What's the exact line of backseat modding

[Hanna]

Like, sometimes I want to post suggestions, but I'm afraid of getting banned again. (1 point away from a 6 month ban)

So I want to know the fine line between backseat modding and other
or is the other not allowed either

for example

"____ is against the rules" = Backseat modding

"Maybe you should trying just handling _____ this way" = ???
I'm not talking about personal advice like how to find fido who dug out of the yard yesterday and now you can't find him.

I'm talking about things relevant to the forum.

[Ithiliel]

Eh, for me I don't think suggesting something other than what the person is doing is backseat modding. If you're straight out telling them not to do something, or whatever than yeah, but suggesting things to divert a problem? I don't think it's a big deal. But you'll have to get the other mods opinions on it as well.

[Claudia]

I think this needs to be clarified as well.

Most of my infractions come from it so i'm literally scared to even just post the link to where the person should be posting (i.e. if they're talking about something and we already have a thread for it, so I just leave the link to that thread and nothing else) because half the time I get a backseat mod warning, the other time nothing happens. Consistency is key.

[Compass]

In the other community where I visit backseat modding is when someone threatens the person for not following the rules.

Reminding people of the rules is allowed.

But then again this website has thousands of people each day (about 1/3 are rule breakers) and there's only about 7 mods.

[Kazuni]

I always thought that it didn't really matter if you left a link to a thread that the person could've posted in. What I used to warn for was if the person made a post only to point out that it was a necro, or it was malicious (you're going to get an infraction for that, enjoy it, bitch), or basically anything where the point of the post was just to point out they did something wrong, and not to try and help them. I mean help as in leave a link, not something like "don't necro post next time".

[Fran]

For me, I would think it's backseat modding if the person uses a really authoritive/demanding tone, that sounds like what only a moderator would say as a warning/punishment. Things like, "You broke this rule. Follow the rules, or you WILL get banned.", or other things that sound threatening.

I think saying something in a more casual or friendly tone, like, "You should try not to do that, it could get you in trouble.", would be more appropriate, because you don't want to sound like you have more authority over that person who posted.

I think simply stating something, like, "This isn't allowed here." should be fine, as long as it's not in a rude tone.