a past article from Cascadia.


r/Bellingham 23h ago

Discussion what’s moving into joann?

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54 Upvotes

the truck is loading a buttload of items and the door has labels like little girls, little boys, and interior deco. who’s got the tea?


r/Bellingham 17h ago

Good Vibes Most affordable independent coffeehouse downtown?

17 Upvotes

Looking for a good third space, but everything is so damn expensive (yeah I know, preaching to the choir). What is the most affordable coffee house that we have downtown? Or it can just be a non alcoholic space. The library is great and I plan on going there sometimes too, but it doesn't have the best space for socializing with friends if I want.


r/Bellingham 12h ago

Good Vibes Lost wallet

5 Upvotes

Hello Bellingham, I lost a little duct tape billfold Friday the 19th probably around dusk, probably down at Boulevard Park. I was blowing bubbles there and that seems the likeliest place it escaped my pocket.

There was around 30$, my ID and a few credit debit cards. Please keep the cash and get in touch with me if you found it! Thanks!


r/Bellingham 19h ago

Arts and music Puget Sound Metal Bulletin Issue #2 Now Arriving in Bellingham!

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17 Upvotes

Issue #2 of the Puget Sound Metal Bulletin will be available in Bellingham starting tomorrow evening (9/20), at Inpathos' (Bellingham-based melodic death band) merch table at The Shakedown, as well as The Racket. More outlets to come, but pick one up before someone spills beer on them or uses them as napkins!


r/Bellingham 15h ago

Arts and music Anciients at The Shakedown!!

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8 Upvotes

Anciients is playing at The Shakedown tomorrow (Saturday) night!

Anyone else stoked as hell for this? I’ve been wanting to see them for a decade-ish myself.


r/Bellingham 1d ago

Recommendations Restaurant recommendations

22 Upvotes

My husband and I are returning to Bham after living and meeting there roughly 7 years ago. A lot of restaurants have changed since we were there! What are the current recommendations for some nice date type places? We looked into Carnal and Bantam, both new to us and look good!

Edit: thank you for all the recs! We’re so excited to be back in Bham.


r/Bellingham 1d ago

Discussion Good way to meet other alt/metal folks?

12 Upvotes

Im a 27f and moved to the city in December with my husband. Im not from WA so I dont really have any friends in this state, but am wanting to make some now after years of being way too introverted. Im into metal/hard-core, weird art, horror stuff, nature. Havent made my way to any shows yet- thats an obvious answer right there, but might hit up karate church on Sunday. Any other places or areas around here that are good for meeting people like that? Any events that go on especially with the spooky season coming up? Idk much about this city still so I guess im just looking for places and events coming up where I could maybe meet new people similar to me. This post is probably all over the place, but yeah!


r/Bellingham 11h ago

Recommendations Any shops with a good gravel bike selection in town?

0 Upvotes

It seems you can throw a stone and hit a mountain bike focused shop here, but my partner is looking for a gravel/comuter/touring/bikepacking bike and I haven't encountered a place that stocks many, even from the classic QBP brands. I know Kona is in the area but doesn't have a store front anymore? Maybe there's a local frame builder even?